Perfect for café BGM! A stylish roundup of classic bossa nova songs [2026]

The Girl From IpanemaAstrud Gilberto & Stan Getz

The Girl From Ipanema

This is a track by Stan Getz, who sparked the bossa nova boom in the United States, together with Brazilian singer Astrud Gilberto.

Sung as a sweet, bittersweet unrequited love toward a girl walking along Rio’s Ipanema beach, the song can surely be called a quintessential bossa nova classic.

In fact, Astrud wasn’t a professional singer, and her whisper-like vocals beautifully highlight the fragility of that tender emotion.

The landmark album Getz/Gilberto, which includes this piece, became the first jazz work ever to win Album of the Year at the 1965 Grammy Awards.

It’s also been used in films such as Juno.

It’s guaranteed to turn a moment at a café into a richer, more stylish time!

From the StartLaufey

Laufey – From The Start (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Laufey, who grew up in a musical family in Iceland and is noted for her multifaceted talents on cello and piano, has been drawing widespread attention.

This track from her Grammy-winning 2023 album “Bewitched” is a charming piece themed around unrequited love for a friend.

Its light bossa nova rhythm and intimately conversational vocals are irresistibly soothing.

You can almost picture the protagonist, torn between the ache of unreturned feelings and a heart overflowing with excitement.

Compact at just 2 minutes and 49 seconds, the song distills the sophistication of jazz and the accessibility of pop—truly a modern standard.

It’s the perfect, understated touch to elevate a moment at a café.

Be sure to give it a listen!

Lover GirlLaufey

Laufey – Lover Girl (Official Music Video)

Laufey, an artist who blends jazz and classical styles, has won widespread popularity.

Born into a musical family, her refined musicality has earned her accolades such as a win at the 66th Grammy Awards, and she’s loved by many listeners.

Her work released in June 2025 is a jazz-pop piece marked by a soothing bossa nova rhythm.

The song sets the aching feelings of longing for a faraway lover to a calm, beautiful melody.

Its rich strings and piano weave a deep, nuanced sound—truly a tasteful masterpiece.

Also featured on the album “A Matter of Time,” this track is perfect for relaxing over a leisurely moment at a café.

WaveAntônio Carlos Jobim

Antonio Carlos Jobim – Wave 1967

Known as the father of bossa nova, Antônio Carlos Jobim fused samba and jazz, elevating Brazilian music’s global stature.

The piece he wrote in 1967 is an instrumental masterpiece created as the title track for his album “Wave.” Its poetic theme—surrendering to love and sharing dreams as a way to fill a lonely heart—is part of its allure.

The graceful, ebb-and-flow melody line seems to mirror those delicate emotional shifts, like waves washing ashore.

After its release in 1967, the work became a jazz standard, reportedly recorded around 500 times by artists including Frank Sinatra, and it has also been sung with English lyrics penned by Jobim himself.

The classic album “Wave” reached No.

5 on the Billboard jazz chart.

It’s a perfect choice as background music for a leisurely afternoon at a café.

Túmaye

maye – Tú (Official Music Video)

Singer-songwriter Maye, born in Venezuela and raised in Miami, comes from a musical family—her father is a Latin Grammy winner—and she’s drawing attention for her seamless fusion of bolero and dream pop.

The track featured here was released in September 2019.

Its laid-back, bossa nova–style rhythm and guitar tones that drift like a dream make for an exceptionally soothing listen.

Titled with the Spanish word for “you,” the song conveys a sweet, gentle affection for a loved one, delivered through a whisper-soft vocal.

Its appeal is proven—former President Barack Obama included it on his 2020 summer playlist.

It’s the perfect song for spending a leisurely afternoon in a café.

The Perfect Pairbeabadoobee

Beabadoobee – the perfect pair (Official Live Video)

The swaying bossa nova rhythm and the sweet, whisper-like vocals blend together beautifully.

It’s a song by Beabadoobee, a singer-songwriter born in the Philippines and raised in London.

It’s included on her album Beatopia, released in July 2022.

The lyrics, which seem to capture delicate emotions like miscommunication and ennui beneath the facade of a perfect couple, match the slightly melancholic mood perfectly.

Its chic yet languid sound is sure to make time spent alone, lost in thought at a café, even more special.

The slightly bittersweet melody really sinks into the heart.

Something BigBurt Bacharach

Something Big

This piece charms with a hopeful sound that hints at “something big” about to begin.

It was created by Burt Bacharach, one of the most influential composers in the popular music scene of the 20th century.

The track is known as the opening number on his 1973 solo album, Living Together.

Skillfully weaving elements of bossa nova, jazz, and classical music, it blends rich harmonies with a delicate, beautiful melodic line, resulting in a radiant and uplifting tune.

It won’t interrupt conversation, yet it instantly adds a stylish touch to any space—making it perfect as café background music.

If you’re looking to lift your spirits and savor a special moment, be sure to give it a listen.