Cafe Brea Espresso Bar

Sadly, closed as of 2013 November 17. Lots of good times and memories there. Best wishes to the owners, Melita and Adam, and to all the staff: Ricardo, Miranda, Cassandra, Danielle, Samantha, Brittnee, and Caitlyn.

Café Brea is a very nice little café with a great atmosphere. It’s very comfortable and nicely decorated. The lady working was also very nice. They offer almond milk which is wonderful and have a few edible options for vegans as well. I got an oatcake and chai latte with almond milk and my husband got a pakora with mango chutney and a double espresso with almond milk. I really enjoyed my chai latte and the oatcake was good as well. However, my husband said the espresso tasted a bit burnt so wasn’t all that impressed with that but the pakora was good.
It would be nice to see Café Brea bring in more vegan-​friendly baked goods though as while several are dairy-​free, all but the oatcake have eggs. I am still very happy almond milk is a choice and that something to eat can still be had.
Overall, a nice comfortable café with great service.

A great local coffee shop in Dartmouth! I enjoyed my stop in here for tea with a friend. There is a spattering of comfy chairs to relax in as well as some larger tables with plastic chairs and a couple outside tables. The staff was really friendly and offered help since I told them I had never been before. I liked how they have fresh baked goodies from Sweet Hereafter as well as gluten free options and sandwiches for lunch. I had a ginger cookie and a smoothie. The cookie was really yummy and the smoothie was pretty good. With a little more flavour or sugar it would have been excellent. I enjoyed my experience here and liked that it wasn’t crazy busy like TIBS is on a sunny afternoon. This was a good spot for my friend and I to have a nice visit.

This is perhaps the greatest espresso bar I have found in HRM. They cater to every type of customer, and don’t have that annoying hipster vibe when you walk in like a lot of the coffee places do.
It’s family owned and operated and they are constantly updating their Facebook page with what’s going on and what’s featured on their menu. The food is delicious, and locally sourced, with plenty of gluten-​free and healthy options for lunch or a snack.
The staff is ALWAYS friendly and helpful. A+ place all around!

Café Brea is my favourite new find in the city. One of my favourite Cafés by far. Melita has done so much with the place in such a short time. It’s buzzing with regulars, has amazing fresh roasted coffee, and locally sourced treats of all kinds. My first go to spot for coffee meetings. :-)

This is an initial impression review as I’ve been just once. It gets the 4 because the service was excellent, both friendly and helpful, not to mention informative.
I settle on a hot chocolate after considering a tea of some sort and the the barista suggested adding a mint green tea bag to the mix. It was a decent hot chocolate and the mint green tea was interesting — it was spearmint and I would’ve liked peppermint much better.
I was hungry and opted for a samosa, which was quite good. They aren’t made in-​store but are made locally — she told me where but I forgot almost as soon as she told me.
I’ll go back again…

Alright. After a few more visits, I’m starting to pick up what Café Brea’s laying down.
With corporate chain coffee shops beginning to fill in the neighbourhood, it’s really nice to still be able to support a local business on the drive to/​from my place. The Laughing Whale coffee from Lunenburg is quickly becoming a favourite of mine and easily outshines any of the other options in the neighbourhood!
Is it a place that I’d love to spend a couple hours curled up with a good book or catching up with a friend? Not really… the chairs and tables still feel pretty sterile. But, it’s perfect for that quick coffee pick-​up!

Finally a good café for us Cole Harbour/​Dartmouth folks. It’s a refreshing change from the chain cafes that seem to be popping up in every strip mall these days.
Best thing… they are very local focused. Local baked goods from various bakeries around town along with their made in house soups and sandwiches.
Another thing to note, they now roast their own beans that you can buy by the bag.
Plenty of parking, plenty of indoor seating, and a couple lovely arm chairs in the back corner to chill and enjoy your bevvy.

Café Brea is everything I have been looking for in a local coffee shop! My husband tells me the coffee is great. I myself can tell you that the London Fog is out of this world. We have been take our time sampling all the pastries but so far it’s all good. They bring them in from some of our favorite places around town including Sweet Hereafter cheese cake.
On top of that the incredible owner Melita Scott makes us feel like welcome guest or old friends every time we come in… even when I spill my London Fog all over the counter. ;)

This evening I excitedly tried out Café Brea with a friend.
We’ve been dying for a Dartmouth coffee shop that stays open late.
Maybe I’m spoiled by TIBS but this spot was rather mediocre. I asked for a medium roast coffee and was served a dark. They haven’t been open for very long– it happens!
My friend ordered a double espresso which was beautiful. She was thrilled with the rich, luscious crema on top. And she noted that the espresso wasn’t acidic at all– super pleasing. I look forward to trying a latte now.
I tried a slice of their s’more cheesecake. I believe the marshmallow on top may have been home made and it was delicious. The size was also deceiving– I thought I paid $ 6 for a teeny piece of cheesecake but I couldn’t finish it.
The place is still working out the kinks. Truthfully– I’m not excited to go back. But in a few weeks I will try it again. I want an awesome coffee shop that’s open late in Dartmouth. Please let this turn into the place!!!

Visited here Friday and it is wonderful. Décor is bright and cheery with reds and yellows — some comfy chairs to the side as well as tables. Service was great and I enjoyed a latte and cranberry muffin. Would love to see them add a few light lunch items like soups or wraps.

When I first heard about Café Brea I was excited. Finally! A café that isn’t such a far walk from where live. After my first visit I fell in love.
When I first walked in I was met with a kind hello and as I was browsing their baked goods from Schoolhouse Gluten-​free, and some of their own, the owner walked out and she knew my name from my like on their Facebook page. To be honest it was quite relaxing that she knew my name and I felt extremely welcomed.
I ended up ordering my usual café drink of a soy cappuccino and a big cinnamon roll that was marked 50% off. As I was sitting enjoying my order I overheard someone ordering a drink with almond milk, oh boy was I happy. Almond milk is my milk of choice and after hearing this I fell in love with this place even more. Now I already know my next order.
For a café that just opened it’s a very cozy welcoming place. If your in around Dartmouth please give this place a try and support it.