cafeclub. — Restaurant in Vancouver

I've been a little curious about this for a while and was incentivized to try it today by an anniversary promotion they're doing where you can get a free piece of birthday cake when you order online. While I usually don't like to mobile order because it feels impersonal compared to ordering in person, I don't mind their model so much for two reasons: 1: You can specify if you'd like to dine-in in the instructions, so you can order online but still get your food plated instead of in takeout packaging. They don't have house cups for drinks, but if you're bringing your own, you can specify that. 2: When I arrived at the shop to get my order, the staff greeted me warmly, gave me my prepared salad, and brought my drink and cake to the seat I chose after making it in my mug. After I was finished they asked me about the food and chatted with me a little. So I was able to have a very pleasant personal interaction with the staff even with the online order. It seems like they have a lot of passion for this cafe! Now, the mobile order gimmick might be the most obvious point of discussion, but that is not what makes this shop. They have a great product. I really like the variety on their menu, especially the specialty drinks, so I know I will have to go back and try more. This time I got their fall harvest salad, which had all the flavours I was craving. The sweet potatoes, blue cheese and lentils all gave it some substance, so it was a pretty satiating meal. The complimentary birthday cake was also a delight - it was a moist, flavourful cake, fresh and high quality. Perfect portion size too - not too much, not too little. I had a salted hojicha latte to drink, which was very interesting. The tea is really good and the salt gave it depth in a new way. If you like salted caramel things, you will probably like this. I highly recommend checking them out and supporting them even if you are like I am and not enchanted by the mobile order - if you just like good eats, this is a coffee shop for you! And of course, if you are in a rush, the mobile order option will...

Having moved offices nearby, this is my favourite place to grab an afternoon coffee around here.

I've tried a few of their specialty beverages (cherry blossom cold foam, gingerbread latte, etc.) and they can be hit or miss for me. However, where they really shine is their espresso offerings. I usually just get a standard cappuccino and it's top tier. Their beans are usually something great from Nemesis or a few times other local roasters. I do not know what they do, maybe pull larger shots or use a special type of milk, but I can taste the subtleties in the coffee here a lot more than I can from other places which seem to get lost in the milk. It has also been really consistent which is great. When I'm feeling a bit more like a fun drink, I get the Spanish latte which is perfection!

The staff is really welcoming and friendly. Since you can order online, they see your name and very quickly they've picked mine up and welcome me when I come in which I greatly appreciate.

Sometimes because of the online ordering system it can feel a bit disorganized, but since the staff is really nice and work hard to make sure that all the orders get to the people they need to get to.

The inside is stylish and clean. I usually prefer a more cozy vibe, but would still be absolutely comfortable sitting and having a conversation with someone here for a while. I would not choose this place if I had to setup a laptop and work or something like that. But when you do stay in I've been brought water, and...

I get that making a good cup of coffee takes a few steps and some time, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay to have only one staff member working during the morning rush. I waited nearly 15 minutes for a latte while the line kept growing — there was clearly no proper staffing or preparation.

Sure, the barista was busy, but that still doesn’t justify prioritizing simpler drinks like black coffee over orders that require more steps, especially when those customers have been waiting longer. The whole order system just felt messy and unfair.

What really bothered me was when another barista came by, and the person making drinks actually took a moment to chat with her. She didn’t realize I was watching and clearly waiting until I made eye contact. It was just a few seconds, but it really showed a lack of urgency and poor service awareness.

Also, I have to say — the barista’s appearance wasn’t great. Hair down and looking messy — not professional at all.

The croissant? Supposedly heated, but honestly it was cold, just like it hadn’t been warmed at all. And by the last few bites, there was a weird fishy smell that totally ruined the experience.

Overall, the poor staffing, lack of service attitude, and disappointing food quality made this a store I definitely won’t be coming back to — and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone...