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    Curiosity Coffee Bar

    4.4 (114 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 4:00 pm

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    CURIOSITY COFFEE BAR ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Good for working
    Dogs allowed
    Outdoor seating
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Curiosity Coffee Bar

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    Latte at Curiosity Coffee Bar, Columbia
    Bruce K.

    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]

    Lauren G.

    Cute ambience! Coffee was delicious! My fav was the cortado and the bagel and blueberry muffin was delish

    Inside
    Allie G.

    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!

    Cinni-Vanilli Latte
    Anna H.

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

    John E.

    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!

    Dirty Apple Chai & Blueberry jam on sourdough
    Lisa F.

    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!!!

    Jacob And Mary P.

    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.

    Journal
    Crystal M.

    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.

    Egg and cheese bagel with side of home fries
    Ophelia M.

    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!

    Coffee bar
    Jamie C.

    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.

    Mushroom Melt
    Kristin P.

    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.

    Exterior

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

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    2 years ago

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

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

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

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Curiosity Coffee Bar

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    Beautiful way to start a long weekend on the patio at Gervais & Vine. This month's special wine…read moreflight is from Argyle in Oregon - a delight. The wine menu for the flight is actually embedded with flower seeds! Also enjoyed hot goat cheese dip, fingerling potatoes, Spanish meatballs and scallops. Everything was fresh and tasty. Sitting on the patio is a unique experience. We encountered a slight tilt, many overly load mufflers and some delightfully well behaved French poodles. Service was kind and attentive. Already looking forward to our next visit.

    I was only in town for one night so I was torn on where to go to dinner. I looked through Yelp and…read morereservation sites to see what was available and then honed in on what might be a wow dinner. I had a few options, but ultimately landed on Gervais and Vine and made a reservation. On the recommendation of our server, we started with a bottle of In Sheep's Clothing and got to ordering. I had already scoured the menu before coming in so I was pretty sure I knew what I wanted. I love that it's smaller portions so you can order different dishes and try a bunch all at once. We started with the baked brie which I think had an apricot spread plus some fruit and bread. Then we did the petit filet mignon, pork with gorgonzola cream sauce, spicy shrimp gambas, and the seared jumbo scallops. This may sound like too much for two people and you would be right but it was so delicious. I highly recommend everything we had. If I had to choose some standouts, the shrimp were phenomenal and I'm still thinking about them. The biggest surprise was the pork. It was a good size portion in comparison and the cream sauce was so good. Honestly, if you followed this order to a T or any variation of it, you can't go wrong. We weren't rushed in any way so in lieu of dessert we took our time finishing that bottle of wine. While there were some other menu items that jumped out at me, I would absolutely come back and order the exact same thing again. This was one of my favorite meals this year.

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    City Grit

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    AMAZING!!! We have lived in Columbia for a few years so I can't believe we had not heard of City…read moreGrit until recently, but we will make up for lost time. Our first experience was outstanding and we will return...OFTEN! For starters, our server was a professional. She is working on her 3rd level certification as a sommelier so it was truly a pleasure talking wine and food with her. Her recommendations were spot on all night long. Next, the menu is the most creative in Columbia. This restaurant is more Charleston-like or big city like with its menu options. Our biggest challenge of the night was deciding what to order. My wife ordered the Gnudi with brisket and is still talking about it. I rolled the dice and decided to try the squid ink pasta with lobster as a test, and I can honestly say they got an A++. I've eaten squid ink pasta in some of the best restaurants in New York, Boston and other major cities, and this was the BEST I have ever eaten. I almost didn't write this review because I selfishly don't want to have to fight for a reservation when this place gets busier, but I DO want it to flourish. Columbia needs more restaurants like City Grit. My only suggestion for them is to offer Valet parking because I had to park so far away that I was sweating by the time I walked all the way back to the restaurant after dropping off my wife.Otherwise, this is a fantastic dinner experience!!!

    I would like to say my service was excellent here. I found City Grit after visiting the wonderful…read moresister coffee shop next door. The host was so nice and welcoming. The waiter was so attentive and kind. The ambiance is beautiful.. The restaurant was kind of hot and the wine I chose was hot as well. They were able to chill I quickly but I ended up getting a different wine. I ordered the crab farro, the lobster eel pasta, whipped feta, baked chicken, and wine. I don't think this is a bad restaurant. Maybe I should have tried brunch vs dinner. The smoked chicken was some of the best chicken I have ever had. Tender, Smokey, and bursting with flavor. I did not enjoy the crab farro, I believe it was more grain than crab. The whipped feta was a little tangy for my taste. I am willing to try this restaurant again. Maybe brunch as that was most of the photos I saw.

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    Goat's - Mussels and frites

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    Goat's has a fun, casual atmosphere that works well for a night out with friends. I ordered the hot…read morechicken sandwich with fries, and the sandwich had a nice amount of heat without drowning out the flavor. We also shared the fried pickles, which disappeared pretty quickly. The music was a little loud during the busy part of the evening, but it added to the lively feel.

    Goat's was a really cool restaurant, and was a great change of pace compared to the other…read moreestablishments in the area. When I walked in, I was amazed at what I saw inside, as it definitely was not what I was expecting (and I mean that in a good way!). I loved how dimly lit it was inside, which was complemented by miniature lights that were strung from the ceiling. Speaking of the aforementioned change of pace, I also appreciated how there were no TVs inside, which created an intimate atmosphere that focused more on conversing with your friends than watching whatever may have been on TV. Finally, as someone who always pays attention to a restaurant's artwork... I absolutely LOVED the artwork that was on display at Goat's. They had so many cool pieces of eclectic artwork, that you could almost consider it as much a small art museum as a restaurant. My favorite art piece is kind of hard to describe, but I guess you could say that it was of a God-like man in a suit controlling somebody who was playing golf. (I know, it's hard to describe, but like I said, it's eclectic.) My one (1) downside to Goat's, and the only thing keeping it from a five-star review, is that the bartender and servers were all pretty rude and arrogant. This is speculation, but maybe Goat's is one of those places that considers itself a "regulars" bar, and isn't very nice to people who aren't regular customers, but the three (3) employees I interacted with weren't all that inviting. All in all, Goat's was a great experience, and if it were an option, I'd probably give it something like 4.5 or 4.8 stars if I could. If the servers were a little less full of themselves, or maybe just in a better mood, I'd consider it a five-star experience. Nevertheless, Goat's was a great experience, I'll definitely be back, and I'd recommend that anybody stop in if they're looking for a unique experience in Five Points!

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    Hampton Street Vineyard - Steak au Poivre

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    Never disappoints - our go-to spot in downtown Columbia!…read more Christal and I have been coming to Hampton Street Vineyard for several visits now, and it truly never disappoints. Every time we walk in, we're greeted with that warm, welcoming vibe in the historic Sylvan Building - it's cozy yet elegant, perfect for a special night out or just a really great meal. The food is outstanding: seasonal, fresh ingredients shine through in every dish, and the wine list is impressive (no surprise with their Wine Spectator award). We've tried a variety of plates over our visits, and nothing has missed the mark - always flavorful, beautifully presented, and satisfying. What keeps us coming back (and recommending it nonstop) is how consistently excellent it is. We run Chestnut Cottage Inn just 4 blocks away, so we send our guests here all the time. Without fail, they come back raving about their meal and the great time they had. It's the perfect spot for visitors to Columbia - close by, reliable, and memorable. If you're in the area, do yourself a favor and book a table. You won't regret it! Highly recommend for dinner or their weekend brunch.

    What a lovely experience we had as we enjoyed dinner here. Customer service from the time we…read morearrived was impeccable. The graham mallard cocktail was excellent. It was balanced, and the ingredients came together so nicely. It was really smooth. The second cocktail we tried was a spin on a negroni; however, instead of gin, it was cognac. This cocktail was pretty good, but if you do not like campari you will not like this cocktail. Bread is available upon request, and on our evening it was a sourdough served. It was pretty good. The crawfish deviled eggs were definitely distinctive. The creole mustard is very forward; with that note in mind, it was savory and tasty. For our second course, my husband had the braised short rib, and he said it was delicious and tender. He also complimented the brussels sprouts. I enjoyed the steak frites. The new york strip was a thick cut and so tender. It was perfectly cooked and full of flavor. That literally was the most flavorful steak I've had out in some time. The broccolini rested on the flavors of the steak and was delicious. The truffle fries were like a thick-cut wedge fries with the perfect crisp. Those fries were amazing as well. We tried the orzo macaroni and cheese. The orzo put a different spin on the macaroni and cheese dish, but it was cheesy and pretty good. The experience was so amazing here and truly made our night out a worthwhile evening. The ambiance was very pleasant and mild. The menu is rotating, and reservations can be made on their website.

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    Madrigal - Grilled octopus

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    I decided to try the grilled octopus appetizer. It was very tasty. The octopus was perfectly tender…read moreand had great flavor from the grill. The Romesco sauce was just ok though. There was also a nice roasted red pepper and black olive salad that came with it. My only criticism is that I felt like the portion of octopus was small for $21. Then I decided to try the Boeuf bourguignon. This was definitely comfort food. A very tasty beef stew, but a bit different recipe than I'm used to for this dish. Theirs has potatoes, carrots, mushrooms, and onions. But the broth tastes like they might also use a touch of tomato paste. I could be wrong. Nonetheless, it was tasty and the thick broth was yummy on the piece of crusty bread it was served with. I'm tempted to come back and order the entree size of the octopus for $32 and see what the portion size is. Service was excellent. Very attentive.

    Oh my - sensational. Went tonight for my birthday. The last 2 birthdays were celebrated at Halls…read moreand DiVino Rosso, both of which were extremely disappointing. But not Madrigal. The food is simply incredible. My husband had the Caesar Salad and the Boeuf Bourguignon. I had the Burrata Caprese Salad and the Rousseau Pizza. He gave me a shocked look when I went for the Pizza, but I'm not sure it's fair to call it pizza. Let's just say heaven on a crust! And I'm ready to go back and have the Boeuf. For dessert, we took the advice of our server and ordered the Ube Basque Cheesecake. Wow! (Pictured is the portion we brought home.) I'm a good cook, so when eating out, I expect to have a meal that surpasses my skills. And this most certainly did. The presentation was excellent. I don't give the ambiance a 10, but that's so secondary to the meal I just enjoyed. Thank you to Chef Emma and team!

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    Curiosity Coffee Bar - coffee - Updated September 2026

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