Vancouver Island's Café Culture

The java junkie has to consider many things beyond the obvious when making the choice of where to sip their cup of comfort. Aside from a really good cup of coffee, people look for ambiance and a welcome environment where it’s so enjoyable that they might want a second cup. Try these popular hangouts all within a few minutes walk of Victoria’s Inner Harbour.

Habit: Coffee Cupping For Aroma and Taste

Habit, 522 Pandora Street near Government, is a happening spot for great coffee and people watching. It’s a hip place to hang out. Drop by at 2 o’clock on Tuesday afternoons and participate in a cupping. Learn the art of slurping single origin coffees being led through an artful tasting.

Solstice Café: It’s Less Expensive to Sit and Enjoy

Just down the street at 529 Pandora, Solstice Café serves Kicking Horse Coffee and also brings in beans from other special suppliers such as Oso Negro and Level Ground. They want people to hang out so badly they charge 25 cents for to-go cups! They admit this seems a little backward, but it fits with their image and philosophy. Solstice is open evenings often with musical entertainment, poetry or a little philosophy café.

Union Pacific Coffee Co.: Breakfast and Lunch

Union Pacific Coffee Co., 537 Herald Street, also open evenings, is an interesting space successfully achieving its goal of being a very comfortable coffee house. They have a light breakfast menu as well as a lunch menu and a few fun, hot drinks like Coffee Dulce. Caffeine aside, Union Pacific is licensed to enjoy a glass of wine, too!

Café Mela: Coffee plus a Tearoom, Too

Café Mela at the Belvedere, 784 Humboldt Street, is a sophisticated European-style coffee house with great coffee made from their very own Level Ground blend. It’s so popular with their regulars that many take the beans home to brew their own. They have recently opened Mela’s Tearoom next door in conjunction with Winchester Gallery.

Coffee on the Go

For great take-out coffee, Mirage has two locations, 1122 Blanshard and 817 Government Streets. Sounds Like Coffee, 915 Gordon Street, is also tops with the downtown crowd for their coffee and great treats such as Almond Rocha Mocha, Hazelnut Bliss and a Coconut Mocha.

In a city where there is so much coffee choice, walk on by the all too familiar chains and give the little guys a try. It’s worth it!

The Bean Aroma - Coffee Cupping at Habit

Heavenly Aroma of the Fresh Brew

Habit's Owner, Shane, Preparing for the Slurp

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