Shaka Cafe

Hi there, my name is Denys, and for as long as I can remember, I’ve had two dreams, to own a classic VW camper van and to run a café of my own. After spending over 16 years in the hospitality industry, working across top-tier restaurants in London, luxury hotels, and fine dining establishments in Ireland and the United States, I developed a deep appreciation for what true service means. Consistency, warmth, and attention to detail. When lockdown hit, life slowed down and it gave me the clarity I needed to finally take the leap. I realised life’s too short to wait around for dreams to happen. With the love and support of my wife, my parents, my brother, and my closest friend, I decided it was time to make them real. With their help, I found and restored a beautiful 1972 VW T2 Bay Window bus. But I didn’t stop there, I took my love for great coffee and my passion for hospitality and brought them together in one unique concept, a mobile specialty coffee experience served straight from my iconic vehicle. Today, our beautifully restored VW café van isn’t just about serving high-quality, barista-made coffee, it’s about creating moments. Whether it’s a wedding, film set, private celebration, corporate event, or festival, we bring professional service, friendly smiles, and unforgettable charm right to your doorstep. The name Shaka Cafe comes from my love of surfing and the surfer lifestyle. As an amateur surfer, I fell in love with the iconic “shaka” hand gesture, which appears in our logo. Originating in Hawaii, the shaka is the ultimate symbol of the aloha spirit and has been embraced by the surfing community worldwide. At Shaka Cafe, the shaka isn’t just a logo, it’s our mission statement and core belief. It means “Hello,” “Goodbye,” or “Thank You,” and embodies the spirit of friendship, understanding, compassion, and solidarity. From booking to serving your guests, you can expect nothing less than exceptional service, because we put heart and soul at the core of everything we do. Our menu, set up, decor is fully customisable and we also offer a mobile entertainment setup, transforming the van into a DJ booth with my brother, DJ Nikkilevss of Shaka Studios London for those who want to keep the good vibes going. As a proud member of the Nationwide Caterers Association (NCASS), we operate across London and beyond, ensuring every event is handled with the same care and professionalism you’d expect from years in five-star hospitality. This isn’t just a business, it’s a dream brought to life, one espresso, one smile and shaka at a time.

With almost 16 years in the hospitality industry, including leading hotels of the world and top mayfair restaurants, and many more I can guarantee a professional and tailored service from the back end booking process to customer facing service.

Member of NCASS (The Nationwide Caterers Association) and T2OC (Type 2 Owners Club)