This is the best coffee in Vancouver. Beautiful location, good music, and well-executed espresso. read more

This coffee shop is a hidden little gem. I recommend their Ameraicanos, or Chai Lattes drink-wise, but that is not why I am writing this review. Their croissants (regular or pain-au-chocolat) are organic and the best I have had in the city....even better that anything I could find in Paris where Moulin De La Vierge was my favourite. Always fresh and warm and crispy delisiousness. Also, if you are hungry, their breakfast wraps are simple but so tasty. Free range eggs (organic I think), cheese, salsa and herbs grilled in a flour tortilla and served with a Louisiana style hot sauce. I am only giving them 4 stars because the place doesn't seem super clean. I'm a little torn....if everything was not super delicious, I wouldn't go back. read more

Serving excellent croissants and americanos. Quick and efficient little coffee shop.

You could sum up Gene by something I saw stuck to the espresso machine a few weeks ago. It was a Westender review of Artigiano's off Robson being the Best Coffee in the City. Underneath the staff wrote, "yeah right buddy". This place is not an Earls' chain dressed up like Italy for people who've never been to Italy. There is not 14 staff ensuring you are out the door in 4.8 seconds. It's not coffee run through a dirty sock full of feces and called a double Americano. I wouldn't suggest going to Gene if you are in a hurry. Most people who live around there and go there consistently know other customers so having a minute to chat is a bonus not a drag. I don't go for coffee to power through the next 12 hours of meetings, I go to relax. If you need "How can I help you?" service, this may not be the place for you. People are working, the machines take a while as they are making one of the best Americano's in the city. I am reminded I am not the center of the universe. Someone else said it earlier, "it's just coffee". Is it realistic for everyone to be so ecstatic to see you? I stress the service issue because I respect honesty and have a low tolerance for bullshit. They are being themselves. I'm not always in the mood to pretend the world is perfect either. I personally get more vibe and judgment at The Diamond in Gastown or Slickety Jim's (also slow, slow service). I suppose I should point out that half of you reading this waved glow sticks around at raves and have had at least three stupid haircuts or bad wardrobe decisions in your life. C'mon, you remember. So using the word hipster like it's the new N word may not be fair. Most of the reviews here that go on and on about hipsters feel more judgemental than anything I experienced there. And for the record, Anita (the "high waisted pleated pants girl" with the "death stare") is not the owner and quite lovely once you say hello from time to time. read more

i am a huge coffee fan and i know how to recognize a good cup of coffee. this place has some of the best coffee i've ever had. too bad i feel really uncomfortable whenever i go in there... i've only been here 4 or 5 times but the times i have gone, the staff have never been even remotely nice. to anyone. it's too bad. read more

Seriously.... Seriously, never again. I had a strange feeling walking in Gene for the first time today, I don't quite know why. Now I know. Gene is a cool looking -from the outside- coffee shop in my neighbourhood. I walk by it all the time, today, I went in. WORST customer service EVER. Not Vancouver style of service. I am not understanding the servers/baristas' attitude, especially the rude lady, so unkind and unfriendly. Coffee came in a tripled-time chipped cup. The taste was fine, nothing more. The rude lady seemed unimpressed when I asked what kind of cookies they had. I now have hearth burn, I felt disrespected and insignificant. I don't like Gene. read more

I honestly don't get the hype for this place. I may not be a coffee expert, but I could certainly pick up the acidity in my cappuccino. It was too much for me. Also, the service could be better. The server's just looked at me before helping me. At least the location was nice. Good area, good decor and good architecture. However, until the service and coffee gets better, I'll take my service elsewhere. read more

I love the corner seat that over looks the Main Street and Kingsway intersection. And some of the staff who work there are quite nice. The perks of the place end here for me. I gave this cafe a two star rating because the coffee is terrible and the customer service can be pretty hit and miss. Today unfortunately, I had both a terrible Americano (way too acidic and bitter tasting for my liking) and uncomfortably surly customer service from one of the baristas. My standards for customer service is pretty low because I feel like most folks working in service industry jobs probably would rather be doing something else for money (or at least, that's how I feel about my service industry job). But at the least, I don't expect to be scowled at or treated like I'm wasting their time. I came in around 9am and it was my first human interaction of the day (or was it? maybe the barista was really a surly robot sent in from the future). It was unpleasant being barked at, then being subject to a quiet mumble about how I wasn't getting change, which I knew because I gave her the exact change for the coffee. No tip for you grouchy face! It also took about 4 minutes for them to make my drink. It wasn't busy at all. I left the cafe feeling pretty insulted. Too bad my friends all seem to like this place, because in this neighbourhood, I feel like I can pretty much walk any direction and get better coffee and better service. read more

Fun place to stop by for a cafe or to just chill out. Ultimately it's a great location, with friendly staff, tasty coffee + a chill atmosphere. read more

Beautiful, bright design. The whole menu is very fairly priced. SO many outlets, and SO many chairs. They really take full advantage of the small space they have. A very strong tea menu, and the double chocolate chip cookie (vegan!) was maybe the best vegan cookie I've had in Vancouver. Will most likely be coming back. read more

Gene Coffee Bar is spartan and lovely. It is what every cafe should be. The lighting, the ambiance, and the feel is sophisticated and modern. i'll have to disagree with 'erin d.' -- 'high waisted pleated pants GIRL?', yikes, how offensive! The staff is very professional from what I've seen and experienced with my children, and it is a great place to sit and work. read more

The slowest service I have ever witnessed -- these people act like they just woke up all day long... at a coffee shop? Stood there for 10 minutes while the owner explained the logistics of his hangover to another co-worker. Great view, excellent location, but all wasted on this poor excuse for a caffeine dispensary. NEVER AGAIN! read more

I did love my Gene Cafe UNTILL the heater went out. The heaters don't last very long. I ordered and put in the first replacement element and again it lasted for only a short period of time. But while it lasted it was a great roaster. But now mine is failing again. I find I can no longer order the heater element. I have to send the entire roaster to some service center and they really up the price for the heater element. So if you like great roasted coffee for a very short period of time this is the roaster for you. read more

This was my first visit, and probably my last. I don't know what it was like before the new owners took over, but I am appalled by the service now. The coffee and croissants are absolutely fine, but the girl "helping" us was so unbelievably mean that it boggled my mind. Her issue with us was that we were with an older woman visiting from out of town who didn't understand how to use debit WHILE LEAVING A TIP and the girl barked at her, embarrassed her, sighed, sneered, laughed at her, snapped, "You took too long, do it again" ,,, the list goes on. She kind of embodied everything people claim is wrong with Vancouverites -- she was rude without provocation and seemed to think she was too good to be working there. It was really uncomfortable all around, and I wish I'd spoken up at the time. read more

Seriously, guys. You have such an amazing location - this is not an excuse for such a service. How is it possible that you chat with (whoever is there) when there's a lineup? read more

I decided to give this place a second chance based on how conveniently located it is to my place. Once again I was so disappointed, the lady who was working barely said a word and seemed so miserable, is it that hard to smile or be the slightest bit friendly? I ordered an iced chai and it came to $5.20?!! It was mainly ice just tasted like watery milk I could not taste the chai at all. On the menu it said chai $4 so when I asked about this she just said "if you want it iced it's more expensive" ?? Which doesn't make any sense at all. I will not be back.. read more

My partner and I have put up with the snotty, indifferent service for years because the coffee was good. But today was too much! I went in to Gene while my partner was picking up a book from Pulp Fiction. I asked for the bathroom key because I had bike grease on my hands from locking my bike. The snotty woman with the French accent behind the counter shook her head and said I had to order something first. I told her that I was going to order food and coffee but I was waiting for my partner who had all our cash and that I just wanted to wash my hands. She again said I needed to buy something first. Exasperated, I told her that I've been a regular customer for years and that she has seen me buy coffee and food here dozens of times. She replied that if that was the case then I should know that their policy is that you have to buy something to use the washroom, at which point she turned away and ignored me. Unbelievable. I wasn't aware this was a policy at Gene (until recently you didn't even need a key to use the bathroom). And you don't treat your regular customers like garbage and expect to stay in business! We are done with Gene! read more

they must've read my last review. girl that was working today was great and she made a fantastic americano. clientele was still a little douchebaggy so can't give it a hells ya...yet. better though. read more

I come here before I go to work. Their tea is pretty good and their caramel lattes are yummy! I would recommend stopping in before work in the morning and getting a croissant. They're excellent especially when warm! Staff are really nice too! read more

This place used to be the best place in town to hang out. New owners are horrible. They have THE WORST taste in music. I've even witnessed one of the owners shaming a new mother for spilling her drink and only helped her clean it up because she "seemed sorry". There's no soul left at all. Also - rumour has it the owners have been collecting tips for themselves. read more

My friend and I stopped for a cup of coffee and chat. But it was not very comfy place and service was not friendly at all - no smile, no say Hi. We were waiting for 5 min before we were noticed. Coffee was not hot and not good. It has a lot of light, and this place can be very attractive. read more

The only time I've ever experienced the snobby barista stereo type. The only time I've ever been persuaded to not tip based on the terrible service. Oh, the coffee isn't anything to write home about. I've had better coffee in Toronto. There! I SAID IT! read more

great coffee, amazing architectural space, but filled with the cooler than though crowd that killed any actual authenticity to the space. much prefer to have my coffee in an unpretentious coffee house, not the reject waiting room of vice magazine read more

now normally i avoid gene because the owners steal tips and treat their staff poorly, but seeing as today was a holiday and everywhere else was closed, i decided to go in for a drip. i was waiting quite a while because someone was in training, but that didn't bother me. i had just enough for a small drip in change (plus a small tip), but they informed me they were out of drip. that was fine with me and i ordered a small americano. i didn't have enough money in change anymore so i pulled out my debit card, their debit machine wasn't working. i told them i was just ten cents short, and they still wouldn't give me the coffee :( they see me quite often cause i work next door and used to frequent there, i thought they might look past the ten cents under the circumstances. i can't say i'm surprised, just a little hurt i couldn't have my coffee fix before a long shift. don't think they'll ever see me again, also they're coffee is almost always burnt. total cheapos ! read more