Noel's Coffee & Apothecary — Restaurant in Nevada

Disappointing Experience at Noel Coffee

I was excited to try Noel Coffee in South Lake Tahoe after stumbling upon it and hearing live music coming from inside. Curious about their entertainment schedule, I tried to find information on their website and social media, but found nothing. I called several times with no answer. When I stopped by the next day, I asked about the music lineup and mentioned I had tried calling. The woman working casually pointed to the phone and said, “Yeah, that’s our phone. We don’t really hear it, so we don’t answer it.” That was a surprising response—especially for a business. Answering calls seems like a basic courtesy for any establishment. (Mind you this was in the afternoon, there was no music and no patrons it was dead quiet)

Despite the strange first impression, I returned the following evening with my parents after hearing a local musician was scheduled to perform. (I should probably add that I’m a younger adult and this guy would otherwise be my peer for reference) Unfortunately, this is when things went from odd to outright disrespectful.

The man working the door—wearing a hat and suspenders, and recognizable from other customer photos in the reviews—was incredibly rude from the start. He was unapproachable, arrogant and barely greeted us or acknowledge us. I realized he was completely overlooking us and avoiding us, so I asked how seating worked and if anything was available. He looked us up and down as if judging whether we belonged. When I pointed out a cluster of empty bar stools in the far left hand side of the establishment, he dismissively claimed they were taken. There was clearly no one sitting there, but he insisted we’d need to join a waitlist.

We agreed, gave our number, and left briefly for some gambling down the way. Upon returning, we saw a group of young women enter ahead of us. Several tables and bar seats had opened up. He greeted them enthusiastically and seated them immediately. I had asked one of them if they were on this so called wait list and she said “No” and that they had just walked in.

We assumed the bar seating was open so while he was seating the girls we stood at a few of the barstools. As soon as we ordered drinks, the host came over loudly, saying, “Did you just seat yourselves? You can’t just sit here!” “I didn’t seat you here!” He abruptly told the bartender, “No drinks for them!” canceling my elderly parents’ order mid-service just as the bartender was about to hand it to them.

I tried to explain we had been on the waitlist, and frustratingly asked whether the women he had just seated had been on it as well, knowing the answer was no. He refused to engage reasonably and instead kept repeating “You sat yourself” over and over again, talking over me like a child throwing a tantrum. It felt bizarre and frankly unprofessional—like a power trip rather than someone managing a coffee shop/lounge.

It was obvious that this wasn't about seating protocol—it was personal. His behavior felt discriminatory, inconsistent, and incredibly demeaning. This is not the atmosphere you expect from a local music café—it felt more like a bouncer at a pretentious nightclub arbitrarily deciding who’s allowed in.

If I were the owner of Noel Coffee, I would be mortified. This person is treating the business like his own personal gatekeeping project and driving customers away at the expense of him wanting to feel important. His behavior was unkind, unprofessional, and completely out of line.

Needless to say, I won’t be returning—and I would caution others to think twice before visiting, especially if you're expecting basic courtesy or...

Noel Apothecary – From Perfect Coffee Mornings to Vibrant Cocktail Evenings

Noel Apothecary is a true gem in Tahoe — a place that effortlessly transitions from cozy coffee haven by day to a lively, spirited hangout by evening.

In the morning, it’s all about the coffee. Their roast is perfectly balanced, and there’s a solid variety for those who enjoy specialty brews. Leah, the barista during my visit, was fantastic — warm, knowledgeable, and genuinely passionate. I also tried one of their breakfast sandwiches, made with a flaky, buttery croissant — a satisfying and flavorful way to start the day.

Come evening, Noel transforms with a vibrant energy. The vibe is elevated by live music, which adds just the right touch of soul without overwhelming the space. Their cocktails were spot on — creative, well-balanced, and made with care. It’s the kind of place where you can settle in and enjoy the atmosphere, whether you’re out with friends or just unwinding solo.

Noel Apothecary truly offers the best of both worlds. Whether you’re stopping in for a quiet morning coffee or a lively evening drink, it delivers on quality, service,...

First I’d like to add every time we visit SLT we visit Noel’s for both cocktails in evenings, and sometimes coffee in the morning, both products are very good, and normally service is great. Not this time.

The bartender, a gentleman, just did want to take the time to discuss cocktail options. Types of alcohols, cocktails, added aperitifs, etc. this was early in the afternoon, we were the only customers. He was short, seemed frustrated, and out right rude. The drinks were fine, but all 3 of us were miffed by his actions, my sister in law didn’t want to order, so she didn’t.

The only redeeming closure to this, there was a lovely gal who was very sweet and thankful. She’s the only reason we left a tip. Otherwise he’d of not received anything. This used to be a very classy place, I feel it’s slipped a bit.

Our group coming from the service industry, knows the important of service. He’d make better tips if he wasn’t so arrogant. We all felt the same way. Kudos to...