When Bibi Farnham found herself, like many others, with far too little time to pause and “smell the ocean” or take “long creative walks”, a simmering wish began to surface.
She dreamed of combining her love for coffee, art and well-being to create a sanctuary where she could bring pause back into her busy life, a place with less stress, less chasing and more attracting.
This initial vision marked the beginning of a new entrepreneurial journey, one focused on qualitative over quantitative living. After praying about this leap of faith during an evening run the answer came to her clearly: The Me-Time Café.
“The concept seemed to be the perfect fit,” Farnham, a specialist wellness counsellor passionate about self-improvement, restoration and emotional well being, said. “My father passed away a year ago, and I felt more than ever that life is short. We should do more things that fulfil us rather than just things that bring in money alone. It was an ‘I have to do this, if not now, when?’ moment. I can only explain it as Me-Time Café finding me rather than me finding it.”
With help from one of her best friends, Farnham opened the doors to her unique café on Wednesday 1 October. The timing was particularly meaningful, as it marked both the launch of her business venture and the beginning of World Mental Health Awareness Month.
Unlike traditional coffee shops, Me-Time Café goes beyond serving beverages to actively support mental well-being and foster healing conversations. The café offers a quiet, tranquil atmosphere where visitors can find stillness and feel truly seen.
Farnham intentionally designed the small space in Strand as an intimate place where people can gather their thoughts, find their inner voice and spark creativity. Rather than rushing through a coffee run, visitors are encouraged to pause and engage in meaningful self-reflection.
The café’s philosophy reflects this mission: “Welcome to Me-Time Café, your cosy corner in Strand where coffee isn’t just a drink; it’s a ritual. I am not just a place to grab a latté; I am your pause button on a busy day.”
The café doesn’t aspire to compete with the many excellent coffee shops around it, its proud owner said. Instead, it focuses on creating a uniquely restorative experience.
A place to settle into the right mindset
“We want our guests to take a moment to relax and truly pause,” Farnham pointed out. “We offer hot or cold towels to help you settle into the right mindset. Our small, intimate menu is designed to help guests unwind without overwhelming choices.”
The café encourages slow, mindful activities. “You can enjoy adult colouring while sipping coffee, create sand bookmarks, play board games or work on personal crafts. Nothing is rushed here; the entire ambience is designed to help you slow down. Please bring your own book to read or feel free to browse one of ours. We also have greeting cards available for those special moments.”
Building a mindful community
Regarding her typical clientele, Farnham noted the café has attracted a loyal following since its opening, with several repeat patrons, “who we believe are experiencing what we set out to achieve. Our guests are typically mature people who appreciate life’s special moments, those who value great coffee at a local gem and enjoy unhurried time with friends over cake. They’re drawn to our peaceful atmosphere, complete with beautiful tapestries and artwork.”
The café aims to give back to the community by offering “Refill your Cup” grief support and the Chatty Chatter Table, two weekly programmes which embodies Farnham’s commitment to addressing real social needs through simple, effective approaches that transform her café into a vital community resource for healing and connection.
“Refill Your Cup” is a weekly one-hour grief support session held on Monday evenings, facilitated by her in her capacity as a specialist wellness counsellor. Born from her personal experience of losing her father and recognising the community’s lack of grief-support resources, this programme creates a safe space where all emotions are welcome, whether tears, silence, laughter, or numbness. The sessions focus on weekly themes including letting go of what no longer serves, healing from comparison, finding joy in ordinary moments, navigating change with grace, and rediscovering personal strengths.
The approach emphasises active listening without trying to “fix” participants, instead offering presence and the opportunity to find strength through connecting with others who understand similar pain.
The “Chatty Chatter Table” is based on the successful UK “Chatter & Natter” initiative that now operates in more than 900 cafés worldwide. Me-Time Café proudly serves as the first Chatty Café in South Africa, hosting the two-hour weekly programme designed to combat loneliness through meaningful conversation.
The initiative welcomes people of all ages and backgrounds, requiring no purchase and offering flexible engagement. Trained volunteers facilitate the sessions using methods developed in the UK, creating genuine human connections.
Farnham boasts 25-plus years of wellness-counselling expertise and international hospitality experience. A specialist in EFT/Tapping, art therapy, and relationship coaching, she has worked with diverse populations.
Author of Take off Your Mask and former radio host, Farnham defines “me time” as joyful self-reflection through creative activities.
She envisions the café as a community-wellness hub, partnering with local therapists and hosting monthly mental health talks to support the Strand community.
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