For Nadia Dannhauser, owner of Liriek Café in Westdene and College Square, coffee has never simply been about what is in the cup. It has always been about bringing people together, sparking conversations, and creating the kind of moments that become lasting memories.
At 29, Nadia describes herself as a coffee enthusiast, problem solver, and accidental collector of coffee cups. While she is more comfortable behind the scenes than in front of a camera, her passion for creating meaningful spaces shines through in every corner of Liriek.
The dream of owning a café started long before the café doors opened.
“Like many children, I went through several career phases, but coffee always lingered in the back of my mind. My mom loves a coffee shop, and I honestly don’t know anyone that drinks more cups a day than she does, that’s where my love for coffee started,” she shares.
Growing up on a farm as the youngest of four siblings, afternoons were often spent waiting in town while everyone finished their extracurricular activities.
“That always happened to be in a coffee shop, and I remember since then it was the dream, I always wanted to own a café.”
That dream eventually became Liriek, a space she designed to offer coffee-lovers the opportunity to pause.
“The idea behind Liriek was simple: create a place where people could pause for a moment in the middle of a busy day,” Nadia explains. “Life moves fast, and I wanted to build a space that felt welcoming whether you had five minutes or five hours.”
The café’s guiding philosophy, “a place where everyone belongs,” reflects Nadia’s belief that great cafés are about far more than what is served in a cup.
“Hospitality teaches humility very quickly. I’ve learned that consistency matters more than perfection, that people remember how you make them feel, and that every challenge usually contains a lesson, although sometimes that lesson is expensive.”
Whether guests arrive for a quick coffee, a business meeting, study session, or quiet moment alone, Nadia wants them to feel at ease and coffee itself remains at the heart of that experience.
“Coffee has always been more than a drink to me. It’s often the reason conversations start,” Some of life’s biggest discussions, celebrations, ideas, and even difficult conversations happen around a cup of coffee,” she adds.
Since opening, Nadia has watched countless stories unfold within the café’s walls. “One of the things that stands out most isn’t a single story, but the number of relationships we’ve watched develop over time. We’ve seen customers meet for business meetings that turned into partnerships, students become regulars, and strangers become friends over coffee.”
Behind the warm atmosphere and carefully crafted coffee lies the reality of running a hospitality business. Nadia admits that balance is often a work in progress, with some seasons demanding more from the business and others allowing more time for family.
Through it all, the encouragement of her parents, team and customers has helped to keep her grounded. “I’ve learned that businesses are built by people. Great teams, loyal customers, and strong relationships are what make long-term success possible,” she adds.
Her joy lies in not simply serving coffee, but creating a space where ordinary moments quietly become lifelong memories. “I want people to think of community, consistency, quality, and connection. I hope it becomes one of those places woven into people’s stories; the café where they studied for exams, had important meetings, celebrated milestones, met friends, or simply found a good cup of coffee on a difficult day.”
Text and photographs: GYPSEENIA LION Make-up: MUD STUDIO BLOEMFONTEIN Venue: LIRIEK CAFÉ
