A Balkan Cafe Is Hiding Inside This Missouri Nursery That Has Been Growing Since 1959

Plants downstairs, Bosnian coffee upstairs. That is already a pretty good reason to stop.

This Missouri nursery has been growing here since 1959, but now there is a Balkan-inspired café tucked inside too.

The menu brings in breakfast plates, pastries, salads, sandwiches, and strong Bosnian coffee served in the traditional style.

You can grab something to eat, sit for a while, then wander through the nursery before heading out. The mix sounds a little unusual, but it works surprisingly well.

One part feels like a garden stop, the other like a neighborhood café, and together they make the visit feel relaxed and easy.

It is the kind of place where coffee and plant shopping can accidentally turn into a much longer morning.

A Nursery That Grew Up Right Alongside The Neighborhood

Picture a family business that has been handing out tomato plants and friendly advice to the same neighborhood for so long that grandparents now bring their grandkids along. Rolling Ridge Nursery has exactly that kind of history in Webster Groves, and you can feel it the moment you start looking around.

The nursery was started by the McMillan family, and Lynn Cressler, who runs the place today as president, comes from that same family line. The building has stayed in their care across several generations, which is pretty rare when you think about how often small businesses change hands.

That long stretch of family ownership shows up in the way the shop still feels personal instead of corporate.

What I love about places like this is that they tend to know their customers and their local soil better than any big chain ever could. When you ask a question here, you are tapping into a lifetime of hands-on know-how about what actually grows well around St. Louis.

It is the kind of knowledge that gets passed down over dinner tables and in greenhouses, not pulled from a training manual.

So even before we talk about the cafe, it is worth appreciating that you are stepping into a true Missouri family story. Honestly, how many garden centers can say they have watched a whole town grow up around them?

Finding Your Way To The Old Stone Building On Gore Avenue

Finding the place is easy once you know where to look, and I promise it is worth putting into your map app right now. The full address is 60 N Gore Ave, Webster Groves, MO 63119, which puts you right in a very charming suburb on the edge of St. Louis.

Webster Groves is known for leafy streets, old houses with big porches, and a walkable feel that makes you want to slow down a little. The nursery fits right into that vibe, so it is easy to pair a visit with a stroll around the nearby shops and neighborhoods.

You could easily turn it into a relaxed morning out without ever feeling rushed.

Here is the fun part about the building itself, because it did not start out as a place for plants at all. Long before anyone was potting ferns there, it was home to a feed business run by Henry Schulz, complete with a stable and wagon teams back in the days of horses.

Later on, the McMillan family transformed it into the nursery that locals know today.

So when you pull up, take a moment to look at the structure and imagine horses and wagons coming and going through the area. It gives the whole visit a little extra weight, knowing you are walking through a real piece of local history.

Thick Limestone Walls And Oak Beams With Stories To Tell

Walk inside and look up, because the ceiling alone might stop you in your tracks for a minute. The old oak timber beams and floor joists are still in place, and they give the whole building a warm, sturdy feeling that you just cannot fake with new construction.

Then there are the limestone walls, which are incredibly thick and built the old-fashioned way. You can almost imagine how cool they must keep the inside during a hot Missouri summer afternoon, which makes a lot of sense for a building that once housed horses.

They also give the space a rugged, earthy look that pairs beautifully with all the greenery.

The cafe upstairs leans into that character instead of hiding it behind drywall and shiny finishes. The restored wood sits front and center, and the overall look stays a little rough around the edges in the best possible way.

It feels like the building is allowed to be itself, while the plants and pastries simply move in around it.

If you enjoy snapping photos, the mix of stone, timber, and hanging plants makes for some really lovely shots. Bring your phone, find a good spot near a window, and let all those natural textures do the work for you.

Heading Upstairs To Discover Telva At The Ridge

Okay, so here is the part that surprises most people, and it is the whole reason this article exists in the first place. Upstairs inside the nursery, tucked away where you might not expect it, sits a Balkan cafe called Telva at The Ridge.

It comes from the Nalic family, the same folks behind Balkan Treat Box, which has a loyal following all around St. Louis. Chef Loryn Nalic has been named a James Beard Award semifinalist more than once, so you are in very capable hands here.

That kind of recognition is a big deal in the food world, and it tells you the cooking is taken seriously.

The setup is counter service, which keeps things relaxed and easygoing. You walk up, look over the menu, place your order, and then find a seat while the kitchen gets to work.

Nobody is going to hurry you along, so it is a nice spot to linger with a coffee after shopping for plants.

The menu is a modified take on what Balkan Treat Box serves, focusing on breakfast dishes, small lunch plates, pastries, and salads. Wood-fire cooking plays a big role in the kitchen, adding a smoky depth to a lot of what comes out.

Would you ever have guessed that a garden center could be keeping something like this upstairs?

The Fortune Telling Story Behind The Name Telva

Have you ever heard of people reading their fortunes in leftover coffee grounds? It sounds like something out of a storybook, but it is a real tradition, and it is exactly where the cafe gets its name.

In Balkan cultures, telva is the word for the thick coffee grounds that settle at the bottom of your cup after you finish drinking. Traditionally, people would flip the cup over, let the grounds dry into shapes, and then someone would read those patterns to guess what might happen in the future.

It was often a social thing, done among friends and family who wanted to laugh, chat, and dream a little together.

I love that the owners chose a name with so much meaning behind it, because it tells you right away that the cafe is rooted in real culture. It is not just a trendy word slapped on a sign, since it connects directly to the way coffee is shared and enjoyed in that part of the world.

Knowing the story makes your cup feel a bit more special.

So when you finish your Bosnian coffee, go ahead and peek at the bottom of the cup. You might not be able to read the future, but you will definitely have a fun conversation starter for whoever came along with you.

Bosnian Coffee Poured From A Shiny Copper Pot

The drink I would point you toward before anything else is the Bosnian coffee, because it is unlike anything you get at a regular coffee shop. The cafe runs a wood-fired coffee program built around traditional Bosnian khava, and the whole presentation feels like a little ritual.

The coffee is boiled and served in a small copper pot, usually with a sugar cube and a piece of Turkish delight on the side. It is thick, rich, and meant to be sipped slowly, so give yourself time to actually enjoy it instead of gulping it down.

Let the grounds settle for a moment before you pour, and you will end up with a smoother cup.

If you are more of a latte person, you are still in luck, since the cafe offers creative lattes, including some inspired by Balkan pastries. There is also a full coffee bar, so all the familiar drinks are covered too.

Nobody in your group will feel left out, even the friend who always orders the exact same thing everywhere.

The beans come from La Cosecha, a roaster in nearby Maplewood that focuses on sustainably sourced and fair trade coffee. It feels good knowing your morning cup supports thoughtful practices and another local business at the same time.

Savory Plates That Make Lunch Feel Like An Adventure

Now let’s talk about the savory side of the menu, because this is where the kitchen really shows off what it can do. A favorite for a lot of people is the Cilbir, which is Turkish eggs over garlic yogurt with a tomato-chile brown butter and fresh herbs, served with toasted somun bread for dipping.

Somun, by the way, is a soft and fluffy Bosnian bread, and it shows up in several dishes here. The Breakfast Sendvic stacks a runny egg with herbed ajvar mayo on fresh somun, and ajvar is a roasted red pepper spread that is hugely popular across the Balkans.

If you have never tried it, this sandwich is a very easy and friendly way to start.

Craving something heartier for lunch? The Sloppy Mustafa Tost piles moussaka-seasoned beef onto sourdough, and it is a clever, playful spin on a classic American comfort sandwich.

There are also wood-fired flatbreads, a Hummus Tost, and the Telva Avocado Tost for lighter appetites.

Plenty of these dishes use dark sourdough from Union Loafers, a much-loved St. Louis bakery. If you want something fresh and bright, the Tikva Salata brings roasted squash and dates together in a way that feels both cozy and refreshing.

Tahini Buns, Baklava, And A Cookie Worth The Trip

Save room, and I really mean that, because the pastry case here is going to test your willpower. Everything is baked fresh daily, so the selection feels lively and inviting no matter when you stop in.

The tahini buns are a big favorite, and they are a lot like cinnamon rolls but with a nutty, toasty twist from the sesame paste. Then there is the Telva cookie, which is loaded with chocolate chunks, orange, and pistachios for a combination that somehow tastes both familiar and exciting.

If you are grabbing just a quick treat to go, that cookie makes a very strong case for itself.

Fans of classic Balkan desserts will spot baklava, with its flaky layers and sweet syrup soaking into every bite. There is also Portokalopita, a syrup-soaked orange cake that is moist and fragrant, along with sour cherry scones that bring a nice tangy balance.

Each of these feels like a little window into home baking from that part of the world.

And if you are visiting in the morning, keep an eye out for Sweet Przenice, which is basically a Balkan-style French toast. My advice is to order a few different treats and share them with your group so everyone gets a taste.

Who says you have to choose just a favorite?

Bring The Pup Along And Take Home A Delft Style Mug

Do you have a dog at home who gets excited every time you grab the car keys? Leashed pups are welcome inside the store and all around the nursery grounds, so your furry sidekick can tag along while you browse.

Even better, the nursery has a special display of pet-safe plants, which is such a thoughtful touch for anyone with curious animals at home. Plenty of common houseplants can be harmful if a dog or cat decides to take a bite, so having a clear section to shop from takes the guesswork out of it.

It is the kind of detail that shows the team genuinely thinks about the people and pets who walk through the door.

The cafe also cares about how it treats the planet, and you can see it in the way the kitchen runs. It uses an all-electric setup, composts its food waste, and even grows herbs and grape leaves right on site.

That connection between garden and plate fits this location so naturally that it almost feels meant to be.

Before you leave, take a look at the locally designed delft-style coffee and tea mugs for sale. They make a lovely souvenir or gift, especially for the friend who always has a warm drink in hand.

You get to carry a little piece of this quirky, plant-filled Balkan hideaway home with you.