Cassia is one of those places that I'm loathe to review. I'd prefer to keep it a local gem and not spoil the harmonious environment it provides for a jaded remote worker like myself.
Positioned overlooking the canal with large swathes of glass that mostly look out on outdoor seating, Cassia's decor is airy, light and, well, a bit hip.
Cassia is a co-working cafe at the base of a curving residential building, and you can wander in and use designated laptop tables for free. In the past, this freedom was somewhat abused turning the place into a laptop forest for frugal startups and students.
Things have evened out over time, but there are notices on each table politely informing you whether you can use a laptop or not. If you ask, and it's not busy, they may allow you to sit on your preferred table. I expect if the 'laptop forest' returns, dotted with glasses of water, the table enforcement will become stricter.
My personal view on Cassia is that if you want to keep a nice venue like this then make sure you contribute to its wellbeing. Buy a beverage and think about eating there once in a while when working.
Cassia wants to be more than just a cafe, I think it wants to be a social experiment where you'll want to both work and socialize and make it part of your world. To that end, they also run evening events and the place has a relaxed, welcoming vibe while being clean, crisp and efficient.
Note: The cafe also doesn't allow children under 12 during the week. This is a reflection of it being a place for people to work and meetup with a generally low-level of noise aside from background music.
Kids are welcome on the weekends. If you get offended by this policy then you probably don't realize how many great coffee places there are in Bath, and some of them have to appeal to a niche to survive.
If you hate this policy, you'll be even more annoyed to hear dogs are allowed.
Like most coffee places in Bath, Cassia has trained baristas that know how to make a decent latte etc. I find the coffee blend a little strong for my taste, but it's made well.
They also have a wide selection of calorific cakes and other tempting treats.
Their food menu is a little sparse and mostly focused on breakfast/brunch food, but the food is good quality.
It's a good idea to check their specials as they have focaccia and other nice options for around £7-8. Yes, I wouldn't say it's the cheapest place but on a par with the well-known Bath coffee houses such as Society Cafe and Mokoko.
Through some doors at the back are more desks and this a space that workers and small companies rent. Costs vary. The last I checked, it was £17 a day for a desk on a pay-as-you-go option. You can buy blocks of hours per month as well. There's also a small room for making video calls that you can book if you are renting for the day.
In terms of accessibility, it's all level for wheelchairs and those who might struggle with steps and they have a disabled toilet.
What else? There's lots of parking, but be careful of the cameras. If you overstay you will get an automatic fine. Also the WiFi is rock solid for cafe guests and those renting a desk get a dedicated secure connection.
So there you go, I've ruined my best remote working spot. If you see me in the corner, I expect lots of free drinks to cheer me up!
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