OPENING ALERT
Chic new downtown cafe opens with coffee by day and cocktails by night
Kafe Krave is the latest addition to downtown's bar — and coffee — scene.
A new downtown San Antonio cafe is stretching its ambitions beyond the morning rush. Kafe Krave opened Monday, January 26, at 227 Dwyer Ave #101, bringing specialty coffee by day and cocktails by night to the city’s urban core.
According to the initial Kickstarter campaign, owner James Vester drew inspiration from childhood trips to Venado, San Luis Potosí, where afternoons were spent lingering at a modest neighborhood café called Amor Eterno (not to be confused with the Southtown bar of the same name).
“It wasn't fancy, yet it maintained such a welcoming atmosphere which brought together friends, families, and couples who sought to spend quality time with each other,” wrote Vester.” We would sit there drinking mocha frappes while playing Uno and laughing until they closed.”
Instead of being a grab-and-go coffee shop, Vester positions the Heritage Plaza bar as a community hub. The interior is dominated by round emerald banquettes accented by gold accents and sculptural lighting overhead, inviting guests to linger throughout the day.
To celebrate its grand opening week, the cafe is offering discounts every day between January 26-30, including buy-one, get-one-free coffee, $1 Americanos, and $2.50 iced lattes. A request for more information about the cocktail program was not returned by publication time, but photos of the space show a full bar. Judging by the bottle of Licor 43 on the shelves, we suspect at least one of the drinks will be a carajillo.
Following its opening, Kafe Krave will be open seven days a week. Hours are Monday through Thursday, 7 am-6 pm; Friday, 7 am-6 pm and 8 pm-1 am; Saturday, 10 am-6 pm and 8 pm-1 am; and Sunday, 10 am- 2pm.
