This Unique Oklahoma Café Feels Like a Hidden Wonderland of Coffee and Art

You know that feeling when you think you are just grabbing coffee, and then you accidentally find a place you want to keep to yourself? That was me climbing the stairs to Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar in the Film Row district.

Second floor, slightly hidden, the kind of entrance that makes you wonder if you are about to discover something good. Inside, it feels layered in the best way.

Part art gallery, part cozy living room, part neighborhood hangout where no one rushes you out the door. I went in for something simple, an affogato and a quiet moment, and ended up losing track of time.

The design invites you to settle in, the atmosphere stays relaxed, and before you realize it, your quick coffee stop has turned into an afternoon retreat hiding in plain sight.

Vintage Décor That Tells a Story

Walking into Perets feels like stepping into a carefully curated vintage living room where every piece has been chosen with intention. Antique couches, mismatched chairs, ornate mirrors, and clusters of potted plants fill the space, creating an atmosphere that feels collected rather than designed.

The décor draws from different eras and styles, blending them into a cohesive whole that manages to feel both nostalgic and fresh.

Plants appear throughout the café, tucked into corners, sitting on shelves, and hanging from walls, adding life and softness to the vintage furniture. Mirrors of various sizes and frames reflect light and create visual interest, making the space feel larger and more dynamic.

Small decorative touches like books, vintage knick-knacks, and thoughtful arrangements give each seating area its own character. The overall effect is comfortable rather than formal, inviting guests to settle in and stay awhile.

The vintage vibe appeals to those who appreciate aesthetic spaces, but the comfort level keeps it accessible rather than precious.

This carefully assembled environment has become one of the café’s defining features, frequently mentioned by visitors who appreciate the attention to detail and the welcoming, lived-in feel that makes the space memorable.

A Second-Floor Surprise in Film Row

Perets Dessert & Coffee Bar occupies a second-floor space in a creative district where businesses and entertainment venues line the streets.

The location can catch first-time visitors off guard since the main entrance is accessed through the parking lot rather than directly from the street, though clear signage helps guide the way once you know where to look.

Reaching the café requires either taking an elevator or climbing a flight of stairs, a small journey that adds to the sense of discovery. The elevator ride itself becomes part of the experience, building anticipation before the doors open to reveal the sprawling café space.

Film Row provides a fitting backdrop for this creative café, surrounded by theaters, galleries, and other cultural spots that draw people downtown. Parking may seem tricky at first, but spaces are available nearby, and the café offers validation codes to help with parking costs.

The second-floor setup keeps the café feeling separate from street-level hustle, creating a retreat-like quality that makes the visit feel more intentional and special than a typical coffee run.

Multiple Rooms for Different Moods

Perets offers more than one seating area, giving guests the chance to choose an environment that matches their mood or purpose for visiting.

One section tends toward brightness with a more formal, almost Bridgerton-inspired aesthetic, while another leans into natural light and a laid-back coffee shop vibe with softer, more casual seating options.

The variety in seating styles accommodates different group sizes and activities, from solo visitors looking for a quiet corner to work or read, to larger groups gathering around tables for conversation.

Plush vintage couches invite relaxation, while tables with chairs suit those who need a surface for laptops or notebooks.

Having multiple rooms allows the café to feel spacious without losing intimacy, as each area maintains its own atmosphere. Guests can explore the space and find the spot that feels right for their visit, whether that means sinking into a cozy couch surrounded by plants or settling at a table near a window.

This thoughtful division of space helps manage the café’s popularity, spreading guests throughout the rooms rather than creating a single crowded area. The result is a café that can accommodate many people while still maintaining pockets of calm and comfort throughout.

Affogato Takes Center Stage

Among the menu offerings at Perets, the affogato stands out as a signature item that guests mention repeatedly in reviews and recommendations.

This Italian-inspired dessert combines espresso with ice cream, but Perets serves it with a twist: the espresso comes on the side, allowing guests to pour it over the ice cream themselves at their preferred pace.

The ice cream portion is generous, essentially a sundae-sized serving that provides more substance than traditional affogato presentations. Pouring the hot espresso over the cold ice cream creates a contrast in temperature and texture that makes each bite interesting.

The café offers variations on the classic affogato, incorporating different flavors and toppings that give guests options beyond the standard vanilla and espresso combination. Honey lavender ice cream appears as one popular choice, adding floral sweetness that complements the bitter espresso.

This approach to affogato has helped define the café’s identity as a dessert-focused coffee bar rather than a traditional coffee shop. The self-serve element adds a small interactive component that makes the experience feel more engaging.

For visitors trying Perets for the first time, the affogato often becomes the recommended order, a signature item that showcases the café’s approach to combining quality coffee with creative dessert options.

Pastries and Desserts Worth the Splurge

Beyond the affogato, Perets offers a rotating selection of pastries and desserts that lean toward the creative and seasonal rather than standard coffee shop fare.

Items like hummingbird cake, banana cream puffs, matcha pistachio chocolate chip cookies, and hojicha pavlova show up in guest reviews, indicating a menu that ventures beyond typical brownies and muffins.

The desserts tend toward the less-sweet end of the spectrum, appealing to those who want flavor complexity rather than sugar overload. A Dubai chocolate cake and various seasonal offerings keep the menu interesting for repeat visitors who want to try something new each time.

Pricing sits on the higher side for desserts, something guests acknowledge while generally agreeing the quality justifies the cost. Vegan options appear on the menu, including items like the matcha pistachio chocolate chip cookie, showing attention to different dietary preferences.

The café also offers sopapillas, a nod to regional flavors that adds variety to the more European-inspired pastries. Crème brûlée appears as another option, bringing a classic French dessert into the casual café setting.

The dessert selection feels curated rather than extensive, with each item receiving attention rather than overwhelming guests with too many choices. This focused approach helps maintain quality and gives the café a clear identity as a destination for thoughtful, well-executed sweet treats.

Coffee and Tea Done Right

While desserts draw much of the attention, Perets maintains a solid coffee and tea program that supports its identity as a coffee bar.

Espresso-based drinks like lattes, mochas, and cappuccinos form the foundation, with options for milk alternatives including oat milk for those who prefer non-dairy options.

A London Fog latte appears frequently in positive reviews, with guests noting it as one of the better versions they have tried, suggesting careful attention to tea-based drinks beyond just coffee.

Raspberry green tea also receives specific mentions, indicating the café puts thought into its tea selection rather than treating it as an afterthought.

Frappuccinos and iced coffee options accommodate those who prefer cold drinks, and the café’s later hours mean these remain available into the evening when many coffee shops have closed.

The espresso quality matters particularly for the affogato, where the coffee flavor stands on its own rather than being masked by milk or sugar.

Some guests note that certain drinks, like the mocha, can lean toward the less sweet side, which may not suit everyone but appeals to those who prefer coffee flavor to dominate.

The café uses a single espresso machine, which can create longer wait times during busy periods but ensures consistency in the coffee preparation across all drinks served.

Jazz Music Sets the Tone

Background music at Perets leans toward jazz, creating an atmosphere that feels sophisticated without being stuffy. The music choice supports the vintage aesthetic and contributes to the café’s identity as a place for conversation and relaxation rather than high-energy productivity.

The volume stays at a level that allows conversation to flow naturally, neither dominating the space nor disappearing entirely. Jazz provides a sonic backdrop that feels intentional, matching the carefully curated visual environment and reinforcing the café’s personality.

This musical choice appeals to guests looking for a calming environment, and reviews frequently mention the music as part of what makes the space feel special.

The jazz selection tends toward accessible, melodic styles rather than experimental or challenging pieces, keeping the atmosphere welcoming for all guests.

Music becomes particularly important during busier times when the café fills with people, as it helps maintain a cohesive atmosphere across the different seating areas.

The consistent musical choice throughout the space creates continuity even as guests move between rooms or settle into different corners.

For those who appreciate when a café pays attention to the complete sensory experience rather than just visual design and food quality, the jazz soundtrack adds another layer of thoughtfulness that enhances the overall visit and helps distinguish Perets from more generic coffee shop environments.

A Space That Welcomes Lingering

Perets operates with later hours than many coffee shops, staying open into the evening rather than closing in the late afternoon.

This schedule accommodates guests who want a dessert and coffee spot after dinner or those who prefer to work or socialize in the evening hours when traditional coffee shops have shut down.

The café provides books for solo visitors, board games for groups, and plenty of comfortable seating that encourages people to settle in for extended periods. The environment supports various activities, from studying and working on laptops to catching up with friends over dessert.

During busier times, particularly weekends and holiday seasons, the café may implement temporary policies like requiring guests to order before sitting, though this tends to be situational rather than constant.

Lines can stretch to fifteen or thirty minutes during peak periods, something to consider when planning a visit.

The space accommodates different group sizes well, from individuals seeking a quiet corner to larger gatherings of friends or family. The variety in seating types means both intimate conversations and bigger social groups can find appropriate spots.

The café’s atmosphere remains relatively calm even when busy, with most guests focused on their own activities rather than creating a loud, chaotic environment. This balance between social space and personal retreat makes Perets suitable for various purposes throughout the day.

Service That Adds to the Experience

Staff at Perets receive consistent praise for friendliness and helpfulness, contributing significantly to the café’s welcoming atmosphere.

Employees take time to answer questions about menu items, offer recommendations, and provide information about the space, creating interactions that feel genuine rather than rushed.

The service style is informal and approachable, matching the casual, creative vibe of the space itself. Staff members help first-time visitors navigate the menu and understand the ordering process, which matters when dealing with items like affogato that may be unfamiliar to some guests.

Energy from the staff tends toward youthful enthusiasm, creating a positive environment that makes guests feel welcomed from the moment they enter. Even during busy periods when lines grow long, employees maintain a friendly demeanor that helps offset any frustration from wait times.

The single-register setup means all orders go through one point, which can slow things down but also ensures consistent service quality. Staff handle the pace professionally, working efficiently while still taking time for brief friendly exchanges with guests.

For a café where atmosphere matters as much as the food and drinks, having staff who understand and embody the space’s personality makes a meaningful difference.

The consistent positive mentions of service in guest reviews suggest this is an area where Perets succeeds in creating an experience rather than just a transaction.

Tips for Making the Most of Your Visit

First-time visitors should know that parking validation codes are available at the café, so ask about this when ordering to avoid unnecessary parking fees. The validation system helps offset the cost of parking in the downtown area, making the visit more affordable.

Arriving during off-peak hours, typically weekday afternoons, can mean shorter wait times and easier access to preferred seating areas. Weekend visits and times right when the café opens at three in the afternoon tend to be busiest, particularly during holiday seasons or university finals periods.

Taking time to explore the different seating areas before settling in can help find the spot that best matches your purpose for visiting, whether that is working quietly, socializing with friends, or simply relaxing with a book. Each room offers a different feel, so walking through the space first is worthwhile.

Ordering one of the signature affogato variations gives a good sense of what makes Perets special, but the pastry selection is also worth exploring for those with an appetite beyond just coffee.

Trying items that seem unusual or unfamiliar often leads to pleasant surprises given the café’s focus on quality and creativity.

Planning for a longer visit rather than a quick stop allows time to appreciate the atmosphere and settle into the space, which is part of what makes Perets memorable for many guests.

Location: 701 W Sheridan Ave 2nd Floor, Oklahoma City, OK 73102