StayAwake.38

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My reply to your reply:
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"Although we have responded to 3-4 of your previous reviews, we will do so to this one as well."

Nikola, users cannot add more than one review per location on Google, everybody knows that. Keep up the hostile attitude and next time check your resources before attempting to diminish the value of your well-deserved bad feedbacks.

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And here is my original review:
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I was unpleasantly surprised to find out that the petty little fella, who ruined this place for me seems to be the owner.

The passive-aggressive tone of voice in his replies to negative reviews here and the immature approach I had the honour of experiencing face-to-face yesterday, proved to me that he isn't looking for constructive feedback, but while he is obviously a loss of my time, I will write this review for potential future customers.

The reason for the conflict between us was because apparently we have misunderstood a sign placed on the tables - while we thought it meant "don't put your laptops on the table", turned out they were meant to keep us outside of the room.

So instead of ironing out the misunderstanding, he came out of nowhere, behind my shoulder while I was working on an important task, made a comment questioning our intelligence for not reading the sign how he expected us to, and kicked us out of a room in the middle of a working day, without apologising for interrupting us or caring that he did, whatsoever, while assuring the guy next to us that he can stay and keep working in peace, unlike us. Then, after asking why is the double standard needed, he did not answer - instead, he put blame on us, I quote "now he has to leave, too, because of you". And the finishing touch was when he told us that if we don't like that whole fiasco we should leave and spend our time elsewhere (which we will, needless to say).

Objectively, the place is cozy and offers nice coffee, everyone else has been nice, and, frankly, it is clear to me that what he wanted is to free up some space on the bigger tables for more customers to sit. And not only I would have understood if he was able to be honest and explain this nicely, but even with his "imperfect" tone I was understanding and started moving my stuff until he reached my boiling point.

Dear Nikola - I believe that's your name, since you were too shy to share it yourself - my friend and I have worked in your cafe before and I assure you that people never hesitated to join is at a bigger table. We are very open-minded and friendly and love communicating with other human beings (because, unlike you, we can). If your tables aren't as busy as you wish them to be, it is likely caused by your petty approach with customers, not because you're lacking the space.

Lucky (or unlucky) for you, the consequences in your case won't affect you immediately, however, I bet that you'll continue to act like an angry teenager in the long-term until negative feedback piles up nice and fluffy and slap you in the face. Unless you decide to improve as a professional, of course, but I truly doubt that, based on what I saw and heard.

I can tell that you're one of those "Whatever, other customers will come, I don't care about you" type of "owners" - maybe that's the one source of power in your life - and it's fine by me, because, trust me, I don't care about you either, plus there are thousands of coffee places nearby, but I assure you that this mindset is a loser mindset and if you stick to it more people might find out and avoid you. So if you're incapable of true improvement, at least try to hide it.

The products are not on my taste at all! I had Macha and Cappuccino!

Dear Team,

First of all, thank you for the service and hospitality. As someone deeply passionate about specialty coffee and tea, I always approach every café with respect for the craft. That said, I’d like to share some constructive feedback regarding my recent experience — not as a casual complaint, but from the perspective of someone who values quality, clarity of flavor, and ingredient integrity.

1. Matcha Latte:

The matcha was lacking vibrancy — both in flavor and aroma. High-quality ceremonial grade matcha should express a fresh, grassy umami, with subtle bitterness balanced by natural sweetness. What I tasted was dull, overly milky, and the matcha itself felt flat and stale — possibly oxidized or of culinary (not ceremonial) grade.

In technical terms:
• Matcha that’s not stored properly (exposed to light, heat, or air) loses its chlorophyll and catechins quickly, resulting in muted flavor and a yellow-green rather than vivid jade-green color.
• Overdiluting with milk drowns the nuanced notes of good matcha. A proper ratio is key — ideally 2g of matcha to 60–70ml of water before adding milk.
• The texture also matters. Was it sifted? Whisked with a chasen? These steps elevate or destroy the drink.

In short: The matcha latte lacked the structure and freshness of a premium preparation.

2. The Coffee:

The espresso (or filter, if that’s what I had) was underwhelming. It lacked the balance, body, and complexity that should define a well-roasted, well-extracted cup.

What I noted:
• Possibly under-extracted or brewed with water that wasn’t within the optimal 92–96°C range — leading to sour or flat notes.
• Roast profile might have been off — either too dark (burning off the origin character) or too light without proper development.
• The grind size or dose-to-yield ratio may not have been dialed in, making the coffee either watery or overly intense in the wrong direction.

I’ve had better cups where the coffee showcased its terroir — whether floral Ethiopian, chocolatey Brazilian, or fruity Kenyan. What I had here was generic, which is a missed opportunity if you’re working with decent beans.

Final Thoughts:

I share this feedback out of deep respect for the craft. A café is a stage — and every drink is a performance. Matcha and coffee, when done right, create moments of joy and awakening. I believe with more attention to ingredient sourcing, brewing parameters, and quality control, your drinks could truly reflect that potential.
Competition is one but standards must be kept daily!

Warm regards,
Daniel

Great spot for a cup of coffee with friends. Also very suitable for co-working space. They have huge wine selection as well!

highly recommend this place to all coffee lovers. they offer a variety of blends you can sample on the spot and purchase to enjoy at home. the staff was incredibly helpful in guiding me to choose the perfect blend for me.

I recommend grabbing your coffee and taking a seat, as the atmosphere is wonderful. many people were also working there, adding to the cozy vibe.

Excellent barista-made coffee. The flat white was perfectly done. They sell their own coffee beans, and know a lot about flavours and varieties. The atmosphere is charming, with a Co-working space upstairs.

I’ve only tried the gluten-free cake, which was pleasant, but not enough to provide a fair assessment of the overall food quality—hence the 3-star rating. The service experience, however, is quite inconsistent. Some staff seem overly strict, enforcing rules like no laptops outside the co-working area, even during off-peak hours on a quiet Monday with few customers around. On the other hand, others appear too lax, allowing teenagers to vape indoors, which made the already small space uncomfortable and hard to breathe.

This place used to be a personal favourite, but I guess I'll be taking my business elsewhere. Can’t wait to be banned—probably with a passive-aggressive comeback from whoever responds to the negative reviews here. (Just take a look at all the other negative reviews.)

Let’s talk about the good stuff first—coffee and banana bread? On point! My friend and I had a nice little 30-lev bill, which, let’s be honest, isn’t chump change. Nonetheless, we likeD going there because the atmosphere is great.

Now, let me be clear—this wasn’t our first rodeo here. We’ve been here many times, never had a problem, and every other staff member has been super friendly. So, imagine my surprise when we were treated with all the warmth of a polar vortex.

The place was busy as usual, with people working or studying at various tables. My friend and I initially sat at a bigger table (one for six), but we moved to a slightly smaller one (for five), thinking we were being courteous and taking up less space. Then, out of nowhere, the owner (or whoever wears the "I’m in charge" hat) singles us out, saying we had to move because our table had a no-laptop sign. The sign, by the way, is just a laptop with a line through it—no clear explanation of what the rule even is. So, we started packing up.

But here’s where things really get confusing: the guy at the next table, which was a table for three, asks if he should move too, since he had a laptop out. The owner says, “Oh, you’re alone, you can stay.” Uh, what? His table was already taken when we came in, so it wasn’t about table size, and it wasn’t about the table itself—just a double-standard that made zero sense. Meanwhile, two other bigger tables in the next room were also occupied by people working or studying (with the no-laptop sign in place), but no one seemed to care about them.

And if it’s about squeezing in more customers and making money? Still doesn’t add up. Even if four people had come in, grabbed a coffee each, and shared a water or something, their bill would’ve been around what we spent.

So, yeah. Absolutely disappointed with the double standards and ridiculously bad behaviour from staff. We were perfectly civil up until the point where one person was allowed to stay, but we had to go, and then the guy had the nerve to start lecturing us about manners and disrespect. Yes, we got snippy—but you, sir, were disrespectful first. If you had an ounce of common sense, you wouldn’t have let someone else break the “rules” right in front of us.

The new no-laptop policy is ridiculous, coffee is sub-par but the atmosphere/location is great. However, if no changes are made in regards to the laptop policy place is bound to fail, as that's the primary purpose the cafe serves. Maybe do a minimum consumption instead of a ban.

Cozy is the key word here. You order downstairs and can either take your drinks upstairs to a converted 2-bedroom apartment kind of vibe with co-working and lounge areas (featuring a smal, 4 seat balcony where you can take in the street view), or to the bistro style tables on the sidewalk. The vibe upstairs is so cool. People are working, chilling, talking, playing board games, sometimes holding dogs in their lap, just kind of hanging out in a space that very much feels like someone’s home. Music is playing and the lighting is very unique and interesting. To spend time there feels like going to a party where you feel welcome but don’t know anybody. In our journeys around Sofia we found ourselves coming back repeatedly because we just loved the vibe. The people downstairs were really cool too, sometimes you need a little patience because it’s just one person down there and they have a lot to do sometimes, but even if you have to wait it’s totally worth it. Great place.

Very good coffee and banana bread, ok for working

Café Local 38 in Sofia is an excellent spot for a "coffice," offering great coffee, a relaxed vibe, and plenty of co-working space. However, the downside is the staff’s occasionally poor attitude, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite this, it remains a great choice for remote work or casual meetups if you’re willing to overlook the service.

Can’t recommend this place more. I recently discovered this hidden gem in the heart of Sofia. The warm ambiance, coupled with super friendly staff, creates an inviting atmosphere that makes it the perfect spot to work or unwind. It’s also laptop friendly. This place has quickly become my go-to for great coffee and wine. Highly recommend!

I thought I’d found such a nice spot to work, and it is generally really lovely. But there are spots where you are ‘not allowed your laptop’, which I do understand. However there were no available seats in the laptop areas, and literally no one else sitting in the spaces where a laptop is not allowed.. I wasn’t bothering anyone but asked to move, and there was no where comfortable to move to… so felt like I had to leave … a bit shitty. I would have bought more coffee. Anyway a little flexibility doesn’t hurt! I’m on my period also which didn’t help, you didn’t need to know that, but today is not my day :(

In response to your reply ‘we try to be flexible for all our customers’ - there literally were no customers at this point to be bothered by my laptop use…. Anyway…

Delightful spot right off of the bustling chaos of Vitosha St.

This used to be the Coffee and Wine Lab, now under different management, they've kept the same beautiful decor upstairs (marvelous little spots to sit and chat). Maybe not ideal for hours of work at your laptop, but definitely a wonderful spot to meet a friend or have a more intimate connection. There's a cute balcony as well that seats about 4...

Not sure if you can call in advance to book a larger seating area, as there are a few lounge spots and tables that can seat bigger groups (in a private room/section).

I always enjoy coming here. And they're open until 22:00 which is a treat.