Know the North Shore: Love Cafe in Shorewood

Love Cafe isn't just another coffee shop—it's a wellness sanctuary. This Shorewood gem combines exceptional coffee, thoughtfully crafted vegetarian fare, and a calming yoga-studio atmosphere into one unique space. For Milwaukee-area families seeking something beyond the typical coffee run, Love Cafe offers a genuinely distinctive experience that might just inspire the whole family to slow down, nourish themselves, and embrace a little tranquility.

A space born from personal transformation

Love Cafe opened its doors on Valentine's Day 2024, and the timing was intentional. Owner Kaleigh Atkinson built this cafe as "a culmination of everything that saved my life"—a bold statement backed by a remarkable personal journey. The UW-Milwaukee film grad spent years in the service industry before discovering the transformative power of yoga and mindful living during travels in Australia, where she watched a man brew pour-over coffee on the beach and felt something shift.

After returning to Milwaukee and finding sobriety through Ashtanga yoga practice, Atkinson merged her passions: a weekend coffee cart at Zócalo Food Park evolved into Ashtanga MKE, which then bloomed into this full wellness cafe. The former bakery space at 3801 N. Oakland Avenue (corner of Beverly Road) now houses both a coffee shop and yoga shala, creating something genuinely rare in the Milwaukee area.

"The wellness industry has a really bad reputation," Atkinson has explained. "Things tend to be expensive and they feel exclusive. If you're not part of the clique, you feel out of place. That's not what I want Love Cafe to be." This philosophy shapes everything from the menu pricing to the welcoming atmosphere.

The menu

The entirely vegetarian dining menu offers surprising depth for both adventurous eaters and those seeking familiar yet healthy foods. Love Cafe partners with Sugar Leaf Coffee Roasterie for locally roasted beans, and their pour-over game is particularly strong—one TikTok reviewer declared, "This shop specializes in pour overs. Say no more. You have a new regular in me."

Standout food items include:

• Jackfruit Tamales (vegan, gluten-free)—the crowd favorite, made with blue corn masa, caramelized onions, roasted garlic, tomato, and hibiscus, served with your choice of red or green salsa

• Breakfast Burrito—two fluffy eggs, roasted sweet potato, bell peppers, and spiced black beans in a whole wheat tortilla makes one of Milwaukee’s best breakfast burritos

• Breakfast Sandwich—eggs, gouda, spinach, and lemon garlic aioli on house-made salted focaccia

• Love "Snickers" Candy Bar (vegan, gluten-free)—a homemade treat that repeatedly appears in customer favorites

• Love Cookies and Pumpkin Coffee Cake Muffins for sweeter appetites

The drink menu stretches far beyond standard coffee shop offerings. A basic Americano runs just $3, making budget-conscious visits perfectly manageable. But the specialty drinks are where Love Cafe truly shines. The Purple Drink combines ube-sweetened coconut milk with espresso for an Instagram-worthy creation. Electric Love offers a caffeine-free option featuring house-made ginger ale, blueberry sage syrup, and Topo Chico. For the wellness-curious, Ayurvedic elixirs (around $15) incorporate adaptogenic herbs like ashwagandha and turmeric, while ceremonial cacao drinks provide a gentler alternative to coffee.

Kids and teens might gravitate toward the colorful smoothies—the Berry Mint Smoothie gets consistent praise as "light and refreshing"—or the Mango Matcha, which pairs ceremonial-grade matcha with fruity mango nectar. Plant-based milk alternatives are readily available throughout the menu.

The atmosphere

Walking into Love Cafe feels noticeably different from a typical coffee shop. Customers consistently describe the space as "calming," "earthy," and "bohemian"—think hanging plants, high ceilings, beautiful art on the walls, and an overall vibe one reviewer likened to "a cozy bohemian ambiance reminiscent of another country."

The yoga shala sits at the center of the space, with cafe seating arranged around it. This layout creates a sanctuary-like environment that one Google reviewer described as "an oasis of tranquility." There's also an outdoor patio for warmer months. The former bakery bones give the space a warm, home-like quality that distinguishes it from sleeker modern cafes.

This is counter-service style—you'll order at the counter and find a seat while your drinks and food are prepared. The staff earns consistent praise for warmth and helpfulness, particularly when guiding customers through unfamiliar menu items like ceremonial cacao or adaptogenic elixirs. "They were patient and very helpful when I asked questions," noted one reviewer, while another praised the owner as "really sweet, knowledgeable, and down to earth."

Love Cafe carries an impressive 100 out of 100 health score and maintains a 4.6/5 Google rating with 30 five-star reviews, alongside a perfect 5.0 on Yelp.

Planning your visit: essential details

Address: 3801 N. Oakland Avenue, Shorewood, WI 53211 (corner of Beverly Road and Oakland Avenue)

Hours:

• Monday: 8am–2pm

• Tuesday: CLOSED

• Wednesday–Friday: 8am–2pm

• Saturday–Sunday: 9am–2pm

• Wednesday evenings: "Girl Dinner" event 6pm–8pm (reservations required)

Parking: Love Cafe offers validated parking. Street parking on Oakland Avenue follows alternate-side regulations with 2-hour limits between 8am–6pm on weekdays. Weekends and evenings offer more flexibility. Plan a few extra minutes to find a spot, particularly on busy weekend mornings.

Price ranges:

• Coffee drinks: $3–$6

• Specialty drinks/elixirs: $6–$15

• Breakfast items: Approximately $8–$14

• Baked goods: $3–$8

• Family of four estimate: $40–$60 for drinks and food

Contact: (414) 326-5738 | lovecafemke@gmail.com | lovecafemke.com | @lovecafemke on Instagram

Community roots run deep

Love Cafe has quickly woven itself into Shorewood's fabric through creative programming and genuine community engagement. The weekly "Girl Dinner" on Wednesday evenings (6–8pm) functions as Milwaukee's spin on high tea, featuring rotating menus with items like Detroit-style margherita pizza, pumpkin chili crisp hummus, and chilled ginger scallion noodles. Despite the name, "it's for everyone, not just for girls."

The cafe hosts sound healing sessions, tea ceremonies, grief yoga workshops, numerology readings, and free adult art club meetups. One standout event—"Breaking Bread in the Dayroom"—featured stories from formerly incarcerated individuals while serving elevated prison-inspired food, demonstrating Atkinson's commitment to meaningful community building.

Love Cafe also offers scholarships for individuals in recovery, extending the wellness mission to those who need it most. The cafe sources coffee from Bay View's Sugar Leaf Coffee Roasterie, keeping the supply chain local and relationship-driven.

Conclusion

Love Cafe represents exactly the kind of distinctive local establishment that makes Milwaukee's North Shore special—a place where personal passion translates into community gathering space. While it wasn't designed specifically with families in mind, thoughtful parents will find much to appreciate: exceptional coffee, nourishing food, a genuinely calming atmosphere, and the rare opportunity to share a wellness-focused experience with their children. Pack your patience for parking, come hungry and curious, and prepare to discover why Shorewood residents have embraced this Valentine's Day baby as one of their own.