Bel Café

“Bel Café just kinda happened,” says owner, Chef David Hawksworth. “It could have easily been a jewellery store, but it’s worked out really well,” he says, referring to his acquiring the space after he opened both Hawksworth Restaurant and its adjoining cocktail bar. With some 500 customers per day going through the doors, the café has become a destination for both locals and tourists, with a seasonal menu and skilled baristas serving up espresso drinks to a tough crowd when it comes to demanding great coffee — Vancouverites.

Named after David’s wife Annabel, Bel Café’s pastries change with the seasons, but one thing that appears to be a mainstay is the French macaron, selling approximately 3,000 per week. “Our tomato soup has been on the menu since we opened; it’s vegan, it’s fantastic, lots of people come in for that,” he adds. Fresh salads and sandwiches complete the lunch menu.

The room is an easy-on-the-eyes palette of dark wood paneling, zinc counters and tabletops and touches of black. The Mirage espresso machine by Kees van der Westen churns out top-notch coffee drinks non-stop. A mix of French pastries, like croissants, and North American classics, like muffins, fill the showcases. Teatime in the afternoon can mean tarts, cakes and TWG Tea. The exclusive coffee beans of choice served here? 49th Parallel Roasters.