World Peace Cafe: Serenity and Service of a Different Kind

Check the hustle and bustle of your day at the door. Inside World Peace Cafe, tranquil music plays in the background, large paper lanterns hang from the ceiling of the two-story loft space and large Buddhist-inspired paintings are displayed on the wall.

And get this, most of the smiling staff works for free.

“People volunteer because it’s a nice environment and serving others feels good,” said volunteer coordinator and one of six employees, Kelsang Lhadron, an ordained Buddhist Nun and native of Chattanooga, Tenn. 

Located at City Walk shopping center, World Peace Cafe aims to provide an experience that promotes inner peace and loving kindness based on the New Kadampa Tradition of Buddhism. It’s owned and operated by the Kadampa Meditation Center Georgia on Peachtree Dunwoody Road.

The eatery opened in 2007 and serves organic, vegetarian food, with vegan options and organic, fair-trade coffee and teas. Also there are no Styrofoam, compostable and biodegradable to-go containers. 

“We’re not about converting people. We’re about building a space for peace of mind,” said Chris Byrne, general manager. “We want to be accessible and not extreme. The Cafe leads by example, by exhibiting good heart through action. Peace through service.”

To live out service as a path to peace, the cafe relies on a rotating volunteer staff of nearly 80 people who wash dishes, prep food, take orders and deliver drinks.

Initially, most of the volunteers were people studying at the Kadampa Medittion Center, but they now have a variety of volunteers, many whom are not Buddhist, including students on summer break and customers who have stepped up to help. Anyone 16 or older is welcome and no prior restaurant experience is needed. 

Lhadron is always easy to spot in the Cafe, dressed in a red and gold robe,

“I wear my robes to work to act as a bridge between the Cafe and the Meditation Center,” she said. “I want people to come here and know there’s a Buddhist connection. When people ask questions, it gives me a great opportunity to explain and teach.”

The Cafe and Meditation Center are part of over 1,000 centers and groups who follow the New Kadampa Tradition, a modern and independent Buddhist tradition based in England. Although there are over 30 similar World Peace Cafes in the world, the Sandy Springs location is the first and only, full-service World Peace Cafe in the United States.

Proceeds of every World Peace Cafe go to the International Temple Project to build new NKT temples worldwide.

Aside from having a greater purpose, World Peace Cafe serves high quality food and desserts that appeal to all people. Omelets, frittatas and other breakfast options are served all day. Their hearty, meat & tofu-free Peace Burgers are surprisingly filling and crispy.

Frugal folks will appreciate the $4.99 lunch deal which lets you choose half a cold sandwich with a side salad, cup of soup, potato wedges, or for $1 extra, a fruit side.

Also, if you register your visits with MyFavEats, which can easily be done via cell phone by following the directions above the register, you’ll earn a free dessert on your sixth visit.

With the combination of good food, attentive and kind service and a peaceful atmosphere, you’ll have no problem reaching six visits.