We’re looking forward to introducing you to Shivani Darsinos. Check out our conversation below.
Shivani, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Every day brings a reason to laugh — whether it’s spilling coffee on ourselves or sharing comments and laughter with the team. As for feeling proud, it is truly beautiful to see where this building started and how far it’s come. Every bit of effort and labor of love poured into Babu has allowed us to share it with Nashville. In addition, as I get to serve others a piece of myself, hoping it resonates, brings people together, and builds the kind of community that makes it all worthwhile. Through coffee, cocktails, and wine, I get to tell a story — and invite others to be part of it. Those are the moments that make me proud and fill me with joy, day after day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Shivani Darsinos. I’m originally from Bowling Green, Kentucky, and I’ve been lucky enough to consider Nashville my second home since I was young. What I do is inseparable from who I am — and what I’ve always loved. Pursuing this work is part of a lifelong journey to bring my passions to life and share them in a way that feels honest, authentic, and meaningful.
I wanted to create a place that feels alive throughout the day — grounded, welcoming, and full of small, intentional details. At the heart of it all is my Indian heritage — my roots, my sense of hospitality, and my deep desire to build spaces that reflect culture and humanity. Café Babu is where it all comes together. It’s a place where my lifelong love of coffee intertwines with my cultural background — and where my appreciation for my husband’s Greek heritage, and our time spent in Greece, adds another layer of warmth and influence.
We serve coffee and wine throughout the day, and cocktails into the night — inviting people to gather at any hour. We love to open our space to creative efforts too, whether it’s an appreciation of music, art, or multicultural cuisine. My focus is always on bringing people an experience and atmosphere that feels unique and alive.
Because this space is so personal, every decision — from the menu to the music to the way we greet our guests — reflects a piece of me. It’s not just a business; it’s a dream I’ve built with my own hands, from crafting furniture to curating wine lists to running the day-to-day operations.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
Traveling outside the country for the first time opened my eyes in a way I’ll never forget. Growing up, I saw the world through a certain lens, but visiting India — especially my family’s village — showed me a completely different way of living and connecting with others. In the village, there’s an unspoken rule: no matter whose house you walk into, you’ll never leave empty-handed. Whether it’s a sweet, a cup of tea, or a full meal, everyone insists you sit, eat, and feel at home. That simple, human warmth — the belief that food and hospitality connect us all — deeply shaped how I see the world.
That early experience gave me a lifelong love for different cultures and cuisines, and a deep appreciation for the way food and gathering remind us of our shared humanity. Cafe Babu is my way of bringing that spirit to Nashville — creating a place where people feel welcomed, cared for, and part of something bigger, one small gesture at a time.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Early on, the biggest challenge was proving that my vision—an all-day cafe inspired by Indian and Greek hospitality—could work in a city like Nashville. As a young, new entrepreneur, I was stepping into uncharted territory with no blueprint to follow, which meant facing plenty of unforeseen challenges along the way. Each day brought new problems that required quick thinking and constant adaptation to keep the business moving forward without losing the heart of what cafe babu stands for.
Being a small business owner means wearing many hats and managing limited resources. Even as we’ve grown—expanding into cocktails, curated light bites, and community events—the need to stay flexible and responsive to change remains critical. Throughout it all, our focus has remained the same: to create a warm, culturally rich space where genuine connections thrive.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What do you believe is true but cannot prove?
I believe that the energy and excitement we feel in a space come entirely from the people within it. A place on its own is just walls and furniture — it’s the warmth, passion, and care people bring that make it feel alive. No matter how beautiful an idea is, it takes persistence and genuine connection to breathe life into it. That’s what I hold onto: if you pour your heart into something and surround it with people who care, you can turn any dream into something real and meaningful.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Simply beginning. Don’t wait until you feel ready or until your life circumstances are perfect. I’ve found that the best way to start is by trusting your instincts, aligning with your story, and following your intuition without being afraid to take up space—especially if what you’re building reflects your truth.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cafebabu.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/welcome_to_the_shiv_show/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shivani-darsinos-7833aa11b/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shivani.p.patel.75/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/cafe.babu/
Image Credits
Keren Treviño Phography
one-twenty-nine photography
