Legendary motorcycle cafés and meeting spots
The short answer
The most famous motorcycle meeting spots include the Ace Cafe in London (first opened in 1938), the Rock Store on Mulholland Highway near Malibu, Deals Gap at the start of the Tail of the Dragon, the Kanzelkehre above the Inn valley in Tyrol, the summit of the Stelvio Pass, and Creg-ny-Baa on the Isle of Man TT course. To find the good stops near you, look for places other riders have recommended and kept up to date, like MotoBFF's Places.
Every great ride needs a great stop. Some cafés and corners have become places riders travel to, not just through.
Famous motorcycle meeting spots
| Place | Where | Why riders go |
|---|---|---|
| Ace Cafe | London, UK | The original café racer café, first opened in 1938 |
| Rock Store | Mulholland Highway, California | Weekend gathering on one of LA's best roads |
| Deals Gap | Tennessee / North Carolina | The start of the Tail of the Dragon, and the Tree of Shame |
| Kanzelkehre | Tyrol, Austria | A hairpin with a view and a terrace full of bikes |
| Stelvio summit | Italy | Food stands at 2,757 m |
| Creg-ny-Baa | Isle of Man | A pub on a famous corner of the TT course |
Ace Cafe, London
Opened in 1938 on the North Circular Road, the Ace is where the "ton-up boys" of the 1950s and 60s raced from café to café. It closed in 1969 and reopened on the same site in 1997, and today it's a café again, with bike nights, events and a lot of history on the walls.
Rock Store, Mulholland Highway
On Mulholland Highway in the Santa Monica Mountains, the Rock Store has been a weekend morning stop for riders since the 1970s. Ride the canyon roads around it and stop for breakfast.
Deals Gap
At the start of the Tail of the Dragon on US 129, the motorcycle resort at Deals Gap has a shop, a café and the Tree of Shame, decorated with parts from bikes that crashed on the Dragon. A good reminder to ride your own pace.
Kanzelkehre, Tyrol
A hairpin on the road up from the Inn valley to the Achensee, with a restaurant terrace overlooking the valley. On summer weekends the car park is full of bikes.
Stelvio summit
At the top of the Stelvio, food stands sell bratwurst and drinks to riders who just climbed the hairpins, 48 of them on the side from Prato. It's crowded, noisy and part of the experience.
How to find a good stop near you
The best stops aren't always famous. A good one has:
- Parking you can see from the table.
- Space for a group of bikes.
- Food and coffee, and opening hours that work on weekends.
- Something worth looking at.
In MotoBFF's Places, riders add the cafés, bars, food stops and places to stay they recommend. Other riders keep them up to date by marking them Still good or Not anymore, so you know a place is still worth stopping at before you go.
Questions riders ask
What is the most famous motorcycle café in the world?
The Ace Cafe in London, first opened in 1938, is the best known.
What is the Tree of Shame?
A tree at Deals Gap, at the start of the Tail of the Dragon, hung with parts from motorcycles that crashed on the road.
How do I find motorcycle cafés near me?
Look at Places in MotoBFF, where riders recommend cafés and stops and mark whether they're still good.