Restaurants and Bars

From Vancouver

The Perfect Coffee Shop

Why is it so hard to find the perfect coffee shop? Being next door to Seattle, WA (the birthplace of Starbucks) you would think that we would have spawned thousands of neighbourhood coffee shops in which to indulge ourselves. And you would be correct. There are indeed many of these establishments.

But has anyone else had the same experience as me? You might find one place that is your favorite... but it's in another part of town near where you work or near a friend's place that you rarely visit. Why can't they all get their act together and offer the perfect blend of coffee, muffin, atmosphere, entertainment, chairs, stools, tables, and those shelves along the windows that are apparently designed to drink your coffee and read your morning newspaper (NOT!).

I've got two favorite places at the moment that do a pretty good job of all the things that I like. Both these places are on the North Shore which is a bit odd as I live in Kitsilano - but I have yet to find a place that covers all the bases the way these two do on the Vancouver side! (Take for example Bean Around the World on the 3500 block Main Street - great place but they don't take Interac!)

Beans on Lonsdale (Lonsdale and 18th St. in North Vancouver)
Great coffee, muffins, interesting atmosphere, good seating, view, newspaper friendly, music not too loud in morning, good entertainment some evenings.

Delaney's (Dundarave location - Marine Drive in West Vancouver)
Great coffee, muffins, a bit of a beautiful people atmosphere (the West Vanners can be a bit snobby), good seating, view, newspaper friendly, music not too loud in morning.