Veritas Café

Veritas Cafe/Wellness Building, 75 University Ave W, Waterloo, ON N2L 3G1, Canada
$$$ Cafe , Coffee shop
(78 Reviews)
Price Range $1–10

Veritas Café is a casual and practical spot right in the heart of Laurier’s Waterloo campus, making it a go-to for students and staff alike. Located inside the Wellness Building, it balances the needs of a busy academic crowd with a welcoming atmosphere that encourages quick visits as well as casual meetups.

Visitors can expect a steady flow of fellow students—especially music students—lining up for their favorite treats, giving the place a lively background hum of campus life. The setup caters well to those between classes or looking for a convenient, affordable bite without straying far from their schedules. Service tends to be friendly and efficient, getting orders out promptly, which is crucial for a spot that thrives on a quick turnover during busy hours.

Food options there lean toward budget-friendly crowd-pleasers with some standout items gaining local popularity, like a notably enjoyable pepperoni pizza roll and a roast beef sandwich that’s repeatedly recommended. The café also provides basics like complimentary water, a small but appreciated detail for anyone trying to stay refreshed amid a heavy day of study. Coffee here is decent, supporting the campus vibe without overshadowing the food offerings.

While the café scores points for accessibility—accepting the OneCard system and positioning itself centrally—it currently offers limited variety for those with specific allergy needs, such as soy-free baked goods. This might be a consideration for visitors with dietary restrictions looking for a broader selection.

The overall atmosphere at Veritas Café feels informal yet homey, with plenty of students eating, chatting, or working, often turning it into a spontaneous social spot. The early parts of the day and lunch breaks tend to be the busiest, ideal if you want to catch the pulse of campus life. For those wanting a quieter moment, mid-afternoon visits may offer a more relaxed environment to recharge.

In essence, Veritas functions as a reliable and convenient campus café designed around student rhythms and tastes. It’s best suited for those who appreciate quick service, affordable food, and an environment buzzing with the kind of spontaneous connections unique to university settings.

Highlights
Serves great coffee
Has great tea selection
Popular for
Popular for breakfast
Popular for lunch
Good for solo dining
Good for working on laptop
What they serve
Serves alcohol
Serves beer
Serves coffee
Serves healthy options
Quick bite
Serves vegetarian dishes
Best for
Serves breakfast
Serves brunch
Serves lunch
Has catering
Serves dessert
Has seating
Accessibility
Has wheelchair accessible entrance
Has wheelchair accessible parking lot
Has wheelchair accessible restroom
Has wheelchair accessible seating
Parking
Free street parking

Openings Hours

Checking

Monday

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Tuesday

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Wednesday

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Thursday

9:30 AM - 4:00 PM

Friday

Closed

Saturday

Closed

Sunday

Closed

78 Reviews
Nicole Chan

06 Jan 2026

this place has gotten so much better post-pandemic! they accept onecard now, food is very affordable (and delicious), and the atmosphere is good. very accessible for students to grab something in-between classes as it's fast and in the middle of campus. there's also a 100% chance of running into music students while in line, which is an added w.

Aidan Hardy

19 Dec 2025

Nice, quaint little café on Laurier campus from the GSA. The staff here are very helpful, friendly and efficient when taking your order, and the wait for the food is minimal. Speaking of the food, it is incredible, the pepperoni pizza roll is to die for! They also have complimentary water if you get a bit thirsty. Overall, my favorite place on campus for a quick bite to eat and I will definitely be coming back!

Ben Kovac

13 Nov 2025

Max brings such a pleasant vibe to my dining experience. He took my order, made the food and then served it, literally what can’t he do. I brought my boyfriend, Nick with me when I went last time and neither of us could take our eyes off the perfect man. Give him all the accolades because he deserves them. Love the roast beef sandwich thing!

Brittany Sheridan

03 Nov 2025

Veritas, much like the rest of the campus dining options, has very little in the way of soy-free baked goods and other budget-friendly snack options. Their staff are friendly and the coffee is decent. Overall, Laurier could do better to make sure that their eateries have options that keep in mind the top priority allergens, which does include soy.

Charlotte Bourdon (Stargirl Caraway)

30 Oct 2025

Good food, quick service, and a homey feel. Always busy with students eating, chatting or working. It's a great place to relax and meet friends by chance on campus.

Jennifer Liu

20 Oct 2025

The cafe has a good variety of food and drink, and a couple vegetarian options as well. I got a spicy veg sandwich, which was really good, but I think I'll try something else next time. Interesting sandwich cut. It was around $6 after the 25% student discount, and they take Laurier OneCard convenience dollars but not flex dollars, disappointingly. The interior is very nicely decorated and they have a good amount of seating. The staff were very nice.

Ann Josling

03 Oct 2025

A small but wonderful cafe located at Laurier. They hosted a small reception for a group of special unique people learning about opportunities and learning skills within the community. They served the best pigs in a blanket that I ever had along with special desserts. It is a great little place to visit. Prices are reasonable and service was excellent!

Shannon Doris

26 Sep 2025

Food was phenomenal here but in the last year (prior to the pandemic) there were a handful of staff members that were not very friendly. Overall this was our favourite place to go during my time at Laurier for my Masters because of the quality of the food and drinks, but I often felt like a burden to a few of the people who were working there whenever I'd place an order.

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