Parc Cafe (Maysville, KY)

The delightful Parc Cafe in downtown Maysville, Kentucky, is the perfect place to relax with coffee and pastries all morning long.

By: Alisha Trenalone

Occasionally, I have to play chauffeur on a drive over to Maysville, Kentucky. Once I arrive, there's usually an hour or two to wait. And I always drop my passenger off with the same words:

"I'll be at the Parc Cafe."

It's a coffee shop that's been my little haven for years, though I don't get to visit often enough. I was sad when it closed for a few months in 2022, but it's re-opened under new management and I'm happy to say that my latest visit was as fantastic as ever.

Have you discovered this little gem in downtown Maysville yet? Here's why it's worth a visit.

The Vibes at Parc Cafe

The building that houses Parc Cafe may seem unremarkable from the outside: a tall, blocky, brick structure with few embellishments. The cobblestone drive might make you start to wonder, though.

But inside!

You may well feel like you've been transported to a little European restaurant. The high ceilings, the huge windows streaming light, the lovingly renovated architectural touches everywhere. And the strains of Vivaldi and Schubert keeping company with patrons' casual conversations.

It's a lovely, relaxed place that does a great job of making customers feel welcome to settle in for the morning. And that's without even talking about the food and drink. So let's move on to that.

The Menu

As of spring 2023, Parc Cafe is open for mornings only. They have some pretty substantial breakfast offerings (that would also be tempting if you arrive closer to lunch time).

Check their Facebook page to verify hours of business.

If, like me, you're looking for more of a coffee break than a meal, check out the pastries on display. The gentleman behind the counter kindly described each item, which I appreciated very much as it gave me time to make up my mind!

Tea, coffee, or wine are available, including a couple of house specialty drinks that they'll be happy to explain to you.

On my latest visit, I went for a cappuccino (not flavored) and a blueberry scone.

The cappuccino was wonderfully smooth and pleasant, and the blueberry scone had been slightly warmed. It wasn't extremely sweet, which is just the way I like it.

I settled in to enjoy the ambience and some leisurely reading.

Each table had a rosebud in a glass!

I don't think anything can really beat lounging around in the café for a while, but on a particularly beautiful morning, I have been known to take my coffee out to the neighboring park.

Limestone Park is small but has gorgeous springtime flowers and attractive stonework.

It's easy to see why Parc Cafe is so beloved by Maysville locals – and definitely worth a trip if you're visiting from out of town!

Curious about other stand-out local coffee and sweet shops in Kentucky? Try The Fuzzy Duck in Morehead, Dewster's in Elizabethtown, and La Petit Delicat or European Delights Bakery near Lexington.