Admire Vancouver’s best cherry blossoms from these cafés
Vancouver is home to roughly 40,000 Japanese cherry blossom trees that create stunning pink and white canopies across the urban landscape. The best way to see (and snap) these gorgeous springtime blooms is to explore the city’s many parks and residential neighbourhoods on foot. Take a self-guided cherry blossom tour and stop to refuel along the way at these nearby cafés.
Aquilini Thierry Ltd
1059 Alberni St, Vancouver, BC V6E 1A1Downtowners get their cherry blossom fix under the beautiful pink Akebono trees at Burrard Street station. The canopy of vibrant pink blossoms are a welcome sight amidst the typically grey surroundings of Vancouver’s financial district. Once you’ve finished snapping a few selfies under the blooms, head on over to Thierry Chocolate Patisserie for some equally beautiful desserts. The Parisian inspired café is a foodie favourite thanks to its handcrafted chocolates, cakes, tarts and pretty macarons. If you need some refreshments, the licensed on-site café serves up espresso drinks, a selection of loose-leaf teas, and decadent liquid drinking chocolate.
Barnaby Coffee Roasters Inc
849 Denman St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2L7An iconic spot to visit at any time of year, Vancouver’s Stanley Park is particularly pretty during cherry blossom season. Eye-catching trees are scattered throughout the park, but the most photoshoot-ready area is a grove of Akebono trees near the Rose Garden. You’ll also find rarer Shirotae and Ojochin trees flowering at the Japanese Canadian War Memorial. Work up an appetite touring through the park’s many scenic trails and then head to Denman Street to take a break at Milano. Part espresso bar, part gelateria, the Italian inspired café offers premium espresso blends and a tasty selection of baked goods.
Greenhorn Cafe
994 Nicola St, Vancouver, BC V6G 2C8Amble through the labyrinthine streets of the West End while admiring some of the city’s loveliest residential homes and their fragrant springtime blooms. Nelson Street is particularly photogenic – especially the four-block stretch between Jervis and Bidwell. The darker pink Accolade trees blooming at Chilco and Comox are also worth a visit. After your walk, stop in at Greenhorn Café on Nicola Street; in keeping with the neighbourhood’s charming air, this cozy coffee shop features vintage furnishings, a reclaimed wood bar, quirky décor accents, and a hand-scrawled menu of scratch-made quiches, salads, pastries and Mediterranean inspired savoury snacks.
Culprit Coffee
2028 Vine St, Vancouver, BC V6K 3K1There’s no shortage of coffee shops in Kits, but we love Culprit for the cute vibes and Fernwood Coffee on brew. The friendly indie café at West 4th and Vine Street is always bustling with locals, and the yellow-brick exterior with its cartoon raccoon mural is as Instagram-worthy as the nearby cherry blossoms. Grab a Paleo latte to go (yep, that’s a thing) and explore the blooming trees along West 5th and 6th, Cypress, and Yew. You’ll also find pink blossoms dotted around Kits Beach, Kits Point and Vanier Park.
JJ Bean Coffee Roasters
402 Davie St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2G3There’s plenty of brick and glass to be found in Vancouver’s Yaletown neighbourhood, but you’ll also spot some of the city’s best cherry blossom trees, if you know where to look. Stop in at the JJ Bean on Davie Street and grab a traditional cappuccino or a classic drip coffee to go before meandering down Richards Street toward the water. Follow the row of flowering pink trees through George Wainborn Park and then head east along the Seawall toward David Lam Park. Named in honour of Canada’s first Chinese-Canadian lieutenant governor, the park is home to 76 flowering pink trees.
Great Dane Coffee
6011 Walter Gage Rd, Vancouver, BC V6T 0B4The Nitobe Memorial Garden at UBC is a tranquil spot to enjoy beautiful cherry blossoms. The meticulously designed Japanese garden features manicured greenery, stone lanterns, and elegant water features. Traditional tea ceremonies are hosted at the on-site Tea House throughout the summer months, but during springtime it’s best to pop on over to nearby Great Dane Coffee for a pick-me-up. Coffee beans are sourced from Victoria-based roaster Bows and Arrows and the latte art is always photo-ready. The campus coffee shop can get crowded during the week, but you’ll find ample seating (and an outdoor fireplace) on the covered patio.
Pekeo Tea Lounge
895 West Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1J9There are more than 150 varieties of loose-leaf tea on offer at Pekoe Tea Lounge in Fairview. The peaceful teahouse on West Broadway is a great spot to pick up a comforting cup of white, green, oolong, rooibos, herbal or classic black tea before taking a relaxing tour of the neighborhood’s flowering cherry trees. Make a point to stroll under the impressive pink canopy of Kanzan trees along West 7th, which stretches seven full blocks from Hemlock Street to Heather Street. Wander along the surrounding residential streets to spot a few other clusters of lovely pink blooms.
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