smallSUGAR

Great selection of baked goods with a menu for other breakfast and lunch items as well. Display case was clean and organized. Ordered the almond croissant and it was delicious, massive, and flaky. Latte was creamy with a balanced acidity. Would recommend dining in since they have lovely dishware and the atmosphere is cozy and warm. Appreciated that hospitality is included so no expectation to tip.

Delicious pastries baked on site. Friendly personnel and nicely decorated interior. Overall a cozy place to do some morning work maybe. A bit pricey but worth it! I would definitely come back when traveling again!

They knocked it out of the park! 😋 The flatbread was so delicious I could just eat that all day. Everything tasted freshly-made and well-seasoned. I got the small sugar breakfast. They had no problem customizing it for me. I got scrambled eggs instead of boiled egg, and hummus instead of avocado. That's a breakfast I could get used to. The lamb gyro was also deee-licous. I can't wait to go back again!

Love this place! The environment is wonderful, love the wood and vibes inside the building. The food is delicious. My daughter and I love the pastries, while my partner loved the prime rib sandwich. The cappuccino is always perfect. The best part of this place is the service though. They work so hard and are so kind. They have the best memory and make the place that much better than it already is. We are big fans (:

Absolutely incredible, world-class breakfast. And they serve their staff a living wage? Many restaurant owners could take a few lessons from here. We ordered the scrambled egg tartine, berry danish and cappuccino. The FOAM on the cappuccino was perfection, and everything else was flawless. Highly recommend!

We enjoyed our breakfast and lattes. The food, atmosphere and staff were wonderful. We'll definitely come back next time we're in town.

What a gem! This spot has the perfect atmosphere for any time due your day! This is a must if you are ever in SC! Looking forward to experiencing this spot again!

I loved this place! Literally a hidden gem. This historic train station was revamped into a an awesome restaurant space. The food was fresh and good! Coffee was tasty and loved eating outside. My lunch companion said this was the best turkey sandwich they ever had. Follow my instagram account for more reviews @holycityfitblonde

smallSUGAR is such a gem! Having visited twice now, I would say it's one of my Columbia favorites. The first time, we visited for breakfast and found the place mostly empty on a Friday (late) morning. The interior had a cozy ambiance with exposed brick walls, covered in paintings for sale. We ordered at the counter and I chose a Hibiscus Iced Tea and Mushroom Tartine with Smashed Avocado. Service was friendly and pretty quick. My Mushroom Tartine was very tasty, and the portion size was perfect. The Smashed Avocado ended up just coming in a little bowl on the side, but it went well with the small mixed green salad. The Hibiscus Iced Tea was very refreshing and not too sweet. My friend got the smallSUGAR Breakfast, which she absolutely loved. The second time, I visited for lunch and had an equally great experience. I ordered an Iced Bourbon Caramel latte, which was decent - not quite strong enough for me. And for food, I chose the Turkey Melt with Za'atar Carrots as a side. The Turkey Melt was delicious and very filling, and I loved all the melty cheese. The flavor of the Za'atar Carrots was awesome, and although they slightly overdid it with the flaky salt, I would get these again. I also got a Vegan Chocolate Chip Cookie, which was fantastic. Overall, an awesome cafe with a good mix of healthy and decadent options!

I love smallSUGAR! The historic brick building in the Vista is gorgeous and the decor is all clean lines and surfaces, dahling. Plenty of outdoor seating. The greens and grains salad is chock full of perfect local lettuces and kale, lightly dressed, and pretty to look at. The coffee is very good. I had a cortado. The pastries are ginormous but I decided to wait for cheat day. They add a service charge to your bill which takes the awkwardness out and ensures the staff have a living wage. Having worked in the service industry for years, I approve! Everyone seems friendly and happy to work here.

If you have to go anywhere in Columbia it is here!! For breakfast or for lunch it is a must! I absolutely love small sugar, they have amazing pastries and great food options. You seriously cannot go wrong with any of it. All the workers are so kind and helpful! The place itself is so calm and welcoming I love it here.

This place is a tiny, hidden gem. A friend found it and we were so happy. The ONLY reason I gave it four stars is it didn't have decaf coffee or espresso. The staff were very nice. The food was made fresh and tasted amazing. It was combinations of stuff I wouldn't have thought of. Definitely worth a repeat visit. Thank you!!

Incredible breakfast spot with impeccable service and food offerings. This is a place that absolutely gets it right. Right sized menu that allows perfection in every dish. The staff appears to enjoy their roles and it shows in quality of service and food. The atmosphere is reminiscent of a French cafe with a bit of southern charm. Great find!!!!

What an adorable stop on our way to the coast!! The most perfect cup of coffee that I finished so quickly and contemplated ordering one to go. A delicious sandwich that was fresh, inviting and very filling. The outdoor dining space was such a relaxing experience. I could see myself hanging here often if this was in my town. Everything about this place was a five blazing star!!

This touted as open for breakfast and it was but breakfast was more coffee and bakery items. I wanted eggs and grits and bacon but all they had were hard boiled eggs and at that I left. The ambiance is good. The parking was no where to be found. I guess you can park on the street if you can find it. No parking or a hassle to find parking is a big negative. Sorry.

One of my favorite cafes ever! The soft scrambled tartine is excellent and every pastry I've had here has been great. Monkey bread, lemon pull apart bread, chai spice cinnamon roll(favorite) were all fantastic. Most importantly however, they have excellent coffee! The iced americano was one of the best I've had in a minute. They are clearly using very high quality coffee. I always order mine black and it was sooo tasty. Cold brew was solid too. The interior is filled with tables to get work done or hang out and the entire room has a cozy vibe with wood and brick finishes plus beautiful art for sale adorning the walls. The staff at smallSUGAR are very friendly and the food service is quick. They have vegan offerings and little something for everyone. My only warning is to get here is quick as you can! The pastries are so good some of the options do sell out. I wish I could pack up smallSUGAR and take this place home with me!

A great breakfast and lunch spot tucked away in the Vista. They have breakfast bowls, plates, savory and sweet pastries and delicious coffee. Such a cute spot with indoor and outdoor seating.

So, if I am being honest - this place just isn't for me. I went here for brunch with some friends. I was kind of turned off by the menu. They only had two items with meat, and while my sandwich was really good - I was bummed that a brunch place didn't have more variety, but that may just be me. I also felt like the prices were outrageous. I got a sandwich and a sangria and it was $30. They were out of Orange juice, and couldn't make a Bellini. I just feel like on a Saturday in downtown that is a bad time to not have 2/3 of your brunch beverages stocked. There is a sign that says gratuity is included, which I definitely have an issue with. You order at a counter and someone brings you your food. We had to ask for water, napkins. There was however a really nice man who came to asked us if we wanted to try a Chai Cinnamon roll, on the house. Their pastries were very tasty. Overall, it was not a terrible experience. I personally wouldn't choose this spot again based on the menu and the prices, but if you're into that hipster vibe - you will probably love it.

The almond croissant is hands down my favorite pastry in South Carolina. The price is a bit high but it is good every once in awhile.

Had a great experience here when my boyfriend and I stayed in Columbia over the weekend! We started off with lunch--my boyfriend got the lamb pita (not pictured) which was really good! I had also ordered that but unfortunately they ran out right after I ordered so Greg (manager?) came right out and apologized. He ended up refunding me my meal and let me order something else, free of charge. He also gave me a $10 gift card for my troubles! All of this was completely unnecessary but very much appreciated! I was really impressed with all the staff (shout out to Greg MVP) and we knew we'd come back in the morning for breakfast. My bf ordered the scrambled eggs tartine and a pastry. I ordered the almond croissant (delicious) and shakshouka-ish which was fabulous. We also got two chocolate chip cookies for the road which I'm still dreaming about. This place has a great atmosphere and even better employees; I'm so glad we decided to drop in. Whenever we're back in town we'll be sure to come here again.

Food was immaculate, the chocolate croissant were super rich and flaky. The lattes were delicious especially the golden latte. The service was excellent and staff were very friendly! the ambiance was amazing, it was fairly quiet and calming. it was a bit pricey, but overall worth it.

Alright so first off, this place is very quaint and cute inside. The vibes are pleasant, welcoming, smells of just homemade coffee like a Sunday morning, and the staff are very friendly. Now let's talk food. I got the prime rib sandwich and I swear, top 3 sandwiches I've had. From the decadent flavor and softness of the prime rib, to the tartness of the pickled onions, to the rounded out sharpness of the Dijonoli, this sandwich is flawless with every bite. I also ordered a small coffee, which was brewed in house and tasted great. I may have found my new favorite sandwich in the area. Will keep everyone updated on that. This is a great little spot tucked away in the historic city market of Columbia, that is worth the trip or stop in.

I was in the area visiting relatives and was recommended this place for a quick breakfast bite. The friendly cashier greeted me with a smile and explained what breakfast options were available. I opted for the Chai Cinnamon Muffin and Bourbon Caramel Oatmilk Iced Latte...Delicious combo! Great location and will return whenever in town.

Had the prime rib sandwich with marinated cucumbers and the chocolate stuffed pastry. It was excellent.

Coffee and overnight oats was excellent, would highly recommend for a quick breakfast!

My family and I were visiting in the area and we decided to stop in this restaurant. Needless to say we went back for breakfast the next day and are jealous of everyone that lives close and gets to go here all the time. Greg (the owner) and his staff are the epitome of going above and beyond for their customers and this place is absolutely amazing. I highly recommend checking this place out. We loved it here!

What a nice and quaint place. The service was really nice. You have to pay upfront and then find seating which was odd, especially if you wanna tip! I got the avocado tartine with eggs and a salad. The prices were a little higher than expected but very cute place!

This is one of those places that looks like a repurposed warehouse or something, with a splendid brick aesthetic. It's very hipster, with conversations about "repositories of industrial land" and other things I wasn't expecting to hear. They claim to do a lot of local sourcing, and the menu was some American and vaguely Middle Eastern brunch with a reasonable vegetable focus. I thought for a while before trying a hummus bowl which came with some cooked eggplant and some visually enticing sweet potato slices arrayed on top. There was plenty of za'atar-style spice, and it was an impressive bowl. My almond croissant was as flaky and sweet as I'd hoped, and for a drink they do a Charleston Fog, which is a tea latte with Charleston Tea, which I think is distinctively delicious (I have some at home). The price was quite high, but they seem to have a no-tipping policy and a commitment to training and paying staff (who seemed to be having a good time taking pictures for the holidays), and if you factor in what I would have paid in tip for a nice brunch elsewhere, I felt quite happy about coming here.

Have been going here once a week for about 10 weeks and love the sweet potato salad/bowl!! All the pastries I have tried have been good. Revisited today- excellent service! Treated my mom like a queen for her birthday which was such a treat!!

Staff is very friendly and accommodating. Coffee was fantastic and the bakery item delicious.

I came in the other morning around 730 while traveling through and stopped here unplanned. Safe to say I was very pleased as the service was not only great, but their Baker Kendra treated me to a complimentary pastry on the house (Samoa) after making great conversation looking over all the treats they just made That as well as the coffee and other danishes I purchased were some of the best I've ever had. I drove off and after taking a bite I had to turn around and come back just to tell them how tasty it was! 11/10 spot, I can only imagine during the morning how busy this place must be.

This was a wonderful place to get coffee and something for breakfast. The people working were very friendly and they even offered us a water to go which was really nice since it was a warm day in Columbia. I had monkey bread and a hot white chocolate mocha latte which were both very good and my wife had a savory croissant (pizza) and a hot caramel bourbon latte that she really enjoyed. The location was wonderful with a nice brick building this tables inside and out. Would definitely go back for breakfast or lunch.

Visiting and found this place near my hotel, the overnight oats were incredible & the oat milk latte was perfect!

My husband, 6-week-old daughter, and I stopped in at smallSUGAR on our way from Ohio to Kiawah Island after doing a quick Google search. I read other good reviews, but they didn't do it justice. It was a lovely little cafe with good music and tasteful decorations. They were out of some of their fresh ingredients, but offered delicious substitutions. I got the hummus platter and an iced oatmilk latte. My husband got the turkey melt and an americano with oatmilk. Everything was DELICIOUS. The service was also excellent. We ended up getting extra pita for free and when the manager/owner (?) overheard my husband and I talking about needing to change our daughter, he let us into the adjacent restaurant to utilize the changing station there. Very kind server as well!! I wish we lived closer to go back.

Stopped in for lunch. The Sweet Potatoe Bowl was fresh, flavorful, and filling. Super friendly staff. You order from the counter and then find a seat. They brought me my own bottle of water to refill my glass. The patio was a great spot to enjoy lunch. The staff were super friendly and informative. I plan to head back in the morning to pick up some pastries for a work meeting. It did seem like the earlier the better to order those!

I discovered this restaurant in the middle of a random trip! For me, I was very satisfied with the service I received from them and their baker kendra let me taste the letter pastries she made for free. The coffee I bought and some of the pastries gave me a great taste and I visited this pastry several times during that trip for breakfast.

Excellent- comfortable seating, yummy breakfast, great coffee and cozy atmosphere. I wish we would have found it sooner.

I really wanted to like this place based on the other reviews I read. If you're from out-of-town, it's very difficult to locate based on Google maps. I was on foot and had difficulty locating the place. I mentioned it to the person at the counter, but he didn't seem to care. (If I owned the place, I would want people to be able to find the restaurant!) The indoor atmosphere is amazing! Beautiful and just as described. I ordered the roasted sweet potato bowl which was $15.00. When I opened the bowl, I just saw a bowl full of kale. I took it back and asked if there were sweet potatoes in the dish. The girl at the counter said there were sweet potatoes at the bottom. I dumped the salad onto the lid and found a tablespoon of sweet potatoes! Deceptive advertising! It should be a kale salad with sweet potatoes, not a "sweet potato" salad. I asked for a refund, and the counter girl was accommodating. So, I can't really write anything about how the food tastes, but just be warned that the food descriptions may not be accurate.

Let's start out by saying I absolutely love a coffee & bakery combo shop. Located in the heart of downtown Columbia, SC. This quaint shop had both indoor and outdoor seating. The outdoor seating area was under an awning so you had plenty of shade to sit and enjoy your conversation away from the southern sun. The staff was polite, offering a glass of water with every dine in order. The iced chai left a bit to be desired. Nonetheless, the local artist decor made for a pleasant afternoon tea time.

This place is super cute and has a nice patio area where we were able to sit with our toddler and dog. The staff were all very pleasant. My latte was delicious (strong coffee flavor without being bitter)! The baked goods were excellent! Breakfast was very interesting and unusual for us. It had what I would consider to be a middle eastern twist. It was fun having a change of pace. My biggest complaint was the price, but at least that meant you don't tip the wait staff and the ingredients were local and high quality.

Great hidden Gem downtown!! Everything is fresh and delicious, from the salads to the sandwiches. Pastries are also delicious and fresh. Customer service is exceptional. This is my wife's and I new spot. Keep up the great work smallSUGAR!!

I come here for my morning coffee everyday now... friendly and quick service. They have a rotating array of fresh bakery items everyday as well.. Also has a fairly big patio for anyone trying to work/study.

What a nice spot for a refreshing, lighter breakfast option - instead of A heavy biscuits and gravy or some other such. The best way to describe it for me would probably be a fusion of a French and American bistro. We had Charleston Fog teas, which is made with Black tea from Charleston, whipped milk, and I suspect some extra sugar. But very smooth. My order was a soft-scrambled egg tartine. It's basically some expertly prepared eggs on a thick slice of grits (polenta) sourdough bread. The bread was soft, with the thickness providing the necessary heft for the large quantity of scrambled eggs. It came with a side of tender greens tossed in a light & tart vinaigrette. They paired very well, and the greens added brightness of flavor. The wife had the smallSugar breakfast. One soft boiled egg. Flatbread triangles with 3 dips/spreads of green tahini, avocado, and ricotta - all sprinkled with fresh herbs. Cucumber salad finished out the plate. Another lighter, yet surprisingly filling winner.

The hubs' pick of the turkey melt with the side of beets was AMAZING. The herb aioli was interesting and added to the great flavors of this sandwich. I always have doubt about a turkey sandwich as the meat will either be too dry or in the form of deli meat. But, this sandwich was super good, and the turkey was super juicy with the caramelized onions and aged mozzarella. The beets were in small chunks and what you'd expect; I don't think there are any surprises or anything off about this. My pick of the pork loin with the green salad was pretty tasty. It sort of paled in comparison to the other sandwich. I actually got this one thinking it would be more flavorful. I was wrong. The spicy mayo went extra well with the smashed avocado and cabbage. All this added to the nice flavors of the marinated pork loin. The green salad was average with what looks to be a light balsamic vinaigrette dressing. The Hong Kong milk tea was surprisingly good. I suppose the condensed sweetened milk and evaporated milk helped give the tea a more unique edge. Oh. And thanks for charging us $0.50 for the ice that should have come with the drink?! I'm still scratching my head about this as to why it's an addition when you're giving me less of the actual drink. Plus, it clearly shows ice as being a part of the description: Hong Kong Milk Tea Double-steeped Orange Pekoe tea with condensed sweetened milk and evaporated milk over ice. One of our favorite drinks from our travels in Hong Kong and Japan! I just don't like being deceived. Don't use these small up charges (when you clearly asked me if I wanted ice and not disclose the extra charge) to gain more profit. Be transparent. It's about the principle, not the actual loss of $0.50 folks. I could have gotten other flavorings that would have added more value.

Who doesn't love an all day cafe? Especially one as picturesque as smallsugar. Tucked away in the city market development, lined with exposed brick and wood beams, the rustic feel makes it all the more special. Smallsugar features a diverse menu of homemade baked goods, salads, and a few other selections you are unlikely to find anywhere else In Columbia. Mushroom tartine, roasted sweet potato bowl, and a little something called Shakshouka-ish. The almond croissant(although admittedly pricey) is probably one of the better ones I've had. Fresh ingredients, a creative menu, and friendly staff make for a winning combination. I've often heard "a little sugar never hurt nobody". smallsugar is certified sweet!

First of all, black-owned business; I'm here for it. The servers were so friendly, and the outdoor seating is spacious and beautiful. The building blocking one side is also very pretty and rustic, so A+ for atmosphere. Food: sensational. Elevated brunch food with the best baked treats. I got the mushroom tartine and it was exactly what I was looking for. My boyfriend ordered the turkey melt and that was a bomb-ass sandwich. The side of beats was so refreshing and perfect for a hot day-- I highly recommend it. Would definitely come back.

This hot chocolate just hits different lol it's not too sweet it is really the best in South Carolina! Got to love their oversized pastries as well

Very quaint and hidden gem! The prices are higher due to them wanting to pay their employees more which is very reasonable. I loved the area and the food was great big portions!

We love having breakfast here when we visit Columbia - everything is so delicious!!! Today we each had the soft scrambled egg with grits Tartine with tender salad greens on the plate. Oh my goodness - this open faced sandwich is off the charts delicious!!! Eggs are cooked to perfection which is rare to find. The fresh baked, hearty sourdough bread is so delicious! The coffee is rich and good and my latte was amazing. So we circled back and got croissants to go for a snack later. Wow - the almond croissant is just like one you'd get in France! So flaky and buttery. The staff here are all so friendly and the converted warehouse interior has a fun, industrial feel while still being comfortable. Wish we lived closer!

Excellent coffee pastries and breakfast. Great people too. Even open on Sunday for your coffee fix

Food was yummy. Atmosphere wonderful. Might be a lil pricey for some. However, in all fairness, one must remember that the gratuity is included! The service consists of food delivery to the table so not much to comment on here. smallSugar is definitely in my all time list of eateries in Columbia.

An absolute gem!! A must for coffee and great breakfast specialties. Greg made our experience so enjoyable. He's a true professional, his customer service was impeccable. Just simply a great quaint space for a cozy coffee and meal. The bread is amazing paired with honey and salted butter. Will definitely go back!!

Visiting Columbia with our daughter and went out for breakfast at smallSUGAR. Wonderful bread. Delicious coffee. Outdoor seating was very pleasant.

You don't need to go anywhere else for breakfast in Columbia. This is my first time in the city and I was just spending one night. I needed a breakfast recommendation and the hotel suggested smallSUGAR. I was not disappointed. They are baking pastry fresh every morning. Fresh bread, coffee and espresso too. I've been to France many times and the baked goods at smallSUGAR are on par with any good French patisserie. I had the baked blueberry lemon French toast. It was tart and sweet and almost dense like a pound cake- but in the best way possible. I also tried the avocado tartine with a soft scrambled egg. Delicious. smallSUGAR is also a very civic minded establishment with a training program for at risk youth. Go support them by enjoying a breakfast on their outdoor patio ASAP.

Soft scrambled egg tartine was 10/10!!! The avocado tartine was ok. I was a little disappointed with the avocado tartine after eating the soft scrambled egg tartine because the eggs had a perfect consistency. I really wish I got the soft scrambled egg tartine only and another breakfast item. I also ordered a latte with whole milk which was good. Also, I love how the ingredients are local and there is a huge outdoor patio that is dog friendly.

Visited on a Friday and Saturday - 2 adults Came to town for the day for my husband birthday. I wanted a really nice bakery for us to enjoy since I was doing a #smallbusiness birthday theme. This place is not disappoint. My husband loved the yogurt and granola so much he made us come back before we left to head home and he has been thinking of ways to get back to it. I had the cinnamon roll that took me to my childhood of sitting at my grandma house waiting on her to bring fresh ones out the oven. The outside sitting area is so cute and welcoming. I can't remember the manager name but he was so nice and made the best recommendations for everything. He paired everything together perfectly. I really liked the too go area and how they help practice social distancing. This cute bakery is a must stop when in the area. I know we can't wait to get back!

I found this great cafe spot while googling "breakfast places to try in columbia." I was not disappointed. It's downtown in the cut between city market and a salon shop so you have to know where it is exactly. Parking was limited and a little tight but doable. They have a great outside sitting deck and inside seating. Me and my friend sat outside since the weather was nice. Very relaxed and chill atmosphere. The staff was friendly and knowledgeable of the menu and explained the items well. I ordered the roasted pork sandwich which was a hot sandwich with a side pesto pasta salad a croissant and coffee. It was absolutely DELICIOUS!!! They make their pastries fresh every morning and even offer great vegan, veggie options! I would definitely say this is a fresh/farm to table type of place and flavorful! They even sell their specialized coffee for purchase. I will definitely be back again!