Reviews of The Vault Cafe (Coffee Shop)

Randall Rice

Cosier than ever. Good coffee and atmosphere. A cool gathering place

Jesse Millar

The food is fabulous, the coffee is great and they have live music - this place rocks!

Carlos Cabello

The decoration is very refined vintage personality and the food is good. I love the alternative vibe and the music is played at a decent volume. Its location close to the waterfront is a plus. A must-go coffee shop in a Nanaimo's visit.

Hazel Stevenson

Funky brunch spot in downtown Nanaimo. Great food and service - banana bread french toast! Also loved the vintage records, photos and clothing. Highly recommend,

Darren Brown

Thanks for going out of your way to keep it fresh

Mykl Love

Music is good for you and anyone else who's going to be on the island

candy L

The vault cafe is truly one of a kind. The exterior is one with pink walls with beautiful dome shaped windows.The interior decor is vintage with lots of antique like furniture. The staff who recommended me their pumpkin seeds loaf was a very friendly guy. The coffee and Matcha latte were so tasty. Highly recommended

Meegan Gildehaus

A vital cultural & community hub with great food, great people, the best vibe, great drinks. The best ????

Richard Kelly

A bit expensive, but a great place to hang out. Love the furniture.

krysto furr

Americano looked and tasted like Reg coffee. Maybe it was

John Strawson

Best coffee and nicest atmosphere in downtown Nanaimo. I had the opportunity to see the live music yet but I hear it's really good. I highly recommend The Vault for coffee, food and a good place to start a date work coffee or a drink.

Sean Dooher

The crew in the Vault are like a family. Good communication, cheerful and easy going. Prices were very reasonable, the wine was of above average quality, unexpected in similar venues and the live jazz was very entertaining with an added …

Em von Euw

A delightful, queer friendly cafe with ambience for daaays. Limited but delicious vegan options (especially the panini, hot chocolate, and muffins... Not the tofu scramble.)

Paula Castellon, MBA

A true beacon of culture in Nanaimo. Artsy, good music, coffee, beer, cute girls, simulated hipster intellectualism

Anamjit S Sivia

Very very overpriced for the quality of food.

Amanda Proctor

Love it! Stopped here for an amazing mocha and a breakfast wrap which was loaded with goodness. Eggs, bacon, avocado, sweet potato and more. Definatly worth making the time to go check this place out.

Cass Romyn

Delicious mac & cheeses and milkshakes!! Modest prices and a great atmosphere for anyone and everyone! Friendly staff too!!

Lauren Semple

A local downtown gem. Great laid back space in a heritage building located in the heart of downtown Nanaimo. Live music, coffee, alcoholic drinks and old fashioned milkshakes. Good food, lots of vegan options, and locally sourced ingredients.

Sébastien Schwarz

Really nice cafe in Nanaimo! Great place for a break or to catch up with old friends. The atmosphere was great with the high ceilings and opean concept. Lots of natural light from big glass windows. Live bands in some nights as well makes this one of the best all round locations to grab some coffee and a bite to eat! Great experience overall and would definitely go there again :)

Cynthia Carrier

Very charming cafe. A famous Nanaimo bar at Nanaimo.

Baillie Coffer

I loved it! The staff were very friendly, the tea was amazing, and the music was extremely tasteful. The Vault has amazing vibes!!

Dylan Perry

Best coffee shop in town. Great food, great staff and an amazing atmosphere!

Matt Good

Awesome dude behind the bar with a passion for hospitality. The chef brought us our food piping hot! She was also very passionate and friendly. Small amount of taps but a great selection of bottles and cans. The one from Spain was great! The vegan Nanaimo bars are a perfect way to finish off the evening with and Americano. Thank you for your hospitality. Will definitely be back next time I'm in town!

Chase Benson

Probably the best Atmosphere and Vibe of a Cafe I've ever been in. Both the music and employees were great. And everything there is delicious

OriginalBlake

Whenever I visit the vault I always wonder why I don't come more often. They have great events like open mic to enjoy and the food is constantly awesome. Last visit was the burger and daily soup combo.

Josh

Their food and hot drinks are a bit lack luster and their dessert is always stale. I used to really like the milkshakes, but the last few times I went they didn't have much flavour at all. Their open mic is hit and miss. The atmosphere is nice, though the seats are very uncomfortable... These days, I would only go for the beer on a night they have a scheduled gig by someone I know is good. I might walk by on open mic night and pop in if it doesn't sound like too bad.. I stay until it gets bad again :/

Arman Keyvanskhou

The place is cozy but the breakfast is horrible! It's worst than any mediocre diner breakfast.

Brendan Moffat

Great spot for a mid day margarita and chocolate chip cookie ????????

Aiden Kerr

they saved our trip to nanaimo

Mark Giesbrecht

Funky spot for coffee, teas and some eats. An eclectic interior with friendly staff. I enjoyed my latte. Highly recommended.

Kayla Shaw

I came to the vault last year and I love this cafe it's got lots to look at and the food is amazing. Definitely a must try. Ps the staff are absolutely lovely. The french toast into die for ????

Bronwynn Whiteley

Is it a bar? Is it a cafe? Is it a music venue? Who cares! This place has it all, and is far from pretentious.

Jeremy C Barnhart

Eclectic, a place to 'call home', and an ever-engaging atmosphere make The Vault a place to sit an regard life, bring friends, or go to hear fresh artists and musicians you may not have had a chance to hear elsewhere. Providing a dynamic and sometimes retrospective cafè, this licensed eatery provides fresh coffee, tea, beer, and wine, as well as a menu of fresh made choices including gluten free and vegan options. The cheese scones are great, and I've caught myself coming back for a side of eggs and order of toast while starting my work day. When not in a bizarre world of pandemonium, they also offer live music, spoken word and more! There's a lot to cover with the Vault, so instead of reading this, go and check it out for yourself!

Alexandra Bedard

Lots of space and good energy... the coffee is decent, music is good, and ambience is great! Plants and artwork everywhere, different formats of seating, and natural light and cool lamps set the perfect mood for reading, talking, or doing work. P.s. the scones are huge, cheap and delicious!

Abdullah Al-Tameemi

Great food, and spectacular eye catching design! The food is so fresh and servers were nice. I dropped a star for the delay of getting the orders and the coffee were okay.

Greg Bem

Relaxed cozy atmosphere Amazing acoustics Good food

Lara Kandalaft

We stopped at Nanaimo for a quick visit and we were so happy we chose this cafe to eat at! Everyone is so nice, the decor is very cute and the food is delicious! I had the vegan breakfast wrap and was very pleased with it ????

Devin Alexander

My favorite cafe in the world! Nicest owner, great food, great staff and atmosphere.

UTO LEE

I was falling in love their atmosphere! Staffs are really nice and friendly. I recommend their london fog (earl grey latte). They have many small meal choices also.

Cj Rice

She is still working on love in her heart. I got my second set of eggs and they weren't as bad as the first.

Ken Oldenburger

Grilled salmon on salad is so good. And such a relaxing environment.

Glenn Wood

This place is a total Nanaimo gem. Its been through a few owners and had its ups and downs, but its currently experiencing a golden age. Now with a full kitchen and a few tasteful drink options, its a full service place worth going. Its probably the most active place in Nanaimo for live music and shows. Its got a very unique atmosphere and I love that they've created a great front patio. This place rocks!

Josh Peacock

Breakfast

Shannon Witham

Great menu, great staff and great ambiance. I appreciate the vegetarian options.

Oshyn Nielsen

I think the dishwasher is really cool.

Nadia Burkowski

Staff and service here are always friendly and attentive. The Pesto Mac&Cheese is amazing and the drinks are always tasty too (especially their lavender milkshakes!) The only thing I would improve on is the fries. They’re quite bland and could use some spicing up. Not a big deal, but that’s my one and only complaint from there. The shows and entertainment they put on is always interesting to go see as well!

Heidi

Had the vegan breakfast wrap. Absolutely delicious! Loved the eclectic vintage feel of cafe. Although large and airy feels cozy with nice layout of upper and lower seating for people watching. Good funky tunes. This will definitely become a repeat destination whenever I'm back in Nanaimo. Thanks!!

Daniel Boone

I love this place. Great staff, great food, great coffee and great atmosphere. Get the breakfast wrap. Mmmmmm.

Maggie Boothroyd

Such a cool little spot! Was pleasantly surprised to find it before boarding the ferry! The vegan breakfast wrap is great!

Sharon Cheng

This pinky funky coffee shop is a popular place for tourist. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant , however the breakfast wrap wasn’t good and the latte tasted like watery milk with a hint of coffee flavour.

Amy Gain

Local almost everything, delicious food, lovely staff and just plain good for the soul ❤️

Krista P.

Love the decor and best chai lattes around!

John Cooper

A downtown Nanaimo staple. Great coffee. Hip scene. It's a vibe.

Meghana Reddy

Loved the vibe this place had to offer! Excellent sanitizing measures in place, decors were antique and full of holiday mood. My mocha was one of the best I had in the city. Husband seemed to enjoy his Americano

Gina Hara

Absolutely beautiful place. The atmosphere, the food and the staff is amazing. My espresso was perfect. ???? ⭐TIP: Ask for a slice of bacon with your spinach-cheddar scone or avocado toast!!

S.G. Warren

Quirky, interesting, comfortable and trendy with a vintage bohemian decor. The food is fresh, local, and delishious. :)

Manon Fontaine

Very good espresso cakes cookies and bars. I loved their London fog cake and their snickerdoodle. Love the atmosphere, and friendly staff.

A I

I've been coming to the Vault for years and have never had anything but an amazing experience. Food is great, staff are so sweet and lovely and really care about their jobs, atmosphere is great for relaxing with your buddies or doing …

Josie Vanderzee

Eclectic vibe, live music, good food and good times!

Levi Frederick

Such a unique place, I loved it. I was visiting Nanaimo for two days and I went there twice! Great breakfast and awesome coffee. Plus cool stores up stairs to wander about in after your coffee! A 10

Rod Freeman

Really great atmosphere and quirky vibe. Beer and coffee and decent food too! However no itemized receipts for business purposes available when I asked and they recently went to really gnarly elementary school hard wood chairs that will have you squirming in no time.

Brandon Dallamore

What a great scene. Their veggie avocado breakfast wrap is life changing, and open mic rocks.

Jean Chen

Great food, great beer, great people! My husband and I really enjoyed the atmosphere here!

Cali Storch

One of the best coffee shops in Nanaimo by far! Nothing beats their down-to-Earth atmosphere and wonderful menu. Don't forget to check out the shops upstairs!

Anika Bousquet

I wish I could give a higher review, as the food was quite good. However, I was sent to the hospital for an anaphylactic reaction in August, after being told that there was no peanuts in the granola - and there was. I was not warned that there may be cross-contamination, even after stressing to the employee that I had an allergy. I was told that there were only almonds. This is a HUGE danger for individuals with severe allergies - if there is a risk of cross-contamination, customers need to be informed.

Pat B

Nice indie coffee shop downtown. The scones are a tasty delight.

All in 1 tree service “All in 1 tree service”

If you are looking for anyplace with good home cooked meals, then this place is for you!!! I love the cinnamon buns!

Suzanne Dolan

A very unique place to enjoy lunch, I can spend hours sitting outside and watching the world go by. Staff are always super friendly.

Erin Sowerby Greene

Trendy liberal meeting place in the downtown core. Gay friendly.

david clarke

I was planning on seeing the live performance until I got there and was told there is a cover charge. There was nothing about a cover charge on the Facebook in local events. I was disappointed to walk all the way downtown to be turned away ????

Pankaj Babla

Fun place, rustic ambient

Courtz J

Great coffee when u dont have time to make one for urself.

Christine Johnson

Looking to grab a coffee in Nanaimo? This is the spot. In addition to the food food & drink, they’ve also got unique shows in the evenings. From open mic, stand up comedy, and lots of local music ????

Riley Ellis

Pretty solid service, pretty solid food, very funky aesthetic going on. A very relaxed place to study.

Julian Worker

A cafe with a wonderful ambience and licensed to sell alcohol. The food is very good.

Marina Kreimer

Great coffee, unique place. Fresh and good food.

Randi Lee Ross

Amazing food. Great italian soda. Perfect atmosphere :)

Jaime Stephens

The one place in Nanaimo serving coffee past 8pm. Awesome building too

trevor pullen

Swanky, chill and delicious drinks. Recommend

Erik Wright

This quaint little cafe and local music hotspot has served Nanaimo well over the years. You can find a variety of comfort food, drinks, and a full service coffee bar during the day, and local musicians every week, including open mic nights too. Angela knows how to run a great cafe - one that will hopefully be around for many years to come.

Shaun Demaris

This place was great, impressed by the decor. Very unique with the antique atmosphere. Definitely will come back once the covid restrictions are lifted. Albertans are seemingly not welcome during this time

Nadine Shemilt

Love the atmosphere here for either a coffee or a beer and the breakfast is delicious!!

J. David Ingram

Awesome, funky eatery in downtown Nanaimo - great place to get a coffee or food and enjoy the local vibe. The bagel and lox is excellent, highly recommended. Staff is amazing. Bonus - free 2 hour parking on the hill going up past the cafe, usually you can find a spot. Grab lunch and you’ve still got time to checkout the galleries, bookstores and shops downtown.

Claire Negrin

I just had a brownie from here that was probably the greatest brownie I've ever eaten. I order here regularly and love it - all of the drinks and treats are always fantastic, the scones are amazing - but never considered writing a review until I had that brownie. SO good.

Albert Luk

Nanaimo bar: $4. Smallish piece but decent. Hipster vibe and scattered things about. Played chess on the table upper level. Relaxed atmosphere.

Holly-Ann Cromarty

I love this place. The vibes are great, good food, fun decor. I come here every time I'm in town. Only thing is they refuse to turn up the heat or acknowledge that it's cold in there lol....but I never take off my jacket inside...it is cold. ❄

Koston Morin

Service

Jeremy Laird

Cute, filled with plants, funky, and probably Nanaimo's best café.

Dan Varnus

Cool. Good coffee, drinks, food. Patio is great. My autocorrect tried to write potato. Would have been embarrassing.

Chung Kim

Amazing little French inspired cafe / brunch place. Loved the whole aesthetics and plants inside.

Sean Lundy

Eclectic cafe. Tasty treats. Great coffee! I came here on LGBTQ+ night. They also host live music and game nights (like Bingo). I found their espresso to be particularly tasty. My girlfriend had a Chai Latte and loved the balance of flavour (it wasn't super strong like other places tend to do). Easily accessed location with many other businesses nearby to check out when you're done. Unique local art is displayed all around the cafe and some is even sold up at the till

Geoff Schmidt

Wow... what a very cool Cafe. From the cassettes on sale, to the art book library, the funky seating to the Vault collection of shoppes, it was rasy to get distracted from thw primary purpose of bring there, that is, a good breakfast and …

Isaac Ashton

Absolutely love this place. One of my favourite places in Nanaimo. The atmosphere is fantastic, the vibe is good, the artists that come are great, the food too. It's all good here.

Emily Cain

Have the grilled scone. Have a Nanaimo bar. Have a coffee. All to stay. You’re welcome. ????

Tim Boka

LOVE LOVE LOVE. favourite coffee shop in Nan and you’ll see exactly why once you visit. Such a dope atmosphere and all the workers are super friendly and always have a smile. Will definitely be back again and again and tell all my pals about this gem too. Thanks for running a great biz!

Caroline Ishii

Love this cafe for the ambiance and food. The scone breakfast sandwich is amazing!

Colton Loberg

More of a web cafe and music very relaxing and right downtown perfect location.

myles w

Always love the vault :) cozy, nice atmosphere. Sometimes the music is a little loud but that's alright.

Sarah Cameron

Great intimate little venue that is owned by a lovely kind lady.

YesNoMaybeSometimes

Nice little venue to watch live music. Buy a coffee, or buy a beer and let your inner hipster thrive with the funky deco

Bill Ward (Living Life on the Lean)

Unfortunately, this was not the same place I visited last year when I was on the island, ordered the breakfast and the potatoes were hard and under cooked. Both my wife and I were not impressed with the whole experience. Will not go back, sadly!

Jodi Beaubier

Good, friendly service and doing a great job with COVID Protocols. Food is delicious.

Hippy Chick

You won't believe it until you see it. It's an old ass building that used to be a cop shop and before that a bank. The atmosphere is open and welcoming. The food is amazing and like nothing you've ever tasted before.

Daniel Ottway

Good beer, had the blue cheese topped burger. Definitely a three napkin type of burger, even better with bacon by all accounts.

Spencer Sarault

Great food, awesome beer prices. We saw the Top Men there. It was great

Catherine Sevenhuysen

Good vegan options for dessert, meals, drinks everything! Super desserts. So good.

Sunny Vee

The Vault was awesome! My partner and I went for chai teas one night and had breakfast another morning. We ordered their vegan breakfast wraps, I ordered mine without the wrap, cause gluten-free. I also ordered their English breakfast latte with almond milk and it was seriously the best thing I've ever had!! The place is drop dead beautiful and if you're into plants, vintage things and cool people + queer places, THIS IS THE PLACE FOR YOU! *If you're into super spicy chai lattes like I am, this may not be the place for your chai, but it is the place to be! Vegan + Gluten-free options and dairy free options as well.

Phil Hamelin

Great customer service but coffee wasn't so great ... tasted like soya sauce.

Adam Piechnik

Great atmosphere, good coffee, not always the best or most friendly service

Mehdi

One of many great places to go in Nanaimo for food, drinks or live music.

Mike Cloney

Nanaimo bars are extremely good (and vegan!) the pecan pie bars are out of this world, my son loves the snickerdoodle cookies! The atmosphere in the vault is very relaxed and has some great decor. Would be a good place to go anytime of the day really as they also serve brews ($4 Phillips Pilsners tonight). Go buy some snacks!!!

TL

Unique cafe style, similar to ones in Havana, Cuba. Breakfast was good. I would say the focal point seemed to be in the atmosphere vs the food.

Chris Istace

What can a person say about the Vault but just GO I don’t live in Nanaimo but this is always my stop for coffee. They also have a terrific desert and baked goods selection as well as fresh made meals. Go for a breakfast sometime too and be blown away by the choices. They do have a few craft beers on tap too. The atmosphere is like nothing else and the cafe is in a recognized national heritage building. The coffee and food is served on mis matched vintage plates and cups. Yup staff are super friendly and courteous. The Vault also does lots of live performances and entertainment.

Kyle Kerr

Without a doubt the best place and best coffee in Nanaimo. Oh and the staff is great as well! Except for that Jenny girl.... she's amazing.

Kyle Shepard

Such cute ambiance and delicious coffee

Simon Trigona

I grabbed a coffee and a snack for the first time last weekend and it was delicious. It's a very busy/popular shop with a very hipster atmosphere which is a nice change from ask of the chain coffee shops in town.

Robert Simpson (Emerald Sea Diver)

Extremely unique and pleasant dining experience.. a downtown Nanaimo must do.

Rafael Marcao

Excellent breakfast. Nice place and great service.

Nikos Roum

Very nice atmosphere and great food!! Service is doing their best considering the amount of staff. Would definitely visit again!

Lauren S

Great food and drinks, love that they have gluten free and dairy free options. Fantastic atmosphere. Their coffee & tea has always been delicious. Not that little-kid friendly (which can be very nice for date days/nights) and staff hasn’t always been too friendly, but regardless a fantastic cafe to frequent!

roman francis

Shared a booth with my girlfriend and another couple, we had so much fun, and the dj played my favourite mf doom songs. Beer is cheap as hell!

Brian

Coziest place to just sit and relax. The food is amazing and so is the music!

Amber MacDonald

Large selection of lunch items and desserts, and a delicious specialty coffee/tea selection. Friendly staff.

Fred Jeffery

Great food. Delightful tea. Eclectic space. Wonderful people.

Shawn JP

Really cool café! Love the unique atmosphere and the adjoining vintage shops upstairs. A hot drink plus a vintage clothing browse = a perfect afternoon.

Cleary Donnelly

Love there. Unique furnishings and great quick meals

darshil shah

We went in for Nanaimo bars but they were out of it. We had the cheesecake squares and they tasted lovely. The chai latte and the mocha where great as well. The cafe has an interesting interior with a bunch of old timey stuff. The place had a good vibe and the staff was really helpful and sweet.

Julian

Great atmosphere, good food with plenty of vegetarian options

Hamed Habibi

Vegan people be careful, the vegan soup had meat in it by accident. Every other experience was good,so far it was one of my favorite places to go and they now have more options for vegan deserts. Vegan deserts are very good.

Ilya Kourzakov

The only bar I go to frequently when I'm in town. The mac n cheese is amazing.

Dinesh Jayabalan

Cute place to hangout with your dog! Breakfast was pretty good!

Jackie Pallard

Very relaxing place to be with good food and interesting people

Cogg-In The Works Media

Very cute place. Grab a seat and play a hand of crib.

Hannah Watson

Delicious food and drinks, great atmosphere. Lots of art on the walls and regular events.

Michael John Cody

Local hub: cozy atmosphere, friendly staff, and great shows

zip none

Good vibes, nice service, good location. The food is good, very fresh. I haven't had the coffee though. Live music sometimes, or so I hear.

Melissa Ayling

Great music and pretty decent coffee.

Alex Carter

Dropped in before leaving Nanaimo! Great staff and a big glass of fresh squeezed grapefruit juice for only $5? The heck?? beautiful

Reven

Felt like a special club that I got into too but wasn't invited and nobody had the courage to ask me to leave the food I had was good but pretty uncomfortable atmosphere.

Sebastien Stewart

Well. This place is pink, like a lawn flamingo. I should say currently pink, as it is usually a striking color; this year, pink. If I called its decor "hipster" it would be a compliment since I probably secretly envy it and could only wish to own something remotely close to what it is, or to have a boudoir that shared its sentiment for worn, though tasteful furniture. Tasseled lampshades and deer-horns are a must that adorn dark wood stain, complete with piano. Enjoy a coffee in a to stay or away mug, or have a great complete breakfast. Staff pick special! Shows on occasion. Five stars.

Kasumi Suzuki

Cool atmosphere, good coffee and sweets. Loved Chocolate zucchini slice! Highly recommend:)

Michael Chapiro

Rudely asked me to move to a different seating area when the place was very open after I've purchased many drinks here over the past week, including today. It's good credit card chargebacks.

Jocelyn Maffin

There's a reason The Vault is always the first place local Nanaimoans take guests... The cafe fare isn't much to write home about but the coffee is great, and the ambience is really cool. Lots of folks using small tables for laptops and studying, but into the evening, there are just as many leaning over tables chatting, or sharing a laugh over a pint. It's got a great vibe.

Aaron Morin

This is my favourite spot in Nanaimo for good coffee, great drinks, and fantastic food. The Vault is home to am eclectic mix of patrons and staff who work hard to impress. Their events are awesome and the interior is inspiringly weird.

Paige Kurpjuweit

Quick service. Breakfast wrap was scrumptious. Absolutely love the atmosphere and decor, eclectic and warming. Friendly staff. If I lived in Nanaimo I would hang out here alllll the time.

Liam Montgomery

Cozy coffee bar. Love it.

Donovan Jenkins

Great atmosphere. The lavender latte is outstanding!

J. Schuurman

Nice live music n friendly staff n great atmosphere n sumptuous meals

Matthew Sloman

Went to the drag bingo event tonight. Had a great time, nice atmosphere and friendly staff.

Grace Xiao

You should go there and have a cup of coffee!

Jesse Woodward

One of my favourite places to hang out in Nanaimo. Great coffee, food, and beer, and always someone I know. A gem in Nanaimo!

Arun Gill

Food was pretty good, and the coffee was nice.

Rob Shearer

Good food and coffee, but a bit pricey for what you get. I agree with other reviewers who mentioned the atmosphere being a bit pretentious. However, I know that many people enjoy that style of venue. This is not a regular stop for me but I do enjoy the occasional coffee or sandwich.

Chris Cathers

The Vault is one of my go to places. Great people. Great coffee and food. Highly recommend!

Erin Carson DeWolfe

I didn’t have the food but it looked good. Just had a fresh grapefruit juice which was tasty but pricey! Everything there is pricy but I loved the decor, the atmosphere and the music. Nice server too.

ALEXIS ALLISON

Best mojito I’ve have in a while. Vibe is very accepting and lovely. Also offer live music. Food was very good and lots of vegan, gluten-free and veg options. Honestly check this place out, it’s a gem in Nanaimo.

Lynn Malek

Very unique environment. Great food

Anna Mosolov

Great hidden gem in Nanaimo. Great coffee and food options. Reasonably priced. Great eclectic crowd and always feel very inclusive :) Easily my favourite spot in Nanaimo.

Jason

Great coffee! wonderful atmosphere friendly and welcoming staff and clientele

Mato Bear Lightfoot

WoW, they would not serve a Blind First Nations man and his service guide dog, just completely ignored me........not a disabled or first nations friendly place....and a clear violator of provincial human rights code…..If I could I’d give them a 0

THECpt PHOON

Awesome vibe and great live music!

Nadiya P

Unique place, awesome ambiance, decent tasting food. Definitely a place to visit at least once in your lifetime!

Meg Lou

Amazing food, cool atmosphere, mostly nice servers. Service is very slow when they are switching to evening shows though, and some of the servers are pretty rude.

Gary Bettman

Cozy little cafe with some great coffee! Splendid service by the staff!

spencer godin

Best music venue and cafe in town hands down and unreal food sorry the buzz coffee house is good aswell but this is so comforting and if you want a true local west coast home cozy experience come on down and swing by wednesday night 8 to 12 pm for open mics! This has to be one of the best cafes ive ever gone to experience wise.

Dhwani Babla

The interior is unique and welcoming, however the food was okay! Was expecting better taste but you really can't go wrong with grabbing a drunk and dessert here.

Alex Moore

Great hangover food! Good breakfast wrap.

Stephen Carl O'Shea

Fantastic venue for live music. Warm and intimate experience. Staff are friendly and accomodating. Thoroughly enjoyed my experience and would certainly return when visiting Nanaimo again. The feeling within the space is comfortable and inviting. Amazing job of converting a bank to a new use.

blake covert

I love coming to the Vault for the delicious food and the fun atmosphere.

Jean-Guy Niquet

Love the Vault. Feels so out of place in Nanaimo and so proud of it. Great coffee and great place. Best character coffee shop in town.

Michael Lind

Excellent bohemian haunt. Amazing handmade bagels & lox!

Cory Schreyer

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

B Moore

The best custard icing in a Nanaimo Bar EVER!!

Olive

Excellent atmosphere -- very ambient, cozy and relaxing. Decor was very interesting; lots to look at, lots of information about art and related topics (events, exhibitions, etc.) As not much variety in desserts as I would've hoped, but great selection of drinks. Great place for to have a conversation or casual tea.

Momma Misty

Very neat place with delicious drinks and baked goods

Martin Cutler

Cool place in a good location. Had the best cinnamon roll there (only because they’d sold out of Nanaimo bars!)

Kinrade Clan

I really liked the food and the music. The seating was also really good and comfortable, and the way they served it is really good. And the plant's and pictures are also very nice.

Patricia Berry

Really good food and cool atmosphere. Lots of couches.

Layne Goldsmith

This is an old bank. The meals & sweets, are good. The room echos, which makes it hard to hear - esp if the customer has a hearing issue. This place is decorated with old furniture, that doesn't neccessarily have comfort in mind - & has lots of very dusty artifacts thruout, & their Chai tea is about the worst in Western Canada...to be safe, I learned to order just plain/ flavoured tea. Cozy atmosphere.

Samjo

French toast with side of scrambies. Great coffee!

joe figel

Great place, great service, great atmosphere. And none of this mandatory mask non sense. Love it.

Tianning Lao

Excellent food, fun atmosphere.

Allan Johnstone

A very comfortable cafe, with good coffee, tasty foods, and country kitsch decor. A nice artsy social escape from the daily urban grind.

Frater Novac

Good atmosphere, average coffee

Grampa Bear

Great spot for a coffee, morning or night, with toast or a JD! Good music, great atmosphere, awesome food...an all around wonderful experience any time of day!

Simon Rawicz

Had the Reuben with soup. Top notch food! Go get some! Nice pink walls.

Arbie Fru

Trendy coffee and eatery. Not cheap but not terribly expensive either. Music in the evenings sometimes, suits small acts, can be rather cramped during performances. Not a big place.

Robert Mari

Love the vegan options. Budha or rice bowls as well!! Good beer too.

Debbie Janes

Charming venue, great food, and supports live entertainment!

Miguel Montana

Nice cozy little place to relax and enjoy music with interesting people

Conor MacLoclen

If you ever imagined what a second-hand store would look like if you didn't take any of the stuff out and converted it to a coffee shop, come to the Vault. Decor, menu, and staff...how to describe it. Hyper-hipster? Is that even a term? Almost every aspect of this place is designed with the question, "Is there anything about this that falls anywhere near social norms? No? Perfect." Eclectic, diverse, multifarious, heterogeneous. Obviously by design, but I wouldn't get it. Food and coffee. Organic, gluten-free, fair trade, local source, [insert catchy descriptor]...they have it. Ultimately though, it's tasty.

Gerry Bates

Location, ambiance, menu and staff are all fabulous. If you also come for the music, get there early. Standing room only, often. Nice choices of specialty coffees and teas. Great daily specials. Delicious desserts. Highly recommend the daily soup with savoury scone, and the lox-bagel.

Veronica Bell

Absolutely amazing atmosphere and great eats. Would definitely reccomend spending some time here.

Blake Olsen

Very cool atmosphere inside, lots of great vintage chairs and couches to sit on. I had a chai latte which I enjoyed a lot.

Alex Eberling

Great atmosphere, awesome coffee drinks, and good food. Great place for a lunch date.

Megan White

Food is amazing (a little pricey, but worth it), staff are usually friendly. Really cool atmosphere.

Svea Poulsen (Sveava)

They have the coolest space! I would recommend the breakfast wrap with bacon and avocado. It is the tastiest wrap I've ever had! The melt cheese on the outside of the wrap so it's this crispy goodness on the outside.

Emily Evans

I was a regular at this spot from the time it opened all the way up until I moved to a new city, and every time I come back and I have to go to the vault! Always lovely staff who offer unique conversation and keep the place feeling like the one of a kind space that it is. The vault is a beautiful little community. Everything from the food, the service, the events and the architecture of the space is so special. If you are someone who is visiting Nanaimo you absolutely MUST check out the vault.

Jennie Kowalchuk

One of my favorite coffee shops in Nanaimo. Friendly service and the food is always fresh and delicious.

Ally Churko

Great place. It's a nice place to relax and it has an artsy vibe.

Marzieh Bashari

Unique full of character and charm! Great food and friendly staff. Highly recommend it.

Caitlyn NK

Cool place, unique elements, good service and they treat their guests/performers really well!

Izzy Ahrbeck

One of the cutest cafes I've been to. Great Nanaimo bar and a nice little thrift shop section in the back.

Graham Amon

By far my favourite café in Nanaimo! Aside from the wicked interior design and amazingly friendly (and talented) staff, the whole place is setup for some pretty phenomenal live music performances

Darian Newell

The cozy atmosphere, love music and sociable staff make this cafe a large culture and social hub of nanaimo, whether you are stopping in to grab an Americano before work or wanting a tap beer and lovely serenade it is a great place to spend some time with friends. Last time I was there I even saw a group of friends playing scettegories and it didn't throw off the great lighthearted vibe of the space whatsoever! The plates are about ~14 dollars which is pretty pricey for me but there are great vegan /vegetarian options available and they feature an all day breakfast every day!

Amy Brendon

Great spot to post up and work, study, Tinder date, w/e. Love the breakfast burritos, the craft beer and the creative drink selection.

Phenotype i

This is the heart of waking Nanaimo. The food. The Coffee. The scene and beats. The mix of demographics. The Vault will keep your heart, belly, mind: FULL! Organic stuff, Gluten Free stuff, Soups! Sandwiches! tasty single-origin brews, REALLY REALLY AMAZING STAFF AND MANAGEMENT (ILY). Thank you thank you thank you

Eagle Junior

Not to be judgy, but it seems a lil too "hipster"-ey for my preference, lol. That said, it is a BEAUTIFUL café, with kind staff, wonderful customers, and a GREAT open mic night (Wednesday nights). They even have a beautiful, mostly-in-tune, functioning piano, along with a broad assortment of old retro board games and random old books / novels. Food is a BIT pricey but VERY good, and mostly local / organic, etc. Great coffee and hot drinks too. Overall, this is my favourite coffee shop in downtown / in Nanaimo!

Frank H.

The staff here is first class! Excellent service. The coffee was amazing and my breakfast was done just right. Great atmosphere and very nice decor. Could but find anything wrong here.

Darren Rinaldi

Love this place! Great atmosphere and lots of colourful people. The food is always reliable. The staff are all adorable too.

Jamie Lee

we only had short time allotted before we had to catch our ferry. This was a place definitely we’llvisit again. It’s located right beside the city hall with pink wall. Their decor is vintage, but clean. They have a skate shop upstairs? We had soup and salad. People seemed to come here mostly for coffee and to read/work away. One if the fee establishments these days that welcome that type of stay, with COVID and all.... Their menu is not elaborate and very focused. Fresh salad was a nice complementary dish to the creamy soup.

Scarrianne Monstea

Cozy and artistic atmosphere. Small vintage clothing selection. Live music and other events.

Chris Botting

Great vibe. Solid destination in Nanaimo for for eats and drinks. In the evening/night they sometimes have a live band.

Alessandro Morelli

Young entrepreneur Amanda has created an incredibly cozy and welcoming atmosphere in this little venue. Their menu is pretty creative and good too!

Amin Sameni

One of a kind coffee shop Funky and artistic vibe with a little bit of vintage add-on The coffee and the food are also good …

Bill Humby

Great people work there and real good food and drink

Drew Smith

Great little cafe. Good coffee and great vibe. There are a lot of tables and space here. The coffee is locally roasted and the bakery items are top notch, with lots of vegan options.

Chrys LoScerbo

An inviting comfortable and lovely atmosphere, with fresh local art and regular performances. Order at the bar, the food is delicious, the service is slow yet worth it, a great selection of drinks (hot, cold and alcohol). Baked goods (including sandwich bread), dressings and drink syrups are made in house and locally sourced food is prioritized! Such a nice place to have a meeting, enjoy our community, get some work done or take in some great entertainment and find a safe place <3

Gordon Johnston

Great spot for late night coffee. Will likely score some free live entertainment too.

Jonny Trangen

Probably one of my favorite places in Nanaimo. Amanda the owner is a true blessing to this city as well as the staff, and its beautiful mix of patrons are a part of what makes the downtown core a fun place to be.

Zen Hunter

All day I dream about sex when I'm with her She rocks my gypsy soul whenever I'm near her Cab I say that ? Oh well too late now But if your like a rock n roler and you like her whisky cola (just coffee please) but she's still sweet then this is the place to take her and you'll catch your train

Miles Kehoe

Worked here for many years and been a patron for even more, atmosphere is 10/10, they play great music throughout the day and have great local bands. Coffee could be better but the food and baking and drinks are excellent enough to still get 5 stars.

Devansh Babla

Really pretty interior but a little pricey. Their drinks and deserts are great!

MONA THOBANI

Very slow service and a lingering smell around.

Benjamond

Staff are always joyful and happy. I can always count the that good atmosphere and coffee!

Rocko grant

Great place to have coffee , had a nice chat with a lady on the phone about the gentleman that plays his Guitar James is his name ,everyone ! Shame on the city for boarding up his one spot to rest his head at night I hope this gets around pass the word , and be safe James !

Sean Vadoo

Nice place and good coffee. They are not too fast though but still it was a nice visit.

Kristen Cooke

One of the better, if not best, coffee/eatery places in Nanaimo.

Megan Miles

Really neat coffee shop with excellent food ,drinks and service. Everything I'm in nanimo I stop for a coffee

N M

coffee is standard. baked goods are done well. the atmosphere is okay. The leaky roof might be charming. I often choose an alternative due to the layout and insufficient mask enforcement. Staff are nice (maybe too nice?).

A T

I love The Vault, but their coffee is usually surprisingly bad. I keep trying every once in a while, should probably start drinking tea instead.

Janet Delgatty

Best date squares I've ever had. And I've had very good home made date squares. AND the date squares at the Vault are gluten free.

Julia Vyse

Great food and great live music

ed yuen

Amazing vegan breakfast wrap. Good decor great service. Worth it.

Dan Petersen

europeen style . good expensive food . musical show every weeks .

Vanco P

Very unique cafe with a vintage vibe. Food were decent too, the wrap is better than the bagle, check it out if you're in town.

Wilson Chang

We have waited (and still waiting) for 50min for 2 breakfast items. Review posting time

Charlie Picken

Staff, location, menu, patio, ambiance all fabulous

Charlotte Favre

Such an amazing staff! We were happily greeted by there lovely smiles and kindness we love coming here for lunches and brunches! I would definitely recommend this place to any that is looking for a cozy friendly place to hang out. Plus the food is so good!

Yard Plots

Food good the place is however dirty and flies continued to bother me throughout the meal service okay

Matt Byers

Ate here twice on a recent trip, each visit better than the last. Excellent food and coffee.

Myster Wonderful

The most accepting place for all types of people. Amazing food, and interesting live music.

E A

I love the aesthetic and nostalgic feel of The Vault. I love it there and really enjoy the food aswell. Super friendly staff also! Cheers

Sev Ebadi

If you're a hipster with a beard you'll love this place. If not I'd steer clear

Marie

Such an amazing place to have a drink.

Jordan Price

Nice place, really good coffee and deserts

Jonagh

Awesome place. Love the atmosphere, with good food & espresso/etc. Also events & drinks many evenings. One of my all time faves.

ILIYA POPOV

Perfect place to find on a cold snowy eve after ferry cancelations.

Megan Mae

Do not try to sell your artwork here. I went in to try to commission my work, but the owner wasn't there at the time. The space looked dirty and gross (I'd never eat there) but it was busy enough so I left a copy of my work for the owner to consider. A week later I finally get it back and it is destroyed. The staff had no care or consideration for other people's property. It had clearly been dropped in some type of liquid and the back was covered in dirt. Thank god I didn't order anything to eat or drink.

Richard James Milne

Funky atmosphere, great place to enjoy time with a friend, a date, or just get some work done. Large selection of yummies, Tea & coffee. You won't be disappointed visiting The Vault ☕

Delaney West

Loooves it, great atmosphere. The vegan options are delicious ????

Eli Adair

Awesome character to this coffee shop. Board games to invoke socializing, excellent coffee. Weekend nights you can find live music. We attended a jazz classical quartet while knocking back a beer. Great place, will be going back.

Guillaume Robidoux

Food and drinks are amazing, atmosphere is so warm and inviting.

Danny Gauthier

Beautiful people who cook beautiful meals. Very kind and laid-back staff. What about opening a branch in Montreal? ❤️❤️❤️

Morgan Beatty

Busy, but it was well worth the wait! I got the French toast and home fries and they were absolutely delicious. Highly recommend.

Cameron Lockhart

Just so good. Atmosphere is awesome, staff is just the best, and the food is so good and with so many veggie options. Did I mention the staff, so good.

Dawn

Ecclectic and trendy. Friendly staff. We paid $10 each cover for a reggae band to play at nine and by almost ten we were tired of waiting for the start and so left... I guess they were smoking lots?!

S. Quill

This place is the best place to spent time with loved ones. They have good collection of coffee and tasty food. I enjoyed my last spent here.

L T

Visited Nanaimo for the evening. Enjoyed the chocolate and the piano playing in the background

Jim Scott aka Dick Brook

Very interesting old building, eclectic art, and good coffee, plus they use local quality meats and produce in their food items

Justine Jonasen

A cozy, friendly coffee shop with good coffee, food, teas, good Wi-Fi. I recommend the BLT.

R Lowery

It's a hipster café if I ever did see one. Yes it has an *alarming* amount of random pictures on the walls in a chaotic order. Yes it has a assortment or various art books just laying around. Yes none of the dining furniture matches. Yes all the young university students come here and clutter up the tables with their stuff under the pretense of studying. Yes it has the fanciest coffee/tea served in a wide variety of mugs that also don't match. And yes all the drinks and foodstuffs do cost an arm and leg. If you can bear the overwhelming hipster-ness of the place then you'll have a good time...provided you also have the money to spend.

Bianca Tejada

Enjoyed looking at the unique, vintage knick knacks around the shop. Delicious food and drinks. It gets tricky to tidy up a place with plenty of small spaces and items around but it looks like they do a good job with keeping the place clean.

Susan Fraser

Such a relaxed atmosphere and lunch sandwiches are delicious!

Daniel Armstrong

Terrible service, overpriced food. Boring clientele. Smells bad inside. Go to Vancouver if you really want a proper cafe experience.

Rea Manguba

Great bennys! Coffee is consistently on point. The staff are always welcoming. Such a happy place! A downtown Nanaimo staple!

Shavon Hutchinson

I real trendy spot for good times n. Great food n drink!!!

Nicole Ohalloran

Such a cute unique place to get a coffee and relax. The decoration was so cute and loved that it was pink.

Anne Appleton (Rev.)

Great spot for coffee, dessert and free entertainment at Open Mic night! Mmmmmmmmm!

maggie mountain

Love this place, best Nanaimo bars in town! Great coffee and ciders too!

Cindy Tang

Fun cafe that’s also a second hand clothing shop and a skateboard shop. Lovely signature pink walls with cute interior decorations

Charles Nelson

Guaranteed visit whenever i visit Nanaimo. Great place to chill and take in the towns arts and culture.

Aura-Lee McDonald

Great place with good food, great coffee and tons of character

Joseph Jacobsen

This place is exactly what we were looking for-somewhere to hang out, grab a dessert and drink, and read our books in the evening when all other cafes are long closed. Cool place.

Danny Macintosh

Great breakfast wraps and really fast service! Very unique decor and friendly staff

Joe Morrison

Best place for a casual meal and beer in Nanaimo.

Richard AFK

Good food, excellent coffee (almost to Australian standards). Cool vibes and chill staff. Definitely coming back

Nic Burgess

Delicious food but it's very noisy in there and everything is so old

Margarita VS

Wow. Awesome and cool spot. Great atmosphere and really good coffee.

Jonathan Jones

Funky little coffee shop. Prices were a bit steep, but loved the people and the ambience.

Theresa PR

Great spot for coffee, eats and more. Love the vibe and the staff are super. Recommended for sure!

Rob Antill

Beautiful Cafe and excellent plated food

Rick Nitsche

Seriously the best cheese cake I had in a while. This stuff is made with love. I will come back :)

Al Schill

This place is a hidden hidden gem out of the way in downtown Nanaimo. It’s an old bank with lots of character. The staff are always friendly, the coffee is great and the scones are the best you’ll ever have. Make sure to have it heated up.

Tina Luree

Unique and eclectic. Offers a variety of delicious in house backed goods and menu items. Pulls from local growers and micro breweries when possible. Invites a varied palette of musical entertainment venues from across the country.

Chris Grundling

The best breakfast vegan wrap I’ve ever tasted

Mohammad Ghodsi

When you come from Vancouver, aka, the hipster center of Canada, Vault makes you feel right at home! Also they have goood London fog! And a bunch of board games in case if you get bored of looking at the wacky posters and painting on the walls! FYI, steer clear of the dude with industrial noise cancelling headphones if you don't wonna get in an argument about how deodorants are out there to get us!

Kevin Stanley

Great food and vibe

Jay Corden

Vintage decor, lovely people, DELICIOUS FOOD! We loved it! Thanks!

Don Kranenburg

Thank you for making the best espresso milkshake I've ever had ❤✨ Totally made my day

Ilan Goldenblatt

Great atmosphere! Friendly staff! Good coffee. Live music in the evenings.

M P

More than one of the snide staff needs a major attitude adjustment, acting like they own the place. We were enjoying the decor but the service ruined it for my whole table, will never come back.

Hurricane McLean

Just a cool place. Good coffee & good beer!

Strawberry MoonWoman

The woman working today with the dark hair instead of doing her job was laughing and cackling ignoring everyone but her Co workers she was having a good time with. When j told her I was just there to pick up my order .. she was so rude. Great food really horrible customer service.

Christoph Waltz

Worst place Ive ever been to in my life...Ive been in this industry for 25 years the service was ridiculously horrable and every staff person there made me feel very un welcome.The food and menu prices are totally inconsitant and The staff have no glue about cutomer service....One of the view places Id say I hate.

Maynard Skrepnechuk

Have visited this Establishment a few times in the past couple of yrs. In my opinion the coffee is great. The atmosphere is very nice. No matter how busy the place seems to get the staff is awesome. The place is never so noisy that you can't carry on a conversation. I prefer here over the major coffee chains. It's great that it is a local establishment

David Wende

Fun and quirky cafe with lots going on. Food and atmosphere was great!

Mary Hudson

The food is amazing - every time I am there I have tried a different menu item and it was always delicious. The vibe created by the staff is a quite uptight. They must put so much love in to the food that they don’t have any leftover for customer service. If you care about having a smiling barista, this is not the place for you.

Pat John Kulawik

What kind of coffee shop opens at 9? My day is almost halfway over by that time. Will never visit again because of this. Don't know how you survive with these ridiculous hours. Get some employees who can wake up to an alarm then someone will be there to unlock the door for customers....

Ana Griffith

Amazing place. Good food, good atmosphere and great folks.

Anna C

Terrible service. Never received our paninis after waiting 45 mins and it wasn't even busy. The dark haired girl with a clear face shield said they tried looking for us, but they never even called out our order and we were even sitting right next to the till. When we mentioned that we haven't gotten our food they tried to give us cold, stale panini's that had been sitting for however long. Asked for a refund and she threw the cash on the counter, short of what we actually paid (not including tax or tip). Never got an apology or anything. I also work in food/customer service and could not imagine treating customers this way.

Brenda Curts

Food was amazing! Great atmosphere and very unique compared to your typical restaurant. ????

Allan Webner

A great live-music venue with a nice vibe. They offer good food from an eclict menu plus interesting daily specials. They are licensed but also have non-alcoholic options. Try their impressive selection of handmade Italian sodas! Open for brekky too.

Ambar Soto

I love it!! Always amazing. Try the Caramel Macchiato, it's to she over!!

C C

Great local coffee shop with locally sourced food, always some kind of events

S M

Cute spot for brunch in DT Nanaimo. The service was good and everyone was friendly! We ordered the French toast, veggie wrap, breakfast wrap and side of potatoes. Everything tasted SO good and we were happy with our choices! Definitely a cute spot for photos and a great option for coffee with friends/family.

Robin Jahnke

Decorations and theming are lovely but the wait for coffee was atrocious. I didn't end up getting what I asked for which could have been cleared up with some clarification on their end that I would be getting an iced Americano and not an iced coffee (you could have just said you don't have regular iced coffee and I would have ordered something else). The eclectic look is nice but does have the side effect of making the whole shop seem hard to clean and dusty. Everything was covered in a thin layer of dust and there were flies in the food case.

Reynold Allan

Food was really tasty. Will definitely stop there for lunch next time I'm in town.

Matthew T

A favorite spot in Nanaimo. Phenomenal live music. Great snacks and baked treats. Great atmosphere. Turns into a sort of hipster night club in evenings.

Annie Brandt

Great atmosphere, reasonable price for a decent cup of coffee, clean bathrooms, friendly faces. Would recommend if you’re looking for a cozy spot to catch up with friends or buckle down & do some work.

Taisa Andrushko

The best place to go in Nanaimo for a coffee date, live music, brunch, study session, or to get toasted on great beer! The Vault is truly a staple of this community, and we would never be the same without you. Welcoming of all people, great vibes, and rockin' staff.

marshal hopkins

A great, funky cafe to get a tea or coffee.

Terry O'Brian

Average is the new amazing. Ordered a take away coffee. After waiting a few minutes for the Barista to finish up his conversation with another employee he turned to the task at hand. After gliding to the fridge to retrieve the milk he proceeded to chat away to another staff while glancing over with the look of "hey buddy this coffee is going to rock your world". After the deed was done I picked up the coffee of the century and walked outside, took a sip and BOOM! tossed it into the bin. Thought about going back in but this guy is not that cool for school.

Arnie Howardson

Great food!!! Super cool atmosphere!

Devakaran M

Coolest cafe I have been to on the island. Best breakfast sandwich ever

Lauren Murray

Been coming here for years. One of the best places overall in Nanaimo and adds heart and character to the town. Best & most eclectic coffee shop I've ever been too and the memories made here are like nothing else. Warm and kind staff as well.

cara

Was really looking forward to some breakfast/coffee to go but unfortunately they were closed because there wasnt a patio built yet. understandably annoying haha ;D

Michael Hovey

Very interesting location and decor. Love the clientele. Service was slow and coffee was ok.

Peter M

Love this place. Gluten free goodies and great friendly staff!

L L

Such a cute cozy place with good food!

alfred gutmann

I totally enjoy the alernative atmosphere in the Vault and most staff is very friendly. The inner layout reminds me of some cool old German restaurants/cafe's. where i was hanging as a young Lad. Fredy from Tofino

superhoser

Very atmospheric, cool music and great food!

Dominique Ritchie

Cool atmosphere, excellent breakfast burrito. Double-D breakfast was quite plain and flavourless. The service was quite a letdown. The server brought us our food and didn’t say a word as we said thank you. Simply put it down and walked away. No one came to check on us and we had to walk up to the counter for each request.

Insomniac Media

What an awesome little coffee house/cafe in the heart of downtown nanaimo :) The setting if this place is like no other, a very long time ago this building used to be a bank, and even today the old vault is still in there. The architecture is really amazing as the details you notice really bring that old feel back to life, the food is amazing and they have tons of gluten free options, a true gem of the city :)

samuel lopes

Such a nice place, good coffee, great food... great vibes and just a perfect place to chill!

Jordana Howley

Dine in

Louise Gobert

Really impressed with the blend of coffee shop, small cafe and live entertainment.

Derek DeGear

As always, the atmosphere is legendary and the bacon and eggs breakfast was delicious.

Karen Edgeworth

Meet the girls for a morning chai tea and coffee here regularly. Eclectic, artsy, well worn. A nice casual, accepting laid back atmosphere. Great coffee and tea beverages. Food is limited, but decent with diet specific options. The evenings, I'm sure, become something entirely different.

Dare

A hub of arts and culture in Nanaimo! Live music, amazing food, and performances of all sorts all the time. I love coming here with my friends to just hang out for a bit or have a fun evening out!

Gavin Miller

Great food, service, live music. A must stop to see some nanaimo culture at its finest in a healthy all ages environment. Funky atmosphere too!!!

Dallas Henderson

Great place! Very interesting style. Good drinks, friendly staff. Good looking menu. Dj was playing. All around Good time

Lana Han

I was in Vancouver islands for 4 days and went to the Vault on the last day... If I had known this place on the first day, I would have gone every single day! Their Nanaimo bars were just exceptional! It was the best Nanaimo bar I have ever had. I didn’t even know that Nanaimo bars were supposed to taste like that. Can’t even call any other “Nanaimo bars” Nanaimo bars any more. It’s been a few days yet I still think of the chocolate ganache and the custard layer in the bar; it was just perfectly creamy. And also their Americano and Cappuccino were outstanding as well!!! This cafe will definitely be the first place I will visit when I visit Nanaimo again.

Wayne Doman

Great Cafe. Super friendly!

Bernie Katzberg

The coffee is good and the atmosphere lends well for informal meetings. A very relaxed/comfortable setting. The kitchen food is pretty good too

Amanda Burton

Just a cool place , experiencing it is better than trying to put it into words

Joy Williams

A real downtown gem. Located in a Rattenbury designed building that originally housed a bank. A really beautiful spot with big windows and eclectic decor. The food is healthy but yummy. Great live music and art shows as well. They’ve struggled a bit with consistency but they seem to have gotten their groove on now. Definitely my go to place!

Alysha Martins

Feeling kinda scammed after ordering this "grain bowl" for $17. It's mostly lettuce, with a spoonful of quinoa, on a side-salad sized plate... …

Scott Gardner

The place is on a hill so it has multiple levels, board games. From the top you can see into the kitchen and overlook-the whole place. The food is made with love( and you can taste it) delicious coffee. There is a small vintage clothing section. It feels like moms living room. Keep it up y’all.

leslie abraham

A decent coffee shop in town. Good music there too, I hear

Alan Cadieux (BIG AL)

So yummy! Amazing local ingredients and such lovely staff!

Gabrielle Duhamel

Trying too hard to be trendy - a bit cluttered and chaotic for my liking. Having said that it is obviously popular with the locals.

Jean-charles Favre

It's a Jewel ????????????

Maddie Cruz

Really beautiful and cool cafe surrounded by lots of vintage items and plants. It’s beautifully decorated and a great atmosphere. There’s also a clothing, music records and skate shop above. Their sandwich, breakfast wrap and coffee weren’t that great though. The food were quite bland tasting.

Samantha Dimery

Pretty cool place, good food, friendly place and good service

S Perry

The atmosphere plus quality food and drinks. You will always be glad you stopped by

Wade Wurzer

Very nice food. Funky atmosphere. Bohemian vibe here for sure. Very well stocked bar. All top drawer stuff.

Hubert Duan

An absolutely terrible experience. First the cashier wanted to add extra side of upgrade omitting the fact there's an extra cost, which was misleading and speaks to the restaurant lack of professionalism. Then my order was not even placed, and did not get our food until after our party had finished theirs. Very disappointed with The Vault's service and professionalism.

Devon Giesbrecht

Staff are incredibly friendly and helpful! Great vibe! Great selection of food and drinks!

Kyle St

Wednesday open mic night is a great way to spend a night listening to music

tom mac

Bohemian style cafe with tasty food options, mostly pretty healthy. Cozy venue to catch a live band but arrive early - it fills up quickly.

Sigal Smith

Great little coffee shop/cafe. The food specials are always delicious, specialty coffees and teas are good and the service is welcoming.

rick heglin

Nice surprise. Great old bank converted to a cafe. Great food good service. Clean place. Nice place to meet friends

Kaila Shatosky

Eclectic decor, cool menu, & friendly staff.

peter thecat

Love love love The Vault. Amanda, the owner has created a welcoming and inspiring environment for our LGBTQ community.

Sandi Sutherland

Sat there for am hour. They forgot about our order. We were tired and hungry.

willem smit

Nice eclectic cafe.. The guests vary from young to old. They have a lot of different cakes and beverages. Nice Marzocco espresso machine, but the person working the machine lacks the skills to make a good espresso.

Jennifer L

Step into The Vault...the pink bohemian paradise to finish your bleeding art project and/or nurse your hangover. The food is solid, the staff will leave you alone (in a good way) and inspiration is endless. It is the supreme scene to see and be seen in Nanaimo. Before COVID (and hopefully after) they had plenty of fevering evening entertainment in the form of speakeasy style cocktails with local jazz talent and many musical alternatives. Upstairs you will find several vendors at The Vault Bazaar for some vintage shopping delight.

darcy sara

Great food, drinks, service and atmosphere

Zach Rogers

Awesome breakfast and good lunch too.

Shayden

Wow. This place is exactly what I’ve been looking for. I don’t like going to bars or nightclubs and this late night coffee shop is a perfect inbetween. Great place to just chill and hangout on a Friday night in a peaceful ambiance

Tim Tong

Great food and service

Evan M

Great place, amazing atmosphere and good food!

Bob Hall

Beautiful place, great atmosphere and delicious coffee!

Anthony Bartel

The atmosphere was very cozy and vintage, a lot of detail in the décor. It's the perfect café to study at, but is also great for having a relaxed brunch with a friend. Servers were very friendly and the breakfast wrap was filling and delicious. This café is definitely somewhere I'll come back to next time I'm in Nanaimo.

Jeffrey Gray

Great atmosphere, good food, live entertainment, out door seating, licensed, independent business. Check it out!

Ben Toth

Extremely beautiful coffee shop with incredible live music most nights of the week. Great if you're under 19!

Juanita Allen

This place serves "Regard" coffee, which is amazing! Love the ambiance and vibe and food. Could definitely use a bit of a deep clean, so don't look too close at all the trinkets on the ledges and walls.

Jared Kraul

One of my favourite spots nooo doubt!

Hannah Hillier

Great food and a nice patio outside. Service gets a little chaotic when its busy but it is worth the wait! I had the chai latte and the breakfast wrap, both of which were fantastic.

raven gagnon

Delightful relaxing atmosphere with a wonderful selection of warm drinks and tasty food wholesome food. Then the change in atmosphere from day to night is delightful. Wonderful little shops upstairs too

Vanessa Purdy

One of the best places to grab an Americano and get some work done

Michael Deleo

Hipster atmosphere, great sandwich. I had the chicken pesto open faced sandwich, excellent. Highly suggest.

Montana (Montana)

Where the food is as beautiful as the island

Ken. Martinson

Good food, friendly staff and awesome atmosphere.

Ed A.Lepage

Great atmosphere, good coffee, great service, free Wi-Fi

Olivia Daniel

Meal type

Kaitie Delorme

I've had a little bit of everything here, which is what this place is all about. If you don't like that, than not the place for you.

kent birkbeck

One of A kind experience. And a treasure to hold on to