1. Find the place you actually plan to sit
Search for a venue or move the map to the address. Confirm which side of the building contains the terrace. An entrance pin is only a starting point; a back garden or waterfront deck may be elsewhere.
2. Set the date and local time
For an immediate visit, inspect the current situation and your expected arrival time. For a future outing, use the date and time controls. Check the local time at the destination, especially when planning travel.
The free app includes today's timeline and three time jumps each day. Pro includes unlimited time jumps and access to other days on the timeline, among other features. See the free and Pro comparison for the current feature breakdown.
3. Read the moving building shadows
Compare the terrace area at the start and end of your visit. If a building-shadow edge crosses it midway, some tables may lose direct sun before you leave. Compare a second nearby location rather than treating a narrow apparent gap as certain.
Coffee in the Sun calculates these shadows from mapped building outlines and heights plus the sun's position. It is an estimate, and incomplete building data can affect it. It does not resolve every chair, balcony floor, rooftop or small architectural feature.
4. Check weather and local obstacles
Clouds are not part of the shadow calculation. Weather information is a separate layer of planning; the full weather sheet is a Pro feature. A bright map area can still be under cloud.
Trees, awnings and terrain are not included in the building-shadow model. Check photographs or the venue itself for covers and vegetation, then confirm the actual seating when you arrive. Opening hours and table availability also need a separate check.
5. Keep a nearby alternative
Choose a second terrace within a walk you are willing to make. If the first is full, closed or under an awning, you already have another option. Pick your actual priorities: sun for a short coffee, shade in hot weather, or a sheltered place if conditions change.
What a good result looks like
You have identified a plausible seating area, checked the whole visit interval and understood what the map cannot show. That is more useful than simply finding a café with “sunny” in its description.
For the underlying timing, read when the sun reaches a terrace. For a workday outing, use the lunch-break plan.
