Sappho Books, Cafe & Bar

My two mates and I were super excited to go to this cafe/ bar because we always try to find new places to study as uni students.

They had quite a good amount of seating arrangements for their small /medium space, and my group of 3 was lucky to snag the last table. Context, this was one of the larger tables and could comfortably fit 4 people but 6 at the max. In the first 10 minutes of sitting down, we were approached by the owner. The only reason I knew they were the owner was that they introduced themselves in a condescending and authoritative tone that they owned this place. They proceeded to imply that we could only stay at this table if we ordered something (which makes perfect sense), to then we pointed at the drink my friend had just ordered and was on the table already. After we answered them, she pointed at my other friend's Starbucks reusable cup and said, "Well, that's not from here; that drink is from outside", in a condescending tone. The cup was empty and was only used in the morning to drink a home beverage while travelling here. After we ALSO explained that to the owner, they took on a very passive-aggressive tone and instituted that if we were going to take up such a big table, we would need to purchase more. Otherwise, they could not pay rent (their words) and walked off without letting us respond back. This owner did not say sorry once after interrupting the situation incorrectly multiple times.

This was the first time I had been personally pressured by the owner to purchase more items, HOW RUDE. After each time we "proved their point wrong", I could feel their patience running thin when they should have taken the time to understand our points and not feel the need to create a counterargument with each response we gave. working in customer service myself, I would never speak this belittling and short with my customers. We had JUST settled down after walking and travelling 1 1/2 hours to this place. It would be nice to sit for a bit and purchase more when we were ready, but even then, we had already purchased something!

This experience was really disappointing because the drink was nice, so that's why I am giving it a fair 1 star. However, because of this 2-minute conversation with the owner, I will never ever return. I will not risk feeling upset the rest of the day after travelling for so long, no matter how "nice" this place was. Of course, we would purchase more if we travelled just for a cafe for so long. In other small cafes we have visited, they have had no problem waiting for customers to purchase after 10-20 minutes. The owner should have taken the time to understand our situation, not already given attitude the moment we started talking. If you work in customer service, you can deliver your point without being rude. It felt like the owner looked down on these university students who could not purchase as much as a full-time working adult. We were talked down to not as adults but as if we were high school students. What is most upsetting is my group is not confrontational AT ALL, so we could not defend ourselves against their passive aggressiveness and condescending attitude. So that is why I am here writing this review, so our voices and feelings do not go unheard!

Sitting at the smallest table in the venue, ordered a coffee, pulled out my laptop to do some work. Within 5 minutes of finishing my coffee someone came up to ask me if I was going to order something, implying that I was not welcome to sit there any longer unless I was buying something else. They mentioned something about students taking up tables. I understand you can’t have people working here all day but I was at the venue for less than 30 minutes when I was kicked out. I’m a regular here and a local and I don’t think I’ll be coming back. While the person said “I don’t want you to feel unwelcome” you should remember that actions speak louder than words.

Nice non confrontational space. Good food. And a nice shady courtyard out back where you can relax in the leaf filtered light of the warm sun and work.on your laptop, chat with your friend or otherwise content yourself in the peace and quiet. Maybe even buy a book to read from the bookshop out front and read it over a coffee, some food or a cool drink.

Great coffee. Wonderful place to sit down for a while with a book or do some work on your laptop. No wifi so nothing to distract you!

I'm curious to know of there is wifi though?