Set your story in a café, garden, or restaurant.

Posted in Short Story on Jan 24, 2025

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✍️ 72 stories

“In the wake of Bella's smile ” by Rossen Townsend

Submitted to Contest #287

And there I was....staring out of my inharatance,a three hundred year old diamondcut glass lead came window.High on a steep terraced hillsideoverlooking this early morningsweeping sun drenched Tuscanvillage.Someone's almost perfect villawrapped around my lonelyundeserving sense of self. I say almost"because of the roof,it lay crumbled beneath my cockedsideways terracotta dust coveredboots.Open to the early morning skyI too was bathing in amber light. After clearing rubble and brokenweathered bones of left behindold world furnishings,I dreamt...

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“The World Goes By” by Jed Cope

Submitted to Contest #287

“The world is spinning impossibly fast, and yet we don’t perceive that movement in the slightest. When do we ever take a moment?” He looks at me as though I am a mad man, and for all intents and purposes I am. Our worlds are impossibly far from one another. They will never collide. If he ever travels this way, I will be long gone. And yet I will always keep an eye towards him in the hope he will dare to think his way to a place that is glorious in its loneliness. To acquire knowledge and actually use it to become a fraction of wh...

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“How 'bout a bite? ” by Chris Metcalfe

Submitted to Contest #287

It was a bright and sunny day in Copenhagen, Soren was enjoying the sunset and finishing his Danish coffee. Being a symbol of class he found drunks to be uncivilized, but those who do not drink to be living a lackluster lifestyle. His life has always been about balance, and enjoying a cocktail without stumbling about was an example of such. He made a point of removing his wallet and paying in cash, fully aware of the eyes upon him. Not just the eyes of the patrons nor wait staff, but those of the eager predator across the street as well. Sor...

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“Garden Memories” by Brina Beyer

Submitted to Contest #287

I sit complacently on the bench, admiring my peaceful surroundings. The large, open space of the garden is beautiful at this time of year, being early summer, my very favorite season. The leaves on every massive oak tree reaching for the sky are full and green, and every rosebush is full of blooming buds expelling the sweet scent of roses into the atmosphere. Peonies, poppies, daisies, lilacs, and flowers I can’t even name occupy the neatly kept lines and plots of the garden. I’m glad for the peace and quiet. I’m a busy woman; it’s important...

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“Door to the Garden” by Kammi Becker

Submitted to Contest #287

Madeline found herself in front of a door. She felt dazed and confused as she stared at it, trying to remember what she was doing there. She was vaguely aware of herself opening the door and stepping inside the room. Only it wasn’t a room. It was an enormous garden, filled to the brim with plants that she couldn’t have imagined in her wildest daydreams. Magic rolled off each and every one of them, filling the garden with an electric buzz. She took her time walking through the maze of tables and shelves, each stuffed as full of plants as they...

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“Blood, Broth, and Noodles” by Robert Scott

Submitted to Contest #287

Four people were sitting down at a wooden table that had benches for seats. Wooden Ladle was a cozy place in Jupiter to get some ramen, and it hit the spot when the weather was cool, like it was on that November afternoon. The servers came out and placed the hot bowls of ramen in front of the group, the smell of spicy miso wafting into Jason’s nostrils from his and Isaac’s bowls. Before they got started on the noodles, both of them took turns adding some sriracha sauce to their bowls. Victoria and Rachel stared at the guys from a...

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“Wind Chimes and Dragons” by Jakob R

Submitted to Contest #287

“I love you.”Sera laughed into her gathered collection of empty glasses. She was still gasping and sweaty from her last dance. A fire burned below her skin, in her chest and belly. She felt so heated, so spectacularly roasted, that it seemed as if her laugh alone could spill flame from her tongue. But she was no dragon, nor a dragon rider. She was simple, plain and poor. Her breath only fogged their surfaces.The glasses clanked together when she plopped the tray down, reminding her of the silverware, lost bobbles, and malformed links of stee...

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“Waiting” by Riley Noel

Submitted to Contest #287

"I couldn't remember if we said outside. It's good to see you, Beth."Gertrude wore a yellow rain jacket though there was only a two percent chance of rain, hours from now. Beth looked her up and down trying to bury her grin. Gertrude always overprepared for everything."It's good to see you too, dear."Beth stood up from the rickety table and they embraced. The hug wasn't as warm as she would have liked, thanks to the rain jacket."You do know there's a very low chance of rain Gerry?""I know, I know," Gertrude laughed it off as she place the ja...

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“EMILY DRAKAIGNE” by HAAKON RAGNSKJOLD

Submitted to Contest #287

For some reason, I never got into tea. But when I blew into town nine months ago, it was that particular blend they served me at Cafè Bleue Rose that got me going. It was a particularly chilly December afternoon, and I needed something steaming to warm me up. Now, it's not my way to stay in any city or town longer than three months. The first day I arrived, I ended up wandering into this out of the way cul de sac. There was a small garden in front of the entrance. I remember sitting for a moment near an elm tree, all denuded in the winter sn...

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“Temptingly Steamy” by Shemethia Dyer

Submitted to Contest #287

The café stood at the corner of a rain-slicked street, its windows glowing warmly against the early evening’s blue haze. It was the place where time didn’t just slow down—it steeped, like a forgotten cup of tea growing richer with each passing moment. Inside, warmth wrapped around every corner. The air was thick with the aroma of freshly ground espresso, mingling with the sweetness of cinnamon and vanilla. A milk frother hissed behind the counter, sending steam plumes into the air, twisting and unraveling like ghostly fingers. Condensation c...

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“My Heart” by Jasper Ashs

Submitted to Contest #287

The lock clicks open with the turn of Saige’s key. My cafe, she thinks. Not anyone else's. Mine. Every single penny, every nickel and dime. She poured everything she had into creating this place. The door swings open silently, the secondhand hinges having just been cleaned so they would be silent as a mouse. She doesn’t care to slow the swing of the door, to enraptured with the entirety of the building she designed. She knows every nook and cranny. Where every secondhand book is, after all, half of them came from her own collection.&nb...

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“The Corner Cafe Escape” by Christina Flood

Submitted to Contest #287

She always stops by the café on the corner after going to the gym everyday to get some work done, and today was no different. It was a cold January morning, and the wind whipped down the street as she made her way to the small café. The warm air and the smell of freshly ground coffee welcomed her. She ordered her usual: English breakfast tea with a splash of milk and honey, and a croissant. Then, she claimed her perch at the stool by the window—the perfect spot for people-watching and answering emails on her phone. Emily brought over her tea...

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“For Such a Time as This” by Runa Calligaris

Submitted to Contest #287

Once a week, for the past ten weeks, Hattie had come to the local café for bible study with a few of her friends from church. It was led by Marissa, one of the longstanding members of the church. Once a week, for the past ten weeks, Hattie had left the café feeling uplifted, inspired, and closer to her Creator. And this week, the eleventh week, she expected no different.Uplifting music wafted through the speakers, mixing with the sounds of dishes clanking and milk frothing behind the counter. The familiar noise was music to Hattie's ears as ...

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“Blossoming Kiss” by Charlotte Hall

Submitted to Contest #287

‘Hi. Excuse me? Hello. I’d like one large coconut latte please.’Chris, who had been staring at the garden through the window, jumped at the voice, bringing her back tor reality.‘Of course, that will be £5.99 please,’ Chris said, punching the card button on the till. She had to stop daydreaming. She’d only just got this job, and not because she was any good at making coffee or serving customers. She only got it because a few members of staff quit at the same time and they needed someone urgently, and she needed to earn money before she found ...

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“Grand Opening” by Reese Blaise

Submitted to Contest #287

“It’s just the weather,” John said as he affixed the ‘Grand Opening’ sign to the storefront glass. “Give it time. It’s a great location.” Thomas wiped a thin layer of morning dew off the patio chair and sat down, surveying the area. The cafe sat nestled within a strip of salons and restaurants and trendy clothes outlets, flanking the wide downtown streets. The area was normally busy but today the streets sat empty, only a few cars parked along the street corners, fenders busted and tires blown out, as if they had been abandoned. Several wind...

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Set your story in a café, garden, or restaurant.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 72 stories

“In the wake of Bella's smile ” by Rossen Townsend

“The World Goes By” by Jed Cope

“How 'bout a bite? ” by Chris Metcalfe

“Garden Memories” by Brina Beyer

“Door to the Garden” by Kammi Becker

“Blood, Broth, and Noodles” by Robert Scott

“Wind Chimes and Dragons” by Jakob R

“Waiting” by Riley Noel

“EMILY DRAKAIGNE” by HAAKON RAGNSKJOLD

“Temptingly Steamy” by Shemethia Dyer

“My Heart” by Jasper Ashs

“The Corner Cafe Escape” by Christina Flood

“For Such a Time as This” by Runa Calligaris

“Blossoming Kiss” by Charlotte Hall

“Grand Opening” by Reese Blaise

🌟 Similar prompts

Start or end your story with a character making a cup of tea for themself or someone else.

Center your story around someone who’s boiling over with anger, frustration, or jealousy.

Write a story with a character pouring out their emotions.

Start or end your story with someone being soothed by a hug or words of comfort.

Contest #287

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

408

Contest entries

173

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: