The sun was just climbing over the rooftops when I decided to take my daughter out for a little change of scenery. Our apartment had been my sanctuary, but I could feel the walls shrinking in on me some days. Today, I needed air, coffee, and maybe—if I was lucky—a slice of cake that didn’t come from the box.

Around the corner from my building was a café I had noticed in passing many times but had never entered. The exterior was charming, with soft pastel tones, a few potted plants, and ...