Parable Cafe

Great place right in downtown with a great interior, stylish decoration, delicious coffee with a beautiful latte art and friendly staff. Service was great and the atmosphere was nice! Seemed quite busy for an early morning and the reason is that their coffee is really good! Just a right amount of bitterness and roasted to the right point. Definitely recommend to try it “for here” so you can enjoy gorgeous art on the latte foam .

Happiness is a warm cup of coffee.

Travel down the road from the Rhodes and you will find Parable Cafe, a local coffee spot located on S. High St., curating and calculating a little something different to stay the least. Rosemary Peppercorn Cappuccino anyone? Yes, it’s as good as it sounds. Don’t worry they have the “normal” stuff too. Come for the coffee but stay for the vibes. The earthy toned atmosphere puts visitors at ease with exotic greenery and pothos plants cascading about. The price point is slightly higher than near by establishments but sometimes you get what you pay for and this cozy caffeine house is sure to delight.

Definitely one of the best coffee I’ve had, I ordered a vanilla latte. The place was suggested by my date. You could actually taste the coffee, the hint of milk was still there but it didn’t completely overshadow the coffee. Perfect blend for a perfect date.

Amazing pastries and beautiful interior! The swirl croissants usually sell out very fast so get there early if you like to get them. They also have unique specialty coffee and tea drinks. Highly recommend.

The vibe/atmoshpere here is unmatched by any other coffee shop I've been to in Columbus. It feels like an oasis -- the kind of shop I'd stumble upon on vacation. I can easily sit here all day (and they'll validate your parking downtown for it). There's cozy seats all around, big tables, a fireplace, good tunes playing, outlets, and good WiFi. They have a super unique espresso bar menu. I'm a plain oat milk latte kind of guy, and they made me a very solid one -- only a skilled barista can get oat milk to foam like that. Going for something more interesting, the sesame miso caramel latte had a good balance of flavors, and I'ddrinknit again. They definitely have a skilled pastry chef, too. Baked goods are pretty unique, always changing, and look amazing. The croissants are definitely a hit, even though I've yet to try one. What I did have: the apple cinnamon muffin was well-balanced, not too sweet, crispy edges, soft inside, tasted like Fall! The sweet potato biscuit was a unique one, thick, mostly savory with a subtly sweet butter. The drinks are definitely pricier than your average local coffee shop, but they don't give the option to tip (at least I haven't seen it), so I don't feel like I'm paying much more, and the quality 100% justifies the prices. Parable Cafe is no secret; they're pretty popular. I came on a Saturday morning when it was downpouring rain, and there was still a line out the door! However, when I come around open time on a weekday, it's very peaceful for the first couple of hours. Lovable place!

So I’d like to start by saying the Google reviews that give Parable one star for price are wrong. If you don’t like paying what the full price of a coffee if, idk how to tell you to care about collective quality of life!!! You will be paying $7-$9 for coffee, that is what the full cost of a coffee is from using ethically sourced beans and growing methods through to the finished product. A couple other reviews also seemed to take issue with the staff having fun on the job. Um??? You’ll get your coffee??? Sorry everyone isn’t miserable making it?

I usually wouldn’t take the time to refute other reviewers, but there is great need for more employers who source their products with due diligence and pay their employees fairly and deliver a great service. Parable is one of those employers!

Parable has great pastries, coffee, and vibe. If you’re not a hater of people having fun whilst working and earning a solid wage, you’ll really enjoy the space and services.

EDIT: Coming back to this review after the fall and menu pastries and drink menus came out and both were insanely delicious and creative!

TLDR; Wow. Just wow.

Coffee: amazing. I got the single origin espresso cortado, a natural bourbon something I think she said. It’s freaking amazing. Sweet, smooth, a bit fruity. But not too much citrus or acid. Just wow. The milk is frothed to perfection.

Atmosphere: lively and relaxed. Plants everywhere. A small fireplace and lots of windows. Chill vibes music made it easy to relax and space out.

The only con is that it’s downtown and parking is the same hassle as going anywhere downtown.

Well done Parable. Well done.

What a great energy here at Parable! Staff is amazing - sunny and informative like a good friend. The cheese pull-apart bread is heaven on a plate for this bread lover, and the fat washed cold brew with festive eggnog cold foam is a holiday revelation! Parable is DEFINITELY on the list of destination coffee houses for meetings and workspace!

I love parable and truly feel welcomed every time I enter the doors.

The location can be difficult with parking but it is a little oasis when I am working in the legal buildings.

The coffee menu is a little in depth so it may be difficult if youre more of a black coffee drinker but the staff are always willing to take the time to answer questions. Ive had some of the tastiest coffees ever there!

The croissant with the goo centers are the best little sunday morning treat with my partner.

Seating does fill up quick!

Loved everything about this place, cozy, unique atmosphere and impeccable pastries! Parable lived up to every Instagram post I've seen and more! A treasure for sure.
There was ample street parking, but we opted for the courthouse parking as it was only 1/2 a block away and $3/hr.

This place has such a fun menu, pastries as pretty as they are delicious, and a beautiful plant-filled atmosphere. Just be sure to go at a good time because it can get pretty busy! We definitely plan to come back to check out the After Dark cocktail bar!

I've been meaning to write this review for a while now, but I wanted to take a moment to express how wonderful my experience was at this coffee shop during my business trip. Marco and Aaron provided exceptional service that went above and beyond my expectations. The pastries they offer are of top quality and absolutely delicious. And as for their coffee, it's made to perfection! Their lattes and cappuccinos were spot on and definitely worth trying. Overall, I am incredibly grateful for the great service and delicious treats I received while visiting this coffee shop. Thank you! :)

Today was my first time visiting Parable Coffee and it was an enjoyable experience. The decor is modernly chic. Comfortable seating either indoors or outdoors in their patio. I had their house made butter croissant and their latte with lavender and half & half which were simply delicious. Nice ambience with alike patrons. Nice and friendly staff. Metered parking out front, nearby, and nearby parking garages for a fee. Decent prices.

What can I say??? One of the best coffee in Columbus (if not the best).
I really loved the concept and the people I have found there. The spot and the atmosphere is amazing. I was lucky to find to seat, but I can imagine having hours where it will be more complicated. So, be patient.
However, I really enjoyed my stay there. My iced coffee with vanilla foam was amazing. Also the espresso was very well done and the blend they had was pretty solid.
Finally, people are very positive and nice. I enjoyed talking with them.
For sure, one of my favorite spot in Columbus… and I will go there many more times!!!

What an AMAZING ⭐ place to hang out! We came to the commons to check out the Christmas lights & wanted some coffee! What an amazing business! Absolutely community based! After a long day at work... finding this gem 💎 in downtown was amazing! Even better? Amazing service! The coffee area was closed but we chose off of their mini menu for coffee! + a delicious classic croissant & a ham + cheese one! 😋 the community needs more businesses who have the outlook that this place does! I am just truly amazed by how they are! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Holy smokes. Didn’t know what we were walking into. Fantastic pastries and coffee. Seemed expensive but realized it was a no tip program. Everything is top of the line. Please keep up the positive customer service and product!

We really loved the atmosphere! Hot strawberry oat milk latte and iced matcha strawberry latte were both delicious.

I would order the matcha again, for sure.

I'm generally not a huge fan of oat milk and that's all the hot one came with. The strawberry did not come through as well with espresso in my opinion though.

Love this coffee spot! African American & LGBT+ owned. I got the Lavendar latte and had to come back again for another it was so good! Cheddar and chive biscuit was amazing and the Nutella croissant is a must!

Beautiful space with fantastic high-quality drinks and INSANE pastries. Their pastry chef is beyond talented, and they offer such beautiful and creative creations (drinks and pastries alike) that can be appreciated by their art form alone -- but somehow they're also just as tasty as they are beautiful. How is that possible? (Follow them on Instagram to keep up with all the new pastry offerings -- they offer a new croissant flavor to try almost every weekend.)

All served in a stunning, chill space to boot. There's a reason why there's often a line out the door on any random weekday. It's a must visit.

Adorable little coffee shop with chill, friendly employees and innovative, delicious flavors. I know some think it's a steep price for 12 oz. of coffee, but read their website and social media before you judge - they are compensating everyone fairly! Online order is super smooth and helpful to me because I work downtown two days a week and don't have too much time on breaks. LOVE the pastries/baked goods they carry, too.