Botanic Café Expands With Three Levels Of Fresh Flavor And Community Events In Leonardtown

LEONARDTOWN, Md. — What began as a small café space at Shepherd’s Old Field Market has now grown into a three-level culinary destination in downtown Leonardtown. Botanic Café has officially unveiled its expanded space at 22720 Duke Street, now featuring additional indoor and outdoor dining, a second kitchen, and an upper level dedicated for catering private events, workshops, and special gatherings.

Chef and owner Lia Horna-Smith, a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, opened Botanic Café in 2019 after relocating from Seattle to Southern Maryland. Since then, the café has grown into a popular destination for locals seeking seasonal, organic meals made from scratch.

She began by offering small, rotating menus at Shepherd’s Old Field Market, which evolved over time with direct input from customers, helping shape a dining experience tailored to the Southern Maryland community. The new space marks a major milestone in the café’s evolution—from a compact space serving coffee to a full three-story neighborhood restaurant.

The expansion was celebrated on May 27 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by Leonardtown Mayor Daniel Burris, St. Mary’s County Commissioner Michael L. Hewitt, and key Leonardtown officials.

The updated layout includes a third-level event space that is also available for community rentals, such as bridal showers, birthday parties, office gatherings, and breakfast meetings. Chef Horna-Smith will also utilize the space to host special gatherings, including tea time, painting classes, and other events. One upcoming event currently in development is a Hello Kitty Brunch for adults, planned for July.

Botanic Café specializes in preparing local, seasonal food from scratch each day. One local favorite—homemade empanadas—is served daily until sold out, though it doesn’t appear on the official menu, making it a special treat for guests lucky enough to get one.

Cooking runs in Chef Horna-Smith’s family—her parents owned a restaurant in Peru during her childhood—and she considers cooking to be in her veins. In Seattle, she owned and operated a Peruvian restaurant, but after relocating to Leonardtown, she set out to blend her classical training with the flavors and preferences embraced by the Southern Maryland community.

Botanic Café offers a broad and diverse menu, featuring everything from vegan and vegetarian options to hearty soups, crisp salads, hot panini, cold wraps, smoothies, teas, and a full coffee bar. Popular items include the Chimichurri Breakfast Burrito, Caprese Sandwich, and the Salmon Avocado Wrap. The café also offers a kid-friendly menu featuring options like grilled cheese and chicken nuggets.