Curiosity Coffee Bar

Curiosity Coffee is one of my all-time favorite coffee shops in Columbia. I love the rotating seasonal drinks, the tasty food offerings, and especially the baked goods! The creativity of some drinks are unlike anything else I've seen which makes Curiosity a top choice for me every time. The bakers are constantly churning out new and inventive treats and so many of my favorites are vegan even though I'm not! The team is always so courteous and quick to help, and it feels like there's always cool events to attend there. I'm constantly recommending this place to anyone I know, and this review was way overdue. All my foodies and coffee lovers, give it a shot and see for yourself!

Stumbled on this place after not paying attention to Waze and went the wrong way. Great locals place to go. Coffee and food are amazing. Avocado toast, super fresh and flavorful. Staff are very friendly and extremely knowledgeable. Coffee in a mug is the only way to truly appreciate the taste.

Stopped here for a little pick me up. Had a lovely iced mocha with hazelnut and whip and a dark chocolate croissant. I recommend getting your pastry warmed as it is quite chewy without it. Waitstaff were speedy and polite. Atmosphere is super cute. They have some take out snack food like overnight oats in a cup, pastries, etc. They also have avocado toast and sandwiches. Was shocked to see they have Mexican hot chocolate syrup available for your coffee. Very clean and lots of tables to sit at. They even have board games to play which can help entertain your littles if they’re tagging along! They also have a range of cold drinks for adults only! Adorable outdoor seating on the patio also. Satisfy your thirst and curiosity and stop in this hidden gem and treat yourself!

I stumbled upon the charming spot today! It has such a classic ambiance, perfect for any time of day. ☕️ I enjoyed a lovely morning coffee, and I can already imagine returning for a refreshing afternoon beer. This place truly feels like a gem, ideal for savoring delicious food and drinks. It's definitely become one of my favorite spots to unwind and enjoy a good meal and beverage.

I came here for the first time today, and first noticed the haiku wall outside! It’s gorgeous! I need to write one before I leave!! I walk in, and didn’t know what to try on the menu! I asked Liz, the barista on duty, what I should get. She made me a pumpkin spice latte with a different syrup added in. It’s the perfect fall drink. Liz was so kind and even added a little latte art heart in my cup. Look at it!!! Omg! 5 stars! Will be bringing my husband back! I’m bummed I didn’t find out about this place sooner, as we’re moving soon. Perfect place for college kids to come hang out and get group work done, or for friends to come chill. Love it!

Curiosity Coffee is one of my go-to spots, especially because it’s really close to where I live. I’ve only had their lattes so far, but they’ve been consistently great and clearly made with care. It’s a popular place and it can definitely get busy, but it’s worth it. The coffee is good enough that I don’t mind a little wait, and the overall vibe makes it a nice place to stop whether you’re grabbing something to go or hanging out for a bit. If you’re in the area and want a solid latte from a spot that’s doing things right, Curiosity Coffee is an easy recommendation.

Nice looking inside and out, independent coffee shop standard, plenty of parking, friendly staff. . Only tried the avocado toast on an everything bagel. Bagel was great, portion of avo was generous, but it better be for over $10 before tax. Unfortunately, it was dominated by large slices of ice cold bland grocery store tomato, and the avocado was cold too (plus all the seasoning went on the tomato which I had to remove, not layered). Would not order this again.

Glad to find a local coffee shop in Columbia. I had one of the specialty drinks (Mexicano Latte) and a (huge) pastry item (Lavender Chocolate Knot). Both were delicious! Although the latte (which was poured into a real coffee mug) was served hot, I was able to drink it immediately. Also (to me) the décor is a bit unusual so be open-minded during your visit at this shop (which is highly recommended).

Great coffee, nice vibe, great assortment of freshly baked goods, excellent service! A must visit!

Not a great experience. Staff not very friendly and the decor was distractingly bad. I would not recommend you spend your time or money here. You'd have better time elsewhere. The high cost of the food and drink does not meet the quality or service. One of those places where the staff makes you feel like a burden.

Finding myself back in Columbia in the early morning, I asked Yelp for the best coffee bar and landed here. As I pulled in, I thought "This looks familiar" and so I realized that I needed to update my review. Curiosity is still five stars and better that I was able to enjoy it with Mrs. K. this morning. A latte for her that she declared "Perfect" and a cortado for me that was also absolutely excellent. And since we were not ready for a full breakfast, a plate of their bread and jam which today was a strawberry habanero jam that did have just a little bit of a kick. We spent an hour or so here before heading out to explore the Saturday morning Soda City Market. A delightful coffee shop! [Review 2184 of 2024 - 1157 in South Carolina - 23202 overall]

Best coffee shop in Columbia. Friendly people, good coffee, and gluten free breakfast sandwiches!

We visited Curiosity Coffee Bar on a (late) Sunday morning and found it moderately busy. The interior had an eclectic vibe, with exposed brick walls, music-themed decor, and colorful wall art. They also had an outdoor seating area, but we stayed indoors to escape the heat. I'd already had my coffee that day, so I ordered the Summer Guava Spritz and an Avocado Toast on sourdough bread (the other option was on a bagel). Service was reasonably quick. The Summer Guava Spritz was refreshing, but not super memorable. I'd love to try the signature coffee drinks in the future, which sounded amazing - like the Blueberry Crumble Latte and Blackberry Jam Latte. The Avocado Toast was very standard - not unlike something you can make at home, but still tasty. Overall, we liked this place - will return to try more!

Arts festival weekend in March. curiosity was one of the hosting restaurants. We got a couple of fresh brewed beverages and sat out on the covered and open air patio. The atmosphere is great and the decor adds to coversation. The coffee was great and the services was equally good!

An absolute gem in Columbia with such a variety of meal options, sweet treats and so much more. The service is always friendly and fast too. Today we had the Dirty Apple Chai, a Cinnamon Toast Crunch and Blueberry lemon jam on sour dough. The Cinnamon Toast Crunch is my new favorite. The toast was delicious. My favorite thing about today's visit is how cozy the atmosphere is and the WuTang sign in the window. We all know that WuTang is Forever!!!

An absolute gem! From the delicious and unique food options to the beautifully crafted coffee, this place is an easy winner for the top 5 of Columbia's coffee scene. Beyond the fantastic menu, the staff is incredibly nice. The person who took our order was so patient, giving us all the time we needed to navigate the tempting menu. Plus, they've got a delightful selection of cute knick-knacks and stickers that make the visit even more fun.

Super cute cafe. Plenty of seating both indoor and outdoor even on a Saturday afternoon. I got an iced dirty chai and it was honestly one of the best I've had. Dirty chai's are either great or horrible and I feel so often places miss the mark. This one was perfect. Everyone there was so nice, the guy who took our order was so patient as we took forever staring at the menu. They also have a bunch of cute knick knacks and stickers! I got an awesome new journal for work.

Great vibe at this small coffee shop on Main Street. Inside and outside seating. Coffee (and beer) and bagels from NYC. Glad we dis

Great pour over before hitting the Riverfront Park trail. Highly recommend the coffee. The staff was also super friendly and knowledgeable

Great coffee and the bacon cream cheese pastry I had was phenomenal! Would definitely recommend the cinni vanilli latte if you come in. It's got a cool interior and sell bags of their coffee as well. There is also a patio for warmer weather.

I drove through Columbia and found this shop as a stop not far off our route. We pre-ordered online and within the 8 minutes it took for us to get there, the order was hot and ready to go! My husband ordered an Americano and an egg, bacon, and cheese bagel sandwich on Asiago. I ordered a beet root latte and a bacon, egg, and cheese on everything bagel. We also ordered a masalatte to try. Both breakfast sandwiches were absolutely delightful. If I had to pick, I'd say order the breakfast sandwich on Asiago. The everything bagel was awesome, but Asiago had the edge. The Americano was excellent. The beet root latte was earthy and the masalatte was a unique and fun Indian infused flavor on a latte. We're saving this as a spot on our next road trip. The service was quick and friendly and the cafe had a great vibe - pinball machine, holiday music, and cool gifts. They also have an outdoor area and are dog friendly!

This was my first time visiting. I was super excited to try the coffee. I will say the coffee was pretty dang good. I got a toasted marshmallow latte with almond milk. It was delicious! I feel like they are pretty decently priced. The service was good. They were super nice. The inside was clean and organized. It's super cute. There's also some outside seating. I can't speak on any of the munchies. I do wish it wasn't such a far drive for me, but I would absolutely stop by again when I'm around the area.

Personally when I go to a coffee hpuse I look for efficiency and taste. I came here Friday morning waited in line for 10 minutes ordered my one drink and waiting another 6-7 minutes for that... I also got a peanut butter cup and a coffee cake. My drink order was mocha latte add peppermint. No peppermint was added but no biggie. Now the sweets were just awful. Never had such a dry cake. I dipped it in the drink and still struggled to swallow it. For the price I am not sure we can expect better. So ‍ at least everything inside seemed very progressive, especially for South Carolina. I feel pretty confident that everything in the shop was ethically sourced. They do allow dogs which was interesting.

Love this eclectic spot! Came here to enjoy some coffee and breakfast while getting some work done and glad this spot was recommended to me. I ordered their turtle latte, which was a combination of caramel, chocolate, espresso, and almond milk (the almond milk was at my request). It was a solid beverage served in a fun/different cup. For my breakfast I got the egg and cheese bagel with a side of their home fries. I was able to choose either the everything bagel or a plain bagel. I opted for plain. The cheese was cheddar and made for a delicious breakfast sandwich! The home fries I was less enthusiastic about. They were flavorful and the spice was good--but were cooked a little too al dente for my taste. They have some tables outdoors if you'd like to enjoy the sunshine with your coffee. I opted for a spot by the window with a luscious green plant as my coffee companion. A great place for coffee, bites, and to get a little work done. Get to it!

Spouse and I were passing through the area and looking for a good coffeehouse, and with a name like Curiosity, how could we not stop? I had the avocado toast along with a mocha, my partner the BLT and cold brew/iced coffee. The bread for both our dishes was clearly locally made, both were delicious and generous, the mocha was outstanding. The iced coffee, though, was an odd departure -- weak and sour, puzzling given the quality of the rest of our orders. But I still highly recommend this place. We also loved the décor and vibe. All in all, we'll go back when we pass through again.

We told the barista it was our first time, zero help. Got our orders wrong. Coffee was watered down. All around terrible experience. Won't be back ever

A great spot to get some work done. Lots of indoor and outdoor seating. Service was quick. Matcha latte was decent but not the best you can get in Columbia. I'll come back to try the coffee.

Was looking for a place to kill sometime and have a coffee. This was it- First off- plenty of parking- nice outdoor seating area. A great selection of specialty coffee's. I had an iced Blueberry Crumble. It was 6 bucks which is about right for something like that, I found it refreshing, being iced, it had a nice flavor- Next time I would try something different. The staff here was super nice. Fast service too. I would go again!

Great Local Coffee spot with local artwork for sale and even comic books to read! Cool original flavors of coffee, too. My Old Fashioned Cold brew was good and kept my tastebuds confused- is it a cocktail or a cold brew? I couldn't decide. But like the Barista said, "It's an Upper, not a Downer!" LoL. I highly recommend this place!

Of the beaten path Coffee shop serving up your standard coffees and great bites. I particularly like the vegetarian options, such as the fancy mushroom melt ordered during this trip. Baristas are always welcoming and informative of menu offerings. Be sure to ask about off menu options as staff will be the first to share that the menu board is too small to list all of their daily offerings. The interior has a garage esq feel with walls adorned with local art flare. Great place to study or to have a first date.

This place is great! I'd love to bring a book or laptop and lounge around. Just great vibes, looked cozy and well-worn. The yogurt parfait is pretty good. I liked the lavender latte. Their pour over was great as well. It's fun how they sell various Knick-knacks and cards. And if you don't like coffee, there's tea or booze!

Tried the lemon raspberry roll with glaze provided on the side & apple cinnamon cake (looks like a tiny loaf of bread). Both tasted great! Both items were Vegan. Quick stop for a snack before a conference & this place meet all my expectations & then some!

I'm pathologically curious so when I spotted Curiosity Coffee Bar, I was indeed intrigued. We stopped in Saturday morning after the Riverbanks 5k. I'd won an award for my age group but we had a bit of time to kill before the awards ceremony, so I suggested to my bestie that we drive over to grab coffees while we wait. I had high hopes for this coffee shop after reading reviews and seeing a nice write up on them in a Columbia magazine. Our visit was just not it. The vibes were WAY off. The team working seemed EXTREMLY lethargic and down. Not what I'm accustomed to when going to a Coffee Shop. Coffee = Caffeine, I'm looking for high frequency energy, good vibes not the energy level we encountered. Our drink order was not made correctly and we were the only orders up. I'd ordered a toasted pecan oat milk latte and the latte had absolutely zero taste. I asked if this was my drink and not my friends who had a regular latte. The barista then attempted to pour the syrup into the existing latte and the bottle was completely empty. She then went to the back to get a new bottle and pour it in. I'm half wondering if she didn't want to go to the back earlier and thought for some reason I wouldn't notice... I was baffled. I think the drink should have been entirely remade not fixed by pouring a little syrup on top but I didn't have the patience to deal with the low vibe energy any longer than absolutely necessary. We later spotted a Curiosity Coffee Bar coffee cart at the Soda City Market and I'll admit I paid extra close attention to see if I observed a similar lack of energy but from what I can tell the folks working the coffee cart seemed ok. I'm not entirely certain what the issue was but if you haven't been and you're Curious, I'd say skip!

What an amazing space full of vibes! Decided to stop by one morning to get some coffee. It's off Main St. and there is a little parking lot. Also, there looks like it is some outside seating and they are able to even pull out some outside heaters. The space inside is a decent size. They sell a few different items from coffee mugs, cards and etc. from in state or local vendors which I thought was amazing! So many cute coffee mugs, cool wines and local beers. I loved the diverse representation. The menu wasn't overwhelming which I thought was very pleasant. I ended up ordering a 12 oz latte with it milk and caramel syrup. Once I placed my order and had to wait, I checked out some of their baked goods and their food menu. Small selection, however, I plan to try something when I return. My wait for my beverage wasn't bad at all. Everyone was so nice. Even as I was trying to figure out what I wanted as I am not an expert in espresso beverages. Also, I was expecting the latte to taste not so great because I was unsure if I placed an accurate order, but to my surprise, it was so good! Perfect balance of sweet and espresso. I was pleased! My most favorite part about my visit was the Breonna Taylor poster. The value and appreciation I have for them for that display will make me a forever supporter! Felt good to enter a place where issues of the unjust matter.

curiosity is a TOTAL vibe! super chill local coffee shop with amazing options. as a vegan, it's always challenging to find food options that taste great. curiosity nailed it with their bagels (brought in from new york) and amazing creativity when it comes to coffee. i had a vegan everything bagel with vegan cheese and vegan sausage. also tried their chai and it was delicious. lastly, the staff is always super welcoming and very knowledgeable when it comes to their menu. i was undecided when it came to what i wanted to drink and they were super patient with me.

This is what a neighborhood coffee bar is supposed to be. Unique vibe, great service, and superior taste.

Cool little eclectic place with friendly staff and customers. Inside and outside seating and pet friendly.

I remember a time when Columbia didn't really have any good coffee offerings. Columbia in the past five years or so has had a surge of coffee shops spring up and Curiosity is my favorite one. Their coffee is fresh, they allow dogs, and their building is fun. Curiosity is the premier coffee shop in Cola. I developed a new found respect for them during the COVID-19 pandemic. They're one of the few places that are legitimately keeping everyone safe and cranking out their coffee. Everyone is wearing gloves, masks, signs telling people where to stand, and they're only letting four people in the shop at a time. I really respect the level of effort they're putting into the pandemic. They're not cutting corners. You know what? That sums Curiosity up. They don't cut corners. Their coffee is legit and the people who own it are legit.

I visited Curiosity Coffee Bar on a Friday morning at around 11am. I had the potato bowl with ham and cheese. It came with peppers as well. It was a small portion but it was surprisingly filling! I enjoyed it as a little brunch stop. The coffee shop was super cute as well by itself. It has a very large selection of drinks too if you come here for the coffee itself. Would come here again next time I'm in Columbia!

Been here twice, at the behest of my then-girlfriend. I still to this day cannot fathom what she found appealing about this place. Both coffees I tried were lackluster at best... dare I say weak? I mean, when your beans are being beaten by freakin Starbucks, you know something is wrong. The staff were not exactly kind either. They just give off that haughtier-than-thou grunge vibe you'd expect from Portland. That doesn't fly here down south. After both times going here, all I wanted was a shower. Never again.

Baristas can be cold/moody. Unique flavor combinations for lattes and drinks but oftentimes I've ordered and can hardly taste the syrups you're paying extra for. If I recall right they don't ask for your name, just call out the item. Because of this, I've had my food taken twice. Food is better than the coffee. Used to really love the frittata but lately they haven't been reheating well. Vibes are chill though. They host a lot of cool events/pop ups.

So, Yelp took down my last review in a display of true oligarch fashion. Here is the deal, I was a customer of Curiosity Coffee Bar on my road trip down to GA this summer. I had their vanilla latte and it was literally disgusting. The flavor was like biting a tin can. And the staff was exceptionally rude to me, ignoring me and my girlfriend as we stood waiting to order. Additionally, they are overpriced. Remove this one, Yelp.

Bagel sandwich was bad, coffee didn't taste great. Service was super friendly so not on them. $21 but much for a grab n go breakfast

Here the deal : I needed a place to grab coffee & work while traveling! Open YELP & VIOLA! I Found Curiosity Coffee Bar!! I Love this place! It looks like old garage transformed trendy exposed brick walls with a concrete floor! There are a variety of tables and chairs to meet people or hide in the corner with a book ! They have great coffee selections for all tastes. Great menu for breakfast and lunch .... Also has a small beer & wine section ! If it had a bed here I may never leave ! Definitely a go to place!

Good taste!! We ordered special Sunday waffle breakfast, hot latte and hot Americano.

Quick service. Good coffee. Ordered online and picked up in less than 20 minutes. Coffee was fresh.

Service is great!!! It's also super delicious and they have a lot of options. Good place to come study or work with different seating options! I'll definitely be back.

Came with some of my girlfriends to catch up. Ehh...I was not overly impressed. Slow service, overpriced drinks and food, and just too hipster for me. I had the bagel bomb. Sounded fun but in reality it was just a reheated bagel in a different shape. As most people have learned, reheating bread turns it extremely hard and makes it tough on the teeth. I had just this issue. They serve food and drinks in normal household mugs, which is cute but if I wanted to eat at home, I would have stayed home and just saved my $10 for my tea and faux bagel. The seating is a little unique as well. It's community style which is fine if you are alone but with my friends we were talking about some rather personal things and I definitely felt pretty exposed as everyone could heard everything happening at the same table. I think from that aspect, I would have just preferred a little more privacy for our conversations. Like I said, just too hipster for me. I don't think I'm the right demographic for this location and I dont see myself wanting to come back not being welcomed back. I do hope they do well though as I know that side of town needs a good spot.

This place is so neat !!! I came here for a local book meetup. There is both indoor and outdoor seating . COFFEE & BEER ! In addition, I ordered a yummy chicken quesadilla and it was delicious. Not sure what the deal was , but there was several folks there playing their string instruments, almost looked like a meet up as they were not performing for the guests. Quite cool either way. We will be back.

Oh the rise of coffee bars. I love them, but I loathe them. Here's why. Something always gets compromised. The coffee, the simple syrups, the beer on tap, the ambiance of the location. Just something sticks out like a rotten carrot amidst your $12 salad. Thankfully, such is not the case with Curiosity. I have only been here twice, but both times I have placed a second order while there. The quality is so good, the flavors so rich that I can't simply order an Americano or the Saint Citrus and call it quits. They truly have it all. When my wife asked what the milk options were, I swear at some point the guy was just making up plants. And don't even ask what the flavor options are for lattes and such. The people in line behind you will not be happy. They are dog friendly (inside and out), Wu-Tang friendly (just visit the restroom), and all around just friendly when interacting. If you do find yourself in line, take a look at the shelves of various items. It's the reason this place is one step away from being a bodega. Local pottery, beers and ciders, coffee equipment, wine, sake, and more. I look forward to visiting during a concert. *If you do make it while the Saint Citrus is being served (seasonal), I compare it to a chocolate orange (for anyone with British ties). It tastes and smells just like a Terry's.

Positive vibes only! Great atmosphere for all though I am not a dog person and didn't love dogs snarling at each other while I sipped my Cinni Vanilli, which had more authenticity than the name implies. My highlight (besides the company) was a waffle BEC sandwich... a decadent Sunday treat that kept me full all day. Well done Curiosity.

I've been coming here for a while but recent experience has made me agree to not come back. First off I was never asked about a preference for my bagel or milk in my drink. I went back up and asked if I could have it with coconut milk because I said I forgot to mention it since I wasn't asked and there where others waiting behind me to order. The lady making my drink was visibly annoyed and bargained with me to just give me the drink with some whole milk in it as she had already poured some of it. After I said I can't have regular milk as I need nondairy she said I would have to pay another $6 for my drink as the ingredients to make it are too expensive. The woman making it was rude and not practicing good customer service despite them not being busy at all. I will not be returning!

This was such a great coffee shop. Very quaint with a hip atmosphere. The baristas were so friendly and the coffee drinks we ordered were so good. A mocha with banana syrup and a nitro cold brew. The selection of nibbles was excellent. Sweet and savory. Some Latin specialties, like Brazilian brigadeiro. They are also dog friendly.

Electric, relaxed, local coffee bar with a cool vibe. Excellent variety of teas and pastries.

The vibe, the beans, the brew was all excellent. Loved this spot and will definitely visit again.

Love this place! My husband and I have been coming here for a few years, since we moved to Columbia. We love the specialty coffee drinks (my favorite is the Mexican) and the superfood lattes (love the golden and beetroot ones). We've always enjoyed the banana chocolate muffin. There used to be some tarts with bacon, one with mushroom that we also liked. Seems they changed their food menu recently. We just tried their monster club and mojo chicken sandwiches. Absolutely delicious! Such a lovely treat for lunch on Christmas. And a moist chocolaty banana muffin to share as dessert, accompanied by Mexican special lattes. So grateful that they were open both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. They always have some neat merchandise too. We managed to grab some extra small gifts for neighbors when we were there yesterday. During the pandemic shortages they had basic food staples, toilet paper, paper towels and cleaning products.

We wanted to try a new place for breakfast/coffee. BIG MISTAKE. Super unfriendly staff, judgmental. Overpriced. Never again.