Coffee shops and bakeries in Vancouver: how to find a good one

Vancouver is a coffee city. It rains a lot, people work from cafés, and independent roasters have been part of the city's identity for a long time. Its bakeries are just as varied: French croissants, Italian cornetti, Chinese egg tarts, Japanese milk bread and Indian sweets can all be found within a short bus ride. Here is how to find the good ones.

Where are the best coffee shops in Vancouver?

Good coffee is everywhere, but a few areas have a high density of independent cafés:

Area	Café style
Main Street and Mount Pleasant	Independent roasters, specialty coffee, bakeries
Gastown	Stylish cafés in heritage buildings
Commercial Drive	Old-school Italian espresso bars
Kitsilano	Relaxed cafés near the beach
Downtown and Yaletown	Busy cafés for a quick coffee on the go
Chinatown	Bakeries and a few newer coffee spots

What kinds of bakeries can you find in Vancouver?

• French-style bakeries for croissants, pain au chocolat and baguettes.
• Chinese bakeries for egg tarts, barbecue pork buns and pineapple buns.
• Japanese bakeries for soft milk bread, curry buns and cream-filled pastries.
• Italian bakeries and cafés on Commercial Drive for cornetti, cannoli and biscotti.
• South Asian sweet shops around the Punjabi Market for mithai.
• Gluten-free and vegan bakeries, which are common in Vancouver.

The best bakeries sell out. If a place is known for a particular pastry, go in the morning.

How do you spot a good coffee shop?

1. They take care with the espresso. Watch whether the barista weighs, times and tastes, rather than just pressing a button.
2. The milk is steamed properly, smooth and glossy, not foamy and scalding.
3. They roast their own coffee or name their roaster, and can tell you about the beans.
4. They offer filter or pour-over as well as espresso drinks.
5. The pastries are fresh, ideally baked in-house or by a good local bakery.

How do you spot a good bakery?

• Look at the lamination. A good croissant has many crisp, distinct layers and a honeycomb inside.
• Check the turnover. A bakery with a line in the morning is selling things fast and baking often.
• Look for specialties. A short list of things done brilliantly beats a big display of average pastries.
• Ask what came out of the oven most recently.

Do you tip at coffee shops in Vancouver?

Tipping at a coffee counter is optional. The terminal will often show a tip screen, and choosing a small amount or no tip are both normal. If a café brings food to your table, a little more is a kind gesture.

Is there tax on coffee and pastries in Vancouver?

In British Columbia, food and non-alcoholic drinks bought at a café or restaurant carry the 5 percent GST, and are not subject to BC's provincial sales tax. So a coffee and a pastry will usually just have GST added.

What coffee drinks should you know in Vancouver?

Menus in specialty cafés can look intimidating, but most drinks are variations on a few basics:

• Espresso: a short, strong shot, the base of most drinks.
• Americano: espresso topped up with hot water.
• Cortado: espresso with a small amount of steamed milk.
• Flat white: a double shot with a thin layer of velvety milk, stronger than a latte.
• Latte: espresso with more steamed milk and a little foam.
• Pour-over: filter coffee made by hand, one cup at a time, good for tasting a particular bean.

Plant-based milks such as oat, almond and soy are widely available, sometimes at a small extra charge.

Can you work from cafés in Vancouver?

Many people do, and most cafés offer Wi-Fi. Be considerate: buy something every couple of hours, avoid taking a big table during the lunch rush, and pay attention to signs, as some popular cafés limit laptops at busy times.

What should you try at a Vancouver bakery?

• A croissant from a serious French-style bakery.
• An egg tart from a Chinese bakery, still warm if you can.
• A barbecue pork bun, steamed or baked.
• A slice of milk bread from a Japanese bakery.
• A Nanaimo bar, BC's famous no-bake square.

Mosey is built around rating specific things, not just whole places. For coffee and bakeries, that means remembering which café does the best flat white and which bakery has the croissant worth crossing town for.

More guides to read next:

• Holiday dining in Vancouver: the Christmas Market, festive menus and booking tips
• Dim sum in Richmond and Vancouver: how to order, when to go
• Dine Out Vancouver Festival: how it works and how to book

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.