Communal Cafe

Great place on the Main Street in adorable downtown Nevada City. Solid flat white and delicious avocado toast — I’m a sucker for toasts with fresh green toppings. Quiet spot for breakfast and filled with laptops and quiet conversation for work hours. Also fun and interesting art all around.

Delicious coffee, pastries were one of the best we’ve ever had. Employees were friendly and efficient. Live music was also pleasant. Will be back!

Atmosphere is great. Perfect for working or visiting. Sometimes a little stuffy. The breakfast sandwich is good, fresh, served hot. The drip coffee was unfortunately bland and slightly weak two days in a row and others I’ve spoken to had similar feedback. Hot sauce and stronger/more flavorful coffee would add more stars to this place in my mind.

There are places you don’t just visit… you feel them. Communal Café is one of those corners where coffee isn’t just a drink, it’s a ritual—where the barista’s greeting carries the warmth of an old friend, and every corner whispers, “welcome home.” From the first sip of their latte to their delicious breakfasts, everything here is crafted with intention and love. The service is so genuine, so human, that you forget you're in a café—you feel part of something greater, a community that cherishes the beauty of simplicity and authenticity. It’s the kind of place you go for coffee… and end up staying for the soul. If you find yourself in Nevada City—or if life ever brings you close—do yourself a favor and visit Communal Café. You’ll discover not only incredible coffee, but a warm embrace, shared tables, and sincere smiles. ✨ Because sometimes, a good cup of coffee can lead you to friends who stay forever.

My favorite place to study. There are an array of seating options in a large space, making each spot comfortable and not crammed. Their drinks are delicious and so are their pastries! The atmosphere is the best!

Located in the heart of Nevada City, Communal Cafe is a delightful gem that never fails to impress. Exceptional service and inviting atmosphere, make it a favorite spot of ours for some time. The staff at Communal are friendly and fun and it's evident that they take pride in their work and are committed to continuously raising the bar. The atmosphere in the cafe is another favorite of mine, theres room to work, lounge and the long communal (see what I did there) tables make mingling with new people very easy and exciting, they also often have live music too. Any dish we've tried was delicious and apparently they're all from locally sourced ingredients, and their pastries, oh my god. I've definitely seen this place when it is slow and when it is way overcrowded on busy weekends when people from outside of town travel in, and all in all the wait for service or orders was always within reason. 5 out of 5, you guys deserve it!

Best cafe/coffee shop in town. The coffee and food is top notch with seasonal drinks and food with ingredients from local farms. The cafe is super spacious with plenty of room to work or meet with others. Also, they have great wifi. It’s actually the best wifi I’ve experienced at a cafe, and is a big reason I keep coming back and supported as I work remotely.

Great place in Nevada City. Visited August 18th..see receipt. Great addition to downtown Nevada City on Broad Street. I like that they open at 7am since after a nice hike I really wanted a good coffee and toast. I got the avocado toast..so full of avocado and sprouts on sourdough bread. It is a big portion and could only eat half ( other half for later). BEST I have had! I also got lavender coffee... Anything with lavender is one of my favs! The place is pretty large and inviting. They also have good teas and other items to eat. They sell beans..honey..and merch. They were already getting busy in the morning but my food came out pretty quickly while I was enjoying my lavender infused coffee. Great corner location..Great addition to Nevada City! Vibe is cool and relaxing! Btw..beer also available (see pic).

After walking, browsing and shopping, this was a great spot to sit, get some food & drinks and use the restroom. The vibe is so good here. Spacious and chill. Menu offering mushroom coffee which we didn't partake on this visit. Maybe next time? My friend grabbed an Italian soda while I got their flat white and a cardamom donut. Located on Broad and S. Pine St.

Communal Cafe is a very spacious place. I was surprised how long it went back when I first walked in. The vibe was very calm and peaceful. A lot of tables and chairs to sit down and relax. Food options are pretty decent here from avocado toasts, pastries, cookies, coffee drinks, and other drinks. Support your local business.

Customer service was amazing, attentive and polite. Food was also very good! Bacon on our BLTA was perfectly cooked, and Turkey Sandwich was so delicious!! The line was long on a busy Holiday event weekend, but it flowed quickly and seating was ample and spacious!! Definite Go To, well worth it!!

I went to this cafe for the first time today and ordered a turkey sandwich. The sandwich comes with mayonnaise which I don't eat, so I asked for it without the mayonnaise and asked for mustard instead. This cafe apparently doesn't carry mustard? They have several sandwiches on the menu but the only condiment they have available is mayonnaise. I've never even heard of eating a sandwich without mustard. It would have been a good sandwich if there was mustard available but without it, it was sub par. Oddly enough, they offer ketchup if you order a hamburger. On another note, they also only have whole milk available for their lattes! Who, over the age of 2 drinks whole milk??

Very friendly staff and clean setup. I like the open atmosphere and style. They have local art on the walls and Knick knacks for sale. My friend and I went on a Thursday morning and it was moderately crowded. We got a lattes: one lavender and one rose. They were both delicious. The rose was sweeter than the lavender which I wasn't expecting. These are regularly priced $4-5 I got the avocado toast and she got a Parmesan-egg omelette on toast. It took about 15 mins for the god to come but I could tell it was made fresh. I loved my avo toast with micro-greens & boiled egg. My friend did not love her Parmesan egg toast & said the Dijon mustard was a bit overpowering. We will be back, but prob just for coffees and bakery items!

This place is standout for the vibe and the menu for sure. It's extremely popular and the wait time for food can be long (45 minutes on this occasion). The gluten free options are numerous, which is notable, and the space is great for meeting with friends or working. Kid and dog friendly.

The kind of place that LOCATION & DECOR: Right on the corner of 233 Broad Street in Nevada City, Communal Cafe feels like the heart of the town. Light floods the space, bouncin' off rustic wood tables and leafy greenery, makin' it feel fresh yet warm. It's the kinda place where you can sit down to work, meet up with someone for a quick chat, or just enjoy watchin' the day roll by. A lil' slice of community in every corner. FOOD & DRINK: Avocado Toast: This one's a classic for a reason. A thick layer of creamy avo, sprinkled with fresh microgreens and a lil' squeeze of citrus--it's simplicity done right. Lavender Coffee: Smooth, aromatic, and just the right hint of floral to make you stop and savor it. It's like drinkin' a moment of calm. Churro Donuts (aka Churronuts): I don't know why they don't call these churronuts, but they should. They're crispy on the outside, soft and cinnamon-sweet inside--straight-up addictive. Seasonal Salad: Light, fresh, and packed with roasted veggies and greens. It's a feel-good kinda dish that doesn't skimp on flavor. PRICE: For $15-$20, you're gettin' solid portions and thoughtful, high-quality eats. It ain't cheap, but for what you're gettin', it's worth every penny. SWAG/AMENITIES: Buy-at-the-counter service (keepin' it simple) Bust-your-own-table setup, but with an eye for care and detail in everything they serve Plenty of seating options (bar height, table style, outdoor seating) Strong Wi-Fi for gettin' work done Pet-friendly outdoor vibes STAFF & EXPERIENCE: You order at the counter, grab your spot, and take care of bussin' your own table, but that doesn't mean the care's missin'. The food is crafted with intention, the presentation's on point, and the vibe in the space feels so thoughtful. It's got a flow that makes you wanna come back just to soak it in. Locals, travelers, workers, dreamers--everyone's welcome here, and it shows.

A cool place, lots of indoor seating. Good coffee! They have a significant selection of food and other things for sale (pottery, trinkets, etc). Beautiful art in the restaurant. Service is efficient and friendly.

They have gluten free bread! Two types, a square one for sandwiches and a bun for hamburgers. Plus they have some GF bakery products that I didn't try. The staff is very helpful and friendly :) Food was good.

This place has absolutely delicious Matcha, summer drinks, and incredible bowls of fresh veggies. They have the most delicious vegan maple donuts too! The service is really great and fast. The place is always crowded, but has a really great ambience that is eclectic, chill and relaxed. This is such a great find in a small mountain town. I will be going back to this place every time I'm in Nevada City!

Great place for a light breakfast! Visited August 18th..see receipt. I was craving avocado on toast after an early morning walk and I found it! Located on Broad Street in the heart of downtown Nevada City. The avocado on toast was big and full of avocados and sprouts with smeared pesto and pickled onions on sourdough bread. I could only eat half of it! BEST avocado on toast to date! I also enjoyed a lavender coffee which was so tasty ( anything lavender is my fav!). They have other items such as bakery items and bowls. Healthy eats! It looks like they serve beer as well ( see pic). They sell beans..honey and merch. It's clean and roomy inside..Great place to bring your laptop or meet friends! Cool and relaxing atmosphere! Great addition to Nevada City! Btw.. They open at 7am!

We were in Nevada City for a few days for their Victorian Christmas celebration, and stopped in every morning and afternoon. Very large (deep) joint that seems to go on forever. Lots of varied seating from large communal long tables to small two-tops, comfy couches, wing chairs with end tables, etc. A good offering of traditional espresso drinks and alternatives, as well as a full sandwich / breakfast / lunch menu. Each day we sampled several of the food and bev options and really couldn't find any fault with anything we were served. The vibe is very relaxed and chill, and dug the entire experience. Really is a go-to coffee spot when you're in Nevada City.

Good ambiance, chill vibes, nice variety on the menu. I got a decaf tea latte with chamomile steamed milk and honey and it was delicious. They have lots of alternative coffee and tea options and things like mushroom powder. I also had an Apple cider donut that was really yummy too. My husband got a draft beer. They also have cute things for sale from local vendors. Lots of seating too. Would happily come back

Very nice spot. Lots of space. Very friendly staff. Good selection of food and drinks. Lounge vibe with comfortable nooks and good spots to people watch. WiFi avail.

Our first time here and we already cannot wait to go back!! Love organic and high quality ingredients and this place was spot on!!! The brown sugar latte' was soooo delicious and don't even get me started on their almost pastry!!!! A 15!!!

We were gifted a wonderful salad from this cafe as part of a gift from our friends. It seriously was the best salad I've ever had! I'm looking forward to going back when we visit Nevada City again!

This place is NO LONGER DOG FRIENDLY! Otherwise, good place to work with reliable WiFi and lots of seating.

Great place to get a little work done or hang with a friend. The food is really good, the coffee and matcha are solid. The internet is reliable as well. I also like the people and the art. It feels good to be in that space.

Great food great vibes. Little overpriced. Also didn't realize that asking where the water spigot and cups were was such a painful task? The cashier made it very clear that she did not give a fuck. Learn how to communicate something as simple as "just around the corner where the silver cups are" instead of pointing angrily and mumbling shitty directions

Very fresh and tasty dishes using local produces. Enjoyed the BLT sandwich and the Avocado toast, but the Vegan bowl really stood out with the nice mix of black mushrooms and green leaves on a bed of brown rice. That would be enough to convert this die-hard omnivore of me.

It looked to be a coffee shop from the outside and just coming in the door, but the menu offered an array of fresh bakery items and some really fun breakfast and lunch dishes. We had a potato bowl, mushroom toast and a cinnamon cookie with a hot Chico chai, vanilla latte and mocha latte. The drinks were beautifully done with hearts in the froth of the milk and the chai a unique blend- spicy and not too sweet. Amazing. The potato bowl was loaded with healthy ingredients like carrots, sprouts, crispy potatoes and fresh eggs. The mushroom toast was a layered delight with sautéed oyster mushrooms, spinach, roasted garlic and and egg on top! So good! What a way to start your day. Very friendly cafe with a pleasant vibe. A must see if in the area.

Bummer! I usually love this place. I took two of my out of town friends here for breakfast at one of our local spots. I got the Egg Sando and they forgot the cheddar I paid $2 extra for and the sausage and my gal pals Cobb only had chicken, greens and the egg. It was a very pricey breaky with the addons (that were missing) and salad to be shorted all the best parts of the meals. We waited 45 minutes for these and an avo toast so we were too hungry to go wait in the long line to get our items corrected. The food is too expensive to have so much missing. Guess I need to pick a new spot to take my guests. It looks like this is becoming a trend there from reviews.

A person who needs to try a cappuccino at whatever location gives the impression of well made coffee, while visiting Nevada City, CA, I had to try out this place while walking past. Good decision. Very nice coffee, very friendly staff and great ambience. What the original starbucks intended to be.

Wonderful way to start the week. French Toast delicious. Coffee is fabulous! Our go to place in Nevada City.

Excellent cafe! I've been several times for coffee and pastries. There's lots of seating and it's the perfect place to read and people watch. Today I tried the tofu bowl--it was absolutely delicious and I can't wait to have it again! Tasty large pieces of tofu on top of brown rice, mushrooms and veggies with a microgreen garnish.

EXCELLENT coffee, other drinks, and pastries. The apricot scone was light, flakey, and crispy on the edges. I had a basic iced latte which was great but the seasonal drinks look fantastic. We also had fresh OJ which was insanely good. Extensive food and drink menu with a cute bar in the corner. A great place to bring a laptop, settle in, and get work done. Food: I had the veggie panini and my mom had the paleo breakfast. My sandwich consisted of cheese, aioli, and beets. It tasted fine and I could tell the ingredients were good quality, but I wasn't expecting a beet sandwich and it was a little strange. The side salad it came with was overpowered by the acidic dressing. The bread on the paleo bowl was excellent. Overall, atmosphere and drinks and treats are 5/5. I'll give their food another shot but wasn't impressed by it this time.

One staff member (morning shift, plus sized woman with blond pig tails) was super rude to my partner. He was asking politely for a lid for his coffee from the lids behind the counter. no one had pointed out that they were available to customers in the creamer station behind him. He said "oh my bad!" And turned around to get one. I watched this woman proceed to mock him behind his back to her coworker as if he should have known where they were. It was petty and unprofessional. Rather than being helpful or maybe telling staff they should do better to make sure customers knew where the lids were, she scoffed and acted superior. Was it racially motivated? I had to wonder. In an all white cafe he was the only brown guy. Did not make us want to ever return there again.

This is a nice very chill place, with a limited menu, which I like, because what I tasted was very good. I love the fact that they serve bone broth on the menu. I consider myself a seasoned restaurant goer, plus I've worked in and owned restaurants. I've never seen any place serve bone broth on their menu. The bone broth was chicken, very delightful. The gyro was good as far as flavor goes, but it wasn't gyro, I'd call it a chicken wrap. The two minor changes I would like to see, is most of the drinks from the reach in cabinet had stevia in it. For me not only does it taste terrible, but if one does a deep dive into the subject of stevia they would never use it. And there were some annoying flys that I had to swat at. Neither one of those things bothered me enough that I would never come back. Next time I In Nevada City, I would definitely hit this place back up

Fun place. Definitely a local hang out. I had a great sandwich and watched a lively celebration of life.

1 star down for the simple reason that I've never come out of this place in a timely manner. Completely dead, completely busy, either way. Expect it to take between 10-20minutes for a latte. That's alright though! The donuts are gluten free and delish! They have wonderful single origin bags of coffee. The food all looks good but I haven't tried it! The staff is mostly really rad. Check it out

My wife and I had three meals each while visiting town. Absolutely terrific each time. They serve unique and impeccably prepared breakfasts, along with pastries including several gluten free doughnuts that were off the hook good (I eat gluten and loved them). Great chai latte - way better here than across the street at Java "wet butt" Johns. Extra stars because the staff at Communal Cafe are incredibly nice and work hard/efficiently. Lovely tables and hangout spots in a warm and cozy ambiance. Bravo!

Boy I wish I liked this place. They kept giving me the wrong breakfast. Then they lost my coffee order. Then I got the eggs your way for breakfast which was saturated with butter and the "toast" was flabby. Lastly, the employees seem so put upon if you ask for ANYTHING. Not a fan.

Kitchen was not open at 7am which I don't get. They referred me to Java Johns. Must be a shortage of cooks in town. Check before you head over their or order online. They lost a customer.

Coffee was excellent We had the veggie and also bacon breakfast burritos. Super bland and disappointing.

Great vibe; excellent, healthy food. The chicken rice soup was delicious! Looking forward to next time.

Great cafe, yummy food and drinks, solid WiFi and enough spaces to sit and work of hang. Service is quick and kind!

Everything about Communal Cafe is perfection. Service: 5/5 Food: 5/5 Beverages: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 Commitment to SOURCING LOCALLY: 5/5 This cafe walks the walk. They go above and beyond to buy from local farms and producers, and the proof is in the pudding...and the coffee and pastries and meals. I love the seasonal drink menus. The Meadow Medley is a really nice treat. Their coffee drinks are also fabulous, and their beans are from a regional roaster. All the food is fantastic. But I especially love the bowls. The salmon bowl has perfectly cooked fish and an amazing vinegarette. I also love the potato bowl and my GF friends have great things to say about the paleo bowl. The gyro is also amazing. Can't say enough good things about this place!!

Thank You Brain Great Service and conversation You know how to Multi Task with a Smile! My breakfast was great as always and this place is a hidden treasure for those avoiding bad music and loud kids Thank You for a place to go and Feel at home!!!

Really thoughtfully prepared food and drink in an inviting atmosphere. The line can get long, but part of the energy here really is to just slow down and enjoy. Highly recommend!

Ate twice here on a visit to Nevada City upon recommendation of a local. Kind of expected mainly only coffee and baked goods but was pleased to find a nice assortment of foods available. You order and pay at the counter, and take a number to your table where they bring your order. Very fresh healthy food. My dish was sprinkled lightly with flower petals, which was a charming visual. Gorgeous space.

When I am awake and baked or just looking for a hit of caffeine, I to head on down to the Communal Cafe for some baked goods and coffee. They have a good selection of vegan donuts, croissants and other tasty specialities. As far a coffee goes, I like my baristas like I like my coffee, hot and sassy, and they deliver with a smile. If you are creating the next PUBG Mobile, or need a wifi connection for an impromptu video conference, wifi is available (depending on the whims of PG&E/Xfinity broadband). Whether you are a local, or have just come up to Nevada City to check out the vibes, bike trails, music, art, or some Nevada County homegrown, Communal Cafe has got you covered with their breakfast, and lunch menus... or just hang out with a beer or glass of wine and be cool.

Yummmmmm!!! So far I've only tried the chicken gyro, the oyster mushroom gyro and the churro donut, and every bite is delicious! It's clear there is attention to detail in the gyro. The ingredients are equally dispersed so that every bite is satisfying and includes the range of flavors. Friendly service, comfortable atmosphere, along with local crafts and teas and treats to check out while waiting for your order. Nice work, Communal cafe!

They charge 17 bucks for a BLT? Wow ! Have requested several times for my latte extra hot but is only slightly over luke warm each time- . barista was more concerned with changing music on the i pad while many waited for a semi- hot latte chicken gyro sandwich was filled with goat ( yuck!) cheese but only stared "feta" on the menu ! also no bread slice served with the tiny "bowl " of overpriced soup ! sorry but NOT a fan !

Amazing communal atmosphere with lots of fun exploring to be had inside. My mint iced tea was excellent and I really enjoyed the potato bowl! A bit of a line but the service was quick and everyone was very friendly. Can't wait to go back soon!

We came here twice. The first time they were out of potatoes (?) but we ordered other things, they were prompt and food came out in a normal time. Today we sat for 45 minutes waiting for food. Finally asked and were told the connection between the kitchen and the order station had gone fine, so none of the orders placed had gone back into the kitchen. They offered to refund our order or we could wait another 10 minutes. We waited. (The folks next to us did not.) I understand things going wrong. That's why we sat waiting. But not to have noticed that orders were not going into the kitchen for at least half an hour seems like someone was not paying attention to what was happening on the floor. Staff seems nice enough. Just seems like this place needs to mature a little.

The atmosphere is great. The food is good. The coffee is decent. The prices are high. The attitude of the staff needs real improvement. There are one or two who are friendly; most of them are indifferent at best, and think they're a little too cool for school.

We were staying in the area and wanted to try this cute place. The counter staff was lovely and the food was amazing. But I felt a little uncomfortable when one of the kitchen staff told us it would have been better if my party of 5 and I had ordered on the same tab, because then we would have gotten our food all at the same time. We hadn't expressed any frustration at some of us having food while others didn't yet. We went again today. A staff member coldly told us to turn our numbers so the kitchen staff could see them. Then a kitchen staff man delivered our soup and didn't acknowledge us as he was thanked. Seemed like we were getting the cold shoulder from the kitchen staff for no reason. Or their vibes are just off. Anyways, the food was rather good and we will be back one day.

Community-driven cafe on the main drag in funky Nevada City is well worth a visit any time of day. Wide open spaces, communal seating, friendly staff, local artwork on display, reasonable prices, zippy WiFi, prime location. ...Oh and tasty, tasty thangs including coffee, loose leaf tea, breakfast wraps, donuts, pastries, cookies, fresh juice, local sundries...and very GF & vegan friendly!

This coffee house has a wonderful ambience with its exposed brick walls, reflecting the historic aspect of Nevada City; it's a great place to hang out. However, the service is painfully slow and the servers seem oblivious to any need to move a long line at the counter any more swiftly than their usual slow pace. I commented to one who took my order at the counter that I normally tip when presented with those tablet screens that offer percentage tip suggestions, but that I wasn't tipping because of the lack of any conscious effort to provide reasonably efficient service. As expected, she registered no concerned. I promised myself I'd write a review in hopes someone lights a fire under these servers.