By day, Club Empire is a coffee destination — pour-overs, fresh pastries, the kind of morning rhythm that makes Waterloo feel like home. By night, the same space transforms into a cocktail bar with a curated spirit list and the warmth of a living room you didn't know you had.
Club Empire started with a simple observation: the best moments in Waterloo happen in between — between the rush of the workday and the ease of the evening, between the coffee you need and the conversation you didn't know you wanted.
We opened our doors on W 5th Street with a dual vision — a café that serves as a genuine morning gathering place, and a bar that feels like an extension of that same warmth when the sun goes down. Same walls. Same team. A completely different light.
Nothing pretentious. No dress code. Just good coffee, well-made drinks, and the kind of atmosphere where strangers become regulars and regulars become friends.
Floor-to-ceiling windows flood the café with natural light. Bring a book, open your laptop, or simply watch Waterloo wake up from your corner table.
When the lights lower and the playlist shifts, the space becomes something softer — dimmer, slower, more intimate. The same chairs. A completely different conversation.
Whether you're working solo at the counter, meeting a friend at the communal table, or celebrating with a group — there's a spot that fits the moment.
313 W 5th St
Waterloo, IA 50701-5507
Event inquiries, catering questions, or just want to say hello — drop us a line and we'll get back to you.
Thanks for reaching out. We'll get back to you within 24 hours.