The best coffee shops in Gastown
What the hell is Gastown?
It’s downtown, near the water. It’s full of tacky gift shops, high end clothing stores and some really great bars, restaurants and coffee shops. It’s heavily populated with tourists, but with my guidance I will show you the best places to visit if you want a coffee break from the morons taking photos of the steamclock.
If Gastown isn’t your thing why not check out our Top 10 Coffee Shops 2016 or our Best Brunches list.
Nemesis Coffee
302 W Hastings St
Coffee: Multiple roasters from around the world
Espresso and Pour over
Click here to read our review
Why not start with the best on the list, given that Nemesis is one of our favourite coffee shops in the whole city. Stunningly beautiful, amazingly friendly staff and some of the best coffee you can find in North America, let alone little old Gastown.
Revolver
325 Cambie St
Coffee: Multiple roasters from around the world
Brew styles: Espresso and Pour over
Click here to read our review
One of the most famous coffee shops in Vancouver, Revolver lead the charge for high end specialty coffee in Vancouver. The venue is an instagrammers dream, the drinks are incredible and the coffee cake is the best we’ve ever had.
Timbertrain
311 W Cordova St
Coffee: Roasted themselves
Brew styles: Espresso and Pour over
Click here to read our review
High end coffee, a beautiful setting, great staff and they roast their own beans! Timbertrain is a great place if you want to get off the chaos of water street.
East Van Coffee Roasters
319 Carrall St
Coffee: Roasted themselves
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
You have to venture out to the sketchier end of Gastown, but ignore the unappealing look and you’ll find an amazing little coffee shop that specializes in extremely delicious chocolates all made via their social outreach program that employs women from the downtown east side.
Prado
100 W Hastings St
Coffee: 49th Parallel
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
Look for the steamy windows in winter! Prado is a solid choice if you don’t want anything too fancy (like Nemesis and Revolver) but instead just want to sit down with a book and a cookie.
Chambar
568 Beatty St
Coffee: 49th Parallel
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
Click here to read our review
One of the best spots in town for brunch, as well as being a solid coffee shop. Their specialty drink is the lavender latte which is a lightly sweetened espresso latte, with a floral kick.
The Birds & The Beets
55 Powell Street
Coffee: Bows and Arrows
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
Click here to read our review
Despite the fact that they’re so fancy that they have two entrances, The Birds and the Beets is actually a hidden away cafe at the east end of Gastown. Great coffee and service but their unique selling point is that the place is stunningly beautiful, with flowers everywhere.
Nelson the Seagull
315 Carrall St
Coffee: Elysian
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
Click here to read our review
King of the Avocado on toast, Nelson the Seagull is the reason why Millenials cant afford houses in Vancouver. Start with a Cortado and follow up with their Ploughmans lunch, which is a particular favourite of ours.
Purebread
159 W Hastings St
Coffee: 49th Parallel
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
Click here to read our review
This place is going to make you fat, no doubt about that. It’s monstrously huge selection of cakes and pastries is potentially the best in town, with some excellent coffee to back it up.
Milano Espresso Lounge
36 Powell St
Coffee: Roasted themselves
Brew styles: Espresso and pour over
Click here to read our review
Our favourite of all the Milanos in town, this roaster is famous for winning awards for their espresso (although the bean they use is never available when I’ve asked).
Buro The Espresso Bar
356 Water St
Coffee: 49th Parallel
Brew styles: Espresso and filter
They have amazing cups and you’ll feel like royalty using them. That’s all you need to know really, the coffee is not bad and the muffins are hilariously tall.
The map ID you have entered does not exist. Please enter a map ID that exists.