Historical Happiness

There is this mystical cafe that transcends space and time. It has only been in existence for a year or so but it feels as though it has been there forever. Do you know the place?

Ride the C-train to the Sunnyside station and then exit off heading east towards a historic brick building and a red British style telephone booth. Turn the corner, and there it is. The cafe that transcends space and time called Vendome Cafe.

The Vendome Cafe is located in the heart of Sunnyside in the historic Vendome block which was built in 1912. If you dig history, there is a neat write up on a plaque just outside the cafe. Vendome Cafe is situated where the Heartland Cafe use to reside. The new owners, same brilliant folks that run Teatro, revamped the cafe to give it a early 1920's coffeehouse meets bistro feel.

The Vendome Cafe is open for breakfast and lunch daily. It is only open until 6 pm each day, so if you are feeling the urge for a late night coffee-and I know you get them- you are best off to try some of the other late night coffeehouses. Vendome has an amazing menu of daily features and gourmet food for what I find a reasonable price for a starving student.

The cafe has lots of seating inside and on summer days, feel free to occupy one of the wooden benches that wrap around the outside of the cafe. Again, it is the perfect place to people watch, especially if you are feeling the urge to see some cute hipsters riding past on their bikes.

The atmosphere is what I would describe as "modern-old school." It has a hint of nostalgia but a modern twist. The clientele is not as varied as other places, but it still attracts anywhere from starving hipster to 60 year old granny.

The service is excellent and the baristas are quite knowledgeable about coffee and all of the food items. The espresso is decent but it was the superb brewed coffee that won me over.

A big draw to Vendome Cafe is the food. It is an excellent place to grab brunch and a decent cup of coffee. There is no need to suffer through another Humpties breakfast with sludge like coffee, Vendome Cafe can satisfy all of your needs.

The Vendome Cafe is located at 940 2nd Ave. NW Calgary, AB. For more information go here.

Bohemian Beans

Sometimes enjoying a cup of coffee is all about the experience. You would be lucky to find a cafe where experience and quality are both substantial, but that's exactly what The Roasterie is all about. Quality coffee and a unique experience.

The Roasterie is located in the heart of Kensington and has been a fixture in the surrounding community for the past 21 years.

Walking up to the shop is daunting for some. On a beautiful autumn day, the benches in front of the cafe and the adjoining plaza are filled with dogs, gutter punks, musicians and various eccentrics. The Roasterie is the perfect hang out for all types of people and a great place to people watch if you don't mind walking through clouds of marijuana smoke to get in the front door.

The Roasterie has a small seating area inside, so it is best to nab a stool around the giant coffee roaster or take your coffee to go. For easy access for to-go beverages, The Roasterie has a side window along the street that you can order from. The interior is always filled with local art and a whole bunch of retro coffee grinders.

The service at The Roasterie is beyond phenomenal. There are only a few employees so chances are you will get to know some of them if you make The Roasterie part of your regular stomping grounds. The baristas are beyond friendly. They are willing to share almost anything with a customer to provoke a few laughs or to make the atmosphere a little more relaxed.

And the most important thing, the espresso is to die for. It is perfectly creamy and smooth. I would recommend getting an Americano and adding some molasses brown sugar in it to for some more magic. If you are looking for a vanilla latte, this is not the place, as they do not have special syrups. Just the basics. The Roasterie roasts all of their beans in house, so on particular afternoons, coffee wafts through the air in Sunnyside. They also sell beans and have a large variety to pick out of if you would like to try something a little different.

The Roasterie is one of the most welcoming and accepting shops in town. Dogs are welcome and fawned over outside and inside. The owner and employees encourage local arts and culture which makes The Roasterie the perfect Bohemian coffee haven.

The Roasterie is located at 314-10 St. NW, Calgary, AB. For more information call (403) 270-3304 ‎or visit The Roasterie Facebook page here.