Starbucks

OK, this would be the first Starbucks I’ve been to a few years ago, and neglected to write a review I really enjoyed it and will be for sure coming back! When I told them that this is the first I have been in Starbucks, the very awesome with it, they told me to see what I like or ask for a suggestion, so I asked for a suggestion, and the awesome barrista there, (forgot their name, but big props to them), for giving me a great suggestion, I told them that I wanted to try something other than coffee, and the girl there said I recommend, the peppermint mocha, (It was around Xmas time), in which I really enjoyed. But none the less I will be coming back, and thanks once again to the staff, for being so patient with is Starbucks Noobie

I come here quite often, especially when I’m in a rush. The staff are excellent and provide amazing customer service.
I wasn’t compelled to write this review until this morning, however, because one of the baristas went above and beyond, and shocked me into a really great mood with her service skills. There was an unusually complicated coffee ahead of mine, and I had to wait a little extra to get my coffee, and then the espresso machine did something strange, so I had to wait a little longer after that. She kept me interested with an explanation of long-​shots and, when she slid the coffee over to me, said «I put two extra shots in it».
Great service AND extra shots?!
Impressed.

This Starbucks is my favourite in the city for a number of reasons:
1. It is close to my place in the North End and right in the middle of the Hydrostone Market.
2. There is bike parking right outside, good spot to stop and grab a cup of joe at the start of a bike ride across the city.
3. The staff is great, they remember what you order and take the time for a bit of small talk.
Really there isn’t much you can say about Starbucks, they offer a consistently decent cup of coffee but it really is the location and the people that make this coffee shop. The interior recently got updated with new seating and lighting (Edison lightbulbs). The real icing on the cake so to say is the outdoor seating and the fact it is close enough to the Hydrostone park to sit on a bench, enjoy some coffee and people watch.

This Starbucks location is, ya know, alright. It’s a Starbucks. I’m not blown away. It’s pretty nice, there isn’t a ton of space for seating. I’m here on a Sunday at 6pm and it’s pretty dead. So I have my pick of seats. I read a review that it’s hard to find a seat here. So maybe come Sunday evening? The hydro stone is a great neighbourhood so the people watching is good here. Is that too creepy for a Unilocal review? I mean that in the least creepy way. I mean it’s a nice neighbourhood to hang out and chill with a coffee. There are lots of work tables here but the wifi was a bit touchy, took a while to connect.
Grab a friend or your laptop and head down to this location for some good old fashion coffee buzzed productivity!

What is up hydrostone. Love this starbucks. I will be here a great deal more as I moved to the nabourhood from the south end where I was at the spring garden starbucks often. This northend hydrostone location offered the same great cup of coffee.

This is probably my favorite Starbucks in the city. The customer service shames the one on Spring Garden, and I’ve never had a bad drink from here!
The most recent drink I ordered was one created by the barista. It was called an apple pie frappucino and I INSIST you try it next time you come here. Unreal. Basically it was caramel, apple and cinnamon blended up, and then she put a generous serving of caramel drizzle, whipped cream and these crunchy caramel bits. I have been dying to get another one ever since I tried it!
Something else I appreciate about this Starbucks is that instead of throwing out their baked goods at closing time, they cut them up and offer them to customers. Yay for not being wasteful!

There’s more than a few Starbucks shops in Halifax and this is probably my favorite. I’m not sure why — it might help that it’s closer to me than most other ones but the atmosphere is cozy and the service is always great.
Excellent staff and service.

Welcome to the smallest non-​mall Starbucks in Halifax. Well, actually, I just made that up. I have no idea if they own the claim to this fame but I’d say it’s damn likely. The Hydrostone Starbucks is a strangely popular meeting destination for a place that rarely ever has available seats. And for that? It drives me crazy.
Now, there is some North End magic that has come to light as a result of their general fullness. People just end up sitting next to strangers, sharing tables, and striking up conversations. Yes, my friends, apparently this still happens out there in the universe. I had no idea. Kudos to you, Hydrostone folks. Way to be friendly.
The staff here have always been hit-​or-​miss and they seem to always be training someone new when I’m visiting. Not that it ends up being a big deal, but a longer wait for a drink that from time to time arrives a little off-​order can be a bit of a pain as you shuffle in the wee space between the add-​in counter and the crowded café.
Obligatory note: Humani-​T and Julien’s are both just a block away.

Well I mostly live in Seattle and my apartment there is only a few blocks from where the first Starbucks opened… so to say that I have a good feel for what distinguishes one Starbucks from another and defines its individuality would be an understatement.
I would say this Starbucks is very similar to the ones in Seattle in terms of the large open windows, the clientele, the friendly staff etc. I’d say it might be due for a bit of a cosmetic update, ie some of the décor is quite dated and the free wifi internet speed is atrociously slow (I’m having to use the hotspot function on my cellular phone because it was becoming impossible to load even a single website off the Starbucks wifi).
Other than that I love the views over the Hydrostone. Reminds me a lot of home and feels like a nice refuge on a cold blustery winter day when all you want to do is warm up. I would totally recommend!

Hydrostone.
My home.
Therefore (dot dot dot) Starbucks is less than a 2 minute walk from door to door. Always friendly and since we go there pretty often we’re kind of on a first name basis. I’m venturing out to other locally owned coffee houses but it’s always good to know my Starbucks is close by when I need a fast fix or just need to get out of the house for a few minutes.
A special shout out to Beth for being pretty awesome!

This is my neighbourhood Starbucks. When Tara and I moved to the North End where she is from Starbucks Mecca AKA Seattle it was a requisite to have a SB within a stone’s throw. The Hydrostone location does not disappoint.
Products:
Tara and I have dropped in for morning coffee, walked by for afternoon Americanos, spend entire afternoons hanging out with our laptops getting some work done with peppermint tea and enjoyed just about all of the specials SB has to offer (buy one get one on Valentines, free coffee in your travel mug on Earth Day etc.)
Service:
We are big fans of Beth and Erin who work at our location, both are friendly and offer service with a smile. When we had a customer service challenge this past February (one of our travel mugs proved to have a design flaw) even though the location couldn’t return the product, they gave us both a free drink for our trouble and told us exactly what we’d need to do to fix the problem. Once when Tara (true Seattelite) found the Pike Place brew to be too bitter they brewed us a new cup on them. What more can you ask for?
All in all, we love being regulars at the location and haven’t had a disappointing experience yet.

Like most I too have a go to coffee shop for my morning cup of joe. Starbucks in the hydrastone satisfies all my java needs.
Product ⁴⁄₅
Most items on the menu are fantastic and freshly made, however I’m not a big fan dark roast coffee and it seems the only other option is their Pike Place blend which is sub– par. Their heated chocolate chip cookie make up for the crappy coffee blend. Yum!
Staff 6+/5
The staff at this location are fantastic! Being a former batista I have a tendency to order some crazy concoctions, the staff are sweet and always get it correct. They also now know what I normally order so they give me recommendations based on this. Plus at least once per visit they give out samples on their newest products.
Establishment ⁵⁄₅
They always have great music playing that is sure to wake you up. The only downfall with this location is if you were going for coffee with a group, I don’t think this location could accommodate. There isn’t many available seats.

I enjoy this location.
It’s a bit hard for parking, as it’s only street and hard to find a close spot sometimes during the weekdays, but worth a stop. The interior is cozy and has a couple of larger tables for a group who may be studying or working on a project together.
I usually curl up with my knitting here and a cup of tea. Which is wonderful as LK Yarns is across the street.
The only con to this location is that the pick up area is a bit tiny and it seems as though they stuffed everything into that corner, including the condiment area where you dress your tea and coffee as well as the little hallway to the washrooms. It’s a bit of pain when it’s it’s busy, but the friendly staff and kind manager seem to make that all a blip off the radar.

The Hydrostone location of Starbucks is the newest one in Halifax, I believe, opening up just a few weeks after the Barrington St. location last spring. I remember the first time I heard that Hydrostone would be getting its own Starbucks and the potential anger that would ensue having such an establishment putting itself amongst the humble block that makes up the Hydrostone. My opinion was that if anything it would help draw people that otherwise wouldn’t come to the area, those of us afraid to try new things.
Personally, I think the Hydrostone is one of the nicest places in Halifax. It’s a shame that it’s only a block but it still has the cute little park in the centre though I’ll also admit that until Starbucks came along, my visits to the area were few and far between. Now I drop by every other week.
Most of my visits are to the Starbucks where I like to go on Saturdays to read, do some computing and just otherwise get out of the house and find somewhere to veg for a few hours in the afternoon on my day off. This location has the usual Starbucks fare, treats, drinks, frappuccinos, etc.
My first visit here last year, I couldn’t help but wonder if construction was even complete because the floors and walls remained bare. The walls, for the most part, have been covered with a wood panel but the floors still have the concrete base, as do the concrete pilars. Maybe it’s part of a new minimalist look they’re attempting at their newer locations as the Barrington St. location also has the same unfinished features.
I’ve never had a bad experience here as far as the staff and my orders go. It’s what I’d come to expect from a visit to this chain, although maybe slightly better since the staff at this location do seem friendly and the store itself is usually relatively clean, save for the pile of old newspapers that don’t seem to get organized. In fact, I’d say the only downside of this place is that it sometimes has a lack of seating if you’re unlucky enough to come during a busy time. But, in my experience, that hasn’t happened very often.
I’d say this location of Starbucks is my favourite of all the Sbux’ in Halifax and is usually my preferred choice when that frappuccino craving hits.