Sop up your bread, St. Pete Beach—your French bread, that is. Award-winning bakery, Café Soleil, moved and reopened its new location at 5501 Gulf Blvd on St. Pete Beach and continues slinging decadent quiches, baguette sandwiches, soups, coffee, and viennoiserie (croissant-based pastries). The Café is open 8am-3pm daily.
When Lauren Chezaud arrived from Paris over 10 years ago, she knew she couldn’t survive without two things: good coffee and bread, so she opened her own French bakery. 11 months ago, Café Soleil left its original location on the beach.
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Café Soleil is consistently ranked on Yelp’s Top 100 Places to Eat in Florida list, and is in the top 30 in the US and Canada for croissants.
New location, new beginnings
Lauren is here to stay. In part, thanks to the citizens that uproariously decried the removal of Café Soleil, a beloved, independent staple that serves one of the best beach towns in America. The other part is Lauren’s tenacity. “I’m French,” she says. “I have revolution in my blood.”
While relocating Café Soleil was challenging, Lauren says it became a blessing. The new location is three times bigger than the previous, boasting incredible views of the waterway, and now there’s room for a wine and beer bar. Lauren intends to host monthly events that thematically revolve around regions of France—tasting the wines of Burgundy, for example.
Introducing beer and wine also means expanding the menu and the operating hours. Historically, Café Soleil was a breakfast, brunch, and lunch spot, but Lauren and her chefs are poised to introduce a dinner menu of traditional French cuisine.
Speaking with Lauren, I learned that food requires at least one of three things: butter, sugar, and cream. At Café Soleil, you’ll find all three. You only need pass under their lovely flower baskets arching the doorway.
Follow Cafe Soleil on Instagram and its website.
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