Florence recently opened a second location in Belair, and many will already be familiar with their original spot in Bonnevoie. For me, Florence has always been one of those places where old and young meet, where expats and locals naturally cross paths, bonded by the simple pleasure of good coffee and a pastry shared at the counter or around a small table.
The Belair location keeps exactly that vibe. It feels calm, light-filled, and welcoming, the kind of place where stopping for a coffee easily turns into staying a bit longer. I went twice: once on a Saturday around 1pm, when it was busy but manageable, and again on Sunday morning around 10am, when we had to wait a little before getting a table. Not surprising, really, as this is currently the only specialty coffee spot in Belair, and it already feels like a neighbourhood favourite.
I had the chance to ask Kelsey, the founder, a few questions about the new opening. The idea of a second location had been in her mind for a while, and if it were to happen, Belair felt like the obvious choice. It’s within walking distance from both her home and Florence Gare, making logistics easier, but more importantly, she felt the neighbourhood was missing good coffee. When she saw the space,"a sunny corner”, she fell in love and immediately had a vision for it.
At its core, Florence is about making people feel welcome. Kelsey spoke about how important it is for the team to interact with guests – remembering names, asking for feedback, striking up conversations – which, in my opinion, is exactly what makes this place such a people’s favourite.
As she mentioned herself: “My wish is that Florence becomes a happy part of their morning routine or their afternoon espresso, whatever the time of day I hope that we are making people smile and that they experience the different African coffees in a positive and interesting way.”
The menu is simple and straightforward, focusing on quality ingredients rather than endless options.
My friend went for The Florence (€14.50) – 24-month Comté, farm egg, whipped butter, jam, and sourdough bread, paired with a matcha (€6). I opted for a hojicha (€6) – a roasted green tea that’s nutty, toasty, and in my opinion still very underrated, so I was genuinely happy to see it on the menu.
For food, I chose the labneh dish (€15) with fresh herbs, green oil, farm eggs, toasted walnuts, and sourdough bread. It felt balanced, comforting and fresh, and paired nicely with my warm drink.
Other options include classics like avocado toast or homemade granola with poached pears if you’re in the mood for something sweet.
The menu itself has always been a team effort. Over the years, Florence has had an incredibly multicultural kitchen – with people from Nepal to Finland, Egypt to Ethiopia, which naturally shaped the way ideas developed. Because the kitchen is small, changes are slow and thoughtful, with a strong focus on quality. Eggs come from a farm just outside Luxembourg City, and bread and pastries are made in-house.
Coffee is, of course, at the heart of Florence.
Kelsey still selects all the green coffee herself, nearly five years in. She regularly travels to East Africa to meet farmers and producers, taste beans with them, and understand the full story behind each coffee. Some beans are even imported directly from Rwanda!
Florence works with Parlor, a micro-roastery in Brussels, who have been roasting their beans for the past four years. What matters most here isn’t just great taste, but sourcing coffee in the most honest way possible, paying significantly higher prices for green coffee than many other places do.
Florence in Belair feels exactly like what you’d like a neighbourhood coffee place to be: warm, uncomplicated, and rooted in human connection. It’s a place where people come back, not just for the coffee, but I think mostly for the feeling of familiarity.
Whether you’re popping in for a quick espresso after a jog, meeting a friend over breakfast, or slowly easing into your Sunday morning, Florence fits effortlessly into the rhythm of the neighbourhood.
Food quality: 4/5
Family-friendly: 5/5
Budget-friendly: 3.5/5
Date-friendly: 4/5
Veggie-friendly: 5/5
Carolina Reinertz, former RTL Today editor turned contributor, is testing every hotspot in Luxembourg with honest reviews on whether a place is date-friendly, budget-friendly, or worth the hype – so you can spend your money wisely.
