What I am about to write will not make me any hipster friends. I know this. And I am ok with it. I went to Cafe Stella to meet up with a friend of mine. We brought our pups. So .. basically the experience started out wonderfully because I love any place that allows you to bring your dog. I opted for an iced coffee which was ok. We were sitting outside and it was a warm morning so that totally worked. The coffee wasn't bad. Plus I only get black coffee .. none of that latte, cappuccino, flavored, blended .. etc etc stuff. Black hot. Black iced. I'm a simple kinda gal. Here is where I may lose all my non-existent hipster street cred ... I ordered the challah french toast. Which sounds like it will be amazing. Right? You're already starting out with a flavorful chewy egg bread. So you'd think with the addition of some egg/cream/sugar/vanilla .. or something... you could really only go up from there. Well, it was dry. Like maybe it hung out in the batter for like a second before hitting the hot pan. And the tiny cup of syrup was just insulting. Ok .. not really insulting but it needed more syrup because it was dry. Maybe I like a moist on the inside and crispy on the outside french toast. And maybe they just like it dry. Maybe it was an off day for the cook and everyone ordered the french toast at once. Either way .. I sort of wish I had only gotten the coffee because this review would be totally different. read more

Cafe Stella - Iced coffee on a coffee bean bag table cloth. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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So, let me start off by saying the desserts are next level!!! This is about the service of one old lady, I'm guessing she was management or maybe the owner. Every other time I go there every employee is always nice and patient with me. I decided one day to purchase the last of their passion fruit squares, they're so good. So, there was about 7-8 squares left, the older gentlemen told me no problem and he would have his wife box it up for me. He went on and helped another customer with her order, our walks his wife he explains Im buying the rest of the squares. She gets upset and chastises me for not calling ahead and that I made it very inconvenient for her. Lady why did you feel the need to chastise me??? But it was pretty obvious she did not want to service me! Have been back since then, I use to go 2x times a week. Be careful going there if you don't fit the ascetic the older lady and the just the older lady only, just want to emphasize that, will treat you poorly. read more

I was in the area on business and decided to pop into a local coffee shop for some wifi and electricity to charge my phone. I was pleasantly surprised when I saw this joint not only has coffee, but a wide variety of teas, espresso, and food options. I bought a pot of darjeeling tea, since it was in the early evening and I didn't want to drink something that will keep me awake all night. The tea itself was nice and flavorful and I didn't have any desire to sweeten it. The atmosphere is very college-y, with lots of people studying, about a half dozen power strips scattered throughout the cafe space, and it has many tables, bar tops, and ample seating. The decorum is mostly with cabinets filled with spare cups and pots, reprints of illustrations, comics, impressionistic portraits, and even some Monet. There's also some interesting furniture scattered about and a tapestry on the wall. It reminds me of many other college town cafes I've been to in the past. Even the music they play (very chill indie atmospheric stuff, not quite with bands), and the topics of conversation you hear around you are characteristic of college. read more

Cafe Stella - A pot and cup of darjeeling tea - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

So this location has a lot more seating than the Granby Street location, which is great. They also have a patio that's dog friendly so you can latch their leash on to the little fence and go in and grab your beverage or snack. I'm giving them only 3 stars because they're pricey and the service is bad. I've been in here probably 4-5 times since I've lived in NFK and the baristas are always just rude and have this attitude like you're bothering them, I'm giving you $6 to make me coffee, a little friendliness is sort of expected. I try to avoid if possible. Also there's a new Starbuck's across the street with a drive-thru. read more

Cafe Stella - Latte art - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I love chi lates, there weird and spicy but don't overpower you like coffee can. I ordered their golden late (saffron base) and it was eye opening. If you are ever looking for a new, better chi late go here. read more

I agree with others who say that this place has a unique feel and is eclectic. But, the drinks are not flavorful enough. I had a mocha and soy chai. Both were neither made uniquely nor packed a punch in flavor. This coffee house would be average if located in DC. There is plenty of space here, and I would still recommend this coffee shop to get work done and catch up with a friend. I still need to try the food here though. read more

Yesterday, I sat in Cafe Stella for about 5 hours enjoying some monkey bread, a smoothie, and a beer. While doing so, the owner and an employee saw I was writing Yelp views and inquired to me if I was writing about Cafe Stella. They seem to be well plugged into social media and understand its impact. I said I was going to eventually and I am doing so right now, obviously. I rarely write a review about a business until I leave its grounds. Writing in real time is weird to me and somewhat false. Well, this is the ideal coffee shop for me to get work done. They have long tables, good lighting, some plugs, a big coffee processing machine in the open (I always like when places do this--it's like "look we have no secrets and we actually use our hands to make this product we're passionate about"), and most importantly tasty drinks/food. The fact the serve beer attracts me even more because sometimes you just need to get work done with a little buzz. The only thing that would make this experience for me would be more accessible power outlets. I had to maneuver around some of the fragile antiques to get to a plug. Good thing I don't have any movement disorder and didn't knock anything down. The owner seemed nice and seems like one to interact a lot with customers. This is always a good thing and makes for a good business, especially a coffee shop where light social interaction should be welcomed, in my opinion. Today I was at Luna Maya and the bartender told me the owner is a fun dude. Retrospectively thinking, I can see that. I wonder what he (I didn't catch his name) will think of this review and what he will message me (if he does). The cute bartender at Luna stated he may do this. Since I'm working/studying around the naval hospital for next couple of months, I'll be back here for sure. I like this Ghent community--I feel like everyone knows each other. I don't really get this vibe in San Francisco (one where customers AND business owners have some open interaction). Because of places like this, I am slowly starting to like VA more. I wonder if I'll get stationed here next year. Who is Stella? Maybe the name of the owner's car. read more

Such a cute little spot with an ever changing range of pastries and different cafe style lunch options available. I had no complaints with any of my visits, but the food and latte I had didn't really jump out to me. And after finding out about the ongoing unprofessional comments on Yelp and Facebook, AND rude customer service, I haven't really felt the need to go back. Yikes. read more

Cafe Stella - Chicken salad sandwich with French macarons in the back - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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If you are looking for food advice, this is not the review for you. If you are looking to know the feel and good vibes of this cute space, then venture ahead. I had forgotten how much I adore this place. Once upon a time.. Let's shoot for 3+ years ago (when my Yelp adventures were yet to be discovered), this was my absolute favorite place to do schoolwork or play a board game, have a nice and long conversation, spend time with good company, with a cup of hot tea and a few baked goods. Several hours later - as in, a whole day passed - we were fortunate enough to walk down the street and retire to our humble abode. And then do it again a few days later. And repeat. You get the idea. Fast forward and here we are - Stella's still has the same Ghent charm and cozy feel - only their menu has seriously increased in size, and that is an understatement. I can't recall if they served wine a few years ago, but they certainly do now! It was a bit overwhelming to go over the entire menu, so I stuck to what I remembered and know. To reminisce on old times, I had a hot beverage and was able to sit in the corner table, with a couch, and by the window (my favorite spot then, my favorite spot still). Between the looking out the window, the work I had to do, getting my refills (these are not free, by the way, but cheaper than a new order), time flew by. Factor in the time Stella came to our table for a chat, which absolutely made my day, if not week, as she told us she can bake one of my personal favorites, a Portuguese - home, sweet home - delicacy (pasteis de nata, for those that are lucky enough to visit Stella's when she has them out), as well as a couple other Portuguese food dishes. Not only can she make them, she was kind enough to offer to let me know when she would make them again, so you KNOW I'll be back very soon. Since I don't live in the area anymore - shout out to Hilltop - the drive back home was a bit more of a stretch, but thankfully the traffic to get out of Ghent wasn't too bad. read more

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Great staff! And a friendly atmosphere. Cheaper than Starbucks. You will love this place.

I absolutely loved this gem! I visited ODU this past weekend and decided to brunch with my friend for her birthday. I ordered home fries & Eggs with a side of Avocado and hot sauce. The avocado slices were an extra $2, which I found to be a bit pricey for just a couple slices. But, they were also very fresh and tasted amazing with some salt and pepper they added. The "omellete" really only was egg and caramelized onions. It would have been nice to have some extra veggies in there. Also, since it was brunch the plate was kind of small. To drink, I ordered a macha green tea latte ( delicious!!) I got mine sweetened with Vanilla extract. The latte was very smooth and light. My friend got it unsweetened and disliked it very much saying it was different from other unsweetened macha green teas so she got a pump of vanilla put in it. I like how they sweetened with vanilla extract instead of sugar and other sweeteners. The place is a beautiful and hipster cafe in Ghent. I enjoyed all the decorations and liked how each area had different decor, furniture, and its own vibe. Each corner I stepped in, felt like a different shop. Very selected and crafty decors. Absolutely lovely. Will be going back for sure. read more

Cafe Stella - Home Fries were just sliced potatoes, and pretty plain. Not seasoned. But were good! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Maruz, the owner is knowledgeable & passionate about the coffee. I asked about the house special and his eyes lit up explaining the process of roasting and how he prefers it to be bold and dark over mild and acidic. He gave me a free sample and it smelled delicious. When i ordered a drink he made a fresh batch just for me and said he wanted to make sure that people from out of town (implying me) enjoyed the coffees he brewed. Cost was $1.98. In LA this same coffee might be $5-$6 at Intelligentsia. Maruz was familiar with Intelligentsia and he told me he had trained with the Intelligentsia baristas. The place is in a hipster-type strip of a street. The entrance looks like a Miami art deco glass doorway; and inside the decor is a mixture of clean, modern coffee bar, with wooden church benches (homage to Intelligentsia), but with an East Coast, beach town flair which combines the chic modernity with comfy couches, cottage decor and french antique chandelier. Definitely conducive to bringing out your creative juices, inspiring you to spend hours wired on caffeine and working away at your laptop. No minimum for credit cards. Beautiful display of baked goods behind a glass casing. Bathrooms are clean, spacious and beautifully decorated. Maruz clearly loves coffee and takes pride in running a business with integrity. This place if continued to be run like this, will be a staple to the community and will be around forever! Cafe is named Stella after his wife. read more

Cafe Stella - Art Deco entryway as seen from coffee bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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A local recommended this cafe. Bf ordered a beer and I got a hibiscus green tea. I love the interior of this place. Honestly, I wish I spent more time here just to enjoy the ambiance of the decor, high ceilings, the buzzing of people around. Dogs are allowed outside patio area which was such a plus on the hot day. I will definitely stop by again next time I'm in Norfolk area. read more

Great atmosphere and the coffee is AMAZING. The food looked fantastic, but was missing flavor. Overall, an enjoyable experience!

I really liked this spot. Very cool and large interior. Parking can be tricky but that's normal for Norfolk. Greattt selection of drinks and food!! My iced almond latte with oat milk was delicious! read more

I have been meaning to try this place since I moved to norfolk from Hampton in 2017. Sadly, I am not a coffee fan, except for frappacino. So, I tried the chai tea latte. Sadly, I am not a fan of their recipe. For brunch, I tried the waffle sandwich and it was very tasty and the food was hot. The atmosphere is nice and there are people of various generations that come here. I am willing to come here again and try more of what they have to offer. read more

We were all wearing mask and they told 1 of us their mask wasn't approved. There are no rules on what kind of clothe. Will not be going again. They asked many customers while we were there to pull up their mask across the place loudly. Supposed to be a relaxing Café but instead very stressful. read more

Cool spot; I enjoyed the half hour that we killed here, waiting for Norfolk traffic to die down during rush hour before heading back to Va Beach. My Hot Mocha drink was good; I kinda wish I ordered the double versus the single that I had. The decor was neat - chandeliers, benches, totally not the modern type. Very vintage and chabby chic combined. I totally see this as a Hipster joint. I'm sure there are many who frequent this place. Next time I'll try a pastry or sandwich too! The menu on the chalkboard looked pretty good. read more

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I don't know where to start. I absolutely love Café Stella! The atmosphere is amazing the staff is always so kind and helpful and my dirty golden milk Latte it's always on point read more

I had no clue that it was a coffee shop upon arrival. I felt pressured to hurry up and figure out what I want because the line moved quickly. I set my mind on a salmon bowl it was fairly light but still filling. It had the perfect crunch and flavor I felt very healthy after eating this meal. The sauce was a huge compliment to the bowl I would definitely recommend. This place is perfect for a student looking for a nice place to study or do assignments. read more

Wow! Huge upgrade from just a year ago--the indoor seating has doubled and there's plenty of outdoor seating too. Got an iced latte and breakfast sandwich. Super cute and eclectic. Came here in the morning and it was quiet enough to do work but also not awkward to chat with a friend. Will definitely return soon! read more

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During the school year, you'll see me here ~4 times a week. It's just my regular spot to grab a pot of tea and get to working. There's a couple reasons why I come to this coffee shop in particular: 1. It's in a great location for me. Having my regular coffee shop beside my favorite bar? Who says I can't get a beer after a few hard hours of work at Stella? 2. Cold brewed coffee here is fantastic. 3. Getting a pot of tea holds me over for a longer period of time, and is pretty reasonably priced. 4. There's free wifi, and it's pretty reliable! 5. There's a good amount of indoor seating, but there's also a ton of people who come here. 6. Sometimes, there's a classical guitarist who plays there. read more

Cafe Stella - French toast!!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Cafe Stella is normally one of my favorite places to come and enjoy a cup of coffee and my boyfriend will enjoy a pot of tea while we study. I have never had a problem before, and usually enjoy every experience, and generally we stay long after our drinks are gone. I don't know why this time was different, but, unfortunately it was and it left me feeling very uncomfortable. I had an essay to work on, so me and my partner decided to come here because it was our favorite place. I always buy coffee, but at this point I didn't have too much money, so I brought a super cheap bottled coffee (the cafe never has a sign up saying no outside drinks or food, and I usually bring something to snack on). My partner and I studied for a while, but he finished well before I did, so we agreed he could go home and pick me up later while I stayed behind. He put away his empty tea pot and cups, and then left. Not even 2 minutes after my partner left, a somewhat bigger man with black/gray hair and glasses from the front counter walked up to me and said "You can't have outside food or drinks." (mind you my bottle was completely empty by now). I sitting right by the entrance, and I glanced outside to double check that I wasn't stupid and hadn't missed a sign. When I didn't see one, I apologized and said "Oh, sorry, I didn't see a sign.". His response? "it's common sense." I was taken back by his response, but tried to be polite and said "oh, well I wont bring it in again.", behind his mask he also said something about "the department of health", which I couldn't fully understand, before he walked away. Obviously it was my mistake for bringing the drink in, I just don't understand why he had to be rude about it, and I still can't seem to understand how it could be a health violation to bring a small seal-able drink into a shop. I also don't understand why he didn't approach me until my partner left, more than 40 minutes after we had arrived, and after I had already finished my drink. I went back to working on my essay, except 5 minutes later, a worker there (I could only describe her as an asian woman with black hair, since she had a mask on) approached me. I took out my earbuds to speak with her, and the first thing she said was "What can we get for you?". I was confused (even though the question was obvious) and said "I'm sorry?". She followed up with "This cafe is for customers only." to which I replied, "Oh, my boyfriend and I got a pot of tea earlier, he just went home and I'm finishing up an essay". She stared at me and asked me again "What can I get for you?" and I had to repeat to her that we had already bought a pot of tea, before she stared at me some more and then finally walked off. After this, I felt incredibly uncomfortable. I looked around the cafe and saw that half of the customers only had plastic cups of water, some with water bottles. There was no sign up, and I was left feeling like they just wanted me to leave. Every cafe I've ever been to, as long as someone buys something, you're okay to study there. I wasn't even there for a full hour at that point. I have absolutely no problem not bringing in food and drinks, I just felt like it could have been more of a "Just for future reference". When i apologized, stating I didnt see a sign, it was very rude, at least to me, to hear "It's common sense". Like I was stupid for thinking I could bring a drink in. And to have the female worker approach me (most likely from the encouragement of the male worker) and tell me the cafe was for customer's only? My boyfriend and I came there together, and he spent money. I understand the concept of having to pay to sit in the cafe, but we live together, we share our money. I didn't realize that each patron had to buy something using their individual cards to be able to sit in their cafe. It all just left me feeling so uncomfortable, which is really disappointing and saddening since we literally went there every other day, if not every day for our studying and coffee/tea fixes. It's really sad that we have to find a new place to go to. I just hope no one else experiences being singled out like I did. read more

"HEY STELLA!!!" :) haha. Love walking into a place for the first time and liking everything I see. Went straight for the dessert section and quickly eyed the few slices left of carrot cake. Small, but rich so it was just the right amount to share. I savored each tiny bite. It was so unbelievably delicious we asked about ordering a whole cake for our next celebration. Then out came Stella from the back with her little apron on to answer our questions. Very nice filipino lady. $35 for a round 8 or 10 inch cake. She also gave us her card with her email address to place an order. Just as I loved walking into Cafe Stella, walking out was just as good knowing we discovered a memorable place we will soon return to. read more

Cafe Stella - Stella's decadent Carrot Cake! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Interesting environment, friendly staff, great americano, and ample seating. I LOVE the large picnic style wooden table towards the back of the shop. read more

Cafe Stella - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Big shout out to the staff always kind and ready to help, the atmosphere is next level, if you haven't been yet I highly recommend

I would give zero stars if I could!!! If you are a person of "color" I strongly recommend you finding another cafe/coffee spot. It sickens me that in 2023 we as POC/Black folks still have to deal with racism! My wife had a horrible experience where she was accused of freeloading! We've have been to this establishment several times, enjoyed the atmosphere, the food, and vibe, however at no time should an owner be rude to its customer. The issue arose when he rudely expressed the policy to her as if she didn't know. She needed the Wi-Fi passcode and basically he told her she had to purchase something to get the password. Again, not the problem, but it's how he spoke to her. Clearly, this wouldn't have happened if I were there. However, I can't be everywhere all the time. After that exchange she went and started to order something, and she asked the cashier who the man was, the cashier told her she was the owner and then expressed to her that he was rude. That set him off and he took it upon himself to question why she was talking about him. Weird and paranoid if you ask me. My wife happened to be wearing her unapologetically Black shirt... At this point he is very annoyed and she was the cause of him responding the way he did... I know my wife she didn't yell or scream or get angry she was just disgusted that an owner of a small business through it was okay to speak to a woman harshly and he told her to look in the mirror... That's why he was annoyed... Long story short, she left. And we will never go back! We live downtown Norfolk and we love supporting our neighbors/small business, but enough is enough of being talked to as if we are less than or we don't want to spend our money. @cafe Stella's shame on you! The owner acted cowardly and the world should know! read more

Great food in a laid back atmosphere. I have been coming to Stella for about a year now. While the food remains wonderful the service has gone downhill . The servers have changed in the past few months and unfortunately the customer service has taken a hit. I will come back when really in the mood for a waffle sandwich but it's no longer my go to causal brunch spot. read more

This past Saturday I ordered some food from Café Stella in the Ghent location of Norfolk Virginia and I received the food in a reasonable timeframe. The employee processing my order was cordial and some of the delish foods included carrot cake and a delish cheese and meat mix that included olives goat cheese blue cheese marmalade pickles peppers, some type of spicy deli meat, red bell pepper etc. read more

Had the fish bowl and the fish was very bad . I told them the owner that it was very bad tasting and he jumped all over us and told us to leave. That they do not sell bad fish . Was very very rude. I will never eat there again . read more

I love Stella! The coffee is great quality and doesn't leave me feeling like a truck ran over me an hour later. Having experienced "Bulletproof Coffee" this stuff is on par. The atmosphere is trendy and relaxed. The only minor critic, it is sometimes chilly in good study or typing spots. ( I can't speak for other activities, that's all I do here.) Stay Awesome! read more

Cafe Stella - Yelp on yelp action! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Extremely rude staff member, an older guy with glasses and a beard. The younger staff members are much nicer. He rushed me to move, didn't give me a receipt and didn't welcome me or smile at all. He seemed very aggressive and had an attitude right away claiming he couldn't hear over the very minimal noise in the background. There was no line, just 1 couple behind me and he said "I'll take your order" to the person behind me without asking me if I want a receipt or letting me grab the number sign and move out the way. He also missed items I ordered then kept trying to argue saying I didn't order certain things. read more

Stella's is now 100% back! No mask is required. And it's great as it always was. With other restaurants opening, it even seems to have a little extra room for patrons. read more

Cafe Stella - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Came to Cafe Stella. It was wonderful. Great menu, great people, great atmosphere and great times. Every single item that we have purchased was extra fresh and flavorful. The servers are incredibly helpful and polite. We felt very welcomed at Cafe Stella. read more

I'm not a coffee drinker (gasp!), but I do enjoy the ambiance of a good coffee shop. I think I come to coffee shops because I'm a stickler for free wifi, homemade baked goods, and the playlists. And let me tell you, this place as it all and more. The open (and variety) of seating allows for you to make your time here as intimate or as isolated as you want. The large windows make it nice and sunny inside, and the huge menu selection (breakfast and lunch items that smell and look amazing) have kept me in here longer than originally planned. This place made me lose track of time, which is hard to accomplish. Thank you! Make sure you get the ginger lemon scone and challah french toast (the only bread worthy of french toast). Avoid the chai latte (very bland and a little bitter) and stick with their earl grey tea instead. You won't be disappointed. read more

Cafe Stella - Chai latte and ginger lemon scone. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

I like this place. I have been here a few times. It is a fine place to go and hang out. A pretty standard neighborhood cafe. Every neighborhood should have a place like this that isn't a Starbucks. The drinks are good. The internal space is nice and when the weather is good, there is a nice outdoor area as well. The food from the kitchen is very slow however. This is my biggest complaint here. Even when there is almost no one else in the place, food takes a long time and what you get is fine, but not good enough to excuse the wait. If I am really nit-picking, the chalkboard can be hard to read. Bigger writing or a better job cleaning between changes would be appreciated. Limiting the menu might even help the kitchen and speed things up a bit. If you want a place for a nice coffee and some pastry, a place to sit and chat with friends, I recommend this place. I wouldn't go and plan for a proper meal though. read more

Chill vibe and no rush to get in or out. True European hang out style. Unique decor and interesting tables, but plenty of room. Outside has seating for about four groups. All the gear for siphon coffee, but only the owner knows how to make it. They do have pour over if you're staying awhile. Come in early because they run low on the baked goods and sweets later in the day. Once they're gone, that's it. Generous pour on wine, but usual cafe fare. It'd be great if they offered a small and a large cheese plate to accompany the wine offerings, but no dice. Overall, great vibe for "come in, stay awhile." read more

Cafe Stella - Front view - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

Stella, what a gem!!! I love the atmosphere and the premium cafe drinks! I buy my espresso from this cafe to brew at home and it's a great price. It's definitely a local hangout so you know with a following like that it'll be good. If you're from out of town definitely swing in and get something. read more

Cafe Stella - Vanilla Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Norfolk, Virginia

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Best coffee in Norfolk hands down - in my mind it's not even close. The inside is really nice and spaced out, well decorated and never too loud - even when it's busy. Highly recommend their food options, particularly the Jewish dishes, as they're hard to find elsewhere. Love the latkes in particular - goes great with an iced cappuccino. read more

Amazing coffee and nice staff. I've determined this is the best place for espresso drinks. Review on food is to be continued...