I ducked into this cafe recently before a job interview. I ordered a coffee from Aquila's and asked for some banana bread. I was asked which type I wanted. After a second of confusion, I was informed they have three different types of banana bread. They all looked the same to me, so I asked the server to name the types and chose one.
The fact that there's three different types of banana bread alone hints at the store's vibe. It's located in the CBD near Riverside, so office workers flock here during the day. Many of them work for Big Important Corporations, so Aquila has to look slick, and it does.
Most of the customers were eating meals when I came here, but a few others also stopped in for coffee and a snack. Those seated at tables were wearing serious suits but the conversation generally seemed merry. Essentially I was surrounded by happy businessmen and businesswomen, so they're either a) workers from a mysterious organization that somehow encourages individual happiness; b) so relieved to get out of work they laugh the second they leave; or c) the vibe here is a happy one.
(I'm sure that c) is right, with a) and b) being tougher to determine. If it's a), I need to find out where they're all working and get a job there.)
Aquila has an upmarket clientele to cater to and therefore makes sure it stocks a decent range of food, as well as varieties of cafe favourites such as biscuits, chocolates and, of course, banana bread. Surprisingly, the coffee and cake (if that's the category banana bread slides into) was not overpriced, or rather it was standard "CBD and surrounding suburbs" pricing - more expensive than in the 'burbs, but fortunately the coffee here justified the price for me.
The coffee Aquila gave me was important, because I needed to wake up before the interview. (My morning coffee didn't "take".) It was delicious, faintly creamy and filling, and as I got a larger size was eventually tossed out unfinished. (Even medium-sized coffees from this place are large enough.) I favour cappuccinos, and this one was on the side of being creamier than usual. The caffeine taste wasn't particularly strong, leaving me to wonder whether many workers order doubles here for coffees. That being said, cappuccinos aren't supposed to smack you in the face with their caffeine-inspired bitterness.
The server was friendly, if absent-mindedly talking to a customer while I waited, and I have a feeling that a lot of regulars frequent here. And, if I worked at Riverside, so would I. read more