For Estelle Bellegy, wellness has increasingly become about nourishing the body in different ways — first through food, then through movement and, more recently, through the experience of confronting her own health.
Bellegy and business partner Benjamin Amsallem built Café Bastille around the idea that food, hospitality and community could be part of an everyday ritual. The pair, who previously worked in hospitality, opened the original Café Bastille in Downtown Miami after recognizing a gap in the market for a restaurant that celebrates brunch throughout the week.
“We wanted to be able to enjoy a great brunch on a Tuesday, not just on the weekends,” Bellegy says.
Over the years, Café Bastille has evolved alongside its customers. Its Parisian café culture menu has evolved to offer a Conscious Shift menu that brings more mindful and healthier options to the plate.
The concept has grown as well. A Fort Lauderdale location opened in November 2023, followed by cafés in Miami Beach and Weston. Bellegy and Amsallem hope to add two more South Florida locations next year.
As Café Bastille expanded, Bellegy found herself looking for another way to approach wellness.
Maison Yoga began as a passion project and creative outlet following the intensity of opening multiple restaurants. The Downtown Miami studio would complement Café Bastille with movement and other practices designed to care for the body and mind.
Then Bellegy was diagnosed with breast cancer. That diagnosis transformed what had begun as a wellness venture into something far more personal.
“I realized I didn’t just want to create another wellness studio,” she says. “I wanted to create a space where everyone could feel welcome and connected, regardless of age, gender, or experience level.”
Maison Yoga incorporates yoga, breathwork, sound and cold plunge experiences, allowing people to find the practices that work for them. But Bellegy’s own journey has also made community an essential part of the concept.
Her experience showed her how important human connection can be during difficult moments. She now hopes Maison Yoga can become a place where cancer survivors find one another and feel supported, while welcoming anyone seeking movement, wellness, or community.
“Ultimately, my diagnosis gave the space a deeper purpose,” Bellegy says. “Maison Yoga is about more than movement; it’s about connection, wellness, and creating a community where people feel supported.”
For Bellegy, the two businesses may seem different, but are connected to the same mission: feeding the body and soul not only means good food and daily movement — it also takes a community of caring individuals to help you along your journey.
