Strefa Cafe - my home away from home

When Joe and I were talking about what it might be like to live far away from home, I asserted that I wasn't going to just sit around in the apartment eating bon bons and watching Polish soap operas (or something to that effect!). And I said that I really hoped I could find a coffee shop where I might hang out, strike up some conversations, and feel comfortable ... something like The Fire Escape / Anchor & Anvil in Ben Avon (which I adore!)

I've found it!

Strefa Cafe & Yoga is a wonderful spot and offers everything I had hoped for and more!

It's located along the Brda River, which is more of a large stream, very calming. Strefa has a second-story balcony (with heaters that soon will come in handy) with tall sumac on each side. As the photos illustrate, they've changed color from summer's green when we arrived in mid-September to bright autumn burgundy now ... but frost is coming, and those last red leaves will be falling soon.

Finding Strefa - A Happy Accident!

My introduction to Strefa during our first week in Bydgoszcz was a perfect story of travel to unfamiliar lands! I left the apartment one morning in search of a coffee shop, and particularly one serving decaf. (The first two coffee shops I'd visited in Bydgoszcz had no decaf at all, which had me a bit concerned.) I had seen a sign just around the corner for Świat Kawy (World Coffee) and thought it might be just what I was looking for.

Unfortunately, when I walked in, I saw that it was a store selling high-end cappuccino machines and coffee from around the world -- as in bags of coffee beans for coffee shops (kawiarnia). But it was not itself a coffee shop at all.

Fortunately, staffing Świat Kawy that day was Bart! He greeted me, we quickly switched from my less-than-miniscule Polish to English (which he does fine in), and I explained what brought me in the door. Clearly, I wasn't going to be a customer, but the two of us struck up something of a conversation, and I mentioned my curiosity about whether I was going to find anywhere that serves decaf. Bart immediately offered to call a coffee shop that he highly recommended to see if they have decaf. He made the call, but sadly, no decaf there. He said that it might be a challenge to find some in any coffee shops, so I decided to just check out the place he recommended. Address in hand (Długa 11 -- Joe and I had walked the length of Długa Street, so I felt confident in finding it), I headed for the walk across town and strolled along Długa (which means long, by the way) in search of a coffee shop at #11. When I found it, I was a bit disappointed -- it was actually a bakery that also served coffee, but didn't have much atmosphere, so I ordered a coffee to go (mostly in pantomime, I admit!).

The "coffee shop" (actually bakery, a/k/a piekarnia) at Długa 11 - note the side street!)

Strefa Cafe - mój dom z daly od domu

Fortunately, though, when I left, I decided to walk down the side street around the corner to explore a different path back to the apartment. And there, to my surprise, was a sign for a coffee shop. The name, Strefa, sounded familiar from my chat with Bart.

So, coffee from the Piekarnia in hand, I walked into Strefa. Behind the counter was Mikał, the owner (I later learned). I apologized for walking into his coffee shop with a cup off coffee from around the corner, but continued to explain my story -- that Strefa had been recommended to me, but I wandered into the wrong place. He was extremely understanding, and we struck up a nice conversation. I promised to return ... which I'm so glad I did!

Strefa is an absolutely beautiful, calming, charming coffee shop. Its interior is decorated above with dozens of plants, the outdoor balcony overlooks the fast-running waters of the part of the Brda River that splits off from the main section to form Mill Island, and the menu is spectacular!

I've gotten to know Mikał (I hope I spelled that right!), who has helped me with various questions about Poland and the Polish language, and is a delight to greet each time I stop by. And the folks who work in Strefa are friendly and extremely helpful as well. I've also met a handful of customers during my early visits, and I'm hopeful to make more acquaintances!

The walk from our apartment also is wonderful (see map below) and takes me anywhere from a purposeful 12 minutes to a more relaxed (and often Google Translate-interrupted) 20 minutes or so ... just depends on my mood! It starts with a long stretch along the Brda, which is a narrow river as it passes through Bydgoszcz with a walking path alongside, creating a calm atmosphere ... then I cross the bridge to the old market town (Stary Rynek), walk through the large open square, down a few pedestrian-only side streets, and I'm there!

More to come about my visits to Strefa -- I think I need to reserve an entire blog to devote to my exploration of each of its menu items!

Bottom line ... I've lucked into a great place to make my "dom z daly od domu" (home away from home) while we're here in Bydgoszcz!