Welcome to Lightbox Cafe
Lightbox Cafe, nestled in downtown Philadelphia, is a charming haven for health-conscious food lovers. Specializing in vegan cuisine, this intimate cafe showcases a menu bursting with creativity and flavor. The cozy atmosphere, adorned with plants and inviting window seating, offers a perfect backdrop for socializing over kava, smoothies, or beautifully crafted dishes. Guests rave about standout items like the flavorful Beet Lox Salad, decadent Chickpea Brownies, and the must-try matcha. Owner Gaby's passion for food and community shines through in every aspect, making Lightbox Cafe a delightful gem that inspires both relaxation and culinary exploration.
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704 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, United States Hotline: +1 267-687-1649
Welcome to Lightbox Cafe, a charming sanctuary nestled at 704 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA. This unique cafe seamlessly combines the best of a kava bar, an artsy café, and a scratch kitchen, offering a cozy escape in the heart of downtown. With a phone call away at +1 267-687-1649, you can plan your visit to this delightful eatery that promises an inviting atmosphere filled with plants and natural light.
As you step into Lightbox Cafe, you'll be greeted by warm vibes and friendly faces, particularly Gaby, the owner, who pours his heart and soul into every aspect of the establishment—from the eclectic decor to the thoughtfully crafted menu. This is truly a place where love for food and community intertwines.
The menu here is brimming with creative, healthy, and entirely plant-based options, appealing to vegans and non-vegans alike. Patrons rave about the jackfruit wrap, which artfully mimics the texture and flavor of traditional tuna, making it a must-try for those seeking a satisfying plant-forward meal. The Beet Lox Salad is another standout; it’s a vibrant bowl bursting with fresh ingredients that elevate the humble salad to new culinary heights. As one satisfied customer noted, it raises your expectations about what a salad can be—delicious and filling.
But it doesn't stop there. Indulge your sweet tooth with decadent treats like the chickpea brownie, which surprises guests with its rich, fudgy texture, proving that healthy desserts can be utterly delightful. Many customers have praised the banana nut bread, noting that it’s a fall-off-the-wagon dessert that makes indulgence feel guilt-free.
Lightbox Cafe is not just a feast for the taste buds; it is also a hub of community and relaxation. Visitors find a perfect nook to catch up with friends, thanks to the comfy seating arrangements and the inviting ambiance enhanced by the delightful sounds of music in the background. Whether you're enjoying a matcha—hailed as the best in town—or savoring a delicious smoothie, every sip and bite at Lightbox Cafe is an experience to cherish.
If you’re in search of a neighborhood gem that encompasses healthy, flavorful cuisine while offering a cozy atmosphere to unwind, look no further than Lightbox Cafe. It’s not just a meal; it’s a delightful escape that will leave you wanting more.
Charming cafe to relax in downtown, catch up with a friend over kava or a delicious vegan lunch. Don’t be fooled, if you’re a carnivore looking to change it up from provolone with onions you’ll be pleasantly surprised how tasty vegan can be. Gaby the owner is very friendly and knowledgeable. You can tell he put a lot of thought and love into the place. I especially enjoy the window booth seating when I visit. Surrounded by plants you feel like you might be in a cozy terrarium. Perfect spot for people watching. Definitely a hidden gem in downtown that I make a point to visit when I’m in the area.
Insanely good. Creative, delicious, and healthy items on the menu. Friendly chill vibes, great music. We just got a snack: tea, smoothie and a brownie, but want to come back again for more. The teas excellent. The smoothie was delicious, brownie was epic. Couldn’t have asked for more.
Very cozy, small restaurant with plants, books & seats in nooks. I should have taken pics, but so impressed w/ the food I forgot. Chose here because of gluten free/ dairy free needs. Got the lox beet salad. I felt it was pricey at 16, until I got it at the table. Packed with spinach and beautifully seasoned beets, tomato, onions, hummus, dressing and more. Big bowl, no iceberg or romaine hidden in there. Truly a hearty meal, and so flavorful it raised my expectations of 'salad'. Partner got a chickpea brownie, the kind of dessert that could be great, or terrible, and again, pleasantly surprised. Rich, fudgy brownie with a peanut butter bite and subtly sweet, not beany. I was tired & ready to be disappointed bc allergy-eating is so hard in restaurants, but everything was so nice! Final touch was asking for the brownie recipe & a lovely conversation with the owner. I hope their business continues to grow. Cafe entrance has a ramp that could accommodate a narrow wheelchair, stroller, or cane/crutch user, as could the first three tables. The bathroom is not accessible to wheelchair users, hope that changes someday soon, it's a tough renovation in an old place, just want everyone to try their food
Neighborhood gem. Kava bar, artsy cafe, scratch kitchen - Lightbox measures up to the best of all three categories. Gabi, the owner, curates the intimate space and impressive menu with love and attention. His hard work pays off: I can guarantee whatever you get will be delicious. I particularly like to stop by for a matcha (best in town) and a lemon bar (piece of heaven).
Teas and juices are wonderful. Food menu is limited but even better. Everything is prepared fresh and to-order and it's reflected in the taste. The dishes are also very colorful and aesthetically presented. A great choice for a healthy, plant-based meal and hopefully they can expand the food offerings!
Just finished the B.L.A.T. sandwich from here and it was so delicious! I'm not vegan but this hit the spot for my classic BLT craving and ingredients were super fresh. The environment of this cafe is also delightful and welcoming with cute light filled window nooks Def will be back and highly recommend!
Another absolute gem, if you want a momentary cozy getaway in a place that serves up healthy food that can free your mind, body and spirit, Lightbox Vegan cafe & Kava Bar accomplishes that with ease. Co-owners Gabriel Vasquez and Jennifer Hombach are to give thanks for this. Every dish is well thought out so fresh and seasoned perfectly, with discernible subtle flavors and ingredients. That will inspire every day foodies to come back and try everything on the menu. Hopefully I’ll have that chance I started with the special of the day which was a lentil chili served with fresh avocado slices, vegan sour cream, and a slice of fresh baked cornbread. A silky mildly spicy delicious broth takes chili in a different direction, i’ve never had cornbread like this it really compliments the dish. From the light bites part of the menu I ordered the jackfruit of the sea, i’ve had many vegan tuna wraps, nothing has come close to this the consistency of the jackfruit and the flavoring of it is spot on, it would be hard for anyone to tell the difference between this and real tuna, I think of the possibilities especially a tuna melt, which I used to love. I would buy this separately if possible if they sold half pound or pound containers. I need the recipe for this! Also from the light bites The Curry Vegetable Pastelillos these are air, fried handmade pies with chickpeas, celery, carrot, red onion, sweet potato, coconut milk and lime to dip, what’s better than freshly handmade nothing that I can think of. From the salad menu, I tried to Beet lox salad, A healthy portion of cucumber, tomato, red onion, capers, and carrot with tzatziki sauce, cashew herbed cream cheese, quinoa tabouli, and tahini drizzle served over spinach and Romaine, it was just so pretty to look at it. I did not want to touch it, getting into it thoughI never knew salad could be so diverse in flavors, excellent portion size and quite a value at the same time this was simply delicious. For dessert, I had a chickpea brownie. The chickpea brownie is a healthy zero guilt indulgence treat for sure, but the banana nut bread is something to write home about this I would travel across the city for, made with cinnamon, nutmeg, maple chili walnuts, topped with walnut cream, fresh berries, coconut flakes and cacao nibs, this is a fall off the wagon dessert that makes you care less about falling off the wagon! To complement all these dishes I ordered a tropical storm Super food smoothie that was so tasty it put me in such a relaxed state an hour later, it made my afternoon, 5 mile walk so pleasant, this is such a great place to go to just relax. Have a nice conversation and take you away. If only for a little while. I have nothing but love for this place.
This is a small cafe with many unique items. I really wish I had the time to go back and try all of the cool sounding drinks. Plenty of seating albeit a bit cramped, and there’s a restroom. There’s a big jug of water at the front so you can pour yourself some. I had the Dragon Mango smoothie which was delicious, and the jackfruit wrap which was nice as well. I really enjoyed the chill vibes - they were playing songs by one of my favorite bands I appreciate it that you guys are 100% vegan.