Koala karlous Mount Batten in Plymouth

Opening times are shown closing at 4pm, thought we could grab a quick coffee at 3.50pm to be met at the door by staff who were closing up and refused to serve us coffees. Quick coffees are not a speciality of this place, previous visits have had long waits for a coffee and cake but the views into Plymouth Sound are amazing. You can only pay by card for some unexplained reason. The coffee is good though but would go elsewhere normally.

Asked for 2 lattes and 2 carrot cakes. Firstly was served in a paper cup, then realised we were given someone else’s drinks. We took them to the correct customer after informing staff. Our correct drinks arrived 10 minutes later, again in paper cups. I removed the lid after taking a sip of my tepid coffee and it was definitely not a latte. I could visually see it wasn’t. I took it back to the counter and asked them to remake my drink with what I had ordered. A member of staff came over with my new drink, in a paper cup, she questioned me about my opinion on the latte and told me how she had removed the lid to look at the coffee and she said she could see it was definitely a latte, unfortunately for her I had already taken the lid off to look and I returned it to the counter without the lid. I pointed this out to her and she walked away with out so much as I’m sorry for the confusion! Each time I visit the quality of the service etc has declined which is sad as I’ve visited many times and it’s been really good. They could do with some mature and experienced staff. This place has the potential to be popular and a huge success but many things need attention.

Genuinely confused by the 1-star reviews. I have visited 3 times in the last month with my family and partner separately, each time we were served, quick, hot coffee that is some of the best quality I’ve ever had (my coffee snob dad agrees haha). On one visit we each tried a different bagel, all of which were delicious. Yes, it is on the pricey side for food and cakes but the coffee is reasonable, especially for the quality. There are also reviews about rude and unfriendly staff which I have never encountered - this could be coincidence but the staff vibe seems relaxed and close. I would encourage people to go and experience if for themselves to make their own decision!!

This was our 2nd visit with my husband, daughter and granddaughter and we all loved the bagels! So fresh and high quality ingredients. The service was quick and professional. My husband is a coffee snob and he said it’s the best he ever had and he sneaks back regularly. What a fantastic establishment to have here in Plymouth and the location is the best. Such a relaxing vibe.

Could be made decent with a bit more effort and care. It’s in a nice setting. Tables outside not cleaned when they’ve been cleared. For goodness sake just because they’re benches made of untreated wood doesn’t mean you don’t need to clean them with a cloth and spray… does it? Maybe I’m wrong but it seems reasonable to me to expect tables to be both cleared and cleaned after each customer has left and a new customer eats. Coffee was nice but served well before our bagel so we ate our food with no drinks. The bagel was tasteless and dry not helped by the fact that our coffee had been consumed by the time it was served. I would go back for the coffee but not much more. That said, coffee cups were very small.

Arrived at 12.00 no bagels!!! husband asked for slow drip coffee to be told no it’s too busy so asked for another type with same response so went for an Americano 😟 my latte was luke warm the cups were chipped croissant was stone cold won’t be returning it cost us £10 on the ferry to get there & back which was fine if it had been good & they’d actually had some bagels!!! won’t make the effort again. Shame cos we like to try & support local businesses instead of chains

Been twice, first time completely forgot my pastry order (easiest thing to bring out) and wrong smoothie - was adament that i was wrong - second time, thought id give it another chance and ordered salmon bagel, overpriced, bagel was completely frozen, adament again that it hadnt been in the freezer but the food was rock hard. Got it changed and it was still bland and cold. Agree with others completely over rated, wont be returning.

Very over rated , chaotic service, cool coffee and very expensive bagels. Had to ask for the coffee to be reheated and the bagels were cold and stale. Only good feature is the view,

We were welcomed by very friendly staff. This was the best coffee we’ve ever tasted, bonus with it being freshly roasted and ground on the premises! Just amazingly good! Spoilt for choice with the gorgeous freshly baked Bagels, had to have a few and share to try the different ones as we couldn’t decide which to go for! This is a must if you are in the vicinity of Mount Batten, you won’t be disappointed!

RATING FROM A GLUTEN FREE POV. We visited here as my husband loves their bagels. They are quite pricey but he tells me they are almost worth the cost and are a very nice bagel. As I cannot eat wheat, there is basically nothing here for me other than a drink - to be fair, the tea is very nice! The location is stunning and there is accessible parking close by. It can get very busy and they often have a ‘wait to be seated sign’ which is fine but it does sit right in the doorway making it difficult to get out when people are queuing to get in. I understand that catering for gluten free isn’t easy but it would be nice if they could perhaps offer a slice of toast or something? (A separate toaster would obviously be needed and there would still be a cross contamination risk). Many smaller venues are now able to offer a gluten free choice so I hope this is something they offer in the future. My husband says the bagels are very, very nice though! We haven’t personally experienced any issues with a long wait but I can see that it would get very busy.

Beautiful view, friendly and helpful staff and the dirty chai is fabulous! I also has the carrot cake which is delicious. I would say the selling point is the view. Great to have lovely big windows to enjoy it.

TThe atmosphere always feels tense, the staff are in a highly stressed flow due to the demand of customers & not enough staff. I have been here handful of times & have waited up to 30 mins for hot chocolate, which is always Luke warm. They seem to run out of the few things they have on the menu. The establishment is beautiful on a positive note.

Lovely coffee, lovely bagels, lovely location and lovely views.......however, they seriously need to get more organised. It's clear this place is currently a tad 'over loved' but 30+ minute gaps between your coffee being bought to your table and your bagel are simply unacceptable. I have visited 5 times now and can't fault the quality of the food and drinks but the wait times were so disappointing on all 5 occasions. No one minds a short gap between your drinks and food but on one occasion after waiting 40 minutes we had no choice but to ask for a refund. Heaven help them in the height of summer as they are already beginning to lose customers, as you can clearly see people upping and leaving / asking for refunds. Shame.

Great spot for coffee and bagels with an amazing view of the hoe and barbican from Mount Batten. I ordered the 6 hour drip and a lemon cake both of which were amazing. My friends are gluten free and there is plenty of gluten free options for desserts to choose from!

Was welcomed by lovely staff, who seemed genuinely interested in the customers. Food was great and the coffee too! Will definitely be coming back.

I cannot wait to revisit to have a bagel and another hot drink followed by their amazing smoothie! See you all tomorrow xx

Perfect Spot for a Sunday. Lovely team and lots of warm spaces near the fire place. Amazing Coffee and great attention to detail through the home roasted Coffee beans.

What a breath of fresh sea air Koala Karlous (pronounced “Carlos” for those of you wondering) is! Perched at the end of the peninsula, dipping its toes into the sound, it’s not just a waterside cafe, it’s an experience that blends three of my favourite things: great coffee, sea views and wellness. Catering to a wonderful mix of locals, tourists and destination visitors; this is the perfect place to come for delicious coffee and top quality bagels - just what I needed to satisfy my hunger after a walk on the coastal path in windy January. The space at Mountbatten is invitingly cosy, allowing you to enjoy the elements even if you don’t want to necessarily brave them! I can only imagine how incredible this place is going to be in summer. Having recently moved back from Australia - where independent coffee has been thriving for decades - I’ve been struggling to find a good local coffee shop and UK roasted bean for at home brewing. I’ve visited and sampled around 6/7 independent brands from around the country since my return and still couldn’t find the right one. I was getting close to paying the extortionate postage to get some sent from Aus. Then, feeling like the Goldilocks of coffee at this point, I found Koala Karlous! One of the team were more than happy to take me through my likes, their offerings, and how best to grind and brew the beans back home. Think of it like the coffee version of an independent gin distillery or beer brewery. I feel incredibly lucky that I can now just pop down to Mountbatten, have a stroll and a coffee, and take some delicious beans home - whilst also supporting a local, sustainable, independent business. They’ve only recently opened and it’s already busy- in February! Of course the team are new, but they’re incredibly enthusiastic about their coffee and passionate about the customer experience. So go easy on them if there’s a bit of a wait, especially on a sunny day, and pass your time with those sensational views. It’s a sign of a good place and whilst they’re still settling in, I can see they’re going above and beyond to make this a first class experience for us. They’re also making the most of the incredible space after cafe hours and have just started yoga classes a few evenings a week. I tried my first class last night, the Friday Relax, and it was exceptional. Daisy is a delightful & compassionate instructor, delivering a beautiful holistic experience in front of the log fire. I’ve already booked in for next week! I understand from Daisy and Brandon that this is just the beginning for Koala Karlous at Mountbatten, with more to come with wellness, coffee and more. I’m feeling very grateful to have this down the road and can’t wait to see what’s next. (This review was powered by a morning cup of the Koala Karlous Mahalo blend, brewed to perfection at home!)

Loved new inside restaurant with easy trendy music.It is dog friendly and there is seating outside. Great views of Mount Batton breakwater walk with sea all round you.There was a half term busy, buzz but the staff were attentive and friendly.Food boasted delicious wood fired bagels ,the creme cheese was reasonably priced and my husband enjoyed bacon,egg,lettuce with Swiss cheese filling. The coffees smelt good, looked good and tasted good. If you love bagels ,coffee and cake it's perfect. Buses and good cheap parking outside or park in the free beach park near by.

Our new favourite coffee stop! Great snacks and coffee along with the friendliest staff. The venue has a great vibe and the views are superb.

Personally I feel like some of the reviews left on Koala Karlous are a little harsh to say the least. After seeing Koala Karlous on social media myself and my girlfriend decided to give it a go. This is a very modern and stylish coffee...

Amazing location but all plates/ cups badly chipped. Cake was dry. Coffee order taken to wrong table. Then fresh order made for us by which time we’d finished our cake. Others had same problem. Could be great here but need to up their game especially...

Super coffee so cool how you can see where it’s roasted whilst drinking it. Bagels are SO good too the salmon is always a go to every time I’m there. Staff are very lovely and super service all the time!!!

bangin spot and the staff are really friendly!! coffee was good quality and fairly cheap too, gluten free options for food

Visited with friends and also elderly parents.A huge range of coffee styles,all roasted on site.The carrot cake was gorgeous,the flapjack delicious too.The coffee was really tasty.The wood burning stove was cosy and the decor is stylish and modern,with amazing views over Plymouth Sound.The servers were...

Such lovely bagels and coffee! Great staff, very accommodating. Will be coming again The view is incredible too of the pier.

Hot chocolate and cakes were delicious. A really nice place, very chilled and with a cute view. Would definitely go again next time I am in plymouth.

Visited today 11/2/24. Great location! Very chilled environment and friendly staff. Hot chocolates were amazingly good. Also had some carrot cake which was delicious too.

Ordered a bagel and coffee both overpriced. Coffee cold and food inedible. If you love a fly and extra protein in your bagel this is the place to go. Didn’t realise I was on ‘Im A Celebrity’ #getmeoutofhere.

Loved this place when it was the small container outside although was slow. Since it’s developed in to a cafe, each time I go they are sold out of all or most bagels. Considering it’s a bagel place it’s a shame you can actually get...

Was keen to try the place as had spoken to a very friendly girl about it just as they were closing. Sadly we would not repeat the experience. We took our dogs in, which was good but there it ends. Very loud monotonous mood music...

I visited Koala Karlous Mount Batten with 3 friends on Saturday around midday. We first decided to get a coffee from the outside takeaway van. Waited around 20 minutes for 4 coffees and received them lukewarm. We later went into the café for a bagel....

Staff were poor at managing customers, asked to sit and wait at table before ordering , slow to produce coffee, cake was almost eaten ! Cups were chipped, when pointed out to staff she blamed the dishwasher. Decor was lovely, very smart with outside seating,...

This place has so much potential. The decor is superb and the views are wonderful but that is where it ends! No welcome from any of the staff. It took over 20 minutes to order two very mediocre coffees by queuing at the counter! I...

I visited with a friend today having seen it advertised on Facebook for a coffee and a bagel for £10 deal. When we arrived we waited patiently at the ‘wait to be seated’ sign…..and waited….and waited! After about 10 minutes I went to the till...

Takes as long to get a coffee as It does to grow a coffee. Staff have no urgency and three staff in the booth with only one 'working' far too slow . We tinted the staff at over five minutes to sell and process some...

Very disappointing. Staff member behind cash machine unfriendly, disinterested and having conversations about getting ready to close when only 3:10. Young man escorting to chairs very professional and curtious. Menu has cinnamon bagels on it but no longer providing, menu needs updating. Coffee tasted like...

Lovely spot right next to Mount Batten pier. Coffee is incredible as are the bagels. Just such a shame they haven’t got their service organised as waiting times are a shambles. It was busy and I witnessed a number of impatient customers, personally I took...

Beautiful views, amazing dirty chai and delicious bagels. Super friendly staff too. It’s obviously a popular spot so waiting times can be a little long but it’s understandable with it being newly open and new staff.

Arrived at 1610pm to be told they were closing (website shows it closes at 1630) and had already turned off the machine. We only wanted to takeaway hot drinks, so was disappointing to find they turn everything off over 20mins before closing.

We visited with two adults and two children for a drink and a snack on a cold sunny day. We thought we would sit outside as it was a nice day. Half our order arrived in a reasonable time, the other half arrived about 40...

Was really excited to try this place but was sadly so disappointed! Arrived and there was hardly any of the menu available. When we ordered service was quite poor and borderline rude from some members of staff. Coffee order came and was incorrect which to...

Can't beat the coffee and location. Coffee served in lovely pottery mugs, the flat white was excellent. However we didn't enjoy our bagels. Quite difficult and messy to eat and no cutlery! Also the bread was very sweet even though the fillings were savoury. Very...

First visit today - weekday late morning. Looked quiet from outside but was busy inside. Bigger space than expected, main feature is the view west down the pier towards Mount Edgecumbe as well as left across the Sound and right over the Hoe, Devil’s Point...

Superb. Really delicious coffee, great cake, friendly service and good value. World class view across the Sound to boot. Really enjoyable, thank you so much.

Great coffee and cake today. Excellent service, friendly staff. A great location and very nice atmosphere.

Wow! Love the decor. Love the views. Even on a soggy day. Beautiful coffee, in a funky raku mug. Bagels looked great, so I took a seeded, unfilled one away and ate today.....absolutely delicious! My friend said her halloumi avo was really good. The staff...

Lovely cafe offering fabulous coffee and bagels. I had the New Yorker messy to eat but sooo delicious. Some may say at tad expensive but, you get what you pay for lovely fresh ingredients and warm bagels. Although it was busy we didn't have to...

Came here two days in a row. Mocha and hot chocolate were excellent presented in different, fun cups. Minimal decoration although there was a giant Christmas tree blocking the fire exit which was alarming to see! Staff were friendly, but slow to clear tables. The...

Coffee was superb, if only they'd toast their bagels. Cold, dry and hard to eat. Lovely atmosphere, if you like sitting in a kennel. It's just too small for large dogs (there were 3 at the time of my visit). The beautiful aroma of coffee...

Quite a few tables needed clearing. Unfortunately large black container blocking the view. Staff very friendly. Good decor. Small dog appeared from the food prep area - not good. Didn't clearly state if it was table service or order at the till. Acoustics bad if...

Best bagels in Plymouth, loveliest staff and really good coffee. I’ve been a couple of times now and the staff always remember me, I had a lovely chat with one of the staff regarding a trip I was taking and today we caught up about...

An amazing spot and view and definately well worth a visit when out for a stroll to the Mount Batten area where myself and family frequently visit. The hot chocolate is lovely and flavoursome and although I have not personally had a bagel, I have...

First time visit, lovely coffee, beautiful bacon, egg and cheese fresh bagel, best bagel I've had in a very long time! Quick, friendly service, would highly recommend. Looking forward to going back to try the rest of the menu!

Excellent coffee- efficient, friendly staff. Shame they are no open a bit later during the week as well. Will be returning to try the pizza next time!!

Popped down for breakfast with my partner at 08.30 on a Sunday, and ordered a salmon bagel. I was told there was only one salmon left as the morning delivery wasn't in yet, and the bagel I was given was completely solid/stale so I assumed...

The set-up and menu looks great, but staff are slow to serve, not able to multi-task and several people in front of my (and me) gave-up and walked off including o e chap who had paid and couldn’t wait any longer for his coffee. Personally,...