The Vault Cafe in Nanaimo

499 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B7, Canada

★★★★★
(1307 reviews)
Categories: Cafe Breakfast restaurant Coffee store

About

Spacious, green-hued cafe offering breakfast fare & all-day vegan options in a warm atmosphere.

Website
facebook.com
Address
499 Wallace St, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5B7, Canada
Plus Code
5377+F8 Nanaimo, British Columbia, Canada
Time Zone
America/Vancouver

Business Hours

Monday
8 AM–6 PM
Tuesday
8 AM–6 PM
Wednesday
8 AM–11 PM
Thursday
8 AM–12 AM
Friday
8 AM–12 AM
Saturday
9 AM–12 AM
Sunday
10 AM–2 PM

Services

Service options
Outdoor seating On-site services Takeaway Dine-in Delivery
Highlights
Great tea selection Live music Live performances
Accessibility
Wheelchair-accessible car park Wheelchair-accessible entrance Wheelchair-accessible seating Wheelchair-accessible toilet
Offerings
Alcohol Beer Cocktails Coffee Healthy options Late-night food Organic dishes Prepared foods Small plates Spirits Vegan options Vegetarian options Wine
Dining options
Breakfast Brunch Lunch Dinner Dessert Seating
Amenities
Bar on site Toilets Wi-Fi Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
Casual Cosy
Crowd
Groups LGBTQ+ friendly Transgender safe space
Payments
Credit cards Debit cards NFC mobile payments
Children
Good for kids High chairs
Parking
Free of charge street parking Parking

Photos

Reviews

4.5
★★★★★
1307 reviews

Most Mentioned

vegan (32) nanaimo bars (29) live music (23) open mic (18) hipster (18) french toast (15) brunch (15) london fog (11) entertainment (11) antique (7)
5 stars
930
4 stars
221
3 stars
73
2 stars
33
1 stars
50
★★★★★
December 3, 2024

Great brunch atmosphere, highly recommend for brunch in Nanaimo. really is such a vibin place! Got the two Benny breakfast, pretty filling with great price. The sourdough bread is unreal, crispy edge and soft interior. Wedges are mad crisp.

★★★★★
November 30, 2024

Love The Vault. Great place for late night coffee or drinks. Really good food and a very cool atmosphere. Been here for jazz, drag, and everything else.

★★★★★
November 8, 2024

This is such an eclectic spot. Very charming, unique, and warm. Menu is pastery, Cafe, brunch. I got the breakfast plate and latte. The latte was perfect. Big spacious windows, surrounded by vintage. Staff were warm and inviting- this is one of my favorite experiences in Nanaimo!

★★★★★
August 29, 2024

Great place if you’re looking for something different! The food was fantastic! If they had a sign at the door telling you to go to the counter and order, then seat yourself, it would have been helpful because we stood around wondering what to do and felt like idiots 😂

★★★★★
August 28, 2024

We liked the breakfast wrap! Little bit extra waiting time for our food as they were super busy. Restaurant like classic decor and that seems like their traditional value.

★★★★★
August 8, 2024

Stumble upon this place while looking for a place to eat at Downtown Nanaimo. I am glad I came here. The atmosphere here is nice. I love the decoration and the ambiance the restaurant gives. Service was really good as well. I recommend others to check the place out.

★★★★
July 31, 2024

Overall good venue. Large space and in the corner. Service was quite friendly on the Thursday and the coffee was good! The clientele...is...well let's just say they're "free spirited" so don't expect nice smells once in a while. But this is out of the business' control. It's busy for a reason. The decor is quite unique and bathrooms are private.

★★★★★
July 18, 2024

Amazing place to get coffee. The interior is so mesmerizing and full of "old, cool, character" The service was great and friendly staff. Parking is quite good, but it is in downtown, so take head to that. Table availability is quite ample inside.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 19, 2024

Good vibe and services. I m willing to come here again whenever I come to Nanaimo Food

December 17, 2024

From working in the industry and travelling a lot i understand the price of things are going up. That being said, $14 for 2 toasts and half an avocado is outrageous in my opinion .. I paid $16 for a classic breakfast with toast, eggs, bacon, potatoes and a small garnish salad .. Very disappointed on the avo toast.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

Nanaimo bar!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 15, 2024

Such a cute little coffee place!!! Their London fog is absolutely amazing.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

A cozy spot with friendly staff. Had an excellent latte and delicious apple brie sandwhich.

★★★★★
December 15, 2024

The place is very nice, with music, decoration and very delicious food! We ordered what I think was one of the best tomato soups ever!!! The hot chocolate lacked a little chocolate for my taste but everything was good, several vegetarian and vegan options

★★★★★
December 8, 2024

Awesome service, great atmosphere, friendly staff! I wanted to find a nice place to have lunch with my girlfriend, and she had suggested we go to the Vault Cafe. We were not disappointed! Will definitely be coming back soon for another cup of coffee!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 8, 2024

Nice cafe. Lively and cozy atmosphere. Friendly service. They have some nice tasting pastries.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

Great food and beverages, excellent friendly staff, wonderful old building, a part of Nanaimos history now converted to a cafe with plenty of things to take in and see once inside. Live music in the evenings as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 1, 2024

A great little spot, I went on a date here and it is cozy and with the eclectic atmosphere and environment it made for a great conversation and set the stage for an amazing date! Vegetarian options: A few options but not aimed towards vegetarians

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Fizzzy was the man, always looking out for the best interest of the customer

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Great staff Great decor Best food Food : 5/5

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

The bacon they use is amazing.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Really neat spot with a cool atmosphere. Cappuccino was good, and the food was delicious!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Just had lunch here. Fresh food and hot beverages were delicious. The vibe was incredible. Highly recommend and I will be back.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

The vegan breakfast wrap is unreal - so good that I went back a few days later. The atmosphere and decor is great as well, highly recommend

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Really great, homemade food. Lots of vegan options including breakfast and pastries! Dietary restrictions: Vegan options

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

amazing food, wonderful staff.. i would come here again 10000%

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Excellent café. We saw a show here and it was amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

A great breakfast here 04 Nov. Also great coffee. Definitely worth a visit.

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Such a nice, cool and different place to have a coffee.

★★
November 22, 2024

nice

★★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Great food and cappuccinos. Clean washrooms too!

★★★★
Local Guide
November 22, 2024

Cute little place, the service was on point. The kitchen is extremely slow when it gets busy, but overall a decent space, friendly service and the food was good.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Good music and atmosphère

November 22, 2024

Breakfast here was awful. For starters my order was wrong. The toast wasnt toasted, the eggs were overcooked, the potato wedges were extremely bland and undercooked, overall just very bad. I think I could make something better with my eyes closed. The atmosphere is very nice but the food completely ruined the experience.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

Up there with the best breakfast wrap Ive ever had.

★★★★★
November 22, 2024

such a rad cafe, and don t forget to check out the cool shops in the upstairs bizarre

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Funky cafe with fantastic food

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Sweet community hub with spicy drag shows and regular musical stylings by lively local acts.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Lovely place for breakfast. Best blueberry muffin I ve ever had.

★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

The atmosphere in this café is special! Very rustic furnishings, with a gallery to sit on and the open mic evenings on Wednesdays are great (very mixed quality and direction, very funny to watch). The pastries are ok but not a highlight.

★★★★★
October 22, 2024

Amazing matcha and super aesthetic atmosphere. I ll definitely be coming back!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Love this place, amazing vibe, great food, great service, some nights they have live music. You really can t go wrong with this place. Definitely coming back

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Amazing blueberry french toast! A bright spark in the often grey city of Nanaimo. Retro coffee house vibe with cool spaces to sit, unwind, catch up with friends.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Amazing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Great atmosphere, funky vibe, lots of drink choices, good bakery items, board games, and a great place to work and meet clients.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

10 toes down

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Really nice coffee and the place is beautifully decorated.

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

Amazing food, REAL SALMON CHOWDER (NOT FARMED) AMAZING VIBE, IN A ART-DECO OLD SCHOOL NANAIMO BUILDING. great place for food, a coffee, a beer, or a cocktail. Shops upstairs that offer curiosities. Staff are polite, relaxed and layed back. WARNING* IF YOU ARE IN A RUSH...GO ELSEWHERE! THIS IS A PLACE TO SIT, SIP, EAT, AND ENJOY MUSIC ACTS ON STAGE AT TIMES. THIS IS A PIECE OF UNHURRIED NANAIMOS PAST. WHEN PEOPLE SAT & Talked....no cell phones

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

A downtown Nanaimo staple. Great coffee. Hip scene. Its a vibe. Highly recommended.

★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

They like changed owners and the breakfast wrap sucks now

★★★★★
Local Guide
October 22, 2024

First time. Had a beautifuly prepared yogurt and granola. London Fog was fantastic too.

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

The vegan breakfast wrap was bus (bussin (really delicious))

Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Super cute cafe, but service is the worst

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

This was my first stop to eat in Nanaimo!!! Yummo!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Friendly staff, great breakfast (they had gluten-free toast, yay!) Always enjoy the weird art and quirky things to look at while hanging around. Also, always so glad to see the host of events there Food : 5/5

September 22, 2024

Awful experience in this cafe. Waiting for more than an hour and I only got a few cold food items. I dont understand why they need so much time to prepare and why dont they hire more people. Make me so angry

September 22, 2024

Service is terrible

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Amazing food.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

I was really wowed by the breakfast burrito. I actually contemplated getting a second one, but was too full. All the folks were really friendly. I was only stopping through Nanaimo s, but next time I am in town I am going to go back.

★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Really Greta vibe and nice atmosphere. However, the service is really slow and unfocused. I ordered coffee take away, received it in a normal cup then they pour it in a paper cup and spilled coffee over the cup. The food is just fine

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

MEGA!!!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

Great service from a cheerful young rew

★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Mediocre wrapped in a quirky facade.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Romantic, antique, extraordinary Vault ceiling cafe in downtown Nanaimo here. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Food is always on point with a loving personal touch. Yum. Prices are good. Atmosphere is unique and for everyone.

★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Beautiful cafe with live Jazz music

★★★
September 22, 2024

Just went for a coffee to go and waited 25mins for an Americano... Its very crowded (theres no real line to order and space to wait for your order, people are all around and nothing is clear) and the waitresses are a bit snob... At least the coffee tastes good

★★
September 22, 2024

The counter person/waitress was welcoming. Unfortunately, the breakfast meals were a disappointment. Whether overwhelmed in the kitchen or inexperienced, the eggs arrived cold and hard after a very long wait. So, not like our other visits to the Vault. Disappointing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Fantastic Vegan Wrap loaded with veggies. Service is a bit slow because they are SO busy, but worth the wait. London Fog was perfect too!

★★★★★
September 22, 2024

The Vault is an essential community hub. Its the queer Norm to my Cheers.

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Amazing cafe with great desserts and drinks

★★★★★
Local Guide
September 22, 2024

Great interior decor, delicious oat milk chai latté, sweet & scrumptious vegan strawberry muffin, CD s, tapes & vinyl by local bands for sale, they have events such as open mic comedy, drag shows & local bands. Very cool place! Vancouver needs a spot like this. Vegetarian options: Vegan strawberry muffin (other vegan items too)

August 22, 2024

Refused me service outside or inside as I wasnt preppy enough for them wearing new shoes and clean clothes and recently showered. I am appalled at the service I received being escorted out of their premises after Id made a purchase. What is my money good enough to take but Im not preppy enough to sit for five minute on your patio? Zero stars given if possible.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

I really liked the styles and decorations. Food was mediocre and services were slow but friendly. I wont say its a hidden gem but a cute street café.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Love it here! My favourite Nanaimo food spot.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Put in order and staff advised 30 minute wait. After an hour wait, checked to see if they d lost the order and told our order was up next. Food was reasonable but too much wait to justify a return.

★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We were made to wait for than 30 minutes only to get cold egg Benedicts with burnt potatoes on side. Very disappointing

★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

The employees were all so kind and answered all our questions. The 2 stars is for the manager/ the women with dark hair who was running food. She made us so uncomfortable and we felt bad for the employees. She was working hard but idk the vibes were just so off. Also the food was mid but personal preferences.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Good spot friendly staff

★★
August 22, 2024

Chose this place based on the other reviews... but was disappointed. they asked for extra payment to add sugar water to ice coffee. the avocado toast - is exactly what it is- pieces of Avocado on 2 most regular bread with a side salad size of a table spoon ( not joking- for real)-. the table next to us had eggs on a toast.. really I can make you something at home that will look and taste much better, and will charge you for less. feeling sorry for Nanaimo if this is one of its best coffee places to sit... and you pay service before you get the request to pay for sugar water or the food.. which was more annoying as an add on...

★★
August 22, 2024

The fun, West Coast atmosphere is unfortunately marred by the rude service we got when we visited the Vault Cafe in Nanaimo. We had purchased some food goods from a couple other stores in downtown Nanaimo, and were looking forward to enjoying a short stay at the vault Cafe. Upon ordering, a young woman told us that we would not be able to stay inside because we had food from another location in the city. Since the vault Cafe has an outdoor patio, we were hoping that we could just sit outside instead after we purchased our food from Vault. Unfortunately, when we went to sit outside, the young lady also told us that we couldnt even sit there, despite being patrons of their Cafe. In the end, we had to leave the entire establishment even though we had just purchased food there. I dont think that sort of poor service should be rewarded, and so I dont intend on returning. I would suggest anyone reading this review to skip the Vault Cafe; there are other great cafes like Serious Coffee nearby, and they they treat their patrons much better.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Vegetarian options: Vegan options! Food

★★★★★
August 22, 2024

The vault is one of the best third spaces in Nanaimo. It is a beautiful place to meet friends, new and old. The food is delightful, healthy and tasty. The staff is amazing, not only are they all fully formed individuals with talents and well utilized skills but theyre all intelligent, empathetic, beautiful souls. The space is wheelchair accessible in the lower level. They host amazing shows and do a lot for their community. Vegetarian options: There are multiple vegetarian options as well as vegan. Dietary restrictions: They try to have some gluten free options. Wheelchair accessibility: Space is wheelchair accessible but they are often crowded at peak times. The counters are not well set up for wheelchairs at the ordering area but Im sure they have a method they use to help.

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Excellent service, the wrap was one of the best I ve ever tried, the coffee was delicious beautiful old fashion place, went back a second time

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Vibe is great. Hip, chill, artsy but not pretentious. Good crowd, mix of college kids, young professionals, locals and families. Nice high ceilings and clearly a historic building of sorts. Fun, lived-in décor. Great location. Never feels particularly noisy even at capacity. Menu is fine, meal options are appropriate and robust, but I just wish they consistently stocked more pastries and baked goods; the display was mostly empty even though I was there morning to afternoon, though I did get a nice big muffin once. This would be my regular work hangout if I lived here.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

Cool deco and antique! I have to come here whenever I am in Nanaimo. Nowhere but here I feel comfortable surrounded with orange lampshades with dinglies.

August 22, 2024

We waited over 40 minutes for our food. We ordered for dine-in, but the food was mistakenly served in take-out boxes. The soup wasn t hot at all, and other dishes were squeezed into small containers. They didn t even provide proper cutlery and asked us to use plastic utensils in the restaurant. This cafe is totally overestimated. Not worthy to visit on your vacation!!!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

What a charming and lovely spot!! Will be back for sure.

★★★★
Local Guide
August 22, 2024

We really liked the breakfast wrap! A 30 min wait for food though just because it was so busy there. Neat decors that give the place an older feel.

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

This cafe was recommended to us by our AirBnB. I figured if anyone could make me like a Nanaimo bar, it would be a cafe in Nanaimo. I can now say, with 100% certainty, that nanaimo bars are not for me. I do, however, respect that everyone has different palettes. Different strokes for different folks. And I appreciate the clarity provided to me by this cafe.

★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

I left a five star review on the vault several years ago when I first moved to Nanaimo. I still think it s one of the coolest places to meet up, but in the last few times I ve been there. The food service has been very slow with very long lines. Recently, I met a friend there and there was no ground level seating left available and we couldn t get up to the seats higher up. We had to sit outside, which I don t recommend if you re trying to have an audible conversation because the traffic noise is so loud. The real problem was that I ordered wrap that I ve had before and I love, but after almost 40 minutes of waiting for the server to bring out my order, I had to go in and remind them and it took another 20 minutes after that to get it. My friend and her kid had their orders at at least a half hour before mine came. There was no apology, because we paid ahead of time there was no discount or a refund. My order was hot when I got around an hour after I ordered it so i wonder if they forgot about it entirely or the original one was made and then got cold waiting to be delivered to the table and the 20 minute further delay was them remaking it.

July 22, 2024

I never write reviews but I have never been so annoyed with service at a restaurant until now. We ordered a bagel and 2 eggs and toast and we waited over an hour. They kept saying 5 more minutes and at one point offered us 4 free cookies but by the time the food came out we were so tired and ready to leave. It felt like no one in the cafe wanted to be there anymore, including the staff. The food was so beyond mediocre and it was so frustrating that we waited over an hour just for food we could make in 10 minutes tops and have actual flavor. It s already a given that we will never return but I would recommend if you go, sit and enjoy some coffee and leave it at that.

July 22, 2024

This is the first time I ve written a review but I ve never been so annoyed with the service. I had to wait an HOUR long for a simple breakfast meal you could make at home for in least 10 minutes. There was nothing special about the food, it was plain and the only good part of the food was the free cookies we got because we waited for so long. They also kept telling us to wait 5 minute but those 5 minutes turned into almost half an hour. You re better off making these meals at home and not having to wait an hour. If you ever want to go here just order a drink and enjoy the atmosphere of the restaurant, rather than wait a whole hour for the most mediocre food I ve ever eaten in my life.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Hipster cafe in the heart of downtown. The breakfast wrap is notoriously scrumptious and consistently relish-worthy. 10x will not disappoint.

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

Delicious food and coffee! Kid-friendliness: Laid back environment for kids, no kids menu or high chairs/booster seats. Food : 5/5 |

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

To perfectly start your day ;)

★★★★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

The cafe is excellent. I really like the atmosphere very much. We enjoy the cappuccino and latte with peach coconut dessert.

★★
Local Guide
July 22, 2024

I went in to get an iced latte. I was very disappointed with the male staff air tamping coffee. It didnt extract properly. I just wanted a good coffee but it wasnt.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

One of my favorite places for meetings! I love the artwork and vintage furniture!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Atmospheric place!! Lively and creative!!

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Great Café to flee from the outside world. Very nice decoration, coffee is extreeemly good. Would love to spend more time with friends here. Prices are ok :)

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

First time tonight! It was super busy and the staff were amazing, food was deliscious and the atmosphere perfectly diverse! All ages and so much fun at open mic night! Great job everyone! Def want to pop in again! Also, thank you to the woman taking orders from behind the counter that went out of her way to help us get a table even though she was swamped! So cool and kind:)

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

I ve been an on and off Vaulter for many years, hadn t been in a few, always felt I wasn t hip enough to be a regular lol. Felt very welcoming, the treat case has changed since I was in last and I m not sure I ve ever had one of their sandwiches. Got the apple and brie sandwhich, a smarties cookie, and a black iced americano. Took everything home to eat, and wow!!! I can t believe how good everything was. The sandwich had an awesome melty cheese pull without being greasy. I loved every bite and was doing a little dance while I ate. The cookie was the perfect size, consistency and amount of sweet. My americano was tasty and I love that they ve got compostable cups with the sippy lids now. Will be back for more!!

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Very unique, l liked it!

★★★★★
June 22, 2024

By far the best breakfast wrap that Ive ever had! The Matcha Latte had a pretty design and atmosphere was eccentric yet peaceful.

★★★★
June 22, 2024

Really nice place with a good quality meals and coffee ( especially the matcha latte ) but the service was way too long ! 25 minutes for a granola bowl

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

They advertised as opening at 9am Saturday, the wife and I and 3 other groups were outside waiting to go in. One of the servers came out to put some things out on the table, then went back inside and locked the door, at 8.59. At 9am she unlocked the door and walked away, without opening the door and saying Welcome or Good morning. Not a good 1st impression. However, the French toast I had was very nice and filling, and my wife had a breakfast wrap which was delicious.

★★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

I simply love this place! Just a wonderful ambiance! Great to work from, hangout with friends or come for their open mic and evening events. The coffee is excellent and I love the tofu wrap and their vegan banana bread. If you are in Nanaimo this is the cafe to go. If I miss a ferry and have to wait I go to Vault and hang out there until the next ferry time.

★★★★
Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Good vibe with excellent decoration. Breakfast wrap is amazing !

Local Guide
June 22, 2024

Choose the vault based on reviews and the vibe. Was packed, but waited in line for a good 10 minutes with plenty of employees about but no one serving the queue. Vibe was cool but food options were kinda limited and lack of service was a disappointment. In the end we left without ordering.

May 22, 2024

I don t understand why people would recommend this place, 45mins wait for this two small piece of brunt French toast that cost 19dollars. Doesn t worth it to come here. If you are tourist or Hungary, don t come here. 0 stars

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Most aesthetic and welcoming thing about Nanaimo. Fantastic place to grab a bite or get some work done. Great live shows, great food, great drinks, great staff. In love with how this place makes me feel.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Excellent food service and atmosphere.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

A bit too expensive but wow what a place

★★★
May 22, 2024

My food and latte were great, however the service was very poor. It was my first time in Nanaimo travelling for work, and I was really excited to try this spot because I saw it all over tiktok. When I went to go order, I asked for any popular recommendations and she told me to just look at the menu. They also forgot my side of avocado so when I went back and politely asked for it, she just said ok and passed it to me like I asked for something I didn t pay for.

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

Amazing cafe ! Delicious hot chocolate, good food with veggie options and tasty beers. Very chill atmosphere. In addition, we loved enjoying live music on a Friday night.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

This place is just soo nostalgic! Great coffee aside, this is the place you pick when you want to just read a book, or catch up with friends. The interior design takes you back to the old days, and their baristas are all so helpful! The downside of this place is that its so good that its almost always packed, so pick the right times to be here.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

One of my favourite spots to bring people who have not been to Nanaimo before! I have been for breakfast, lunch, snagged awesome vintage selections to watching drag shows. The vault is definitely more than a restaurant it highlights Nanaimo creatives all while being a beautiful place to spend your time Vegetarian options: Rotating menu of specials and some main menu plant based options! Dietary restrictions: Can accommodate most dietary restrictions

★★★★★
May 22, 2024

The beating heart of our local arts scene. Excellent coffee, brilliant staff.

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

Stopped in for breakfast and loved the vibe of the place and the breakfast wrap even more. Good coffee, lots of places to sit and there s a little thrift shop at the back great if you have an eye/talent for mending and reworking. Dietary restrictions: Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options

★★★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

The atmosphere of this place is vibrant and welcoming. It was a Friday morning, so I had to wait a bit for my food, but with the constant flow of people, it didn t seem like too long. I had a breakfast wrap and Americano. The coffee was quite good and the wrap was flavourful, cheesy deliciousness. I ll be back.

★★
May 22, 2024

obviously if you like a certain type of atmosphere and vibe the vault checks all the boxes. beautiful building, eclectic decor, and very supportive of the arts, so of course its a celebrated space! the owner is amazing, someone I have gotten to know well and this is the reason I have held off from reviewing I have been a customer of the vault for years and while its always been inconsistent, in the past year it has swayed over to the point of being consistently bad. while the staff are all adults you can expect to be met with the attitude of a petulant, spiteful, teenager. the food and coffee drinks are all over the place, but these days, more often than not, its bland, Luke warm food with watery/milky bland, lukewarm drinks. After one last shot, and a particularly snarky experience I have finally bought my own espresso machine. Hopefully their staff flips in a year or two & they can get back on track!

★★★
Local Guide
May 22, 2024

I ate breakfast here based on a friends recommendation and it was mostly good - the breakfast wrap ($16) with bacon and avocado for only $2 extra was great albeit burnt on one side. The service was pretty poor though as we waited at the counter for close to five minutes before being greeted and even then the host was miserable. Other than that issue, it was nice.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Sweet little spot, wish I had found out about it sooner. I will definitely be back.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Vegetarian options: There are great vegan options Dietary restrictions: There are great vegan options Food : 5/5 |

April 22, 2024

Five members of staff working and they all look lost. My 2 orders of drip coffee came absolutely cold and they forgot my beef rolls, 25 minutes after they finally realized, handled to me and it was still absolutely frozen cold as if had never hit the oven before. Unbelievably bad service and would never come back for such a poor experience. They should rework their values in order to keep in business.

★★★★
April 22, 2024

Very nice place

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Cool atmosphere super chill vibe has good entertainment.

★★★★★
April 22, 2024

Great funky vibe. Great eats. Friendly staff. Music gets a bit loud with larger crowds. But hit it at the right time and it s great.

★★★★★
Local Guide
April 22, 2024

Great atmosphere. Great service. But, most of all great coffee & food. We are never disappointed!

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Finally found an awesome local coffee shop with good coffee! Super nice staff and an awesome layout. Vegetarian options: The ladies I was there to meet raved about the vegan wrap and theyre not even vegan!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

We stopped in for an afternoon coffee and loved the warm ambiance and charm of this place. We decided to come back for dinner after exploring the menu. We tried the mac and cheese with bacon and a side salad. Everything was delicious.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

Excellent food and wonderful people working there ! Recommended

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

OMG! The avocado toast is amazing!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

My favourite spot in Nanaimo so far! Super cozy atmosphere and dang delicious food! Id live here if I could.

★★★★★
March 22, 2024

By the old gods and the new, the blueberry muffins are divine! Joffrey wishes he would have choked on a nibble of these delectable creations!

★★★★★
Local Guide
March 22, 2024

i ve been here for night events and just during the day for food and a quick drink. it has a lovely cozy atmosphere and there s even books on the wall you can look through! there is outdoor seating as well as indoor, and plenty of options for vegetarians and other dietary restrictions.

★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Cool place, good coffee.

February 22, 2024

I ordered 2 chicken pesto paninis there for take away. I got home and was half way through one of the paninis and found a chunk of hair not a single hair but a chunk. I was so disgusted it made me ill. I will never eat there again.

★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Got the vegan breakfast wrap and it was alright, but didnt sit well with my stomach unfortunately. Cute decor, but very crowded. I was disappointed I didnt really like the soy latte I had. Staff was nice, but overall very average. The rest of my party also felt very average about the whole experience. - food and hard to find seating

★★
February 22, 2024

When this establishment hosts events, I think it would be beneficial if there could be a better organized waiting que for people outside to be able to go inside and enjoy the event as well.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Food was made with attention and care for a beautiful presentation and delicious at the same time. Very bohemian. The Bazar upstairs was the surprise of the century - an absolute vibe.

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

I loveee this cafe!!! Amazing decor and vibe, very welcoming, accommodating, and make good espresso drinks!! Drip coffee is not my fav. Bakery is good, love the vegan options and falafel

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The coolest spot to hang out in Nanaimo, great atmosphere, delicious food and friendly service. Highly recommend.

★★★★★
Local Guide
February 22, 2024

Everything was WOW. The customer service from the girl at the counter who made us the BEST Cesars weve ever had in our life. My friend and I ordered the BLTC and the Brie & Apple which was SOOO good. I meant to take pictures but we devoured everything immediately. 100/10 would recommend

★★★★★
February 22, 2024

The shining jewel of Nanaimo s arts and culture scene. A LGBTQ friendly hacienda for great food, drinks and live music.

January 22, 2024

If you want to go to an overpriced cafe filled with coffee snobs and baristas that treat their customer with zero respect then this is the place for you! I got 2 drinks costing $7 a piece so you would think that it would be decent. Wrong, I ordered a London fog that tasted of pure milk with absolutely zero hint of tea. I Might as well have asked for straight milk. Not wanting to waste $7 I kept the drink and used it in my morning bowl of cereal. My other drink was an iced chai that was the exact same as the London fog except with an added cup of sugar making you question if you re going to get diabetes. I mean this drink was sweeter than your mother s lips sprinkled with a dash of cinnamon to make you think it was worth the $7 price tag.

★★★★
January 22, 2024

Fabulous space / decoration / atmosphere / music, but sadly terrible coffee and the menu is not what it once was and is not appealing anymore. Cappuccino was way too big (it s supposed to be 8oz guys And I did take the small option), the milk was not froth correctly, just fluffed. No art whatsoever. The americano was burnt. There are now just a couple of basic items on the menu. Anyway, disappointed twice in a row now, will not be back for coffees.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

The atmosphere is amazing I loved the deco. The coffee was ok and fair price. The cookies was delicious and have some flavours i never had before! The staff have super cool energy. No park lot but it s possible park on the street for free (max 2 hours). I will back there more times for sure. Parking: Possible free park on the street but have a 2 hours max time sign. But I believe it s possible to enjoy the place less than 2 hours.

★★★★★
Local Guide
January 22, 2024

Awesome place, great food, good drinks and fun events. It is extremely annoying that there is no bar service kind of asinine to get up from the bar walk 3 feet and place my order then go back to the bar stool. When I could of juat said what I wanted to the bartender from my seat. Its fine no service just means no tip.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This place is absolutely fabulous. Ive never encountered such a cafe with such an amazing atmosphere. The design elements theyve incorporated are truly fantastic. My husband and I had a wonderful time there. Interestingly, we were originally on our way to Starbucks when we stumbled upon this incredible place. I ordered a large latte, which was quite good, and my husband opted for a brewed coffee. He really enjoyed his coffee, so much so that he decided to order another. When he approached the counter to place the order, the lady working there told him that refills were only $1. That was truly amazing, and its an experience weve never had before in Vancouver.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

It is an interesting place with artists upstairs. It was so busy on the Sunday afternoon we were there. Waited over half and hour for our food. Coffee was really good and food was fair. There were trivia cards on the tables to keep is occupied while waiting for our food. That place had a line up almost to the door the whole time we were there.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Delicious breakfast sandwich and latte. Lots of cool quirky art.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Incredible vibes in this place! Great vegan options too :)

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Favourite cafe I ve visited in Nanaimo! We got the a coffee, London fog, vegan wrap, French toast, potatoes and eggs. Everything was so delicious! Best breakfast I ve had in the area. Service was great and the atmosphere inside is so cool. We sat with our dog outside at one of the tables. Will definitely recommend to people. Vegetarian options: Great vegetarian and vegan options. Dietary restrictions: Vegan options and nut free options

★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The coffee is okay if you can actually get some service. The baristas ignore their customers to chat with regulars.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Love the vibe and our breakfast wrap and french toast were perfect morning fare. Decent diner coffee and great blueberry muffin. Great place to dine, hang and chill.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The best breakfast wrap I ve ever had! Great coffee and service as well. Highly recommended!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

Excellent vibe in this restaurant with tasty menu options and friendly service! The decor and furnishings provide a sense of walking into a time capsule. Always a pleasure to stop by when we re in town.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

We were so glad to stop by. We got caught up looking at the amazing interior design that we forgot to take a photo of the breakfast wrap we ordered. We enjoyed our meal. Great ambience. A cafe like no other.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Lovely place and great food. Especially the breakfast wrap! The cafe is cute and sweet!

★★★★
December 22, 2023

So happy we found this place on our first trip to Nanaimo! The streets were quite sleepy the day we visited, but this place was hoppin. Lattes were good and the space is fun and eclectic. Could use a good dusting for sure, though. Overall a really nice way to spend a morning.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Quaint and hip café in Nanaimo. Very cool vibe, with lots of interesting decorations. The staff was inclusive, and food was delicious.

★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Worth coming again

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Surprisingly great food served by friendly staff and cooked by someone(s) who knows what they are doing.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

This is an amazing cafe with fabulous funky decor, fabulous funky stuff and pretty good food. I recommend the vegetarian breakfast wrap with avocado. I like the mix and match breakfast special that they have all day. If you can order two eggs for $3 and a side of toast for $3 and thats your meal for $6.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

The cutest Cafe. In love with the ambience and the big windows. Vegetarian options: There are vegetarian options. Dietary restrictions: Also vegan options

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Nice spot with good food and coffee.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Awesome place. Love the atmosphere! And good food too. Also events & drinks many evenings. One of my all time fav spots.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

Love this venue, every show I go to here is great and the staff are really nice and helpful. They make the best drinks too. $10 highballs? yes please

★★
December 22, 2023

Really cool vibes, friendly front of house staff, but the meal I got was really disappointing. I got the special, a chanterelle mushroom eggs Benedict. It took 45 minutes for the food to arrive. The eggs and the sauce were cold, and there were only two tiny pieces of mushroom on each bun. It was just not pleasant to eat. I do take responsibility for not saying something to staff at the time, but given how busy it was and the fact that there are no servers (you pay upfront) made this difficult to do. I don t think I ll go back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Their pulled pork & egg benedict & French toast is awesome. Their unique London fog tea is a must-try. Nice retro ambience

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

The bomb .com // I would highly recommend the vault for the lovely humans running thw show & the creative menu/quality of food Dietary restrictions: Lots of options & modifications available if needed

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

A lovely lil café right downtown! Great location, loads of buses stop just across the street, easy to get to. A funky, but warm atmosphere. Always had a good experience with the coffee, the mocha is such a deep flavor and not overly-sweet! Tried their ginger cookies today and was blown away, amazing flavor. I love to just grab a drink, sit outside, and read a book, maybe do some people-watching or play on my tablet. A great way to spend a few hours. Dont forget to explore upstairs, too! Theres some funky lil shops and I found some great used books there recently. Vegetarian options: They have vegan and vegetarian options for drinks, baked goods, and food. Wheelchair accessibility: Main floor is wheelchair accessible, the upstairs is not. Smaller mobility devices [I use a forearm crutch at times] should be able to manage, though.

December 22, 2023

If I could leave no stars, I would. Absolute worst customer service I have ever had. Waited over an hour just to be given a refund because they still couldn t put our food out. People that had come in after us were getting food before us and we were told from the chef that it s probably because they ordered less complicated meals. I m sorry, what? I ordered a breakfast wrap and my husband a bacon and egg meal. Never going back.

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

Funky space with a chill vibe. Lost track of time and was blissfully relaxed and content.

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I only had a few minutes to spend here but what a BEAUTIFUL space and the coffee was delicious!

★★★★★
December 22, 2023

I stopped at this cafe on the recommendation of a local, it was just incredible. The food was delicious and the service was top notch. Thank you for this discovery!

★★★★★
Local Guide
December 22, 2023

I went in September, a place that catches your attention as you i pass by, inside it has that folklore and originality everywhere, I love the atmosphere, we sat down to read and have a coffee, it was definitely a break that we enjoyed a lot, I hope to visit it again soon