At/in a coffee shop

If in reply to the question "How did you meet her?", then "I met her in a coffee shop" is probably correct because of the 'a' - which means not any particular coffee shop. The same would apply to "I met her in a bar". But, you would say "I met her at a party".

But, say you were arranging to meet someone in a coffee shop that you both know, then you might say "I'll meet you at the

Oh, that's too complicated , but I will try to remember that. Thank you.

Cheers, Magda

Hi,

As recently discussed in another thread, 'at a coffee shop' can mean either inside or outside. 'In a coffee shop' is definitely inside.

Clive

Ah, I see .

Thank you, Clive.

MagdaOh, that's too complicated , but I will try to remember that. Thank you.

Cheers, Magda

It is just that my English is not very good. Your explaining is excellent as always.

Best wishes,
Magda

I agree with Clive. When we talk about public places and establishments such as bank, coffee shop, theater, park, bus stop, train station, airport and hospital etc., [at] is the safest preposition to use.

A- “How did you meet Mary?”

B- “I met her at a coffee shop”

Of course [in] works just as well in this case. Nonetheless, I prefer [at] myself.

The referential (the system of reference) is everything here.

Looking from outside. Talking over the phone:
"OK, I am at the hotel, you are in the market. Let's meet at the coffee shop."

Looking from inside (of the coffee shop):
"Oh, daahling

I don't think bar and party are comparable when it comes to at and in because I met her in the party doesn't work at all. Sometimes there is no choice between at and in. I think this probably always happens when there is no way to conceptualize the grammatical object as a physical object with an inside, as is the case with party.

Hey I also have a question dealing with at/in. Is it OK to say "he wanted the structure to be built AT the center of the city?" The word "in" is commonly used with center, but is this correct?