Convivial Cafe

Seeking to provide a “third place” on his home turf of Mercer Island, owner and baker Joel Wachs approached Best Practice Architecture to create a community minded bakery and café. Convivial Café makes its home in the center of the bustling commercial downtown area of the city, and boasts a large commercial bakery specializing in classic pastries, desserts and breads. Large windows provide views into the back to observe the hardworking bakers.There are built in banquettes, comfy lounge chairs, a communal table and even a standing bar for those who prefer drinking their espresso “al bar.” An overhead plywood canopy creates a cozy café dining space below and a community room for small gatherings enlarges the room, but can be closed with a curtain for more intimate meetings .