Go on a Scenic Cafe Crawl in Friendly Kitsilano
Kitsilano, situated on the west side of Vancouver, is one of the best neighbourhoods to explore in the spring and summer. It offers charming cafes with sunny patios, a welcoming community atmosphere, and breathtaking beaches.
The area lends itself to an all-day coffee crawl, during which you can stroll leisurely from cafe to cafe, incorporating beach time, local events/activities, and shopping along the way. Below is a curated selection of cafes to visit in Vancouver on your Kits crawl.
You can start your crawl at one of Vancouver’s top bakeries and cafes: Beaucoup, which opens at 8am every morning (for an early/breakfast start to your explorations). Launched by Jackie Kai Ellis and now run by siblings Betty and Jacky Hung, the bakery/cafe specializes in the most delectable sweet and savoury pastries and decadent cakes. The Kits location is at the start/end of the Arbutus Greenway, former railway land that was repurposed into a public walking/biking path that runs north/south roughly from West 5th Avenue and Fir Street, all the way to SW Marine Drive in Marpole. Along the way, you can see community gardens and neighbourhoods like Kerrisdale.
Walk along the Greenway either before or after your visit to Beaucoup for a treat like a cardamom kouign amann, pistachio croissant, or a slice of mango yuzu cake. Pair it with a drink like a matcha latte or macchiato, and find a seat inside, or outside on Beaucoup’s patio seating, or along the Greenway.
You can walk along the Greenway to get to your next stop: Arbutus Coffee, a charming corner cafe, formerly a grocery store dating back to 1907. Outside the wee building is patio seating, as well as a little free library. Inside has plenty of local art and cozy seating where you can enjoy comforting baked goods like carrot cake, gooey brownies, and blueberry scones. They carry light meals like ham and cheddar quiches, homemade granola with yogurt, and falafel wraps. The drink menu includes lavender lattes, flat whites, as well as cold brews and Italian sodas, which would be lovely on a hot day.
A couple blocks north of Arbutus Coffee is West 4th Avenue, one of Kitsilano’s main streets, with boutiques, award-winning eateries, and positive community vibes. One cafe that epitomizes Kitsilano’s commitment to healthy living is TurF, which combines a cafe/restaurant, shop, and fitness studio. TurF has a roomy patio as well as a curbside patio, while inside, there is plenty of seating for sipping on drinks like a golden latte, fresh turmeric ginger tea, or a pure protein smoothie. TurF focuses on healthy eating, with offerings like spicy baked tofu and a chickpea smash sandwich, but they also have treats like thumbprint cookies and carrot cake cupcakes. In the back, to the right, they stock activewear goods, like water bottles and tanks, which you can use/wear for one of their classes (e.g., Strengthen) in their adjoining studio. TurF embodies a vibrant lifestyle, bringing people together through its multi-purpose space.
After browsing shops on West 4th Avenue, and perhaps grabbing lunch at TurF, walk about 10 minutes north and about a block west to VIVA Cafe & Bakery. Yew Street is home to many great eateries, such as Lucky Taco, and Chewies Oyster Bar. VIVA has patio seating out front, as well as inside its modern space. In addition to high quality baked goods like pains au chocolat, morning buns, and chocolate chip cookies, they serve meals like a chicken pesto sandwich and falafel wrap. Drinks include green juice, a cortado, and an iced blueberry foam matcha.
VIVA Cafe is a short stroll away from Kitsilano Beach for walking along the water and soaking up the phenomenal views. Eateries like The Boathouse Restaurant and the outdoor Batch Kitsilano (open on weekends, weather permitting) are at Kits Beach; also walkable is a trip to Vanier Park, with attractions like the Vancouver Maritime Museum, Museum of Vancouver, and H.R. MacMillan Space Centre.
After exploring Kits Beach, end your cafe crawl at Kits Beach Coffee, a sunny space that serves as a community hub. With lots of fun patio seating (with cute dogs), the cafe is perfect on a sunny day, while inside, there are comfy places for drinking/eating (there’s even cushioned seating for reading/chilling).
The menu features breakfast burritos, chicken Caesar wraps for lunch, and baked goods like cinnamon buns and cheddar herb scones. There is no shortage of drinks options, including a calm blend teas, cold botanicals (e.g., lemon lavender ‘bucha fizz), green smoothies, cold brew coffee, and various other coffee options (e.g., pour over). Kits Beach Coffee is licensed with drinks like beer (e.g., Persephone Brewing Pale Ale) and sunrise mimosas. If you time it right, drop by during their daily happy hour (4-6pm), with discounts on drinks and eats like tater tots and warm olives. They also host a Makers Market (e.g., June 22 next one), with up to 15 local vendors (10am to 4pm), and regular events (e.g., Essential Oil Workshop June 3, 7:30pm-9:30pm).
Your visit to Kits Beach Coffee will conclude your cafe crawl through picturesque, community-minded Kitsilano.