26 Best Coffee Shops in Waterloo

“greatest service i’ve ever had at any restaurant all because of dave the greatest dave the brave very great energy welcoming and warming had very great conversations with him it felt like he was more of a family friend rather then a waitress, it’s my first time here but it was the best time i’ve had will definitely be coming back!“

“Wonderful food, fantastic interior, and great location--on Northfield, between Bridge and University. Also a community-minded business. A must-visit establishment. Dog-friendly for well-behaved dogs on leashes. (I'm not a dog person, and I didn't feel nervous for a second.)“

“amazing customer service! drive in from 3 cities away to enjoy them.“

“The Bingsu is one of my favorite dessert spots! I tried the Mango Bingsu and the Tiramisu Bingsu, and both were absolutely delicious. The shaved ice was incredibly soft and fluffy, with generous toppings that weren't overly sweet. The mango was fresh and juicy, while the tiramisu had a rich, creamy coffee flavor that was so satisfying.
My absolute favorite, though, is the taiyaki! It's always warm, crispy on the outside, soft on the inside, and the filling is just perfect. It pairs so well with the bingsu.
If you're looking for a refreshing Korean dessert or just craving something sweet, I highly recommend The Bingsu Uptown. Great desserts, quality ingredients, and a place I'll definitely keep coming back to!“

“Excellent latte, the coffee (decaf for me) was exceptional considering it was decaf. I travel frequently around the world and the iced latte I had stood just as strongly against some of the best lattes I’ve had on my travels. The staff (lovely woman) was friendly and the place was clean. It is quite minimalistic in the atmosphere which isn’t my first choice but if the coffee is great and it’s clean, I’m happy. I don’t know how the previous review said it was mediocre, perhaps their palette is mediocre because I’ll go out of my way when I’m in town to visit here. Well done.“

“Have been a long time fan, from the delicious drinks and treats to the adorable decor and merchandise. Today was my first time back post Covid. Staff was friendly and cheerful but the wait time was actually really bad. Had I known it would take 25 minutes to receive one bubble tea, I would have gotten my drink before my lunch. Unfortunately couples coming in after me were receiving their drinks before I did. Love the new straws and can overlook that they do break easily, because they’re much better than paper!“

“Whether it is sitting and writing in my journal, or if I need to focus and work on my laptop, or simply having a chat over coffee with a friend, i find Cafe22 to be one of the most special cafes in the Kitchener-Waterloo area! I am so grateful I found this special spot, which I consider a hidden gem! An absolutely charming, cozy, and relaxing atmosphere and decoration; delicious food and beverages; and most importantly an extremely kind and welcoming staff! I have to say that Daniela’s friendliness and genuine care and warmth add a lot to the whole experience as well! Highly recommended!“

“The coffee and services out do the rest. Shipped right to your door. Always happy to help. Thanks gold roast!!“

“The customer service here is crazy Abdullah makes my drink with such flow and seems extremely experienced and good at his job, he recommends me the best drinks and they always are the best, I’m gonna keep on coming back here forever especially if I see Abdullah here 10/10“

“Best selection of local craft beer and cider around.“

“Best quiche in town. No regret that I ever came and visit one of the finest bakery in Waterloo, ON.“

“My partner and I saw this place and stopped in for dessert after a tasty latenight dinner at another restaurant. We had never heard of Bingsu before and are fairly excited about trying asian foods.

Despite many bars being full and drunk people surrounding the whole area the place seemed relatively empty. It has a very clean interior, a nice single washroom for customers that was kept in great shape and comfortable little tables to eat-in at.

The staff was curteous and answered our questions, we ordered a sesame and a mango bingsu and half expected something like a snowcone.

when it arrived we were amazed at the combination of icecream and actual ice crystals that it is made of working very well together and absolutely full of flavour. The mango was dessert like, tasting both rich in flavour but light and easy to finish.

The sesame tasted more savoury, and was difficult for my partner to finish because we had already just eaten. so luckily I got to help and make sure it didn't go to waste. 😀

served in plastic cups with metal golden coloured spoons because we were eating in, it was a perfect end of night date spot and we will definitely be returning. I believe we have already reminisced how good the place was to each other at least twice in the last couple of days.

I see another reviewer has mentioned the size of dessert changed and was missing toppings. i did get the impression it was new-owners, maybe that explains why it seemed empty. In any event it did take 2 desserts for 2 people but they did have the ice cream and small cheesecake pieces mentioned. maybe they learned not to cut costs. 🤷‍♂“

“Hi I went to tim hortons in kitchener Ontario an waterloo ontario yesterday an I went in side I can't get connected to the tim hortons wifi can u help me please“

“I’m a daily customer at this McDonald’s, and I can honestly say that the service here is excellent. The workers are always friendly, respectful, and hardworking. They provide fast service and make every visit a good experience. I really appreciate their dedication and great customer service. This is definitely one of the best McDonald’s locations!“

“Was just at the mall a bit ago and figured what better way to end off a shopping trip than go to the Starbucks for a drink. Lovely atmosphere and employees. Had a friendly server I believe named Maya, She made me feel extremely welcomed. On top of her great personality, she also was very accommodating to my large and complicated drink order! Bless her. Definitely recommend and will be coming back.“

“Replying to Michael below:

I was there as well, and this is a pretty incomplete version of what actually happened.

The woman you’re referring to wasn’t just “confused” she was being openly aggressive and making racist comments toward the staff. That’s why she was asked to leave. She also has a history of this kind of behavior in the community (look up racist lady waterloo and see who pops up), so framing this as someone simply having a hard time really misses what people around you were actually dealing with.

Also, what you’re calling “laughing” didn’t come across that way in context. It looked a lot more like staff decompressing after a tense and uncomfortable interaction. When people are put in that position, they don’t just reset instantly. They also seperated that barista from the floor to have a moment afterwards.

It’s also worth recognizing how difficult those moments are for staff. When someone directs racist comments at them, it’s not just “a tough interaction”, it’s personal, it’s dehumanizing, and it’s something they still have to manage calmly in front of a room full of people.

It’s easy to judge a moment without full context, but this wasn’t staff making fun of someone, it was a team dealing with inappropriate, dehumanizing behavior and then trying to move forward, during what was clearly a busy day. The fact that they were able to keep things going and not have to pause service shows their incredible resilience and strength.

10/10 team, and service“

“awesome. quaint little store. would recommend to all tea lovers!!“

“The staff is really kind and soft spoken ,i like timmies like this:)“

“I usually don't leave a review but this place is wholesome. I was having a rough day. I was tired and exhausted because of my work. Both two guys (Forgot their name) were very friendly and cheerful. They kept me engaged while I was there. I ordered strawberry creme frap venti and the guy working at the bar made my drink perfectly and even decorated the frap which eventually lifted my mood. Service was better than the original Starbucks. I have to visit this location often to meet those two guys. Keep up the good work guys.“

“This place is the BOMB! Very high quality good food for less than 2 dollars. Coffee, hmm don't get me started on that they are very affordable (60 cents). As always the staff is AMAZING. Keep up the great work! #BestCnD“

“Best place on campus, or rather in the engineering buildings at least!“

“I had a really great experience at Tim Hortons, and I especially want to recognize an employee named Adham. From the moment I was served, Adham was very friendly, respectful, and welcoming. He provided excellent customer service and made sure everything was handled quickly and correctly.

It’s always nice to come across an employee who genuinely seems to care about making customers feel comfortable and appreciated. Adham was polite, patient, and had a positive attitude throughout my visit. Even though it was just a regular trip to Tim Hortons, his great service made the experience stand out.

I really appreciate the effort and professionalism he showed. Employees like Adham make a big difference and are a great representation of the restaurant. I would definitely come back again, and I hope his hard work gets recognized. Thank you, Adham, for the excellent service! Definitely a 5-star experience!“

“You guys make me fall in love with Starbucks all over again! Thank you for remaking my mobile order when I was late to pick up! My car broke down on my way to pick up my order and I was 40 mins late but the baristas remade my drink at no charge! So nice and made my day! Thank you!“

“Visited for my birthday and while they were extremely busy, the girl making my drink (despite looking otherwise stressed) took the time to very sincerely wish me a happy birthday :) both drinks we ordered were also perfectly made and delicious!“

“I just want to take a moment to praise the incredible staff at this Starbucks. ❤

I came in today already having a really difficult day and ordered a protein matcha with extra foam. Unfortunately, the drink was extremely foamy—so much so that there was barely any actual drink to enjoy. The team kindly remade it for me, but the same thing happened again. I went back a second time and explained that I was already having a really difficult day and honestly didn’t have much emotional energy left. I apologized for having to ask again and simply asked if they could please make the drink right.

They remade it a third time, checked with me to make sure it was finally right, and it was perfect. But what happened afterward is what truly touched me.

One of the staff members came over and gave me a cake pop, telling me that they were sorry and that they understood I was having a bad day and didn’t want me to feel bad about my drink. That small gesture meant so much more to me than they probably realized.

Before leaving, I went back to thank everyone because I genuinely appreciated their kindness. I mentioned again that I was just having a really difficult day, and one of the girls asked me, “Do you need a hug?” She then came over and gave me the warmest, sweetest hug.

I honestly got emotional. Sometimes when you're already having a hard day, a little kindness from a stranger can mean everything. They didn’t just fix my drink—they made me feel cared for and understood.

I didn’t get their names, but I really hope this review reaches them. Thank you to the entire team for being so kind, patient, compassionate, and genuinely caring. The world needs more people like you. ❤

I’m actually grateful that I came to Starbucks today, because these two small acts of kindness were the sweetest things that happened to me all day. Thank you for making a difficult day a little bit lighter. ❤“