Review Sleepy Bee Cafe - Downtown - Cincinnati

This cute breakfast/brunch spot is a total gem for a tasty morning meal. They're all about using local foods and being kind to the planet, which is awesome. The place is usually -buzzing- (haha) with people, but the service is still top notch. You can tell that everyone there really cares about their mission. And let's talk about their coffee drinks, they're out of this world! Plus, their Hot Brown specialty dish is a real winner, with flavors that'll blow you away. If you're into great food that's good for the Earth, this is the spot to check out. Plus it’s got just the cutest logo!

I really enjoyed the atmosphere and our server was great. My husband and I both got the dirty chai with oat milk and they were AMAZING! I will definitely get that again. My husband had the piggy pancakes and loved them. It was a little disappointed in the Broakley. The bun was super hard and ruined the sandwich. But the red potatoes made up for it. I’ll definitely eat here again and just order something different.

The food was really good. The pancakes are the size of the plate, so for most people, 1 might be plenty. The locally sourced menu is awesome. Portions are very good. Cost is a little bit higher, but the quality and taste make it worth it. My only issue was the cloth on the seats. Stained and thinking a different material would better suit them as far as appearance and easier cleaning. The staff was super polite and quick service.

Went here for breakfast with a friend. The restaurant had a fun vibe. We had to wait for a little bit but they kept things moving! They have a coffee bar and make some really awesome lattes and other drinks. I got the oatmeal which was delicious! I enjoyed the chia seeds and shaved coconut for added texture. It tasted very fresh. The sweet potato ginger soup was a nice, thick bisque. My friend got a vanilla latte which was beautiful, and she said it was delicious. Table was clean and server was attentive! I would go back for sure.

I enjoyed my breakfast and I loved the pancake. It tasted fresh and made with high quality ingredients including the PB topping. The Chai latte was so good. Other than it took 27 minutes for my pancake to be served, service was great.

This place has the largest door I have ever seen . It's was very clean the artwork on the ceiling was very unique. The food I ordered I think the worker bee and got a waffle on the side. I ordered a candied bacon it was soggy so I asked for regular bacon . They had forgotten my potatoes and they where delicious you have to goto this place just for the potatoes they taste special like they have gravy but there is no gravy . The eggs where scrambled with cheese eggs where fine . The waffle was gluten free and I got it with fresh bananas it was pretty good . Overall, my meal was a 4/ 5 mainly because of potatoes and customer service was great servers where eager to make meal right.

We went for a late lunch and enjoyed every bite. We had a table of 6 and everyone finished their plate. The service was nice and friendly. We had to wait for about 20 minutes for a table but that was OK because 1/2 our group was running late. It was busy but didn't feel crowded. They had several gluten free items in the menu and labeled their food very well. We will definitely be back.

We went for a work breakfast. The service was quick, and the restaurant was clean and fresh looking. We ordered: 1. The Worker Bee 🐝 - the eggs 🥚 were prepared to order (over medium), the goetta was ok, the salad 🥗 with dressing was good, and the accompanying toast was hearty. Overall, it's a (4/5 🌟). 2. Avocado 🥑 toast - This was ordered by a coworker, and they said it needed some acidity to enhance the flavors. (4/5 🌟). This is a restaurant with good food and service. I would visit again and recommend it. The experience overall is a 4.5 but had to round to 5.

It was my first time here and food was really good, if you ever go, you will not be dissapointed 😋😋

Delicious food and friendly service. We arrived with a party of six while it was a bit busy and had to wait to be seated, but it wasn’t very long. Staff were attentive and friendly. The food was delicious and we found something for everyone, including several kids. They enjoyed the options on the kids menu. I enjoyed Cincinnati favorite goetta with my meal. We’ll definitely go back sometime again when we’re in the area.

Such a cute place. It was fairly busy when we went but the service was still fantastic. The food was amazing. Our party of 4 each got something different and everyone loved they're food. Highly recommend the pancakes. They are huge and so fluffy. Also the red skinned potatoes as a side are a must!

The place is extremely busy on Sunday mornings! The menu was different, yet familiar. A great variety for selections. The atmosphere is friendly as is the staff. The food was delicious and came as expected. My reason for not being 5 stars was the food came lukewarm, which told me it sat in the window for a while and my coffee cup was never refilled. I will try again on hopefully not as busy a day.

Sleepy Bee is one of my favorite breakfast and brunch spots. There are 3 locations around the city, and they are all super busy, all the time. They have gluten free, vegan and vegetarian options, and cater to a wide variety of dietary restrictions. Their menu changes seasonally and they do their best to source local and organic foods. My favorite items to order are the Bee Cakes (GF) and broakley sandwich. I used to love their turmeric chicken salad on leaf wraps, but they've since replaced that menu item with other delicious options. There is a full espresso bar inside, and the Bee also offers smoothies, juices, and tea. Picked up my favorite T-shirt and their downtown location and take it with me on every trip. No bees, no food, no us. The only less than amazing experiences I've had, is they are occasionally too busy, and my order has gotten lost or forgotten. Two or three times now I've walked in to pick up my online or phone order, and it either wasn't in their system, or they forgot about it. That's out of 20+ times eating here though. The restaurant chain is owned by a Cincinnati family, so by eating here, you're supporting small business and the local economy.

I really enjoyed this place, and the servers attention to describing how locally sourced most of their food is. And it's not everywhere that you can find vegan Gheotta!

Fun palette satisfying experience! The music is funky. The server was friendly. The food was served accurately and efficiently AND it was tasty! If you’re in the downtown area this is a must do! Go enjoy the ambiance, the food and all that goes with it…you’ll be glad you did!

The food and coffee was excellent! Our server was prompt and super nice. The bread on my sandwich was soft and fluffy. My husband’s pancakes were huge he was only able to finish one of them. Overall, delicious!

Was this place worth the hype encompassing it? I’m not so sure… We went to the Oakley location on a bright and sunny Sunday afternoon. We walked into a beautiful establishment with exposed brick and spacious feel as the hostess greeted you. We still waited 30 minutes before we were sat even with the “nowait” app (Get this app if you do not have it, TRUST ME). When we were sat, our server was very nice, friendly and helpful! She was great. My boyfriend ordered the beekeeper which he said was okay. I ordered the Vegan Portobello Panini which had Cashew garlic aioli, chimichurri-marinated portobello mushrooms, pickled golden raisins, vegan special sauce, tomato and romaine lettuce, on sourdough but on a lettuce bun. When it arrived, I was thoroughly disappointed in its appearance and even more disappointed in taste. I had so much excitement for this place but was so let down by this sad sandwich that a few tears were shed. I told the server what was wrong and she insisted she fix me something new. That was great on her part but the thing that rubbed me the wrong way was that another server told me the manager would come talk to me and I never saw one. As someone who has worked in the service industry that is something a manager should do if you are unhappy with a product. It is only proper that the manager comes over at some point before you leave to make sure you are happy. They made me a new meal which was the avi tofu scramble. It was good but for the price the portions were not that great. Overall, it was okay. I think it’s a cute place but the food was mediocre. I don’t think I will go there again.

It would be more accurate to name this Busy Bee. The fact it is always bustling is a testament to this great place. Truth be told, it is an upscale place for breakfast and to a degree lunch, but remains quite comfortable. You do pay upscale breakfast prices, but the freshness, creativity and preparation make it well worth it. The service is quite good considering how busy it is. Our server today was pleasant but you could not help feel an underlying focus, get them in, get them out. So subtle however some would not notice. I will not go into detail of the breakfast each of us had other than everyone was exceedingly pleased and this place does a wonderful job on potatoes (yes spuds!) both sweet and the ones with honey. If you are looking for a quiet place this is not for you. If you are looking for a great place for breakfast or lunch, this is it.

We had a great brunch today! We always use the NoWait app, which more often than not saves use time; last visit we waited an extra 15 minutes and today were seated right on time. Our server was superb (forgot to catch his name) and brought us a pastry since we were celebrating a birthday. Food was delicious as always, and I am loving the mimosa options! Thanks for being my favorite brunch place!!

I visited the Cincinnati downtown restaurant for breakfast. First, the food was amazing. The eggs were so fresh and the pancake with blueberries were incredible. Second, the staff was friendly and very helpful. The atmosphere is great too. I wish we had this restaurant in my area. I would be a regular. It’s a healthy organic restaurant with a lot of offer people who enjoy a variety of breakfast items.

I love the menu at sleepy bee. The host and wait list system is never accurate. I always put in ahead of time and every time arrive as instructed and then told I have to wait an hour in the restaurant. I have been here many times and at this point as good as the food is I don’t know that’s its worth the crappy customer service and inaccurate wait times.

A great place for healthy food for the whole family. I had soup and salad that rocked my world. A vegetarian for 47 years and it exceeded my expectations for flavour and uniqueness. Helpful staff and very kid friendly environment! I agree it could use better acoustics. The outdoor patio is quieter.

Service and steel cut vanilla oats on point! Highly recommend

I was so impressed by how considerate and kind all the staff were. We were there for the Sunday morning rush so I would expect them to be a bit frazzled and impatient but they were very attentive and not only did they not mind my precocious toddler- they actually took the time to engage with her. On top of that the food was delicious. Definitely worth the wait!

Absolutely the BEST brunch I have ever had. I got the breakfast grilled cheese special, a mocha, and The Hugo, and everything tasted amazing. Words do not do this place enough justice, you have to go and see for yourself!

Food was amazing , atmosphere was good too . Went on a Sunday to the downtown spot and beat the crowd . Our server was Kim and she took great care of us ! We will be back for sure .

Nice place great food and great service nice place to have breakfast!

This place was fabulous! Love the concept! Food was amazing and the service great! Wish they had one in Chicago! Yummmyyyyy!!!!

We were visiting from out of town and needed a place with gluten free options. Our waitress was very helpful and our food was amazing!

We loved the Queen City brunch sandwich! Get an extra side of their honey garlic sauce for the sweet potatoes! Best brunch in Cincy!

Undercooked and wobbly pancakes. The long wait was not worth it for the hogwash service and hogwash food.