Hip hangouts: Coffee shops along Vancouver's Main Street
As one of the more popular neighbourhoods for young families, urban hipsters and long-time locals, there’s no shortage of excellent coffee shops in Mount Pleasant to fuel the area’s caffeine addiction. From 7th south to 30th, these cafés are worth spending some time in.
Gene Coffeebar
2404 Main St, Vancouver BC V5T 3E2Squeezed into the flatiron building where Main and Kingsway fork, Gene is a hipster coffee drinker’s haven. Most patrons are behind their Macbooks, though in summer, the raw wood benches outside are flooded with friends meeting up for a quick coffee. Indifferent service doesn’t mean your beverage isn’t hot and delicious, and snacks include great croissants, cookies and a limited but tasty breakfast. The music is at the whim of the barista, so expect anything from heavy metal to Lou Reed.
Lucky's Doughnuts
2902 Main St, Vancouver BC V5T 3G3It’s difficult to resist the aroma of strong coffee emanating from this local favourite at 13th; peer in the window for a glimpse of Lucky’s Doughnuts behind glass cases and your resistance will be futile. Indulge inside or on their side patio as you sip from their signature robin’s egg blue mugs of coffee, beans freshly roasted at their Burnaby facility, and tuck into an old-fashioned or a coconut bismarck. Grab the Saturday newspaper and your weekend is made.
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
3010 Main St, Vancouver BC V5T 3G5Constantly abuzz with area locals, it’s tough to snag a coveted seat beside the fireplace at the Main and 14th location of JJ Bean. But the entire café is welcoming, comfortable and, thanks to that fire, cozy on those blustery Vancouver days. Choose from their staple list of house roasts and pair your coffee with a gigantic, irresistible-smelling muffin or their impressive French croissants, appropriately flaky and buttery. A perch at the window bar is a great alternative to the armchairs.
Cocoet Olive Fine Foods Ltd
3707 Main St, Vancouver BC V5V 3N8This charming, French-country inspired café is the perfect place to meet a friend — whether for morning coffee, a wholesome lunch or afternoon treats. They serve Intelligentsia coffee and, by making all their food in-house, guarantee delicious offerings like daily quiches, flatbreads, soups and sandwiches. Sweets, though, are a must — flourless chocolate cake, macaroons, croissants and other pastries are perfect companions to steaming coffees and long conversations.
Cafe Trafiq
4216 Main St, Vancouver BC V5V 3P9This licensed café at Main and 26th is known for its impressive sandwiches, selection of quiches, delicious daily soups and beautiful whole cakes. It’s also a great place to have a coffee. But forego your usual caffeine fix and opt for their hot chocolates instead. Using a variety of imported chocolates, from white to caramel-milk to super-dark, your steaming cup of melted cocoa is rich, sweet and almost sinful. Still craving coffee? Make your chocolate a mocha with a shot of espresso.
Continental Coffee
4295 Main St, Vancouver BC V5V 3P8The second location of this family-run Commercial Drive stalwart now on Main and 27th has easily slipped into Mount Pleasant, bringing with it the friendly neighbourhood vibe and the delicious, locally roasted espresso blends it’s known for. The small space is relaxed and low key, with a few sweet and savoury options to pair with your drink. A few café tables outside make for great Main Street people watching.
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