It’s no secret that we love a good cup of coffee. It’s how we start the day with a quick caffeine fix, it’s our pick-me-up whenever life is weighing us down, and there are sooo many artisanal cafés in Vancouver they almost (almost) outnumber Starbucks. So today, my friend Peggy and I are sharing our favourite spots in this city of ours.
Café Orso, 4316 Gallant Ave
If you’re looking for a snug destination with that quintessential west coast vibe, look no further than Café Orso. I love this coffee shop in Deep Cove because I can easily walk to it from home and it’s nowhere near as busy as Honey’s just down the street, which always has a lineup of people eager for their house-made doughnuts snaking around the block. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just like my space, and Café Orso has plenty of it. With leather booths, a white brick backsplash and plenty of natural sunlight streaming through their ceiling-high windows, it’s hard not to call this place homey. Also, their liege Belgian waffles are simply to die for.
Yama Café, 2007 E Hastings
You’ll be hard pressed to find a cafe in Vancouver that doesn’t serve a matcha latte these days and Yama is no exception. This couple-run establishment serves homey Japanese-style breakfasts, has a display case full of adorable confections and a superb drink menu. If you’re willing to mix things up a bit, I suggest trying their black sesame latte. It has a bit of a gritty texture, but it’ll warm you up on the inside and the beauty is it’s not too sweet.
Nelson the Seagull, 315 Carall St
Did somebody say peaches on toast? My ears prick at the very mention of it. Peggy brought me to this South African family-owned café a few months ago where we both moaned over our fig and walnut sourdough toast topped with ricotta cheese, grilled peach slices and a generous drizzle of honey. Maybe it was that phase of the pandemic, but my love of sourdough is incomparable.
Our Town, 255 E Broadway
Our Town is a cozy, modern cafe on the corner of Broadway and Kingsway with a superb lunch menu, ample seating and nooks filled with dried floral sprigs and fuzzy pillows. This is my regular haunt, and in fact while I was in Australia two years my boyfriend at the time went to Our Town to regularly nag the Australian barista about where to find the best coffee pretty much throughout Down Under. They’ve got vegan baked goods from Yellow Basket Baking and source their coffee beans from Timbertrain and Moving Coffee Roasters. Also, they add butterfly pea powder to their matcha lattes, giving them a muted blue tincture!
– Christine Beyleveldt
Café Portrait, 1120 Denman St
I walked into this little café in the West End and the artist in me nearly wept with joy. The walls and tabletops are entirely covered with beautiful portraits that were painted by one of the co-owners (a professional artist who moved to Canada with his wife and son from Turkey). In addition to the colourful decor, the soft jazz lilting through the speakers and scent of fresh coffee create a serene ambiance. It’s the best feeling to enjoy a cup of Turkish coffee amidst the artwork after a walk at English Bay—which is just a few steps away!
Kind Café + Eatery, 3080 Main St
Vancouver’s first zero waste café offers a rainbow selection of specialty nut milk-based lattes. Matcha, beetroot, turmeric, lavender, charcoal—you name it! These are not your everyday lattes, but don’t worry if it’s a good espresso beverage that’s your jam. Kind Café + Eatery serves local favourite Timbertrain coffee as well. And as part of their mission to encourage eco-friendly and zero waste living, Kind Café has a BYOC initiative: every Wednesday, bring your own reusable cup and you’ll get a free chocolate chip cookie, which I can confirm is excellent when dunked in coffee.
Caffè di Beppe, 2 W Cordova St
Di Beppe stole my heart the very first time I walked through the door three years ago and hasn’t returned it since. With its rustic yet elegant decor and selection of delicious pizza al taglio, fresh pastries, and sandwiches, Di Beppe is a cozy Gastown spot to grab lunch, work on your laptop, or enjoy a candlelit aperitivo date. Their coffee is made from an authentic Italian roast (of course) and can be consumed the traditional Italian way, standing up. Half of the floor space is actually a restaurant, so come get your caffeine and carb fix, ladies. Trust me, life is golden after you try their pizza alla palla.
– Peggy Liu