definition
strict definition
cafe
A restaurant specializing in light meals, snacks, and drinks, especially coffee and other hot beverages.
A cafe is a restaurant which specializes in light fare, especially hot drinks (especially coffee) and snacks. It is synonymous with a coffee house. The name comes from the French word for coffee.
The restaurant offers light fare rather than being defined solely by beverage sales. Snacks and hot drinks are characteristic offerings.
A coffeeshop primarily sells coffee, usually at a counter. The cafe definition concerns the restaurant-style light-meal use.