I don’t know about you, but all of this Vancouver rain has driven me to drink…more coffee.
Far be it from me to tell you where the best coffee is in Vancouver. I mean, really, that’s like trying to tell Cirque du Soleil that gymnastics is no longer cool. Not gunna’ happen.
What I can tell you though, or at least suggest for your consideration, is where I’ve gotten some really good service in the coffee arena lately - 49th Parallel.
49th Parallel is situated on the south side of West 4th Avenue between Yew and Arbutus and now owns the address of the former Nacional Clothing (not really sure what happened there, but so be it).
I’ve been sliding into 49th Parallel on my way to work each morning (getting kind of tired of the Starbucks lines) and I have to say…well done!
First of all, the place smells great as soon as you walk in (big points for all the olfactory aficiandos out there). Thanks to Jason, I now know why!
Second, there’s no line…well, if there is, it’s no more than a smattering of people. And I can deal with a smattering at 7am-ish.
Third, the staff are extremely friendly (nice to see really early in the am) and they take great care of the product they serve. And with their swanky light blue cups framing the product, it’s presented really well.
I still have no idea how they make those crazy leaves/hearts/smiley faces/mysterious ink-blot-like shapes on top of the coffee when they serve it to you. But hey, that’s why they do what they do, and I do what I do. Someone once told me…it’s not ‘what you do’, it’s ‘how you do’. Yup.
By the way, lightpress took some great photos at their location in Kitsilano (killer design, I think), if you’re interested.
Repeat? Yes!
Should you? Most definitely.
darren
hey darren,
thanks for the shout out. i’m glad you enjoyed the 49th.
-J