As a result of the pandemic, many of us are now working from home. Although it has its good sides, it’s perfectly normal to want a change of scenery once in a while. Whether you feel lonely, want a break from your instant coffee, or need that extra sugary boost to get you through the day, there is a café for you out there.
But when it comes to work or study, not all coffee shops are created equal. If you’re looking for a place where you can work or study comfortably while sipping on a nice cup of coffee, you’re in luck! In this article, I will introduce you to 12 laptop-friendly cafés. What’s more is that I’ll tell you what treats are worth a try, so you can make your work or study session even sweeter!
1. Aperture (Mount Pleasant)
Open every day from 8am to 8pm (last time I checked)
One of my favorite coffee shops is Aperture, and here is why: it’s open until 8pm, they have one of the best Matcha Lattes in town and their Homemade Cookies taste like heaven. If you are more of a theine addict, you’ll love their tea selection. They also have a dart game — in case you need a break, and a cool book trade system. The place is not super big, so keep it in mind, but so far I’ve always managed to grab a spot!
Address: 243 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1P5
2. Nemesis coffee (Gastown)
Open every day from 8am to 4pm (last time I checked)
I love Nemesis because on top of great coffee and pastries, they also have a good food menu. The café is spacious and they also have two-person booths that are comfortable. If you feel like a sweet treat, I highly recommend their Cruffin. It’s a croissant and muffin hybrid, and it is stuffed with banana, cookies and cream, or other yummy fillings. Warning: it can get messy. Also, note that Nemesis doesn’t have its own wifi network, but public wifi is available.
Address: 302 W Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4
3. La La Island (Kitsilano)
Open from 8am to 6pm through Sunday to Thursday and until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays (last time I checked)
La La Island is one of the newest coffee shops in Kitsilano and it is already popular with nomad workers. They have a lot of tables suited for single visitors, so I’ve never had any problems finding a spot. They have an extensive drink list, as well as some sandwiches, bakery items and cakes. Their Banana Loaf was a bit dry, but I enjoyed their Flat White.
Address: 2951 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 4N3
4. Caffè Mira (Downtown & Mount Pleasant)
Open every day, time varies depending on the location
I tried both Caffè Mira coffee shops. I love the atmosphere, especially in Mount Pleasant, and their beautiful Rose Earl Grey Latte. The Pistachio & Strawberry Croissant did not exactly blow my mind but they have a few other sweet and savory options that I wouldn’t mind trying!
Address: 1225 Burrard St, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1Z5 / 3136 Main St, Vancouver, BC V5T 3G7
5. Revolver (Gastown)
Open from 8am to 4pm through Monday to Saturday (last time I checked)
A few meters away from Nemesis is Revolver. It’s a great option if you feel like having just a cup of coffee with a good pastry. The space is a bit small, but I love the vibe and they also have comfortable two-person booths. If you want a sweet treat, try their Powerballs. These light snacks pair very well with their Espresso!
Address: 325 Cambie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4
6. Pacific Coffee Roasters (Downtown)
Open every day from 7am to 8pm (last time I checked)
Pacific Coffee Roasters is located in the Library Square Tower. On top of good coffee, it also has a great selection of desserts and pastries. There are lots of seating options suited for one or two people. I tried their Hazelnut, Milk Chocolate Mousse, Crispy Praline and I loved it! They also have a few fancy drinks such as blue, pink or golden lattes that I have yet to try…
Address: 345 Robson St #101, Vancouver, BC V6B 0H3
7. Matchstick (Yaletown)
Open every day from 7am to 5pm (last time I checked)
Matchstick has a few locations in Vancouver. So far, I like their Yaletown location best. There is a counter area with some outlets, which is perfect if you need a spot to work. I haven’t tried any of their food, but I really enjoyed their Matcha Latte.
Address: 1328 Richards St, Vancouver, BC V6B 3G6
8. Elysian Coffee Roasters (Kitsilano)
Open every day from 7am at the earliest and until 6pm at the latest (last time I checked)
Elysian Coffee Roasters has several coffee shops throughout the city, but I have only tried their café in Kitsilano. It is a bit small, but it is usually rather quiet so you can study or work at your own pace. They have a couple of comfortable two-person booths as well as a few counter seats. Their selection of pastries is rather small, but everything looks good. I’m a creature of habit so I usually stick to their Chocolate Walnut Cookie because it is so good, but the Banana Loaf is tasty too!
Address: 1778 W 5th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6J 1P2
9. Timbertrain Coffee Roasters (Gastown)
Open every day from 9am to 4pm (last time I checked)
Another good option in Gastown is Timbertrain Coffee Roasters. The inside is a bit small; there are only 4 booths and a small counter area. It’s not my go-to coffee shop because of the limited number of seats, but if you manage to grab a booth, you can have a very comfortable study session. I like their coffee, but I was not too impressed by their Almond Croissant.
Address: 311 W Cordova St, Vancouver, BC V6B 4K2
10. The Press Room (Olympic Village)
Open every day from 8am at the earliest and until 6pm at the latest (last time I checked)
The Press Room is a rather spacious coffee shop located in Olympic village. They specialize in French Press, but they have other options as well. Besides coffee, they also have a selection of baked goods and sandwiches if you feel like having a light lunch or bite!
Address: 1778 Columbia St, Vancouver, BC V5Y 1B8
11. The Birds & The Beets (Gastown)
Open every day from 8am to 4pm (last time I checked)
Back in Gastown, you will find The Birds & The Beets. I went there in the morning on a weekday, and I really liked the vibes of this coffee shop. I’m not sure how busy it gets during the day or on weekends, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this is a popular café. I tried their Avocado Toast and I loved it. They make their own delicious sourdough bread, and you can even buy a loaf to take home!
Address: 55 Powell St, Vancouver, BC V6A 1E9
12. Rocanini Coffee Roasters (Yaletown)
Open every day from 7.15 on weekdays and from 8am on weekends to 5pm (last time I checked)
Another good option downtown is Rocanini Coffee Roasters. This café is spacious but there are less than 10 tables. Their menu features interesting drinks such as a Blue Latte, Homemade Cookies and Coconut Nanaimo Bars!
Address: 863 Beatty St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2M6
