Cafe Babu: Middle Eastern-inspired vibes meet Nashville coffee craft.
Located at 1044 3rd Ave S in Nashville, Cafe Babu blends a cozy cafe atmosphere with Middle Eastern-inspired decor. Reviews highlight a standout coffee lineup, including the signature cardamom latte with homemade syrup and the no-bs latte with brown sugar and star anise, plus the Mumbai veggie sandwich and a delicious cookie. Its intimate space and warm vibe make it a memorable stop on 3rd Ave S.
1044 3rd Ave S, Nashville, TN 37210, USA
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Handcrafted lattes, including signature cardamom and brown sugar options, using high-quality espresso.
Freshly made items like the Mumbai veggie sandwich and chocolate croissants, with heating available.
Curated wines and beverages in a relaxed setting, perfect for evening socializing.
Indoor and outdoor seating with a Middle Eastern aesthetic, ideal for work or relaxation.
Convenient service for quick pickups of coffee, food, and pastries.
Overall rating
Grace Brady
such a beautiful coffee shop! great experience with awesome service and delicious coffee. however it was $30 for a $12 sandwich and 2 16oz iced lattes before tip. pretty expensive, even for third wave!
tarek hamami
When Babu first opened, the entire town lined up like they were waiting for Taylor Swift tickets sold by the Pope. I refused. I don’t stand in line longer than 15 minutes unless I’m being handed immortality or a free mortgage. Today, post yoga and spiritually fragile, I walked past and saw NO LINE. The ancestors whispered, “It is time.” I entered. I asked for their finest elixir and received the house cardamom latte and the turkey–fig–brie sandwich. The sandwich? Illegal. Emotionally destabilizing. I took one bite and felt my chakras crack open like pistachios. My skin cleared. My WiFi got faster. The state of my soul upgraded to Premium. The cardamom latte? A warm, spiced apology for every disappointment I’ve ever faced(except that one girl in 9th grade) . If you grew up in Asia/Middle East, you know cardamom in coffee is not a luxury — it’s a constitutional right. I quit breastfeeding early because my mother didn’t season properly. Babu redeemed her. Now. A quick note: They asked for my name. I said Tarek. They wrote Darek. I guess I looked white-washed enough to earn a silent promotion. At this point, I’d like to formally request the matching interest rates, job callbacks, and HOA leniency of my fellow Dereks. If you’re gonna anglicize me , please follow through. The staff? Ridiculously kind. They treated me like a baby squirrel learning to trust again. The aesthetic? Imagine The Flintstones got into craft coffee and minimalism. I entered a man. I exited a rebranded prophet named Darek.
Alex Knodel
I stopped into Café Babu for an iced coffee and a pastry. I got one of their specialty iced coffees with brown sugar, and it was really good. I’m glad that it wasn’t cold brew like most places have these days and it said it was a sweet, traditional iced coffee. I also got a chocolate chocolate croissant that they were willing to heat up for me. It was really delicious. The inside space is a lot smaller than I expected, but it definitely gives off vibes of Tulum. They were playing techno house, electronic music, which also complimented the vibe. Unfortunately there wasn’t any tables available inside and almost all of the tables outside were also filled with people working. Seems like a really cool neighborhood coffee shop for those that live in the area. Street parking was available but was limited. There was a lot of staff working inside, maybe almost too many people.
Nikki A
What a unique coffee shop . The decor and ambiance really make you feel like you’ve stepped into the Middle East . Great vibes . I love their mugs they serve the coffee in . We tried a flat white and the no bs latte ( it has brown sugar and star anise ) great flavor and the espresso was nice and strong . If you’re in Nashville you have to stop by !
Denise
Omg you have to check out this coffee shop!! The vibe and aesthetic are seriously one of a kind, it totally feels like you’ve been transported somewhere in the Middle East ✨🌿 It’s cozy, calm, and just so beautiful. But let’s talk about the food & drinks … truly next level. I had their signature latte with homemade cardamom syrup and I was in love 😍 So flavorful and unique, probably one of the best lattes I’ve ever had in Nashville (or anywhere tbh). My cousin got the matcha and she really liked it too! And don’t even get me started on the cookie… TOO good to be true. Like, dangerously good 🍪✨ Now the Mumbai veggie sandwich?? Worth every penny. Legit the perfect sandwich. Flavorful, fresh, and super satisfying. Basically, you won’t regret stopping here. I’ll 100% be coming back every time I’m in town 💛
