Above: Café Livin in St John (CJ Photo)

By Alexander Britell

CRUZ BAY — For a moment, you’d think you were somewhere in the French Caribbean — or Europe.

A quiet side street, a small group of tables, a lone cup of espresso.

This wasn’t Martinique or Guadeloupe, though — it was the American Caribbean outpost of St John, home to what is a rarity in much of the English-speaking parts of the region: a true café.

It’s called Cafe Livin’, and the eatery just a few steps away from the ferry terminal in Cruz Bay serves coffee roasted locally in the Virgin Islands.

And while you might walk right past it on the way to the island’s famous Beach Bar, you’d be wise to take a short break, take a sip of coffee (or one of the cafe’s fruit drinks or smoothies), grab a sandwich or some fresh sushi and enjoy the wonderful silence of the streets of St John’s terrific little town.

— CJ