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    Sleepy Bee Cafe - Downtown

    4.1 (762 reviews)
    Closed • 8:00 am - 3:30 pm

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    Business Info

    SLEEPY BEE CAFE - DOWNTOWN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Hipster
    Casual
    Trendy

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    Worker Bee with flavorless Turkey bacon
    Kevin M.

    What could have been! I had high hopes for this place but it just fell short. Keep in mind that this place was only about 1/3 capacity maximum when we visited. The positives: - Quickly seated - Staff was very friendly - Food was pretty good once served - Nice modern decor The Negatives - No regular bacon (very disappointing for a breakfast establishment mid morning on a Thursday) - One breakfast was cold and had to be recooked - Waited over 40 minutes from placing order to servicing food (not including the returned cold plate) - Room temperature was way too cold ( I am the one who is always hot and I was freezing)

    So good
    Satoko W.

    Sleepy Bee Cafe in downtown Cincinnati was a lovely spot for a breakfast. We had one of their signature buttermilk pancakes. All the staffs were warm and friendly, and the livery atmosphere left a very good impression. This us a charming place to start the morning.

    Chai Latte
    Ines D.

    Mehhhhh. I was expecting something a bit similar to first watch but instead the vibes was closer to a Waffle House. Don't get me wrong, i love Waffle House so no shade here butttttt sleepy bee did not meet my expectations in the slightest. Waffle House is actually better than sleepy bee. The place was not clean... and I can see past a little messiness during a rush but the cups were even dirty, menus were stained and messy as well, and then the restaurant itself didn't look well maintained. The food was below par. I ordered the worker bee which is a traditional breakfast but my sausages were hard as rock.... The eggs were def sitting for 15 minutes before they got to me. &The potato's were okay. I would pass on this restaurant.

    Inside
    Anthony C.

    Hands-down one of the best breakfast spots I've been to in Cincinnati. The food was delicious, and the atmosphere made the experience even better. I ordered the pancakes and the Worker Bee breakfast plate, with scrambled eggs, bacon, roasted potatoes, and multigrain toast. The menu has a ton of creative options, and you can tell they care about sourcing local, high-quality ingredients. Whitney took care of us and she was excellent, attentive without overdoing it. Service like that makes all the difference. If you're looking for a spot with amazing food, great service, and a cool atmosphere, Sleepy Bee is a must-visit.

    Interior of Sleepy Bee
    Amy P.

    This place is so cute! We were here a few years ago and liked it so much we came back (we are not local to the area.) Love the cute decor and whimsical atmosphere. I wish they had more merch (t-shirts) for sale, I would buy one, but both times they only had 1 or 2, neither of which were my size. Staff was friendly both times we were here, and food was good. A bit of a wait (about 1/2 hour) on a Sunday about noon. The "waitlist" option on the website was not available. Not sure if that was due to the restaurant or due to the Toast app they use. Would definitely come back!

    Eggs, bacon, toast
    Alyssa H.

    The restaurant had a great vibe! It felt exactly like what "Sleepy Bee" in cafe font would be. :) The waiter was very attentive and friendly and the food was good- potatoes were the best.

    Avi Scramble
    Cara F.

    I returned with an open mind, but unfortunately, I was disappointed once again. When my meal arrived, I noticed they had changed the style of potatoes served with the dish. However, one thing that has not changed is that they were served cold. I informed the server that the potatoes were ice cold, and they apologized and promptly placed a replacement order, advising it would take about two minutes. When the new potatoes arrived, they were hot and much better. The eggs were good and served warm, but they appeared to have been sitting for a while before being brought to the table. As a solo diner, I often find that I am overlooked when staff are making rounds for water and coffee refills, and this visit was no exception. Larger tables around me received multiple refills before I was ever approached. Additionally, the table directly in front of me remained uncleared for more than 30 minutes, as shown in the photo. It appeared that the table was only cleared when new diners needed to be seated, and the dirty dishes were simply moved to another table. I am genuinely disappointed that, despite a year having passed since my last visit, it seems that little has changed.

    Coffee
    Steve S.

    Quaint little breakfast joint in Cincy. Nice atmosphere, staff was great (although they seated me all the way in the back, weird, plenty of opens spaces up front, looks?). Service was top notch as well. The food, definitely bland, I had to season it and add hot sauce to it as well to give it some flavor. The smashed potatoes were disappointing, since they give you two tiny little potatoes.

    Queen City Bee Sandwich
    Jeffrey G.

    Hey just back here to Sleepy Bee again! We had another wonderful experience for breakfast. Funny story...I wanted to order the Chorizo Scramble but instead, and without thinking I ordered the Forager Scramble. So I expected chorizo and red pepper but got asparagus and goat cheese. Now I'm not too picky, I enjoyed the Forager instead! :) Gives me another reason to come back when staying overnight in Cincy to try the chorizo scramble. My wife enjoyed her breakfast burrito. The Bee Cake was delicious. Made from almond and quinoa flour, I believe. Of course the place was hopping with a positive energy.

    Stacie M.

    This place is super cute. I was excited about their vegetarian meat options, but unfortunately they were all out when I was there, so when I ordered the salad without the chicken they did offer to make it with an egg, which was ok. The honey latte with oat milk was delicious. Service was friendly and efficient.

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    Business owner information

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    Nicholas C.

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    3 months ago

    Fantastic service !! Breakfast was on point and coffee was amazing. Will be back next time !

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    Page 1 of 20

    Sleepy Bee Cafe - Downtown Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Sleepy Bee Cafe - Downtown

    Are reservations an option for large parties?

    Yes! I think you can call and make some reservations online

    What is parking like for your restaurant?

    There is metered parking along the street with a few parking garages (range from 10-20)

    What brand of oat milk?

    Califia Farms Barista Blends

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Alveo Sandwich Shop - La Rossa (with the eggplant!)

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    Located in the heart of Mariemont this small sandwich shop maybe easy to miss at first glance. But…read moreit is a phenomenal little restaurant. They offer take out, indoor and out door dining. From the moment you enter, the smell of freshly baked focaccia bread fills the air. Their menu is not extensive but each entry lists fresh and delicious ingredients. We tried the tuna and their namesake sandwich. We couldn't pick a favorite between the two. The ingredients were top quality and the flavors blended together beautifully. It's worth the wait- the service was friendly. The prices are more expensive than a chain sandwich shop - but oh so worth it due to the quality. The portions are large.

    Do you want the BEST sandwich the area has to offer? Look no further than Alveo, where everything…read moreis amazing. Service was excellent. Somehow they could tell I was new to Alveo, and they explained the process. Cashier was very sweet. Owner/Head chef took the time to chat with me, it obvious he cares as much about the ingredients as he does the customers' experience. Top notch dude. The sandwich? Criminally delicious. All the ingredients of the Tacchina were different temps, textures, flavors, so when they came together between the bread, it was an unparalleled experience. If they sold the GF focaccia by the loaf, I'd buy it in a heartbeat. I respect the ingredients of the chips, just didn't love the flavor and texture (olive oil) and the bag is big enough to share with a friend. Tried the orange Italian soda, wasn't a fav, but maybe another flavor would be better. Would like to see more umbrellas for the patio, but I was lucky to snag a spot in the shade, at that point in the day. Alveo is the best sandwich I've had in 7 years of living here! Almost glad I don't live closer, as I'd be here constantly! Worth the drive! I will dream of the Tacchina!

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    6.6 mi•Oakley
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    The Wheel Oakley - Hot Bagels

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    Sleepy Bee Cafe - Downtown - breakfast_brunch - Updated October 2026

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