Embark on a caffeine-fuelled journey through New Westminster, BC, as we unravel the distinctive charm of locally owned coffee havens. From cozy corners to aromatic brews, join us in exploring the unique flavours and inviting atmospheres that make each stop a hidden gem in this vibrant city. This list is a work in progress as we continue to explore coffee shops in and around New Westminster. We’ve included a map at the end to help with locations.
Here’s where we’re going (click to jump ahead):
- Caffe Mira
- Coasters
- Craft Cafe
- Delicia Cafe
- Flavour Balance
- Hive Café
- Passenger Café
- Serious Coffee
- Waves
Caffé Mira
Tucked away in the Victoria Hill neighbourhood, Café Mira is a treat! Their mocha is divine, one of the best I’ve had. They have a couple gluten free options which they purchase through a third party and come individually wrapped (usually a brownie and a cookie). For the non-gluten free eaters, their croissants are enormous and apparently quite delicious. The staff is so friendly here! They have a couple outdoor spots, but you can usually find a seat inside as people tend to leave once they’re done their purchase. Most people seem to take their coffees to go for a walk around the neighbourhood.
Open until 6:00pm. Free street parking out front!
Coasters
Coasters has a cool west coast vibe, with unique touches that make it a calm place to grab your daily caffeine fix. There are a few gluten free choices, as they carry the local gluten free brand Rebel. They have a good assortment of non-gluten free choices as well. We went to work for the afternoon and sat in their only two big comfy chairs. They have bar-style seating along the window looking outside, and about 8 tables that fit 2 people each. The bench style seating on one side of most of the tables doesn’t look like it would be too comfortable to sit on for long periods.
Coasters is located on 6th street near downtown and is open until 5pm every day. There is some free 2-hour parking east down Carnarvon Street, or paid parking down 6th and if you head west on Carnarvon. Also, easily accessible from Columbia Street SkyTrain station.
Craft Café
Craft Café beside the Boathouse restaurant, at the scenic Quay of New West. They have a small case of goodies at the front, where you can see their offerings. You can order full lunches and breakfasts as well. They have gluten free options, which look like they’re provided by a third party (brownies, carrot cake, pecan tart, cookies). The tart is pretty good, but the brownie wasn’t great in my opinion. They have a unique selection of merchandise, including coffees, teas, chocolates, and coffee makers. Seating inside is cozy and there isn’t much of it, but there is also seating outside if weather permits. Because of this, it wouldn’t be my first choice of location to set up for a couple hours of work/study time. Craft Cafe is also very busy on the weekends!
Open late, until 8:00pm Thursday – Sunday.
Delicia Cafe
Located on Columbia St. in New Westminster, Delicia is a newer addition to New West. They make their pastries in house and have a wide variety of cakes and tarts. There are gluten free options, which include cheesecake (a rare find in coffee shops). They also have gelato, but I’m not sure how quickly that moves outside of the summertime. When we visited, there were people with laptops working, people solo just enjoying their coffee, and small groups of friends catching up.
Open until 6:00PM, except Friday and Saturday when they are open until 7:00pm. There is paid street parking available.
Flavour Balance
One of my go-to’s in New West is Flavour Balance. The owners are so lovely and remember you if you go regularly. Their mocha is one of the best in New West! They carry the local gluten free brand Rebel as well as gluten free “Dacarons” made by local Earthling Foods, all individually wrapped. If you’re not someone who requires gluten free food, they have a wide assortment of scones and cakes (which are apparently super delicious), made in house and very reasonably priced. This is a popular spot for people to hunker down with their computers, though the wooden chairs are not the most comfortable to sit on for long periods.
Open until 10:00pm Wednesday – Saturday, until 6:30 Monday and Tuesday, but closed Sundays. You can find free street parking about a block away, or there is paid street parking right out front until the evening.
Hive Café
Hive café is a cute spot along Front Street in New West. They have quite a few tables for a small space, with people there both to socialize and to work or study. Hive has sandwiches, pastries, smoothies, and an extensive drink menu. They carry quite a few vegan options, but the only gluten free option I spotted was Earthling Foods’ “Dacaron”. There is very little parking, and what is available is paid street parking.
Open Monday to Friday from 8:30am – 4:30pm, Saturdays from 9:00am m- 4:30pm, and Sundays from 10:30am – 4:30pm.
Passenger Café
Passenger is a locally owned small coffee shop, located inside the New West Skytrain Station. It is on the top floor near towards the movie theatre. They make their pastries fresh each morning, and have Earthling Foods’ “Dacaron” as a gluten free option. Passenger has a wide array of drinks, including coffee, smoothies, milk lattes, and boba. They don’t have a ton of seating, with 2 small tables and bar-style seating available. Passenger is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 11:30am – 9:00pm, Tuesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:30am – 10:00pm, and Sundays from 12:00pm – 6:00pm.
Serious Coffee
Serious Coffee is a Vancouver Island staple that has made its way to New West. The owner is so friendly, as are the baristas. They have a couple of gluten free options, including a delectable peanut crunch bar (be careful when ordering though – they have 2 types, and one is not GF). They always have seasonal drinks that I enjoy trying. There are very few seats indoors, so it is not always conducive to staying to drink and chat with a friend for a long time, but the outdoor seats are almost always available. Parking right nearby can be a bit of a challenge, so you may have to park a block or so away and walk.
Waves
Waves has two locations in New Westminster, one uptown and one downtown. Both have plenty of seating and welcome people sitting to chat or work for a while. They have a wide selection of drinks to choose from, and there is a points plan if you download their app or have a Waves card. They do have a couple gluten free options, but not many.
The 6th street (uptown) location has free street parking around the corner and down the street, or paid street parking right out front. The downtown location is paid street parking.
MAP of NEW WESTMINSTER COFFEE SHOPS
HOW TO USE THE MAP: Click on the Wanderlog logo in the bottom right corner to open the full-size map up in a new tab. You can export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.