As the economy slowly opens and the coronavirus pandemic continues, its important to recognize places, people, and activities that helped you during a tough time. Although these tough times haven’t gone away, I want to thank Vibes Cafe in Long Beach, California, for being there for me. They were there during times of hunger. They assisted people with groceries, and they were friendly when you stopped by. Most importantly, Vibes Cafe (even though they were pick-up only during the last few months) was there, as a home away from home.

Vibes Cafe is located in the obscure but beautiful neighborhood called The Peninsula. Essentially, The Peninsula is a sandbar spanning about half a mile in length. It is by far the cutest neighborhood in all of Long Beach (in my opinion.) 

Specifically, Vibes Cafe is located at 76 and a half 62nd Street, Long Beach, California. It looks like a beach shack from the outside with a modern restaurant vibe on the inside.

The sleek decor looks like a combination of beachy meets contemporary. I especially love the giant wooden communal table made of what looks like a giant slice of driftwood.

Their back patio has minimal decor but the solid concrete walls give off big city vibes. The tables and chairs give off beach vibes. This decor makes Vibes Cafe perfect for Long Beach.

Long Beach itself is a place with a big city feel, that manages to also feel like a small community by the beach.

I cannot tell you how much Vibes Cafe has become my new favorite cafe/restaurants to visit. 

Vibes Cafe is Delicious

Since my move to Paris didn’t happen, I’ve discovered this fantastic cafe with a delicious menu. Vibes Cafe has almost become a home away from home. I love ordering takeout several times a week here.

Vibes Cafe prides itself on local and sustainable practices. They’re also family-owned, which is something I try to support whenever possible.

Their Menu

The menu isn’t long or complicated, but it has some much-needed staples. Although many people love a menu with tons of options, I firmly believe a big menu makes the restaurant experience less appealing. Sometimes focusing on making each item tastier is essential. This is especially so for a family-owned business trying to make it big in a world filled with corporate restaurants that have every resource available. 

Their appetizer menu consists of several sharable plates, from a hummus sampler plate to ceviche. Let’s not forget about their coffee and daily made fresh pastries. I mean, it’s a cafe after all.

They have about 15 great entrees and a smaller list of burgers, sandwiches, and wraps. If all else fails, you can always order a pizza from their pizza menu. 

I should mention their prices are not beach shack prices, so expect to pay an average of $12 per plate. But, you will taste that exquisite quality.

Things I’ve Tried at Vibes Cafe

I haven’t tried everything on their menu, but it’s my goal to try it all.

As a coffee addict, trying their freshly made donuts is a given. It was first on my list of things to try.

My favorite donut so far is the chocolate and sea salt donut. Coming in second place is their horchata donut. They have several more flavors that I have to taste in the next coming weeks.

From then on, I’ve tried their Spicy Chicken Sandwich, their Breakfast Burrito, The Buffalo Cauliflower, Chicken Wrap, Shredders Bowl, OG Omelette, OG Tacos and their Breakfast Pizza, and its all very tasty.

If there is one criticism I have is that their Breakfast Pizza has too much tomato sauce, and I am not a big fan of tomato sauce, but that’s just me.

Otherwise, my mind fights over which item is my new favorite. So far, the Chicken Wrap and the Buffalo Cauliflower are winning.

In any case, I’m coming after the rest of the items on the menu, one by one! Mwahaha.

How Vibes Cafe Handled the Covid Closures 

As storefronts and restaurants shut their doors, Vibes Cafe remained open twice a week for takeout only (Tuesdays and Thursdays.)

They also became an integral service for people who wanted groceries but were too scared to head to the grocery stores due to the hoarding chaos and infection.

Vibes Cafe even went as far as letting people pick up food curbside, meaning you could drive up, wait in your vehicle as they delivered it to you. It’s a pretty fantastic service. 

Nevertheless, Tuesdays and Thursdays were the only time I could get that perfect Breakfast Burrito. However, the demand for Vibes Cafe was overwhelming. It seems I’m not the only person who loves this cute little beach shack. Twice a week isn’t enough.

Vibes quickly opened Sundays. After a few weeks, it seemed Sundays were a popular day to open. The lines were out the door. People kept their social distance as they picked up food, and everyone wore a mask, including employees of the cafe. 

Saturdays opened soon afterward, followed by Friday. 

However, as of June first, restaurants can open for dine-in services. This means they’re now opened every day from 9 am-4 pm.

Each restaurant in Los Angeles has social distancing rules and new sanitary standards to abide by. Vibes Cafe does a great job.

Although all of this happened within the last couple of months, it’s nice to dine in. Now that I have dined in again, I can attest that they are doing a great job at distancing each party and cleaning vigorously. Regardless, Vibes has not sacrificed any bit of ambiance.

I’m impressed by how Vibes handles the hurdles life has thrown their way.

Vibes Cafe Save My Mental Health

Well… Vibes Cafe provided a reason for me to leave my apartment during all of this isolation. They also offered a little bit of real-life socialness that the mind craves. Social media can only do so much. Although I crave less human interaction than the average person (trust me, I can be a hermit), I still feel like I needed it.

My virtual reality headset does wonders, and it’s a very close second when it comes to socializing, but the reality is nothing compares to meeting someone new. Nothing comes close to trying to appreciate someone’s great style or having a face-to-face conversation.

Each time I visited my feelings of isolation and hopelessness went away, and the world felt like a better place.

Family-owned businesses also work harder, which means they’re friendlier. Corporate companies don’t care as much. Nevertheless, that’s why we have to support our family-owned businesses like Vibes Cafe. Therefore, if you’re wondering if you should check it out, I want to inform you that you should make it a priority.

Let me break it down for you:

UPDATE: Vibes Cafe recently closed its doors permanently.

Do I recommend Vibes Cafe in Long Beach? Oh my god, yes! Go often. Try it all. Eat their donuts for breakfast and have a wrap for lunch. Feel good about the food you’re eating and the mom and pops you support. If Vibes Cafe isn’t on your radar, it’s time to put it there.

Quick facts:

Their menu is easy to navigate.

Quality over quantity

Prices range from $12 and up, per plate.

Friendly staff

Family-owned 

Check out their website for more information: https://www.vibeslb.com/.