Hope Cafe in Castlereagh

WHILE THE COVID 19 VIRUS IS AROUND I WOULD NOT USE THIS CAFE!! While the place was clean they were using cups from right beside the till - everyone ordering food was breathing over them. I requested a cup from the side and highlighted the dangerous place the cups were in - literally everyone ordering would talk over your cup! The staff ignored me - just be careful everyone

I am visiting from Harvard University for work and needed to grab a quick bite to eat before my long day (thurs 20th). The food in Café Hope was very good and the selection of sweet items for sale is excellent! The best asset for this place is the staff. I was waited upon by David who was the most friendly of people, very knowledgeable of local attractions here in Belfast when I asked about things to do on my free days off. The decor is modern, light and spacious, with plenty of room for those who travel with a whole office in a backpack like me! Once again great food but exceptional service. Keep up the great work guys!

Great location and could be an ideal place for a very pleasant lunch or coffee. I have, however, given up hoping that the food will improve. It is consistently bad. It is a great pity because under the right management, it could be a wonderful asset to have beside the park.

I come here quite frequently due the fact that the coffee shop is attached to the main library in the university. Service is poor, I’ve waited 30 min to be given a menu before, food is basic and rarely good, I’ve been served cold soup on a couple of occasions, the crockery has also been dirty when presented to the table more than once. The only reason I can see for this place still being in business is it’s locality and student clientele.

Nice place for a quick bite or for some coffee and tray bakes. Food is ok but good value of money. Service is friendly and swift.

My wife and I called in here for breakfast on our way to the Tropical Ravine. The place has waiting staff and is very well laid out. There are tables for couples, four people or even a bigger group. We both had the cooked breakfast and a tea for two for £5 each. The fry was adequate if a tad greasy but it did hit the spot. The staff were pleasant enough and service was very good. We would definitely be back to try something else.

I used to go to Hope quite a bit for lunch and it had always been quite nice, however it has been a couple of years. My experience last week was abysmal, and I'm not ever that fussy. I'd stress that the staff were pleasant enough, though keen on ignoring, although it took 15 minutes to get a menu, but luckily only another 5 minutes to have my order taken. It was mildly busy, but no where near hectic. The tea I ordered arrived about 20 minutes later (the tea continues to be quite good, though sadly the cup was a bit on the grubby side, which I was happy enough to just wipe myself, won't kill me). No sign of my omelette though, not until 55 minutes after I'd sat down (35 minutes after having my order taken). The omelette itself was honestly terrible. It was completely unseasoned and poorly cooked. To make matters worse there wasn't even salt in the shaker and flip knows how long that would have taken (I'd 5 minutes left to eat and be back at work) so I made do with a generous helping of pepper and wolfed a chunk of it down before paying and sprinting back to work. I've been hearing similar stories for a while but because of previous experience of the place and the proximity to work I thought I'd go ahead and grab lunch there but never again sadly. It's a shame as it used to be very good, now it's a little embarrassing.

I visited outside term time for coffee and a snack. I stood at the counter for quite a while with three staff in view before someone spotted me and asked if I needed anything. I was then informed it was table service which seems odd for a University cafe. Food and drink good with friendly service, although 20% more expensive then most chain coffee shops.

Bought 2 small tray bakes to take away with me and was charged £4.50. Extortionate pricing for a university catering for mainly student. The server was abrupt and unfriendly. A thoroughly unpleasant experience. I will not be hurrying back.

I am a visiting academic and called in here while using the library. Firstly, I was surprised by the prices, how do students afford to eat here? Secondly, the staff appeared to be extremely rude. I had my menu thrown at me after waiting in a quiet cafe for approx 5 minutes! I ordered a coffee which was fine and a fifteen bun, this was stale. I spoke to the waitress and advised her of this. Her response was "oh, ok". She sauntered off and left the bun on my table!!! I went to pay, explained that I wasn't happy to pay for a stale bun, she SHRUGGED at me! This place is beyond unprofessional. Perhaps some staff training in customer service?????

Hands down the worst customer service experience I've ever encountered. Waited 30 minutes for food, when it came it was the wrong order. Asked for the right order. 5 minutes later got thrown a menu, asked why, was told they didn't know, asked again for correct order, another few minutes later, menu comes back at me again, asked why, was told they didn't know again???!!! 40 mins after walking in, I ended up having to walk out. Lunch hour ruined. Don't bother spending your money here. Staff really don't care.

In QUB's McClay Library this cafe serves great coffee and good food in an airy space. Reasonably priced. I can recommend the scones and my friend's baked potato looked tasty. The server was great when my friend accidentally spilled a large glass of water over me, nothing was too much bother.

Drop in for a snack Dropped in for a goat"s cheese ciabatta and a decaf Americano Seems a pleasant enough place to go

Waited 10 minutes for a takeaway coffee. When I took my first sip (less that a minute after it arrived) found it to be cold. Given how long it took them to produce it I couldn't be bothered taking it back. Give this place a miss.

Yo tenía el almuerzo aquí en febrero - personal desinformado acerca de qué opciones de menú sin gluten en ellos y había abandonado a hablar con el personal de la cocina para comprobar. Cuando mi pedido salio estaba prácticamente tirado en la mesa y el miembro del personal llena. Tuve que llamar la atención de otro miembro del personal para solicitar que me cambien la ensalada que acompaña a uno sin el aderezo - gracias a su mala actitud no mencionar el hecho de que el relleno de la patata horneados estaban mal (había pedido pollo, maíz y queso). Las patatas al horno con jamón, pollo y maíz tierno que recibí era demasiado caro para los pobres comida de calidad recibida - junto con una reacción al gluten no quería. Si el personal se encuentran en cualquier duda o están inseguros sobre los alérgenos, que pueden ser una comida deberían consultar con el personal de la cocina antes de realizar un pedido y hacer una nota en el pedido. El menú debe contener también información más alergénico, teniendo en cuenta que hay al menos 14 reconocido alergenos.

I only go there for tea/coffe & sandwiches as it has a limited menu for food, although I don't mind the service. This cafe has no aspirations and seems to be awkwardly positioned in the retail market with its expensive but less-than-average quality sandwiches. I don't understand how students can afford to eat here, since they don't get their money's worth. A cup of tea to take away is £1.70, and a flapjack is £2.00, but a ham & coleslaw sandwich is £3.25, and the quality of ingredients is poor.

I've been in the position quite a few times when Hope Cafe is the only option for food. With this in mind, you can't really blame them for attempting to charge students M&S prices for sandwiches and pasta. The staff on the other-hand are renowned for their commitment to short tempered, petty behaviour bordering on the sackable anywhere but a university campus.May the heavens help you if you attempt to modify something from the menu, or take longer than 30 seconds or (on one occassion) laugh too loud at a joke told at your table. Fun is not a prerequisite for hope, apparently. Do yourself a favour- the food is no better than the Spar down the street and you won't leave feeling like Queens owes you a £15 refund on your tuition; and do fall for the belief they thrive on, which is that students won't complain for fear of repurcussions. The gastronomical distress outeighs the tutting from staff.

Food is OK, but prices are on the steep side. The take-out options (toasted sandwiches etc) are more reasonably priced and popular, so expect queues around lunchtime in term time. It feels as if it should be more targeted at students given its location in the university library, but most students wouldn't be able to afford to eat here on any regular basis. This is a shame as the cafe itself has a modern feel, with comfy booths for sit-in customers. I feel bad saying this as I know the staff are really busy, so have little time for chat, but, in general, it doesn't feel that friendly a place to go for a break. Other coffee shops around the university have such a welcoming atmosphere when you visit them, and seem to really value their regular customers, but this is not one of those places unfortunately. Even when I'm working in the McClay library all day, I'd prefer to get my take-out drink elsewhere.

Coffee and ToastWaiter was very pleasant and helpfulAnd the decaf cappuccino was a smooth frothy pool

This cafe is on the ground floor of the McClay Library in Queen's University Belfast. As a result of this it can be busy at certain times during term. It is a basic cafe with some very nice tray bakes. The staff are generally young but are very friendly, helpful and attentive. As well as coffee the cafe supplies a few basic snacks. The Irish breakfast served up until 11 am is especially tasty. Opening times vary depending on whether it is during or out of term time so it is worth checking if you are intending to go. I would recommend

I went here to get carried out drinks mostly hot chocolate which was nice but the staff wouldn't go out and beyond themselves to help you.they could add more options to their sit in menu as it is quite limited.

As a student at queens it's super handy to nip into cafe hope for a coffee en route into the library. The coffee is generally really good but a tall waitress with black hair seems to have quite an attitude problem. I've went for a coffee a few times over the last few weeks and almost every time she has served me and been extremely rude and unpleasant when taking my order or giving me my coffee. Enough so to put me off going to cafe hope in the future. Manners cost nothing!

Nice premises. Mostly used as a lunchey meeting place for QUB staff and students. Unfortunately the menu doesn't really have much on it. My colleague is vegetarian, and he commented on the lack of choice when we visited. The food is tasty enough, but don't expect a culinary marvel. Coffee is average, not bad, not great. Their tills do not have the ability to split bills, which I think is a major problem.

I just wish there were a few more menu options and more reasonable prices here. I had a sandwich with roasted peppers and chicken, but the peppers were a wee bit on the soggy side. I don't think the menu has changed in all my time at Queen's.. but I keep Hope(ing)!! ;)

usually go here every day for coffee from work. staff very helpful and serve good coffee. great selection of traybakes too

First time I went, this was a really nice place....sadly the menu has shrunk since and the prices have gone up...nevertheless it's still ok and the service is always friendly and efficient.

Friendly staff, good coffee & a nice environment & relaxed feel to Hope. Really wish they had more vegetarian options on the menu though...

Hard to believe this is the cafe for a student library, its £1.75 for a bottle of water! There are vending machines outside in the student eating area but if you are unlucky enough to have no change you will have to pay the extortionate Hope prices. You will be charged extra for soya milk or syrup..The food isnt bad, homemade soup with nice bread, and plenty of tray bakes etc but for a student cafe the prices are scandalous and the manageress always comes across as extremely rude. One positive is that at least the coffee is always nice, and recently I have noticed that the staff waiting tables are much more helpful, but in general I would not say the service is anything special. Unfortunately they are always busy for convenience reasons, lecturers and tourists seem to be big fans and dont mind the price, so I doubt the prices will change.

As a student at QUB, I often pop in to Hope cafe for a coffee-to-go before going to study in the library. However, I can only really - barely - justify buying a regular filter coffee as this is £1.80 which is pretty expensive in comparison to other coffee shops. You'd think for a mostly student targeted cafe, prices would be slightly more student-friendly. But sometimes you just need a good hot coffee so I do still buy them - although not every day! I always get a lovely hot cup of coffee which is great. Sadly, that's the only positive about this conveniently located cafe. Unfortunately, the staff at Hope cafe have never been overly welcoming or friendly and just have you your coffee without so much as eye-contact. One time as I was trying to order, I was standing at the till and the guy taking orders didn't look at me until he had finished his conversation with another member of staff standing next to him. This made me feel like I was being an inconvenience. Funnily, it was the other (female) member of staff who made my coffee and gave a few cold glances my way whilst doing so, then handed me my coffee without a word. I feel bad for being so negative but I feel I have to write this as hopefully some things will change within the cafe. Usually there are little condiments; extra milk, sugar, spoons etc nearby to where you get your coffee. But in this cafe, they are behind where you stand whilst ordering. Not even one member cared to point this out to me and I had to go in search of it myself. Over all - a very cold staffed cafe which is unfortunate as it's such a popular one due to it's location. Luckily, they do serve hot coffee - hurray!

We were the only seated customers on a quiet sunday morning. Ordered basically 3 portions of toast - one with beans, one with cheese and a bagel with jam!!! Plus coffee. The coffee was tepid. The toast was a long time coming and then stone cold and crunchy - when you bit into it it disintegrated into a pile of cold crumbs. The bagel never arrived. We didn't bother telling them as we wanted to leave asap plus they were so inattentive and unfriendly I could not be bothered interacting with them. When asked to take the bagel off the bill the guy behind the counter simply grunted, oh!! we forgot it! No apologies. In fact the staff are so stand offish and unfriendly you feel like you are putting them out simply by being there. This started out a great cafe but has declined. Perhaps it has good days and bad but I have had a series of rubbish experiences of late. Some of the staff present an aloof I'm too cool for this crap front which is utterly tedious when you go in to a cafe expecting a decent atmosphere.

It's okay for a quick snack while at library. Some of staff are not especially friendly . Also if they are trying to attract student market prices seem on the higher side. It's perfectly ok but could be a lot better.

Been here a few times - service is good and provided by young staff. Nice airy and well decorated venue which is spacious - appropriate range of hot beverages, scones, sandwiches and tray bakes and at a reasonable price. Situated in a contemporary library building and part of the university