CofteArt boutique et Coffee Shop since 2015 — Restaurant in Neuchâtel

Although their establishment is truly beautiful and cozy, and their products are of very good quality, I do believe the service is not costumer-centric at all. On the opposite, the staff there often complains to their costumers about their ways of using their space, and not always in a polite way.

I completely understand with their policy of not using computers on certain periods of the day as a way of promoting a more social environment and a little “disconnection” from the internet, especially due to the fact that they try to make this information visible on the first page of their menu.

But I have come to realize that the way they approach their clients about this is very impolite, often getting upset and judging those who brought a laptop in without noticing the message that says the “allowed” hours for this Also it would be in everyone’s best interest if they wouldn’t be so rigid with this rule. For example if the place is empty, I wouldn’t see the problem in letting a client use their laptop for a while, and ask them to stop if the place starts filling up.

Apart from that, and the main reason why I decided to write this review, was the experience I had today.

I came in during a very calm hour with a colleague, and ordered something to drink, whilst my friend didn’t want anything to drink on that moment. The lady who attended us proceeded to tell us that it is somehow impolite to come to an establishment and not order anything. While I understand her point in moment of rush hour (since we would be taking space without paying for it) I politely explained that usually I would agree, but in that moment of time it wouldn’t have made a difference, and that I still believed it was in their best interest since at least they had me as a customer. The lady still pushed her point of view, now in a less polite way, and once she went to the counter to make my order, I could clearly hear and see her coworker complaining angrily about us without even...

Nice place and great coffee most of the times. Too bad my first experience was not pleasant all. I like writting while taking a nice coffee, and this place was recommended to me because of it. Once I ordered, I took out my laptop but I was right away asked to put it away because I was not in the "times dedicated to work" (it was Sunday afternoon). I must say the bartender "explained" it to me kindly, basically by showing me the menu (cause he could see my spoken french was not too good at that moment) where they state the conditions.

Well, I do understand many people might occupy a spot for some (many) hours with a single cup of coffee. But I haven't asked for Wifi, nor I was using any power outlet. And the place was completely empty (it filled a bit 20 mins later due to the rain, but by that moment I was gone). My intention was to do something I like while enjoying the coffee.

I would reconsider the strictiness of that "working time" rule, and make it more adaptable to the situation instead of keeping it rigid. Or even kindly inform the customers about the limited usage, and hear their intentions before banning their actions.

About the coffee itself, really nice and savoury, specially the "Capuccino...

J'ai tout de suite cru que j'allais passer un bon moment dans ce café... Bonne atmosphère générale, serveur.e.s poli.e.s et attentif.ve.s, une théière de thé exquis et je venais de commander quelques douceurs pour l'accompagner. J'étais au téléphone avec un collègue, je chuchotais presque. Le patron J'ai appris après coup que c'était lui) s'approche de moi et me demande mot pour mot "Pourquoi parlez-vous avec de drôle d'accent ?". Je suis un peu surpris et je crois comprendre que c'est une blague, je dis à mon collègue de patienter une minute et je réponds en souriant que mon accent vient d'Italie du Sud. A ma plus grande surprise, le patron commence à critiquer l'Italie, il me dit qu'il vient de France, que ma patrie n'a jamais autre chose que des gens qui faisaient la sieste toute la journée... J'avoue avoir été un peu déconcerté, je n'avais pas fini mon thé, j'attendais ce que j'avais déjà commandé et je voulais vraiment partir de cette situation, partir de l'établissement. J'ai demandé l'addition à une serveuse très aimable qui passait par là et elle m'a dit qu'on était en train de m'amener les deux pâtisseries que j'avais commandé. Elle est revenue avec les pâtisseries et l'addition. Je suis très tolérant et je comprends qu'un patron peut parfois avoir une journée difficile, j'ai proposé un des deux gâteaux au patron de manière amicale, il s'est énervé et m'a rétorqué : "Je ne suis pas un de ces Indiens que l'on peut acheter avec de la nourriture !". (???) Je suis resté très confus, j'avais un peu peur, j'ai aussitôt payé et je suis parti. Honnêtement, même en ayant vécu cela et en l'écrivant maintenant avec un peu de recul j'ai de la peine à croire à ce qui s'est passé... C'est toutefois ma responsabilité de partager ça avec les autres internautes afin que ce petit homme petit nommé Pascal ne mette plus mal à l'aise ses clients de la sorte. Victime de racisme dans un tel établissement (dont une insulte envers les Indiens sans raison), c'est une première pour...