Cafe Smitten is a welcome addition to Bakersfield’s cafe scene, serving specialty coffee, freshly baked pastries, and house made food. The concept behind Cafe Smitten came from the cafes of Europe ? a place where you can grab a morning coffee and scone to go, sit at a table with a friend for lunch, have a gathering at the communal table, or have a glass of wine after work.
Husband and wife duo, Shai and Stasie, each bring a unique vision to Cafe Smitton. Shai has over a decade of experience managing restaurants in New York City and Stasie is a coffee shop connoisseur intent on bringing the best of big-city coffee culture to her hometown.
This is a family affair. The building is owned by Stasie's parents, who gave her and Shai the opportunity to bring their coffee shop dream to Bakersfield. Together with the cafe’s designers, Monica and Daniel Cater of Cater Design Group, Shai and Stasie worked to create a unique space for Bakersfield. They exposed the original brick walls and trussed ceilings and added new features like a large sliding storefront window that opens up to a side patio. The couple also made sure to use materials from the original building (built in 1929), like the steel window frames for the kitchen and redwood planks for the bar face. The pendant lighting above the farm table was designed and laser cut for Smitten by Stasie’s brother, David with The Smith Factory.
Cafe Smitten is the first in Bakersfield to brew and sell Counter Culture Coffee, an Emeryville-based roaster known for the quality of their coffee and extensive training regimen for purveyors. The cafe also offers pastries and desserts that are delivered fresh daily from local baker Courtney with GhilaDolci Bakery. For after work drinks, Cafe Smitten also has beer and wine options!
Smitten's savory menu items were inspired by Shai’s hometown of Jerusalem with Moroccan eggs, and plates that include eggplant, tahini, and olives. The menu also highlights California-inspired offerings like the avocado smash and house made granola.
Cafe Smitten is a warm and inviting place; the coffee counter, farm table, and outdoor patios were all designed to create a unique, urban experience that brings people together.
-Stasie Bitton, Owner
