You walk into this shop and you first smell amazing coffee. Oh its so good. Then you hear great music, not too loud ,not too soft adding to a great vibe. You look up and a counter full of fresh made baked goods are in front of you and a smiling barista who offers ready to make something from a decent sized menu of drinks. I choose a custom request not listed-- they fill it. We move to the seating area. You pass a cute coffee bar with about ten bar stools. Dark wood high tops, a variety of low tops (2, 4 and six tops) two big brown leather comfy sofas by a fireplace. High open ceilings, painted black with modern hanging light fixtures. There is a drop down valance covered in real plants. Very cool vibe. Super comfy seats. The coffee comes out. (They bring it to your table.) Beautiful art. Coffee piping hot. Very nice aroma. They bring me a cap with oatmilk, raw honey on the light side, cinnamon on too but just one and a half shakes of it. Nailed it. The server answers all my random questions. How did you do this so well with the cinnamon, where are the beans from, do u have sandwiches. The answers: cinnamon goes on before art (yep). The beans are from Cincinnati roasted for this location in a special espresso blend. The roaster is Deeper Roots, the blend Earth seed. You can buy take away bags for 16-17 bucks of it. Delish. Will be back and will be telling all my downtown friends to come here. Excellent in vibe, location, service and products. Highly recommend!, As we left we noticed the line to order was now out the door and its raining. Thats good coffee! read more

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The ambiance is cozy and bright, as decedant as the coffee and pastries. Perfect for a Sunday morning. read more

Parable Cafe - Latte - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It's like fine. Overpriced for a mocha you could swing by Fox in the Snow to get. The highlight is the bergamot scone--you can't find that at Fox--but I wouldn't come here again just for that. $9 for a mocha is, admittedly, ridiculous. I understand that with the community card concept, it should all "cancel out" in the end, but I would like to see the data on how often the community card gets used (and the amount of profit Parable is netting relative to the amount the surrounding Cbus community receives through the card). Especially with the demographic that fills the room on a Saturday afternoon--wealthy, fashionable, designer--I can't help but wonder if Parable is culpable of signaling its virtues and capitalizing off of such posturing. Innocent until proven guilty, of course--I'd hate to be presumptive. The mocha was fine--a good mix of sweet and acidic; loved the mouth feel! My boyfriend got an Americano with whole milk except there was no whole milk in it. A touch disappointing! Ein bisschen enttäuschend, for my readers in Germany. I didn't come to Parable to be scathing, but the ambiance--the metrosexual milieu, perhaps--brought it out in me! Maybe that speaks to the social and aesthetic character of Parable more than a three-star Yelp review ever could. read more

Parable Cafe - Hot mocha ($9) with chocolate bergamot scone ($6) (we were hungry). - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

It had been a long overdue on a visit to the Parable Cafe. I haven't been back since they introduced the pastry line up for quite some time now. All the amazing looking pastries are nicely display right by the front counter. You have no idea how hard it is for me to select which one to try, cause I want to try them all. It happen to be a rainy and cloudy day. But can't beat the lively and cozy atmosphere. Surrounded with green plants and seat back relax by the fireplace. read more

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Time to update in honor of #ThankYouThursday Parable Coffee recently moved downtown into the old Nosh spot. What they've done with the place is down right impressive. It was pretty as a restaurant, it's even prettier as a tropical oasis meet coffee shop. It's spacious, has great natural light, a variety of seating and the vibe was great. The staff continues to be super cool and the drinks are as tasty as ever. I will say that parking in the area is a bit of a pain but it's worth it if you plan to stay a good while. I'll definitely continue to visit them and I'm thankful to have such a place in Columbus. Can't wait to come back. read more

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We went to Parable a few hours before their "after dark" Saturday nights. It was super busy, and the only pastries they had left were croissants. There wasn't any seating left inside, so we opted for the patio. They brought our food and drinks out to us and everything was very enjoyable. One thing to note is they price their items in order to pay their staff a living wage, and they do not take tips. Two croissants and our two drinks were a little over $30. Everything was delicious! read more

Parable Cafe - Plain latte and iced mocha - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great ambience. Looks great for almost every reason visiting a cafe, hang out, studying, relaxing etc. Honestly their menu price does not seem reasonable but understandable for the location and they offer a parking validation. The parking garage location is available on their website. I ordered two pastries, cherry almond and mango goat cheese. Cherry one was too sweet and too plain for me. Mango was better with both tangy and savory flavor. I also like how they rotate seasonal drink menu. I will come back to try new drinks. read more

Parable Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Extremely pricey latte ($10 for a small), and unfortunately, I was not impressed with the taste at all. Staff was friendly and it's beautiful inside, though! And I love this location read more

Ambiance - 100000/10 - the vibes are PERFECT HERE!! I wish I could sit and work on my computer all day here because it is just instant serotonin. Service - everyone that works here is SO KIND!! Such a welcoming atmosphere. Food/coffee - GREAT coffee and GREAT pastries. It is on the pricier side, but they actually pay their employees and they don't take tips so it's worth it!! read more

Parable Cafe - Seasonal iced Sweet Lattes / prosciutto croissant / orange chocolate croissant - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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If you didn't know about it, you might walk right past it. The inside is beautiful, hip and full of plants. They have a full bar, many coffee and tea options as well as pastries. I got a citrus rosemary scone because that's all they had left, ha! They open at 7a and I asked and employee, she said they will sell out of their croissants by 10a. That said, the scone was very good and so was their coffee. They have a nice area to sit outside and tons of space inside as well. I'm going to come back earlier in the day, but what I had this time was great and I will be back. :) read more

Parable Cafe - Citrus rosemary scone - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Sadly, they no longer offer vegan pastry options. That was an important part of my original review, so I am amending my star rating.

I have been wanting to check out this coffee shop for a long time! I tried the Oh, Snap, Ginger Cap! Latte which was phenomenal it tasted almost like an oatmeal cookie! The only thing was the price ! $8.00 but I guess you get what you pay for! If you are ever in the area check out this place, they have a cool vibe overall in the coffee shop. Very chill and relaxing. Service was great. read more

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Get a PASTRY these croissants are worth every penny and I'm not someone who likes to pay a lot for a pastry but these are worth it!! Grab one to go or stay and sit at the coffee bar and have a great chill morning! read more

Parable Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Let me preface this review by saying "Yes this is probably the most expensive coffee shop I've ever been to." It is also the most beautiful. I mean the vibe, the PLANTS , the natural lighting it is all so beautiful. Now on to the coffee, I absolutely love it. It's pretty good good and the staff has always been very friendly and chill. I've also gone for Sunday jazz and some spirits and wow the vibe is amazing! I love the concept and enjoy the space. read more

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This spot is no longer inside of Comune, but I moved downtown. It's the best shot of espresso in the city. When I visit other cities, I always hunt for espresso. I love finding local roasters and places with great vibes, BUT ... I'm a sucker for a shot of espresso. The service here is top-notch. Their gratuity-free (no tipping!) really makes the experience refreshingly pleasant. The folks working there want to be there. read more

I visited Parable for morning coffee and pastry run. The choices for coffee are unique , seasonal ! The ambience of the cafe with plants and sun coming in made the morning enjoyable ! is it ever too early for pumpkin?! Will visit it again when back in town . read more

Parable Cafe - Pumpkin spice pastry and almond milk cortado - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

I really enjoyed my experience here. The place is beautiful but relaxed enough to sit and enjoy a slow morning on your own or come have a coffee with friends. The attitude of the women at the counter left much to be desired, but it didn't take away from my overall enjoyment. I had the cherry almond croissant with a vanilla latte and both were absolutely incredible. I'll definitely be back the next time I'm in town. read more

Parable Cafe - Cherry almond croissant, iced Sweet Latte - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Great spot for coffee and tea but PLEASE PLEASE include vegan eating options :( last week there was nothing on the menu that one could order. (They were out of the lone vegan item on the menu- the hash brown) read more

An amazing atmosphere, open seating and surrounded by plants to help you feel comfortable and relaxed. Make sure you get one of their baked goods and pair it with their seasonal coffee drinks. Favorite place to study and get ready for my week. read more

Beautiful coffee shop in downtown Columbus. I've never been here before, but rest assured I will be back. This trendy coffee shop is beautiful inside. Warm wood furniture and green plants make this spot very nice. But the beauty doesn't stop there. The pastry selection looks like a work of art. If they taste half as good as they look, I'll be impressed. The staff were helpful and friendly. I'd highly recommend you give this spot a try. read more

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Love this new spot! Almost didn't know where it was, but it's in the same space as Commune. We walked into a gorgeous room with tons of windows to let in natural light, lots of plants, and neutral modern furniture. Staff was friendly and explained the menu. I think the owner was the one who rung us up. I ordered the lavender latte while my sister got some sort of maple cortado with sage? I'm not into super sweet drinks so my latte was just right. The espresso is light as well. I'll likely ask for another shot next time. Prices are a bit elevated, as everyone's reviews say. But they make their own syrups. And I'm assuming rent around here could be getting higher due to gentrification? Haven't done my research lol Still, the drinks were good and I like the vibe. It's easy to find parallel parking on a Saturday morning and it would be fun to hang out there. read more

Parable Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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This was a tough review choice... parable is the most visually appealing cafe in Columbus. It offers an amazing working environment with just enough hustle and bustle to enjoy leaving your house. Some cons however include: the lack of food options (only bakery), the amazing looking but sadly over cooked baked goods, and lack of parking. These cons make me really dislike this place. Their saving grace is that tips are not requested at the end of the transaction and the staff is super friendly still. read more

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I really love this coffee shop. The employees are very friendly and though the line can be long sometimes, they make sure to give you all the time you need to place your order or answer any questions you have about the menu. Their baked goods are awesome - we got the Blueberry Lemon Homemade Poptart. To wash it down, we got the Mango Black Iced Tea and the Hibiscus Iced Tea and they were just what we needed on our long walk around downtown Columbus on a warm day! Definitely recommend checking this place out if you're in the area. read more

I absolutely love it here! Warm and friendly vibes with delicious sweets and incredible coffee! I had a lavender almond milk latte with a honey saffron grapefruit croissant- almost as big as my head!! read more

Parable Cafe - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Love love Parable! Incredible pastries and coffee drinks. Highly recommend any of the crossaints, the orange scone, or the pull-apart bread. Service is always cheerful and friendly. Good place to sit and chat or do some work. Prices are expensive, but they do not ask for tips, instead ensuring that their employees are paid fairly -- which I love! read more

I wanted to go here a few times before writing a review. Here are my thoughts. Service: varied. My first time in, the gal at the register was quite rude, and when asked about pastry offerings, she just gestured at them and wouldn't provide any info on them. She didn't make small talk, and she seemed pretty unhappy being there. The next time I went there, the FOH staff was more neutral but busy. The time I just went, I was rung up by one of the owners, who explained what things were and was nice and conversational. In general, I feel that for the traffic they receive on the weekends, the service is very slow. The wait time for a 30-person queue was over 30 minutes. If I was by myself I would have skipped it for Pistacia Vera, a few minutes down the road with similar pastry offerings. Ambiance: I know they took over from Nosh, and kept the place basically the same. I think upon entering the first time in winter, I was really impressed. However, as time went on, I really wished for a more accommodating layout. Vibe is really important for a cafe, I know. The couches are great, especially near a fireplace, but 2/3 times I went, 2 people lay claim to all of them, and stayed for at least as long as I was there. Removing the couches could provide more seating, or maybe having loveseats instead or comfy chairs, and two tables would allow for comfort and also provide more seating. It's always packed there, and most 4 tops are occupied by one person and their computer. Then there's the bar. It's cool but not really used. It takes up a TON of space, and if they took it out, the place would feel more open and would better meet the needs of their customers who want to sit and sit. Food: The pastries I had the last time were good (savory scone and apricot frangipani). However, my friend and I went to try their croissants, and literally two parties before us took the last one. There were also sticky buns we wanted and there were a few on the shelves behind the register but they were apparently spoken for by other customers and couldn't be sold. That felt weird. What we had was good, but not what we came for. I know their pastry chef is highly talented by what he makes, and he's new. I think they could tweak the number they make (again, to meet their customer volume), and also FOH staff could try to display the other pastries better. ---- TL;DR: at face value, it's pretty, but there are quite a few of operational roadblocks for customers that hinder efficiency and, consequently, the overall experience for the customer. If given the option, I will opt for a cafe with similar level or better of quality (coffee: Brioso or Florin; pastries: Pistacia Vera). They are both markedly cheaper on the whole (and I always tip 20%) and lead to a better overall experience. read more

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OMG! This is a must see in Columbus. I've never had a bad pastry. And the chai (both traditional and turmeric) are so good I bought two cases for home! In addition, the staff is lovely and service is quick. read more

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Very cool environment to grab a coffee and enjoy a delicious pastry right in the heart of downtown. All of the staff had wonderful attitudes and genuinely seemed to care about making everyone's experience amazing. read more

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The Parable is a beautiful spot that has an elevated, indie-feel, with uber-cool baristas, small portions, and overpriced drinks (said with love because this place is great, but brutal honesty is needed). Great iced chai and indoor/outdoor seating! read more

Parable Cafe - Interior - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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The croissant was amazing! I loved the Nutella in it! Such a chill vibe! Would definitely come back! read more

Parable Cafe - Nutella filled croissant - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Watching them calibrate espresso this morning, my heart was warmed on this cold morning by the attention to detail and the craft on display. Love the plants on display and the seating. Great service. read more

The espresso is delicious and I have been told the matcha never disappoints. However, this is definetly one of the more expensive coffee shops in the area and you can end up paying $8+ for a latte. I have heard the pastries are great but they are normally sold out of most of them by 10:00am. The employees here are always very nice and helpful, but there is normally a line and it doesn't move super fast. The inside of the shop has plenty of seating and is a great study spot for OSU students. read more

Parable Cafe - Oat milk Latte - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great coffee shop in Columbus. Service to order is not as warm and welcoming but the table staff cleaning tables are quick. read more

Parable Cafe - Green tea latte - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

Nothing extremely bad happened but honestly I live one block away from this place and I would never come back here. The coffee is peak average, and about the most expensive in the area, $17 for a 12 ounce latte and 20 ounce cold brew with oat milk. Much better off going to another place in the area. read more

Parable Cafe - Cold Brew - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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I went there on a Friday evening for drinks and was pleased with the prices as well as the seating options available.

I got a bit of sticker shock when looking at the menu. Coffee prices are expensive. In this case, the quality of the drink made up for its price. I ordered a vanilla bean latte with oat milk. It was delightful. Cafe service was friendly and restaurant decor was colorful. read more

Parable Cafe - Vanilla Bean Latte - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

This day was chilly and the AC was blasting inside... burr. Decor was nice with a green-touch and even the other patrons were respectful. Lattes were tasty and I appreciated the oat milk option. Croissant was soft and filled with chocolate. Servers were helpful and best to get here before the 9am morning rush read more

Parable Cafe - Peach blossom with Matcha and Chocolate Croissant - Cafes Near Me - Columbus, Ohio

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Great coffee shop in downtown Columbus! Good idea to order ahead and pickup as the weekends get busy. I loved the daily variety of pastries. When I visited they had mango scones and also banana scones which was surprisingly delicious! read more

From the coffees, pastries, and to the drinks, Parable Cafe does not miss when it comes to serving up deliciousness. When I need a little pick me up, a little visit to the shop for a supreme croissant paired with a coffee is the best cure. read more

Too expensive for no reason. Atmosphere is 1970s-cafeteria, complete with the dying plants. I had a $5 cup of coffee, 2 $9 lattes (very small) and a croissant for $38. Boo. read more