Hello there! Penny here. 😽 Po and I have been documenting our latest adventure to Canada, but today, let’s talk about one of our favorite things in life: COFFEE!

If there’s one thing you need to know about us, it’s that we love coffee, and we need to have at least one cup of coffee a day. Whenever we travel, coffee shops are one of the first things we research. That way, we know what we are getting into and won’t be without a good cup of life-giving brew!

If you’re always on the lookout for coffee, we hope these entries will be a good jumping-off point for you.

Our first coffee stop will be Vancouver! Lucky for us, it is a city whose coffee shop culture is vibrant and diverse, blending west coast charm and multicultural influences. We were also staying in the downtown area, which means that there is more coffee shop availability and it is walkable.

[Note: We are all about the third-wave coffee shops! We love the aesthetic and craft coffee, so we will try to feature these as much as we can.]

Since we were in Vancouver for 4 days, we couldn’t try that many coffee shops, but hopefully we will be back someday for more! From what it looks like, there were plenty of coffee shops to choose from - whether they were hip third-wave shops, small mom-and-pop counter services, or cafe stops at a tourist attraction.

Join us now as we experience 5 coffee shops in Vancouver!

1) Giovane Caffe

Only a 6 minute walk from the Coast Coal Harbour Vancouver Hotel where we stayed, Giovane was a quick, easy, and tasty way to start the day. This coffee shop is inspired by modern Italian coffee bars, and serves up espresso drinks, focaccia sandwiches, and Italian baked goods. There’s a small seating area, but we were able to grab a seat every time we went…which was 3 times this whole trip! (Po absolutely loved it here, and yes, while we could have experienced more coffee shops, Po just really wanted to come here.)

I had a hot oatmilk latte (my go-to order), and it was fantastic. What made it even more special was that the coffees were accompanied by an amaretti cookie, which went so well with the coffee! Did I consider buying a whole bag of amaretti cookies to take home and have with my home coffees? 🌝

Going to a coffee shop that also serves food is one of our favorite ways to save a bit of time when traveling. We can get our coffee fix while enjoying a hearty meal, which is why Po liked coming here. Rather than lukewarm, mediocre breakfast burritos, you can get a fresh, hefty sandwich with meats and vegetables on a soft, fluffy focaccia bread. Did I also mention the Italian pastries?!

Favorite Menu Items:

Prosciutto Panini ($14 CAD) - prosciutto, bocconcini cheese, tomato, arugula, basil pesto, balsamic reduction in a soft, fluffy focaccia bread
Nocciola Bigne ($8.50 CAD) - hazelnut cream puff
Latte ($5.25 CAD) - with oatmilk (+ $0.50)
Cappuccino ($4.75 CAD)

2) Breka Bakery & Cafe

In addition to Giovane Caffe, Breka became another one of our reliable go-to spots. Open 24 hours and with multiple locations, this cafe is a lifesaver for any time of the day - whether that’s a filling morning breakfast, afternoon pick-me-up, or a spot to unwind with a cup of tea after dinner.

The vibe here is casual and unpretentious, with plenty of seating. Especially at the Bute Street location, there seemed to be a lot of students working (or maybe non-students - I’m not sure!). The pastry cases are packed with sweets and savories ranging from sandwiches to cookies to cakes to pastries - everything! There were definitely more options earlier in the day, but still a lot to choose from at night.

The other location we visited was on Denman Street, which had a more minimalist, modern aesthetic, and was a 20-minute walk from the Vancouver Aquarium. There are many other locations around Vancouver, making it easy to stop for a sweet treat or caffeine boost.

Favorite Menu Items:

Hot Tea ($3 CAD) - Because it’s hard to get a good hot cup of tea at night when traveling! We had the jasmine green tea, sencha green tea, and black tea on multiple occasions.
Spinach and Artichoke Pocket ($6.75 CAD) - puff pastry filled with spinach and artichoke and comes with a pickle spear; can request it to be grilled / heated [shown in top photo]
Chocolate Dipped Almond Cookie ($1.50 CAD) - tastes like almond frangipane (my fave!) with a slightly chewy texture; I still dream about this cookie! [show in photo above]

Overall, it’s a decent up of coffee and convenient. Come here to experience a variety of pastries and baked goods!

3) Petit Ami

When visiting Granville Island, there are a few coffee shops, with three in the Public Market - JJ Bean Coffee Roasters, Petit Ami, and Blue Parrot. French-inspired and with a whole array of coffee beans on display, Petit Ami seemed like the best choice for us.

I ordered a latte, and Po went for an Americano. Unfortunately, I didn’t care for my latte; the flavors just weren’t right for me. However, being inside the Public Market, the best part was taking our to-go coffee to the seating area upstairs and gazing out the window. I had bought a postcard from Paper-Ya and was writing on it while sipping coffee and enjoying the view.

My latte was $4.95 CAD, with an additional $0.95 for oat milk. Po’s 16 oz drip coffee was $3.45.

Granville Island is an awesome place to visit, but we’ll share more about it next time! If we were to visit again, we would go for JJ Bean next time, which is a Vancouver-based coffee chain that we didn’t even try this whole trip! (Perhaps you would like to!)

4) Pallet Coffee Roasters

We discovered Pallet Coffee on our last full day in Vancouver, probably because I was putting my foot down on going to Giovane Caffe yet again. In terms of specialty coffee, minimalist aesthetics, and a full cafe menu, this place checked all the boxes for us!

Established in Vancouver in 2014, Pallet Coffee has multiple locations across Vancouver. We went to the one on Melville Street, and had a lovely brunch with coffee. This place even serves pour-overs, which is Po’s favorite! However, I got the flat white, which Po loved, and from here on out, he’s been ordering flat whites (if not pour-overs) wherever we go!

Favorite Menu Items:

Nordic Salmon Toast ($17 CAD)- smoked salmon, avocado, radish mixed greens, dill cream cheese, topped with egg on sourdough
Mushroom Toast ($15 CAD) - sauteed mushrooms, mixed greens, hummus, topped with egg on sourdough [shown in photos above]
Flat White ($5.25 CAD)

The coffee is a bit on the lighter side (I prefer darker roasts), but Po loved it. The food looked like art, the baristas were friendly, and the ambiance was a 10 out of 10!

5) The Cabin at Capilano Suspension Bridge

In our opinions, tourist attractions rarely have good coffee. (Because we like the modern, hipster coffee places and espresso drinks!) Most of the times, we’ll get coffee before or hold out until after the attraction. However, we always want to know if there is coffee available at tourist attractions, and if not, how long we have to wait.

When you are visiting Capilano Suspension Bridge, and you make that tearful trek across the wobbly bridge and reach solid ground on the other side and see a cute little cabin serving up coffee and treats, it’s hard to say no.

The Cabin is tucked is tucked into a lush, forested area, and has a separate outdoor seating area with lights strung up, giving super cozy, rustic, woodsy feels. Come here to say you ate otter balls, which are basically mini pancakes drenched in maple syrup. The coffee was fine (forgettable), but nice to warm us up as we explored the surrounding forest. We also tried the otter balls, which are basically mini pancakes drenched in maple syrup - and squirrel-approved!

Favorite Menu Items:

Canadian Otter Balls ($10.25 CAD)

Final Sips

We barely scratched the surface of Vancouver’s coffee shops, which are a part of the city’s charm and culture. (Of course, going to tourist spots away from these awesome coffee shops also limited the places we could try.)

Each coffee shop we visited offered us a unique experience, though, from treetop views to artisan pour-overs and late-night pastries.

If you’re planning to visit Vancouver, we hope this list is a starting point to your coffee tour of this city, or at least has inspired you to explore its coffee scene. And if you’ve been to Vancouver coffee shops or live in Vancouver, let us and our readers know below which coffee shops we should have on our list the next time we visit!

Helpful Travel Links

Giovane Caffe - Italian coffee shop for espresso drinks, pastries, sandwiches, and salads (multiple locations)
Flying Whale Cafe - waterfront eatery with nice harbour views located in Canada Place*
Breka Bakery & Cafe - 24-hour bakery and cafe with a lot of sweet and savory options (multiple locations)
Petit Ami - coffee shop inside the Granville Island Public Market that also sells coffee beans
Pallet Coffee Roasters - specialty coffee and restaurant food
Courtyard Cafe & Coffee Bar - quick snacks and beverages inside the Vancouver Aquarium with a spacious seating area*
The Cabin at Capilano Suspension Bridge - beverages, otter balls, ice cream, and treats

*These coffee shops were not mentioned in the post since we only grabbed a quick drip coffee. However, still good to note whenever you are in these attractions, that there is coffee available nearby! The Vancouver Aquarium’s cafe coffee actually hit the spot quite nicely!

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