Introduction

In the heart of Cape Coral lies Café YOU, a remarkable Australian-inspired eatery where "fresher, healthier, tastier" isn’t just a tagline—it’s a lifestyle. Owned by Marlies Laaper and supported by Marketing & Events Manager Andrea (with six years on the team) and Head Chef Sam, this café uniquely blends vibrant, plant-strong cuisine with community-focused events and fine‑dining experiences. From hearty breakfasts and healthy coffee to elegant evening dinners and events, Café YOU invites locals and visitors alike to enjoy delicious, nourishing food in a warm, inclusive space. Whether you're grabbing a healthy latte or attending a vegan wine dinner, this café is cultivating wellness, connection, and unforgettable flavor.

Origins & Inspiration

Café YOU officially opened its doors on December 1, 2015, founded by Australian entrepreneur Marlies Laaper—formerly part of a venture capital team specializing in fixing and flipping businesses. Moving to Cape Coral from Australia, Marlies realized there was a glaring gap in the local dining scene: nowhere offered high-quality coffee paired with a wholesome, whole-food menu in an uplifting, inclusive space. Inspired by her husband, Uri, and their collective vision, she brought over the thriving Australian café experience to Florida, grounded in freshness, scratch-made meals, and supporting dietary inclusivity.

It’s the only Southwest Florida café offering both high-end vegan and entirely gluten‑free dinner menus with rigorous no cross‑contamination standards. From scratch-made breakfast bowls and vegan plates to their hallmark low‑sugar Pavlova dessert, Marlies’ motto—“fresher, healthier, tastier”—shines through in every plate and sip.

The name Café YOU is a tribute to personalized hospitality—reflecting the intentional focus on “you”—the guest. It’s a place where each visitor’s experience is prioritized, where wellness, warmth, and hospitality stand as equals.From day one, Café YOU has felt like a second dining room for Cape Coral, combining Australian-style café culture and fine dining with genuine community connection.

Food Philosophy, Menu & Team Culture

Fresh, Healthy, Elevated

Café YOU’s food philosophy is threefold: fresher, healthier, tastier:

• All dishes are scratch-made using clean cooking methods—no deep fryers, no gas grills—just induction burners and ovens that preserve flavor and nutrients.
  
• They use nourishing healthy fats and minimize sugar, avoiding soy and seed oils, and whole-heartedly embracing whole-food ingredients.
  
• Dietary inclusivity is non-negotiable: vegan, dairy-free, and gluten-free options are standard, commonplace, and delicious. Café YOU is also proud to accommodate any other dietary restriction or preference upon request.

Head Chef, Sam - who’s been with Cafe YOU for 8 years, and Pastry Chef, Ana—who’s been with the café since day one—embody Café YOU’s longevity and continuity. Their high staff retention (25 strong team members, including employees from special populations) reflects a workplace rooted in respect, care, and a shared mission. Together, they ensure every ingredient and experience stays true to the café’s roots.

Signature Dishes & Popular Picks

Some standout menu items bring the philosophy to life:

• Asian Salad: A dynamic mix of colorful veggies topped with a scratch-made umami-rich dressing. It’s crisp, vibrant, and reputation-building.
  
• Avocado Smash: Served in three sensational varieties—original, olive tapenade, and cucumber-red onion togarashi—this dish showcases healthy fats and bold flavors on house-made gluten-free toast.

These dishes, alongside rotating specials and desserts, like their low-sugar Pavlova, demonstrate how delicious, wholesome eating can be accessible, satisfying, and beautiful.

Nutrition, Mindful Eating & Community

Plant-Strong, Vibrant & Inclusive

Café YOU’s commitment to plant-strong food runs deep and authentic:

• They’ve eliminated soy, seed oils, deep-frying, and gas grilling from their kitchen—opting instead for clean-cooking methods that highlight flavor and nutrition.
  
• Over 60% of customers are returning guests—a testament to their connection, intentional hospitality, and consistently thoughtful menus.
  
• The amazing staff know regulars by name, making visits feel less like dining and more like reconnecting with family.

Marlies champions a mindful eating philosophy, encouraging guests to embrace plant-forward eating, savory flavors, and practice conscious portion control. Long-time patrons describe feeling uplifted, supported, and nourished by the café’s approach—not just physically, but emotionally and socially too.

Building Community Through Food & Events

Café YOU is more than a café—it is a community hub. Its recurring events reflect this identity:

• Vegan Street Festival (annually in March): Hosts 50+ vendors and speakers on the café’s street. Features cooking demos, sustainable food education, and plant-strong lifestyle solutions. Café YOU is the major sponsor of this event and has worked for years with its wonderful partners the Pyvio organization and Lifestyle Solutions Healthy Planet (LSHP).

• Vegan & Regular Platinum Plate Dinners (monthly): Fine-dining experience where Chef Sam and the dining team explain each course, cooking method, and flavor pairing, enriching diners with culinary knowledge and delight.

• 6 Course Tasting Dinners (monthly): An intimate culinary experience featuring six beautifully plated, globally inspired courses. Small portions, big flavor — all scratch-made with optional wine pairings.

• Wine Dinners (monthly): Expertly paired wines and handcrafted dishes from all over the world make the healthy dining experience elevated and engaging.

• Summer Camps for Kids: In past camps, kids eagerly gathered at Café YOU to learn how to plan, shop, prepare, and serve balanced plant-strong meals. Many campers return today (now proudly university students) as engaged customers—a sign of the event’s long-term impact.

These events weave together learning, experience, nutrition, and connection—bridging generations through shared food and values.

Spaces Where Everyone Belongs

Café YOU isn’t just about food—it’s about belonging and inclusion:

• Their incredible staff of 25 includes individuals from special populations, ensuring diverse voices and perspectives.
  
• The café morphs from a bright, coffee-forward Australian-style café in the morning to a refined fine-dining space at night.
  
• Regular guests become family, engaged in culinary conversation and celebration over healthy meals.

As shared in Google reviews, patrons consistently say the staff remember them by name, making every visit feel personal. One guest wrote, “They truly know their regulars—it’s like stepping into your own dining room.” Another praised the Pavlova cake: “Delicate, less-Sugar, and absolutely dreamy.” These personal connections perfectly align with Café YOU’s mission, bringing warmth to wellness.

Mindful Eating & Wellness Guidance

The Magic of Mindful Nutrition

For Marlies, healthy eating empowers life, not constrains it:

• Joyful eating is essential—it’s the fuel for long-term wellness and healthy aging.
  
• Mindful eating supports a combination of pleasure and nourishment.
  
• Portion control helps ensure meals are whole-heartedly enjoyed without excess.
  
• Sustainability trumps restriction: habits should be built on consistency and enjoyment, not deprivation.
  

This perspective is evident in weekend brunches, weekday lunches, dessert plates, and even coffee pairings—each element supports a lifestyle that celebrates balance and abundance.

Ongoing Support & Resources

Education extends beyond nourishing plates:

• Verbal guidance during events, like nutrition tips at wine dinners or cooking advice at camps.
  
• Lifestyle Solutions Healthy Planet (LSHP) is a non-profit organization that partners with Café YOU for the annual Vegan Street Festival. Their focus is education on the benefits of eating a plant-based diet.
  
• Extended support through Rose Natural Wellness, which offers discovery calls and ongoing nutritional programs.

• Café YOU is currently collaborating with the Pyvio organization and LSHP is bringing Dr. Hana Kahleova to speak in Cape Coral on Aug 23, 2025.
  • Dr. Hana Kahleova, one of the world’s leading voices in plant-based nutrition As Head of Research at PCRM, her groundbreaking studies have been featured in the bestselling work of Dr. Michael Greger (How Not to Die)—and now you can hear directly from her. Dr. Kahleova’s research reveals how a whole-food, plant-based lifestyle can dramatically improve health, and her dynamic speaking style makes the science accessible, engaging, and empowering. She recently spoke at this year’s Cape Coral Vegan Street Fest to rave reviews—and Café YOU is thrilled to welcome her again!

By weaving food, instruction, and community support, Café YOU acts as a gateway and resource hub for sustainable wellness.

Local Impact & Future Vision

Southwest Florida Reach

As the only plant-strong, vegan fine-dining café in Southwest Florida, Café YOU draws guests from as far as Sarasota all the way to Marco Island. Their offerings serve both local regulars and visitors seeking flavorful, nutrient-dense meals.

The café is a destination restaurant, not a fleeting trend. Community sentiment shows that patrons return not just for meals, but for cooking classes, wine dinners, and the café's vibrant atmosphere. The success of these events confirms that Cafe YOU is forging unity through food and purpose.

What’s Next for Café YOU

Plans include:

• Expanding the presence and impact of the Vegan Street Festival
  
• An exciting celebration of their ten year anniversary this December
  
• Additional fine-dining series, expanded wine dinners, and seasonal recipe celebrations.

All are initiatives reinforcing the café’s commitment: food can nourish wellness, cultivate community, and create joy.

Real Stories from Real People

A few review highlights help capture the atmosphere and impact:

• “Best coffee in Cape Coral, hands down,” one review declares. Not just because of taste, but because they serve coffee that respects sugar limits and supports mindful living.
  
• Another shares: “The Vegan Platinum Plates dinner was luxurious, mindful, and unlike anything else in SWFL.”
  
• Several parents reflect on kids’ cooking camps: “My daughter still talks about that summer camp—she learned to cook and then came home to cook for us!”

These stories amplify the café’s impact—extending wellness into homes and hearts.

Final Thoughts

Café YOU stands as a model for how food—when crafted with intention, integrity, and intelligence—can nourish communities long-term. Whether you’re vegan, gluten-sensitive, a wellness enthusiast, a family with kids, or someone seeking bold flavors without compromise—you’ll find a home here.

Their commitment to:

• Healthy, scratch-made fare
  
• Low sugar options that respect dietary restrictions
  
• Inclusive, intergenerational connection

All of these factors make Café YOU a shining star for community-first, wellness-centered hospitality. 

Visit Café YOU at 1423 SE 10th St. #1a, Cape Coral, FL 33990.

Check out the Café YOU website which proudly displays their unique menu, upcoming events, careers, and more!