Vancouver: The best coffee shops around Downtown and Mt Pleasant area written by someone who married a coffee snob
Places to have some good coffee and food and get work done without being kicked out.
I married a coffee snob, which means I hardly find a latte tastier than the one at home. Not only that, he also bakes his own sourdough bread and has watched thousands of hours of bread-making videos on Youtube, which means my standard for bread is also higher than I - and my bank account - would like.
Therefore, every time we decide to have coffee outside, this decision doesn't come without the conviction that we are going to places that serve better things than we make at home - or, when it's a new place, we only visit it after extensive Instagram photo research, after all, every Canadian dollar spent on coffee has to be well invested.
I've listed here my 8 all-time favorites in Vancouver - all within about 2-3km from Downtown - covering the categories of food, coffee, and places to spend time. Hope you enjoy.
1. Yaletown | Small Victory's butter croissant
Small Victory may not be a hidden gem in Vancouver, and there's also a branch in South Granville. However, I've specified the Yaletown location here because of its cozier atmosphere, with outdoor seating where, depending on the time of day, you might even catch a bit of sun (on one of the twelve days when it's not raining in Vancouver).
Undoubtedly, Small Victory's croissant is the best I've ever had - not only in Vancouver but in life. I remember when we went to Paris, we tried some of the most highly ranked croissants, and none matched the same softness and obscene amount of butter as Small Victory's.
The coffee is also delicious, and I still dream of the day I'll try all the phenomenal-looking pastries they sell there. For now, I'll recommend the latte + butter croissant, and then you can let me know what you think of the other dishes.
2. West End | Green Horn's bagel with chive cream cheese (and the eggs benny)
Greenhorn might be one of the coziest cafes for enjoying a coffee on a sunny Sunday morning - even when it's chilly. Located on a quiet street in the West End, it has both outdoor and indoor seating, excellent service, and all the dishes I've tried there are delicious - including the coffee.
My husband Leo always orders the eggs benedict, which is indeed delightful, but I usually go for the bagel with chive cream cheese (made in-house and incredibly flavorful). I add a side of poached eggs and sometimes even have the wit to add a side of mascarpone.
If you do visit on a sunny weekend morning, I recommend arriving between 9-10 to avoid a waitlist - people tend to spend a generous amount of time there once seated.
3. Commercial Drive | Livia's breakfast sandwich and the sourdough (or any bread, really)
Ok this isn't quite in downtown or Mt Pleasant but it's one of my favourites so it had to be here. The breakfast at Livia on Commercial Drive is simply outrageous. And it's not just breakfast - they sometimes serve dinner, and the pastas are equally delicious. However, since this is a post about cafes, let's talk about their breakfast sandwich with a creamy egg in the middle. You can choose to add mortadella, which is a delight. In addition to the breakfast sandwich, I highly recommend their sourdough – always soft to the perfect degree that sourdough can be, and freshly baked on the day.
Livia also tends to have a line for brunch, but don't be discouraged if you arrive and see a lot of people outside - many of them are just waiting for their takeout orders.
4. Mt Pleasant | Coco et Olive's hand and cheese croissant
Coco et Olive on Main St is a delightful option, especially on a sunny day in Vancouver. Grabbing a ham & cheese croissant with a coffee and sitting at the outdoor tables between Coco et Olive and Liberty Bakery (which also has good coffee), then taking a look at the dishes, cloths, vases, and decorations they sell inside, makes for a great Sunday morning activity.
5. Gastown | The best coffee i've ever had, and with the perfect temperature in which coffees should be served
The coffee that Leo, my husband, makes is wonderful, but then there's the coffee from Revolver (hope he doesn't read this). Revolver achieves the perfect milk texture at the right temperature for serving coffee, and they also sell excellent coffee for home brewing. Revolver also has a cozy side room where you can sit with your perfectly temperatured latte, work on your laptop using the wifi, without anyone kicking you out after two hours, having only spent six dollars, and trying to imagine what those hipster folks with laptops in a cafe at 3 pm on a Wednesday do with their lives.
6. Yaletown | Craffles’ Tapioca
For the brazilians feeling nostalgic, there's the delicious tapioca from Craffles on Davie St in Yaletown - right in front of the square. It's a generously filled tapioca - at least for me, one tapioca is already a hearty lunch - and it's made just like in this photo I borrowed from their Instagram. You get to choose the filling from the various options they offer, and with each bite, it brings back a bit of the taste of Brazil.
7. Gastown | Nelson the Seagull's avo toast and pb + jelly toast
I love sitting at one of the communal tables at Nelson the Seagull, enjoying their toasts with a cup of coffee and my laptop. Similar to Revolver, I get the feeling that at every table, there's an interesting conversation happening among fascinating people. That's why it's a great spot for people-watching and eavesdropping too. Their avocado toast is served with the perfect seasoning, and I always recommend adding some poached eggs, which never disappoint. The PB & jelly toast is equally wonderful. Both portions are generous, so I suggest bringing someone along to try both.
8. Mt Pleasant | Le Marché St George's croissant and the pain aux raisin (I can rhyme)
Last but not least - actually, I think it's one of my favorites in the food + ambiance combo - there's Le Marche St George in Mt Pleasant. This little café is on a residential corner, literally a house turned into a cafe (somewhat in the vibe of Arbutus café in Kits, but even cooler), and you have to go without any rush. If it's a sunny weekend, you're likely to face a little line at the counter while you have someone scouting for an outdoor table. The tables and stools are very casual, and it's a somewhat family-oriented place - there are almost always kids and dogs around - a spot to sit, eat without haste, and enjoy the rare Vancouver sunshine.
Everything I've tried there is delicious, but the plain croissant and pain aux raisin (the one in the photo) are a must-try. And yes, order both and have them one after the other.
Phew! That's it. Do you have any cafes to add here? Comment below for me, and let's expand this list together.
Cheers!
Mafê.