I have always regarded it as a little oasis in the vastness of Mainland, a small and delightful place alongside Route 3 where it was possible to stop for a while, wander around, take a photograph, and perhaps enjoy a coffee.
Aerial view of Hi-Cafe in Second Life, – August 2026
What made Hi-Cafe particularly special was that it never stood still. Some Second Life builds remain almost frozen in time, unchanged for years. Hi-Cafe was the opposite. During my visits I found it transformed by the seasons, from spring greenery and cherry blossom to roses, hydrangeas and, most recently, the bright yellow of summer sunflowers.
Welcome sign at Hi-Cafe, SecondLife
The changes were not always just seasonal. The layout itself could change too, giving each return visit something new to discover.
Now, after all those changes, Hi-Cafe itself is coming to an end.
Sunflowers on display at Hi-Cafe, Second Life
There are only a few days left, so if you have visited before, or perhaps always intended to, there is still time to call in. Wander around, take a few photographs, and enjoy one last coffee at this small oasis beside Route 3.
Taking Coffee one last time at Hi-Cafe
Thank you, Hico Spicy, for creating it, and for all the changes and seasons that gave me a reason to keep coming back.
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
Having coffee with an old friend at Hi-Cafe Second Life
Returning to Hi-Cafe
I last visited Hi-Cafe in March, when the area was draped in pale cherry blossoms and the place had that quiet, just-woken-up feel of early spring.
Popping back now, the blossoms are long gone; replaced by roses, which suit the place well and give it a slightly warmer, richer look.
Outside , I settled down at a table with a friend looked around. I love the message on the chalkboard: “Congratulations, you made it out of bed!!!”
Inside the Cafe
Inside the Cafe, the food for sale has been changed, Cinnamon Rolls are now on offer. and cut flower roses are in vases. Not much else has changed. If you join the Hi-Cafe group you can still rez objects. Note there is a sixty minute time limit, and you should, of course, pick up any objects you have rezzed before you leave. Other than that hico Spicy’s wonderful little cafe remains a pleasure to visit. You can see details of my previous visits,here.
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
A newsstand sits adjacent Route 3, framed by sakura.
Hi-Cafe in Spring — The Blossoms Change Everything
The layout is exactly as I left it. The tram still runs along the boundary, the fountain still murmurs in the courtyard, the bookshop facade still anchors the right-hand side. But the atmosphere? Completely different.
Where there were bare branches in February, there is now a canopy of blossom. I returned to several of my earlier camera positions, and the contrast is striking. The same view, softened almost beyond recognition by layers of pink. It is a good reminder of how much a season can do to a familiar place without major relandscaping.
The outdoor seating has come back out too, which feels right. Tables and chairs along the exterior again, under the blossom — somewhere to sit and just watch petals drift.
The outdoor seating is back, and with cherry blossom arching in from both sides, it is easy to see why Hico Spicy’s post on X was enough to make me return.
Inside, Hico Spicy has made some adjustments. The wood stove that used to warm the room has gone, and the seating has been moved towards the windows. It is a simple change, but it works well — visitors now face outward, and with the trees in full bloom, that view is worth facing.
The seating now faces the window, and with the courtyard looking like this, it is hard to argue with the decision.
There is also a new bakery section. It fits naturally into the space, adding a little extra without disrupting what was already there.
The interior has been rearranged since February 2026; seating now faces the windows, and a new bakery section has been included.
A Place to Revisit
Hi-Café has not been reinvented, but it feels like a different visit entirely. The blossoms, the returned outdoor seating, the interior turned towards the view, it all comes together nicely. If you came in February, go back. If you haven’t yet, spring is the time.
In Japan, hanami; the tradition of gathering beneath cherry trees simply to appreciate their brief bloom, is a moment to pause and be present. Hico Spicy has brought something of that spirit to Route 3. The sakura won’t last, which may be reason enough not to wait.
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
ust outside Hi-Cafe, a small still life of creativity waits by the entrance, a guitar and tip hat, a photographer’s easel, a weathered bicycle marked open, and a curious little cat. It feels like a quiet celebration of art, music, and spring.
Hi-Café in Second Life, A Return to Familiar Ground
When I last visited Hi-Café in Second Life in September 2025, it had just found a new mainland home beside Route 3 in Heterocera, opposite the entrance to the Mount Campion Nation Forest. Returning this week, I found the same 304m² plot, yet it feels entirely renewed.
An overhead view of the Hi-Cafe and its surround in Second Life
Hico Spicy has reimagined the space from the ground up. The café building now sits at the rear of the property rather than close to the road. In front, a courtyard welcomes visitors first. The parallel canals that once framed the build have disappeared, replaced with a more urban character.
A yellow and white vintage tram at Hi-Cafe, Second Life
To the left, a tramline runs along the boundary, complete with a tram set up for photo poses. On the right, building façades and touches of graffiti create texture and depth.
The bookshop at Hi-Cafe, Second Life is a facade and caoont be entered.
From Autumn Fire to Spring Green
The fiery autumn leaves that once framed the courtyard have given way to the bright greens of spring. Light filters through fresh foliage, and the change in season subtly alters the mood.
Hi-Cafe, Second Life, viewed from the outside. A siamese cat sits on the entrance step
Inside, the café is smaller than before, with just two tables. Each one offers a clear view across the courtyard, which makes the space feel open rather than confined.
A view through a window at Hi-Cafe, Second Life
The décor remains thoughtful and carefully arranged. Large houseplants soften the corners, posters and bookshelves add personality, and a wood stove brings a welcome sense of realism. On a cool spring day, it feels exactly right.
The walls at Hi-Cafe, Second Life are decorated with artwork and bookshelves.
Sweet Treats and Gentle Sounds
The menu boards tempt visitors with a cherry and chocolate cheesecake, petit gâteau lava cakes, and heart shaped doughnuts, a gentle nod towards Valentine’s Day.
the mother-watering display of Cafe sweets at Hi-Cafe in Second Life
As always, cats make their presence known. This time they prowl the courtyard rather than curl inside, while small cat statues perch quietly on the bookshelves.
A cat prepares to launch itself at a bird at Hi Cafe – Second Life.
Outside, the steady murmur of the fountain blends with birdsong. The shared lighting suits the build beautifully. If you switch to midnight, the café lights glow warmly against the darker sky. Hico Spicy has also created a custom EEP setting, Green Days 2026, which visitors may collect free near the fountain until 24 February, beside the guest book.
a free EEP ‘Green Days* 2026’ can be collected by the fountain at Hi-Cafe in Second Life
A Place for Photographers
Photographers remain very welcome here. The free group allows members to rez props for up to sixty minutes, which makes creative shoots easy to arrange. The tram, fountain, benches, and indoor seating all include animations, offering plenty of possibilities.
Reading a newspaper while sat on a bench; one of the poses available at Hi-Cafe, in Second Life
While I was there, I happened to meet Izu Arado, a Japanese Second Life explorer and photographer. We follow each other’s work, yet until that afternoon we had never stood in the same place. We paused, exchanged greetings, and each took a photograph to mark the moment. Like me, he has been in Second Life for more than eighteen years. It felt a small but meaningful reminder that places such as Hi-Café continue to draw creative spirits together, and that this virtual world still has a quiet way of bridging continents.
Izu Arado and I pose for a commemorative photo of our meeting at Hi-Cafe, Second life
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
Last July I visited Raven’s Bay, Lilly Blackwood’s evocative homestead described as “an island of mystery and magic.” I remember being quietly impressed by the atmosphere she created there. So when I discovered she had opened a new region, Bitter’s End, I went to explore without hesitation.
Small clumps of white flowers punctuate the woodland green at Bitter’s End, Second Life
Lilly invites visitors to “Journey to this remote island in the Pacific Northwest and explore the many trails through the forest and along the rugged coast.” From the moment you arrive, that promise feels real.
A stream runs east to west across Bitter’s End, in Second Life
The landing point, at the northern tip of the island, places you in a courtyard open to the sky. Cracked paving slabs lie underfoot. The surrounding walls stand in varying states of decay. In one corner rises a statue, perhaps a woodland goddess, with antlers and elven ears. Vines climb the stonework, and a tall tree grows in the opposite corner.
A statue of a woodland goddess stands in a corner of the courtyard at Bitter’s End , Second Life
What was this place once? A chapel, a hall, a forgotten stronghold? The mystery draws you in immediately.
Sea, Stone and Stillness
There are exits on all four sides of the courtyard. Passing through the northern gateway, where wooden gates still hang from their hinges, you step onto a paved approach that leads to a large statue of Buddha seated on rocks with his back to the sea.
It is a peaceful sight. Waves roll in below. The lighting, when using the shared environment, glows with a gentle rosy sunset. With sounds enabled, the sea completes the illusion. This is a place to pause and sit quietly in thought.
The Buddha gives the opportunity for one or two avatars to meditate
A pathway curves left along the coast. Here the paving changes to irregular stones, less formal, more natural. Before long you reach a wooden deck that stretches out over the water. Two chairs wait there, facing the horizon. From this vantage point you can see a lighthouse in the distance, and deer stand on the nearby rocks.
A deer, one of a small family group, at Bitter’s End in Second Life
Forest Paths and Hidden Corners
Return to the courtyard and choose another exit, and the sense of adventure deepens. Each path winds into woodland. You cannot immediately see where any of them lead, which makes exploration feel genuine.
A statue of a goddess at Bitter’s End, Second Life
Follow the coastal trail a little further and you come upon a small café tucked into the landscape.
Gulls circle above the Cafe at Bitter’s End, Second Life
It is modest in size, with just three tables, yet that intimacy gives it charm. Step inside and it becomes a cosy place to sit with a friend and talk.
Inside the cafe, at Bitter’s End in Second Life
Bitter’s End is not a place that shouts for attention. It invites you to slow down, explore, and notice the details. Whether you come alone or with a companion, the forest, coast, and quiet corners offer space to breathe. I hope you enjoy discovering it as much as I did.
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
An aquatic creature in the lake at Sei Fiore, Nessie perhaps
A place discovered again, just in time
I read recently that Sei Fiore, created by Raven Fairelander, is due to close on the 13th of February. I had visited when it opened but did not take any pictures.So I returned to fix that mistake. My goal was to capture its quiet magic before it disappears.
Naturally Sei Fiore has unicorns
Sei Fiore feels less like a single destination and more like a collection of moments. Playfulness permeates the air. The island invites you to wander freely and accept the unexpected.
Whimsical blue and red fungi at Sei Fiore
The official Second Life destination guide describes Sei Fiore beautifully as “a whimsical daydream brought to life.” The text mentions meadows of daisies swaying like tiny suns, where “every path feels touched by a bit of magic.”
Wildflowers growing freely across the meadows at Sei Fiore
That summary is an apt description. Flowers are everywhere here. You won’t find carefully arranged borders, but rather open meadows. Daisies, yellow blooms, and splashes of color grow freely. This gives the island a gentle, sun-warmed softness.
A ‘Cica Ghost’ Tortoise looks cheerful, sitting among the daisies at Sei Fiore, Second Life
An island of stitched-together stories
Raven Fairelander describes Sei Fiore as “a meadow-born dream where joy grows wild”, and that sense of unforced happiness runs through the entire region. You do not need to stage or chase joy here; it appears quietly in small details, waiting for you to notice.
Amusing whimsical dinosaurs at Sei Fiore
Sei Fiore feels special because the design arranges the features as a series of vignettes.. Almost all of them are whimsical, many leaning into fantasy, and each feels distinct from the last.
A giant butterfly winged flying hippo at Sei Fiore
You might pass a giant butterfly winged flying hippo, only to find yourself moments later in the middle of an Alice in Wonderland inspired tea party.
An Alice in Wonderland inspired tea party
Yet nothing feels out of place.Somehow, the designer sewed the entire island together skillfully, making the transitions feel natural. Of course, “natural” is relative in a world that unicorns and giant ticklish frogs inhabit.
Talking to the frog sisters at Sei Fiore, Second Life
The Green Witch Café and a moment to pause
A good place to begin is the Green Witch Café. Moss covered stone steps lead up to an ever open red door, beyond which you are greeted by Althea, the café’s proprietor. She is always happy to chat and dispense gentle words of wisdom, usually accompanied by a cup of chamomile tea, which seems to be her answer to most of life’s problems.
Moss covered steps lead up to the The Green Witch Café, at Sei Fiore
Althea uses AI to converse and will happily answer questions, as long as you speak in local chat and address her by name. The café itself is full of character, cluttered in the best possible way with the sort of details you would expect in a witch’s domain, including, of course, cats, mostly black. It is worth taking your time here and looking closely at the decorations before moving on.
Althea is always ready with a cup of chamomile tea at the Green Witch Café, Sei Fiore
Tea with Alice and a nod to Lewis Carroll
Leaving the café, head back down the steps, pass the mice having tea, and turn right.
Mice having tea in a woodland setting at Sei Fiore
Here you will find the Alice in Wonderland tea party, complete with familiar characters such as the Cheshire Cat and the playing card soldiers. There is a lot to see, but one detail stood out to me in particular, the chess set and score sheet copied directly from Through the Looking-Glass, and What Alice Found There by Lewis Carroll. It is a small, nerdy detail, but one that shows the care and affection poured into this build.
A nerd’s delight, a chess position from Through the Looking Glass
A gentle recommendation, before it goes
I could write much more about what can be found at Sei Fiore, but I have barely scratched the surface. This is very much a place best explored slowly and personally, allowing yourself to be surprised. If you plan to visit, do make sure you use the shared windlight, as it enables you see the island as Raven intended.
Unmistakably Cica Ghost ducks on the shoreline at Sei Fiore
Sei Fiore closes on the 13th of February, and it would be a shame to miss it. It is a place that made me smile, and one that lingers in the memory long after you leave.
A cute sleeping dragon next to a fairy ring
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
High above the residential region of Still Waters Autumn sits Rainy Café at Still Waters, a small retreat designed by TeaRose Resident and described by her as “a cozy rainy café in autumn.” That description fits perfectly.
From the moment I arrived, the sound of steady rainfall greeted me, followed by the low rumble of thunder rolling across a weather dome that rests overhead. It feels like stepping into a gentle storm that you never have to escape.
Autumn Colours and a Stormy Sky
The café stands in a quiet clearing surrounded by dense woodland. The trees glow with autumn colour, their branches heavy with shades of yellow and brown that seem to deepen in the rain. The storm above was active throughout my visit, adding drama to the scene without overwhelming the peace of the setting. It is the sort of place where the weather becomes part of the experience and not something to avoid.
Warm Light and Seasonal Comfortsat The Rainy Cafe
Inside, everything shifts. The café is warm, dry, and softly lit, a welcome contrast to the storm outside. At the moment it is dressed for Halloween, with pumpkins placed by the entrance and small seasonal touches scattered throughout. These decorations may change as the months move on, but the sense of care in the interior will not.
The counter displays an inviting selection of treats. Apple pies, caramel toffee apples, pumpkin pie, spiced cider, and doughnuts line the shelves, creating the feeling of a real café preparing for a busy autumn afternoon.
It is easy to imagine settling in with something warm and sweet while the storm continues its performance outside.
Places to Sit, Play, and Simply Watch the Rain
There are plenty of comfortable spots to sit, either alone or with friends, each arranged with a clear eye for detail.
Two playable board games, Draughts and Beserker, wait for anyone who wants a quiet distraction.
Playable Berserker Board GamePlayable Draughts Board Game at Rainy Cafe
Everywhere you look, the décor has been chosen with intention. Artwork, small ornaments, and occasional pieces of furniture come together naturally, showing TeaRose’s talent for creating charming, cohesive spaces.
Eye-catching decorations with a fungi themeHallloween Decor at Rainy Cafe – Second Life
I took far more photos than I meant to. It is that sort of place, a café where every corner rewards a closer look.
Rainy Cafe, A Peaceful Escape Among the Storm Clouds
If you feel like taking a break, drinking a good coffee, and watching lightning flash across a dark sky from the safety of a warm window seat, Rainy Café at Still Waters is worth a visit. It offers a little pocket of calm above the world, wrapped in autumn colours and the comfort of a passing storm.
The Blackthorne Book Cafe Second LifeHi Cafe, viewed from Route 3a wall painting at La Fee Verte
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
Hi-Cafe has reopened in Second Life! The much-loved café by designer Hico Spicy has returned in a new Heterocera location along Route 3. With glowing autumn colours, seasonal treats, and its familiar cats, the café once again offers a cosy, welcoming stop for visitors.
I last blogged about Hi-Cafe back in December 2024, when it was decorated for Christmas and full of festive cheer, serving gingerbread loaf, macarons, and other seasonal fare. Outside, snow covered the ground.
Since then, the café closed for a while and has now been rebuilt on a new site. Would I enjoy it as much as the old place? Well, I went to see.
Hi Cafe, viewed from Route 3
A Hi-Café Beside Route 3
The new Hi-Cafe sits adjacent to Route 3 on the mainland continent of Heterocera. Almost directly across the road lies the entrance to the Mount Campion National Forest, a popular destination for hiking, horse riding, and exploring—including Mount Campion itself, the highest peak on mainland.
A picture of Hi-Cafe taken from the air – September 2025
While Route 3 and the café entrance are in the Highflyer region, most of Hi-Cafe lies across the border in Sprawler. Region crossings can be tricky, but Hico Spicy’s landscaping makes the transition barely noticeable, and she has thoughtfully placed warning signs at the boundary.
Warning – Sim Crossing
First Impressions
Stepping from the road, the café stands within a paved courtyard. Trees blaze with fiery autumnal colours, leaves scatter across the stones, and flower beds planted with cosmos add splashes of brightness.
Unlike the previous site, there are no outside tables and chairs—winter is coming, after all—but two wrought iron benches curve around trees in the courtyard, offering pleasant places to sit, read, or enjoy the autumn sunshine.
Sitting outside at Hi-Cafe
Inside the Hi-Café Second Life
Inside, Hi-Cafe is a light, airy, and welcoming space. Thoughtful touches are everywhere: potted plants, bookshelves, record sleeves, and posters.
What makes Hi-Cafe stand out among Second Life’s many cafés is the attention to detail. The food isn’t just generic décor—it’s carefully chosen and often changed. Currently, visitors can enjoy apple pie, pumpkin pie, pumpkin roll cake, and harvest crème donuts.
The rear wall is almost entirely glass, flooding the café with natural light and offering excellent views of the courtyard with its fountain, flower beds, trees, and statues.
Bookshelves at Hi-Cafe- Notice the catsMouthwatering Fare freshly backed at Hi-Cafe
Cats and Quiet Details
As in past incarnations, cats abound, lounging casually as though the café were their home (and perhaps it is).
Themes echo cleverly throughout: cat statues on the bookshelves, and in the courtyard, two doves perching on the fountain mirror the embracing statues nearby. These small touches give Hi-Cafe its unique charm.
Two white does mirror the statues in the background. – photo Hico Spicy
Sounds, Light, and Atmosphere
Outside, the constant but gentle sound of the fountain adds to the relaxing mood. A radio stream is available (Acid Jazz), though I preferred the quiet.
The shared lighting (EEP) setting suits the build beautifully, though experimenting with Midnight can highlight the café lights in a striking way. Generously, Hico Spicy has created a custom EEP environment setting for Hi-Cafe, free to collect near the fountain—beside a visitors’ book for comments.
Leave your comments in the Visitors book and collect the free EEP
Photographer-Friendly
Photographers are welcome here. Group members (free to join) may rez props for up to 60 minutes, making the café a great setting for creative shoots.
A small tip jar sits on the counter—if you enjoy your visit and can spare a few Lindens, I’m sure they’d be appreciated.
Two of the many cats at Hi-Cafe
A Must-Visit Destination
Whether you’re seeking a cosy escape alone or with friends, a beautifully decorated café as a photo backdrop, or simply a moment of seasonal magic, Hi-Cafe is once again one of Second Life’s most inviting spots.
The Blackthorne Book Cafe Second LifeLa Fee Verte – Second Life
If you’d like to see more places like this, follow my blog,Exploring Second Life, where I share both the grand builds and the smaller “quick stops” that make the grid so rewarding.
the cold winter landscape of La Fee Verte , Second life
La Fée Verte is a beautiful Art Nouveau-style build in Second Life, set in a snowy Arctic Circle landscape. Designed by ღ Babe ღ (babe.whimsy), it mixes icy surroundings with the green glow of absinthe.
The Second Life Destination Guide describes it as:
“La Fee Verte is a beautiful place to hang out and chill. It’s created in the Art Nouveau style as authentically as possible. PBR is in use here, so you will need an updated viewer. Many of the land masses are actually off the region, but you can still access them by sitting on the benches provided. Views can be enjoyed from anywhere, but they are at their best from the upper balcony. Shared environment is essential.”
So I took out my winter gear and snowshoes and set off to explore.
A Gazebo at La Fee Verte
First Impressions of La Fée Verte Second Life
Arriving at the landing point, snow and mist form a striking backdrop. Beautiful, perfect, pristine, yet merciless. Like a siren’s call, it tempts you to linger and marvel but would freeze you to death without remorse. The silence is broken only by your footsteps. This is a place where loveliness itself can kill; best to hurry inside.
La Fee Verte – Second Life
The Absinthe Salon
The atmosphere shifts as soon as you step inside the two-storey Art Deco building. The lighting is dim and atmospheric, perfect for settling into a sofa with friends or enjoying quiet exploration.
a stylish seating area La Free Verte
Everywhere you turn, the salon reinforces its theme; bottles, posters, and details recalling the Belle Époque’s fascination with “the Green Fairy”
A famous Henri Privat-Livemont poster for Absinthe Robette hangs on one wall
A famous Henri Privat-Livemont poster for Absinthe Robette hangs on one wall. Another shows a café scene that includes Van Gogh, himself a known absinthe drinker.
Despite the snowy world outside, the salon feels warm and welcoming. Sofas, plants, and details on every wall make it perfect for relaxing or photography. The green light gives everything a dreamy quality, almost like stepping into a painting.
The dark side Absinthe
And yet, perhaps all is not as it seems. The observant explorer will notice one image that is particularly unsettling: a winged figure dangles hooks into the heads and bodies of those below, pulling their flesh out of shape and controlling them like grotesque marionettes.
An interesting picture adorns one wall
It recalls an older tradition of fairies — not Disney’s carefree sprites, but mischievous, even cruel beings, who could lure mortals to harm. Like the snow scene outside, La Fée Verte can be seductive and alluring but edged with danger.
a wall painting at La Fee Vertem containg Van Gogh and the Green Fairy
Views and Exploration
La Fée Verte is more than just its main building. The outside landscaping is carefully arranged, with snowy paths and striking vistas. Using the benches dotted around the region, you can sit and move to some of the outlying landmasses, many of which sit just beyond the main area’s boundaries and cannot be reached on foot.
A teleport outside the salon also connects to other linked spots, offering further exploration opportunities after relaxing here.
Community & Groups
La Fée Verte has both a Second Life group and its own Flickr group where visitors share photos of their experiences:
La Fée Verte blends Art Nouveau charm with Second Life’s immersive possibilities. It is at once a cosy hangout, an imaginative showcase of absinthe’s cultural mystique, and a landscape of snow and green light.
Whether you come for photos, conversation, or simply to enjoy the atmosphere, it is a destination well worth a visit. But be on your guard; fairies, green or otherwise, are not to be trifled with.
Exploring Second Life
If you would like to see more places like this, follow my blog, Exploring Second Life. I’ll keep sharing both the grand regions and some smaller “quick stops” that make the grid such fun to explore.
