*George Mahe/St. Louis Magazine*

Zensia coffee shop in Clayton quietly opened over the weekend at 8121 Maryland. The low-key debut fits the café’s ethos: Zensia is designed as an oasis of calm, guided by simple mantras such as “When the city shouts, we whisper coffee,” and “Not just coffee…a mindful pause.”

The Concept

At Zensia, coffee is meant to be more than a drink—it’s a sensory experience. The three owners, St. Louisans with Colombian roots, sought to create what they felt was lacking in the city: a place to savor authentic Colombian small-batch coffee in a tranquil setting.

“We had been looking for a place in St. Louis to experience very good Colombian coffee, and we didn’t find one,” says co-owner Juan Carlos Antolinez. “So we created it ourselves, something that we feel is unique here.”

Guests enter through frosted glass doors into a warm, spa-like space accented with black and light wood, greenery, contoured seating, and an upholstered banquette.

An Atmosphere for Lingering

The design encourages guests to pause and relax. “We wanted a space where people could pause, enjoy life, and feel tranquility through colors and textures,” Antolinez explains. “There’s a feeling that we get when we take coffee, one we want to share and teach.”

Unlike most cafés built for quick visits, Zensia invites people to stay. “Most coffee shops are designed for people not to stay and linger,” Antolinez adds. “At Zensia, it’s just the opposite, and we feel confident that satisfied guests will spread the word that we are doing something different, something good.”

With its small-batch Colombian coffee and serene atmosphere, Zensia offers a unique coffee experience in Clayton.

Content for this summary was derived from original reporting by St. Louis Magazine