9 aesthetic coffee shops in Vancouver that everyone needs to visit, according to a local
A local’s guide to Vancouver’s chicest cafés.☕
Le Marché St George. Right: Milano Coffee Shop
It's September, which means we are officially entering my absolute, without a doubt, favourite time of year — coffee shop season. If you're visiting Vancouver (or are a creature of habit and choose to only frequent your neighbourhood Starbucks), don't worry, I've done the tour de caffeine so you don't have to.
These spots are equal parts aesthetic and delicious, perfect for your wistful girl fall. Crack open a book you’ll only read three pages of, stare dramatically out a foggy window, and let the smell of espresso mix with the sound of your Spotify “Gilmore Girls Autumn” playlist as you wonder if you should just pull a Belly, leave everyone behind, and move to Paris. (Spoiler: if you're dating anyone who resembles a Jerimiah, you should).
But until then, here are nine Vancouver coffee shops where you can channel peak rainy-day romance without even leaving the city.
Milano
Address: 156 West 8th Avenue, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Really good coffee. Like, three generations of Italian heritage brought to Vancouver in 1984 by what they call a "Master Roaster" kind of good. If you're a coffee snob, this is the place for you. I specifically recommend the West 8th location, which has an extra layer of charm: slouchy leather chairs, floor-to-ceiling glass doors that frame a gorgeous view of the mountains and park, and a patio where you can bundle up with a cappuccino and yap with your girlfriend for hours on end.
Nemesis
Address: 555 Great Northern Way, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: For the sophisticated among us, Nemesis on Great Northern Way is ideal if you're into your coffee shop also looking like a museum. Housed in a striking red-petal pavilion that floods with natural light, you basically get to sip your latte inside an art installation. And the artistry doesn't stop at the architecture — they roast their own coffee in-house, so every sip actually does taste as impressive as the building looks.
Small Victory
Address: 1089 Marinaside Crescent, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: We all deserve a small victory every day. And 99% of the time (for me at least), that victory is delivered in the form of a steaming hot cup of coffee. With four chic, minimalist locations (Yaletown, Mount Pleasant, South Granville, and Burnaby), Small Victory is actually not that small — but it is a locally owned bakery specializing in bread, pastries, and coffee. Which means your "little daily win" can also include a freshly baked croissant the size of your head.
Le Marché St-George
Address: 4393 St. George Street, Vancouver BC
Why You Need To Go: Because it feels a little like stepping into someone's overflowing yet beautifully curated flat who also happens to bake. (So it always smells amazing). Think warm wood, charming tchotchkes, and mismatched grandma plates that all add to the unfussy, cozy vibe. Part café and part general store, this is the dream coffee shop if you're looking for the type of place Bridget Jones would feel at home in Vancouver.
Livia
Address: 1399 Commercial Drive, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Charming little seats, bright sunlit windows, and an energy that doesn't shout but whispers — the kind of hidden gem you don't want to tell anyone about (so be chill people). It's perfect for a meeting where you want to look effortlessly competent, or a slow weekend morning when you want to be invisible.
Bread Affair
Address: 1680 Johnston Street, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Because there's something spiritual, mythical even, about the paired smell of fresh bread and hot coffee. Bread Affair hits that sensory jackpot all with the charming backdrop of Granville Island.
Platform 7
Address: 2300 West Broadway, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Platform 7 transports you straight to Europe: a Belle-Époque Parisian train station in Kits and a Victorian London station in East Van. It's just the right balance of industrial loft meets cozy corner — the perfect place to pull out your notebook or laptop with background noise that hums but never overwhelms. And really, who wouldn't want to sip their cappuccino in a train station without the stress of actually having to catch a train?
Marché Mon Pitou
Address: 1387 West 7th Avenue, Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: Marché Mon Pitou is painfully charming and always one of the first places that come to mind when I think of "aesthetic coffee shops".
Part bakery, part bistro, part specialty store, it was created with the sweet idea of celebrating everyday indulgences. Whether that's a perfectly pulled espresso with something sweet, a slow lunch with a friend, or stocking up on fancy French pantry staples you'll pretend are for later, Mon Pitou nails the art of making the ordinary feel like a treat. And yes, your Instagram content will also thank you.
Cowdog
Address: 1927 West 4th Avenue Vancouver
Why You Need To Go: I couldn't make this list without a proper matcha shoutout. Cowdog is perfectly aesthetic and, yes, worth the lineup. The strawberry matcha lives up to the TikTok hype (rare, I know) — but it is actually that good. Consider this your permission slip to lean into the trend.
The views expressed in this Opinion article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Narcity Media.