This is a list of coffee shops we have found in lower mainland that seem like good places to socialize with a friend for coffee and catch up. It’s a special treat, getting to see a friend and share your lives. But sometimes, you end up at a coffee shop that is dead silent, and it just feels weird talking about your job, your family, or whatever else is going on in your life at the moment. As a result, we’ve chosen places that seemed welcoming to friends chatting, whether that be comfy chairs, other people doing the same thing, or that perfect volume of music where you can still hear each other yet not have the whole café listening to your conversation.
Click on the city name to skip ahead: New Westminster, Tri-Cities, Burnaby, North Vancouver, Vancouver, and the Fraser Valley.
We’ve included a map of the locations at the end. This list is a work in progress as we discover new places!
New West & Area
Coasters
Coasters has a cool west coast vibe, with unique touches that make it a calm place to grab your daily caffeine fix. They have bar-style seating along the window looking outside, and about 8 tables that fit 2 people each. There is one pair of big comfy chairs that would be perfect for a friend catch up session. There were a few people there with friends chatting, and light music plays in the background.
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.
Flavour Balance
Flavour Balance is one of my friend’s and my favourite place to meet up in New West. We like it because it is busy but not loud, and we can both find something to eat (she is lactose intolerant, and I’m gluten free). Their mocha is one of the best in New West! While enjoying a social visit doesn’t seem to be the most popular use of this café (it’s mostly people working solo), you still don’t feel out of place.
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.
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. It is usually quite easy to find a spot for a pair of people to sit, as most people don’t seem to stay past when they’re finished their purchase. Many people also take their coffees to go and take a walk around the neighbourhood.
Open until 6:00pm. Free street parking out front!
Waves
Waves has two locations in New Westminster, one uptown and one downtown. Both have plenty of seating and welcome people sitting to chat for a while. The uptown location doesn’t have any comfy chairs, but the downtown location has a couple. Waves has 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 downtown location is open until 8:00 or 9:00pm depending on the day, and the uptown location is open until 6:00 or 8:00pm. 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.
Delicia Cafe
Located on Columbia St. in New Westminster, Delicia is a newer addition to New West. People seemed to be frequenting Delicia for all purposes (to go, to work/study, to socialize). Their seating area is fairly spread out, making it easier to separate from other patrons. There is something for everyone – they make their pastries in house and have a wide variety of cakes and tarts. They have 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.
Open until 6:00PM, except Friday and Saturday when they are open until 7:00pm. There is paid street parking available.
Craft Café
Craft Café beside the Boathouse restaurant, at the scenic Quay of New West. They have a case of goodies at the front, which includes gluten free options, as well as sandwiches made to order. Seating inside is cozy and there isn’t much of it, but there is also seating outside if weather permits. It can get quite busy, but if the cafe is full, you can go for a walk along the waterfront and enjoy views of the Fraser River.
Open late, until 8:00pm Thursday – Sunday. Paid parking in front of the cafe.
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.
Tri-Cities Coffee
Caffe Delish
This entirely gluten-free café is in Port Coquitlam. It has a small amount of both indoor and outdoor seating available. It is common to see people with friends for a coffee and a snack, but often people will go for a walk around the neighbourhood rather than park themselves here for too long. They have a great menu and tons of food choices. Plus, everything is gluten free and they have many vegan items. (Free parking, too).
Café Delitzi
This is a true gem located near Coquitlam Centre mall. The owner, Ray, is so nice and really loves what he does. They have a wide selection of specialty drinks and food, including some gluten free options. It is usually easy to find a spot to sit if you don’t come during peak hours, and there are often people there with their kids, significant others, or friends slowly enjoying their drink and food. It feels very welcoming for a friend date!
They are open until 8:00pm Monday to Saturday, and 7:00pm on Sundays. Free street parking just around the corner or paid street parking right out front.
Creekside Coffee Factory – Westwood
Creekside is in a convenient location, just off Lougheed beside the big Superstore. This location has tons of seating. Lots of two person tables as well as a big “family style” table. People were there with friends and reading books solo as well. Lots of drink options, sandwich options, gelato, and a couple vegan options it looked like. No gluten free options that I could see. There is tons of parking. They also have a second location on Barnet Highway that we have not been to.
Open 8:30pm – 9:30pm daily, except open until 6:30pm on Sundays.
Pappa Roti
Located in Coquitlam at Pinetree Way and Glen Drive, you will find Pappa Roti. The name is deceiving because this is definitely a coffee shop and not a roti shop. They have many food options, so there is bound to be something for everyone. There are different types of stuffed buns, sandwiches, soup, and pastries (including gluten free options). They have a huge seating area, but they do have a 2-hour maximum (so you can’t sit here for hours to chat). We went fairly late in the evening and there were groups of people chatting together and working.
They are open until 10:00pm, and there is paid street parking out front (free on Sundays and after 8:00pm).
Coffee + Vanilla
Coffee + Vanilla is a cute café on Austin Avenue in Coquitlam. They have a ton of seating, good coffee, and an extensive food selection. They have a few vegan and gluten friendly options. Some of the gluten friendly options do say not recommended if you have celiac disease, but they do have safe macarons. Their pastry case is quite extensive, and they have lunch options as well. Many people were grabbing lunch or catching up with a friend when I visited. Parking can be a bit of an issue as there is limited parking out front and it is 1 hour only, so you may have to park a couple blocks away. Open Monday to Saturday from 8:00am – 5:30pm. Closed Sundays.
C Market Coffee
The largest café in the Tri-Cities, C Market is a huge space with room to gather. Many locals here working with laptops, gathering with friends, or enjoying a quiet cup of coffee. There are lunch options as well as pastries available. The seating isn’t the most comfortable for long periods (cement benches and plastic stools). There didn’t appear to be gluten free or vegan options. They have another smaller location in Coquitlam as well, near-ish to Ikea.
Open 8:00am to 9:00pm daily.
Burnaby & Area
Hiel Café
Hiel Café is a hidden gem located on the border of New Westminster and Burnaby. It has a ton of seating inside, and many people were sitting having lunch with a friend. It seems people don’t stay too long. I was there for an hour and there was quite a bit of turnover (could be because I visited at the tail end of the lunch rush?). They are well known for their souffle pancakes, which look light and fluffy (though not gluten free, so I didn’t try them). It didn’t appear that they had any gluten free options, or other dietary accommodations.
Open 9:00am – 5:00pm Monday to Friday, 9:00am – 3:00pm Saturdays, and closed on Sundays.
North Vancouver Coffee
Nemesis Coffee
Nemesis is in the Polygon building at the Lonsdale Quay, which makes for a great location to go for a walk with a friend. Their coffee is delicious! Ahmed tried the croissant and said it was one of the better ones he has had in the lower mainland. Their main pastries seemed to be donuts, cruffins, and croissants of varying flavours, all by Dope Bakery. Brunch and lunch were also available. However, there were no gluten free options.
Open 8:00am – 4:00pm Monday to Friday, and 9:00am – 5:00pm Saturday and Sunday. There are paid parkades available for parking, or free spots a short walk away.
Vancouver
Analog Coffee
A recent addition to the Vancouver coffee scene, Analog Coffee is on Helmcken Street in Yaletown. If you’re originally from Calgary, you’ll recognize this place because there are many Analogs in Calgary! The Yaletown Analog has lots of cozy seating and a community vibe. We went midweek during the middle of the day, and it was packed. There were lots of people catching up with friends on their lunch break. They have a packed pastry case that includes a couple vegan and gluten free items as well. Open 7:00am – 8:00pm Monday to Friday, and 8:00am – 8:00pm on Saturday and Sunday.
Matchstick
Matchstick has 5 locations throughout Vancouver, though we have visited the one near Fraser and Kingsway. This is their original location. They have such a tranquil vibe, and the space is very inviting. There is plenty of seating, and Matchstick seems to be a popular place for friends to gather. If you go mid-day on a weekday, you will see many people working remotely with their laptops. They have quite the selection of croissants. They also carry Cartem’s donuts, including a few gluten free and vegan flavours. Each location is open 7:00am – 5:00pm daily.
Fraser Valley Coffee
The Polly Fox
Friends, this one is YUM! The Polly Fox is an entirely gluten free bakery and café in downtown Abbotsford. It might be a bit out of the way, but if you’re heading to the Sumas border crossing, or out of the city towards Harrison Hot Springs or the Okanagan, it sure is worth a stop! They have a food menu (all gluten free, by the way) which includes sandwiches that can be made with waffles instead of bread. Also included are the typical coffee shop treats like muffins, cookies, brownies, and more. They have vegan options as well. Free 2-hour street parking is available, though may be hard to find on a weekend.
The Polly Fox is open until 4:00pm, but the kitchen closes at 3 (closed Sundays and Mondays).
MAP of SOCIAL COFFEE SHOPS in the Lower Mainland, BC
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. There, you can choose to just look at one city at a time or see all the cities on the map at once (click the 3 squares in the top right to choose). You can also export the map to Google Maps, share the map with others, or save the map.