Vancouver recommendations

[eldan]

We're going back to Vancouver later this week. I'm looking forward to it, but also mindful of the things I didn't like last time. I know that a few of my readers know the place a lot better than I do, so while I'm thinking about this do any of you have recommendations for the following?

• Nice coffee shops or tea houses in which to spend several

Comments

[e_notimpl]

I like the local (to Canada) coffee chain Blenz. Not as good as some of the non-chain places around here, but I'd put them above Tully's and well above Starbucks.

Not as rustic or homey inside as Starbucks or Tully's, they're more modern and well lit while remaining friendly. The ones I've been to had free wifi. I got a matcha latte, which was interesting, but good. Laura highly recommends a strawberry tea latte.

[e_notimpl]

Matcha latte:

[eldan]

That's very pretty, and looks like ice cream!

I'll bear Blenz in mind. I generally prefer places that aren't part of a chain at all, but the only thing I actually go out of my way to avoid are chains that we also have round here - it's so boring going to a Starbucks in Vancouver and having essentially the same experience as I would 4 blocks from home, or across the street from my old place.

[e_notimpl]

By all means, frequent the local places...Blenz is nice because it's better than your average chain, has free wifi, and it's easy to find one.

You can't beat a cozy little shop where the owner is roasting beans in the back. You have to know where to look, though :)

[eldan]

exactly - I only know where to go round here because I've been here a while.

[maarten]

Whoa! That looks like a wheatgrass milkshake. ;-)