Featured Nook

With our next feature quickly approaching we set out to find a sunny and cheerful Locale. During our travels, we found the ideal setting in Gilgamesh. With its bright colors and abundant use of floral décor, The Step Cafe perfectly captures the vibrant warmth of a summer day. The design’s delicate softness is reminiscent of the gentle aroma of flowers hanging in the balmy August breeze. The many windows encircling the venue allow rays of light to shine through them, pleasantly enveloping everything within the café and painting the interior with a cozy feeling.

Upon entering the establishment all guests are cheerfully welcomed by its proprietor, Markeet. Patrons can peruse the menu and place orders at the counter. Thanks to the ingenious inclusion of a Free Company chest built into the counter, Markeet promptly fulfills any orders. Once patrons have been served, they make their way to whichever part of the café catches their fancy.

Despite being a single floor design in a small plot, this venue is able to offer ample seating while still maintaining an open feeling. The main area of the venue is a split level design; rather than using lofts to separate the floors, flooring mats were utilized to maximize the amount of vertical space available to each of the different levels. Every inch of space was capitalized on in the design of this venue; even the area that would normally lead down into the basement was utilized in a seamless way by extending the floor out above the stairs and incorporating a small powder room.

The top and bottom areas of the café are connected by a gorgeous white angled staircase with delightful pops of pink running across the surface of each step. Several different sitting areas line this locale, each with its own appeal. Two bar counters, a booth, multiple tables, couches, and an adorable hanging seat area give players many options to choose from. The diversity of these arrangements provides a nice assortment of spots to capture chic photos with well lit and aesthetic backgrounds. If pictures aren’t your cup of tea, each area is also incredibly enjoyable to just sit back and relax in. 

Not only is the interior of this venue charming, but the outdoor design is as well. The yard has numerous areas that allow patrons to enjoy the ambience of the Lavender Beds from perhaps the best vantage points in the entire ward. The clever layout and use of vertical design takes full advantage of the scenic views that surround the locale. A spacious patio runs along the edge of the house connecting the front yard to the side yard. Once you step down into the side yard you can access a small nook hidden at the back of the property by going under a stone archway. This secluded corner is absolutely perfect for picnicking; patrons are able to sit on a blanket and enjoy their food amongst a flurry of wisteria petals.

If guests make their way up the stone archway, they will find themselves on a raised deck. A cliffside full of waterfalls cascades into the valley below and serves as a lovely backdrop for this seating area. In the daytime dappled sunlight beaming down through the canopy of the great tree makes for an extremely soothing atmosphere. During the night moonlight floods over the deck providing a different variety of calmness than that of the day. If you are fortunate enough to be on the deck as the moon is setting in fair weather, you can catch a breathtaking sight of ethereal periwinkle clouds shrouding a heather colored sky.

All in all The Step Cafe is a spectacular venue. Whether you are looking for an appealing area to take photos, a pleasant space to relax in, or a trendy spot to take a special someone; this locale is one we highly recommend.