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You'll want to order your coffee "for here" at these charming cafés found across the West.
Grab your lattes and books (or a good friend)! These nine cafés—filled with custom furnishings, pretty pendant lights and reclaimed materials—will make you want to sit and stay awhile.
Designed by owner Logan Gray, Discovery Coffee’s fourth location is filled with mid-century pieces—like the American Factory Stools and Gymnasium Clock from Restoration Hardware—and vintage treasures picked up from thrift stores and garage sales. It’s a far step from the look of their other three locations (the James Bay, Oak Bay and Discovery Street shops have a much more traditional style), but the owners were ready to embrace a more modern coffee scene; the Blanshard shop is also their first location to have a pour-over coffee bar. discoverycoffee.com.
Almost everything at Habit—from the Bows and Arrows Coffee to the reclaimed wood floors—was selected with sustainability in mind. The white light fixtures were salvaged from an old mine site and the granite benches (seen just outside the floor-to-ceiling windows that give patrons 360-degree views of the bustling business district) were recycled from the city’s old Telus building. To complement these salvaged materials, owner Shane Devereaux, along with Caleb Beyers of Caste Projects, selected the popular, industrial-style Tolix stools. habitcoffee.com.
Owners Ryan and Kristy Taylor had been in the coffee business for more than 20 years when they decided to challenge themselves: How do you incorporate food, beer and wine into today’s coffee culture? Caffe Tre Fantastico proved to be the perfect solution. Tabletops crafted from live-edge wood, custom walnut shelving by Woodshop 506 and polished concrete floors by Stone Design combine perfectly and create a rustic-yet-modern atmosphere in which you can enjoy tre beverages (coffee, wine and beer) alongside their signature small plates. caffefantastico.com.
Pallet Coffee Roasters moved into this East Vancouver warehouse last year and spent seven months doing renovations (the space was previously used as a fish packaging facility). Their reclaimed fir wall and whimsical lighting fixture are standout features, but the rest of the shop has also been filled with industrial elements and live-edge wood furniture, like the custom tabletops by Chapel Arts, that will please all the coffee-craving design lovers who walk through the door. Even their roasting equipment—which can be seen from the café through a huge, steel-framed window—looks good. palletcoffeeroasters.com.
Revolver’s interior takes full advantage of the 1880 heritage building’s exposed brick walls and high ceilings, but the space is also filled with a handful of custom elements, like the giant world maps made entirely of nails, the glass menu board designed by Post Projects, and the suspended booths that appear to be floating off the ground. Reclaimed fir countertops complete the look and lend a warmth that pairs perfectly with any espresso from their rotating selection. revolvercoffee.ca.
Stepping into Cucina is like walking into an authentic European bistro, which is fitting, since most of its decor is sourced from oversees. The long community table is made from the shelves of a Dorset cheese factory, the Victorian-era lobby cupboard is from Shepton Mallet and the lights were found in Florence. Exquisite tile work and a custom milk bar (where cream, milk and water are dispensed from beer taps) complete the look—and make you feel as if you’ve stumbled into a café along the Via del Corso. eatcucina.com.
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