Stories and photos by Michelle Fedosoff (unless otherwise indicated)
Rocanini in Kerrisdale
Vancouver is a city that loves its coffee and every neighborhood offers coffee in its own unique way.
Rocanini is a small coffee shop located in Kerrisdale. On my first visit, as I was reading the menu board, I noticed a drink I have never heard of; beet latte. I asked the server behind the counter and she excitedly explained that it was made of dried beets and steamed milk. How could I not order one? This sweet drink is a beautiful color and the coffee art was a nice touch. If you are a beet lover, you need to get one of these yummy drinks. If you are looking for a coffee, they brew from beans roasted at their local Mount Pleasant Roastery.
Located at 5631 West Boulevard
Platform 7, a Specialty Coffee Shop in Kitsilano
Platform 7 is a specialty coffee shop in Kitsilano decorated with patio lights and boutique coffee machines. The lineups are long but the staff is friendly and efficient. Seating inside is limited but they do offer patio chairs outside on the sidewalk under an awning. Perfect for enjoying your coffee. There is a large menu with a hot bar, cold bar, and espresso bar. Something not to be missed: turmeric latte. This yellow-colored latte is delicious in flavor with just the right amount of spice to keep your insides warm long after the coffee is finished.
Located at 2300 West Broadway
Prado Café
One last favourite coffee shop of mine is Prado Café. It is a small coffee shop with yummy baked goods and coffee. It is also dog friendly. All of the dog customers know that they must sit pretty in order to get a dog treat from the jar that is on display in the front window. Prado Café is also one of the stops on Vancouver’s Canine Coffee Crawl that happens a few times each year. A definite must for coffee and dog lovers. When I am in the area, I always stop for a coffee and a visit with a furry friend.
Located at 1809 Fir Street
Koko Monk Hot Chocolate Lounge
If you are looking for a hot chocolate, then you are in for a treat at Koko Monk Hot Chocolate Lounge. There are so many options for specialty hot chocolates that it becomes overwhelming to choose a flavor. Thankfully they offer hot chocolate flights and so that is what we ordered. The flavors on our flight were: Chilean chocolate with spices, white chocolate with black sesame and lime, Turkish coffee chocolate and Courvoisier. This is the place to be if you are looking to satisfy your sweet tooth or if you have adventurous tastebuds. Vegan options are available for most flavors.
Located at 2883 West Broadway
Bells and Whistles
When you are hungry, Bells and Whistles serves a weekend brunch that includes spicy rib eggs benedict and French press coffee. During the week, the chicken waffle poutine is popular and if you are brave enough, the spicy burger with banana peppers and sriracha aioli will set your mouth on fire and pairs nicely with a pint. It’s a great spot to spend an afternoon with friends drinking the craft beers and ciders on tap. One of my favorite places for a sunny afternoon and a refreshing cider.
Located at 3296 Fraser Street
Romers Overlooking the Fraser River
With a patio overlooking the Fraser River, Romers is the perfect spot. And since they have recently covered and heated their patio, it has become my favorite winter hangout. Their burgers have won Vancouver’s best burger awards five years in a row, but they also serve other delicious food. My perfect afternoon snack here is their dragon’s breath wings (spicy and sweet) with a glass of their house white wine. The Ahi Tuna Poke bowl is a healthy option.
Located at 8683 Kerr Street
Bonjour Vietnam for Asian Specialties
Bonjour Vietnam is one of Vancouver’s newest Vietnamese restaurants. This charming place is bright and colorful, with masses of pink flowers and pink paper lanterns hanging from the bright blue ceiling. Serving up authentic Vietnamese food, each dish is an explosion of tastes and flavors. Some popular dishes are the beef salad and the chicken fried rice, but the prawns served with sugar cane are not to be missed. This is a highly popular place so reservations are recommended.
Located at 3944 Fraser Street
Les Faux Bourgeois, a Wonderful French Bistro
Les Faux Bourgeois is a wonderful French bistro that has won several awards for its fabulous food. This gem has always been difficult to get into but because of the safety protocols that are currently implemented, there are even less tables so reservations are highly recommended as seating is in high demand. Both their french onion soup and tartare de boeuf are some of the best that I have eaten outside of Paris. The steelhead salmon with its brown-butter vinaigrette is a delight for the taste buds and the duck confit is perfectly cooked. If you are looking for a special night out, this is the place to go.
Located at 663 East 15th Avenue
The Secret Garden Tea Company
Afternoon tea in Vancouver is popular on the weekends and one of the best places for this is The Secret Garden Tea Company. It has won the Golden Plate Awards for best tea house in Vancouver ten years in a row. Afternoon tea is an event. The women dress in flowery day dresses, sometimes with frilly hats, and the men in casual suites. The afternoon I was there, one young boy was even wearing a red bowtie. The three-tiered plate has such delights as egg pinwheels, chicken mini croissant sandwiches, chive scones, fruit scones with jam and Devonshire cream, and bittersweet ganache. The food is tasty and you will not leave hungry. If you enjoyed the tea that is served with your food, before you leave make sure you visit the tea shop. There is a large selection of loose-leaf teas and tea ware to ensure you can enjoy a nice cup of tea at home.
Located at 2138 West 40th Avenue
