The Spiral Coffee Company is a cozy hideaway in Esquimalt. On my lunch break, my colleague and I stumbled upon this nook and had a very pleasant lunch. I had some soup accompanied with fresh bread and an expertly made americano. The soup was black beans, fresh vegetables with the kick of some chiles. The bread was really nice, with seeds on the crust. The space is spattered with art and local musicians perform regularly. Another great neighbourhood community cornerstone.
Teaopia
616 Fort St.
250-381-4099
I’ll make this short and sweet. I love tea. I love places that sell good tea. Teaopia has some decent tea. I had a Groupon to spend so I bought two different types of tea. I bought the Sideritis syriatica tea and it has almost a minty flavour and it tastes great. I also bought a couple of tea cups that looked nice, but unfortunately they are difficult to drink tea out of because the ceramic is so thin that it burns your hand when you try to pick it up. The teas seem like decent quality so there is hope. I do not really like the way of purchasing the tea. You have to fill up their tins, so it is pretty much a flat rate. Anyways, it is a clean space, nice and bright, so check out if they have anything you might like!
Street Level Espresso
714 Fort St.
250-361-9927
This could be the best name in town. You know exactly what you’re getting. You walk into a shop that is at street level and you have espresso. That simple.
This was one of the best americano’s I’ve had in Victoria. The fiery barista was very friendly and all smiles. The owner seemed to be relaxing in his own establishment, nice to see. Quirky embellishments and a few other odds and ends for sale. They only do espresso drinks. I like the purist approach, taking something very seriously and doing it right.
Definitely a staple for the downtown crowd.
Wannawafel
560 Johnson St.
Market Square( In Between Johnson and Pandora)
250-590-5300
Another beautiful day in Victoria( Friday Feb. 18th)! JB and I were walking through Market Square, and we were tempted by the waffle smells wafting in the air. I watched the guy who started Wannawafel on Dragon’s Den, so I was quasi-familiar with their business. We both had the Liege waffles( $3.58 each), I had mine with the berry compote($2.00 extra), and JB had his with a scoop of vanilla ice cream($1.50 extra). For two waffles with toppings it came to around 11 something. The young man working was very charming, and he dropped off our fresh waffles outside. It was a windy day, but it was nice to have a warm waffle. The waffles had a nice crunch on the outside, almost a caramelized sugar taste. The waffle texture was nice, with a bit of chew. I agree with the other reviews about Wannawafel, definitely one of the best waffles I’ve had in Victoria. I wish them the best of luck with their business!
Cheers
Eating Victoria
Habit Coffee
552 Pandora Ave.
250-294-1127
www.habitcoffee.com
Update: Nov 2010
If you haven’t been to the new location of Habit( inside the Atrium on Yates St and Blanshard), you should definitely check it out. The space has a different feeling than its Pandora counterpart, but it has more of a modern buzz about it. I like the high ceilings, and the communal table in the centre reminds me of the design at Relish(on Pandora near Quadra). The baked goods are minimal, but they look decent. The coffee is good, as the people who work here seem passionate about what they are doing. It’s not exactly cheap, I find that you can get good coffee if not better at other places in town. But I think it’s worth checking out for the ambiance. The large windows reminded of a funhouse hall of mirrors a bit, but they offer a great perch for people watching at the busy intersection.
Cheers
E.V.
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Sept 2010
A reader asked me the other day if I had been to Habit( in response to my cumulative cafe review in Victoria). I have been a few times, but not in the last year or so. I believe Habit is more of a social venue rather than a coffee shop, but they do have quality products. I met up with a friend there for a quick sip and nibble before our walk. I’ve always admired that Habit features local and talented artists on their walls. The magazine wall also provides interesting and quirky reading. The clientele here is always worth gawking at, lots of svelte hipsters with skinny jeans, suspenders, and bowler hats, or solitary poets writing poetry about how difficult it is to be a poet in their oversized Moleskine journals. Nonetheless, this makes for an entertaining ambiance, the seating is varied and offers nooks for whatever you fancy that day( sunny window, at the bar stools, booth seating for meeting friends, or a dark back area for a peaceful read)… The coffee is good, the sugar is good, the tea selection could improve, but overall this is a staple Victoria cafe( with good cookies too!)
It’s due time to reveal where I grab a cuppa joe in Victoria.
I have been trying to ween myself off the jolt, but sometimes I cannot resist.
My top four hotspots for proper espresso drinks are:
1)Caffe Fantastico on Harbour Road( Dockside Green)
This Cafe is small but it is in a prime location for an up and coming neighbourhood, Dockside Green. Occasionally it smells a bit funky outside, but I can get over that for the delicious coffee( they make a beautiful espresso here). It also doesn’t hurt that Fol Epi is right next door, with amazing baked goods, especially the cookies! I like that this location has a lot of outdoor seating too. The staff are charming and always a pleasure in the morning.
2)Discovery Coffee on Discovery St.
These people take their espresso seriously, roasting their own beans on site and providing an education on coffee when provoked. A friend of a friend works there, and I hear that they send someone to compete in an espresso/barista olympics of sorts. The espresso is a blend of a few beans, making for a really complex and smooth finished draw. The interior of the cafe is warm and it brings in an eclectic caffeine-crazy crowd.
3) Cafe Artigiano on Government St.
I used to go here at least a few times a week. They have a great selection of quality baked goods, cute banquette seating, knowledgeable and presentable staff, and a prime people watching post. I know of this cafe from when I lived in Vancouver( 2005), and it was equally popular and delicious then too. I highly recommend the coffee here.
4)Mirage on Blanshard or Government
This cafe is the closest to my house at the moment, so I go here often. The staff are cute, somewhat reserved, but quick and smiley. The cinnamon buns are out of control, the Africano( either 12 oz/16 oz) is divine, and the beans are roasted in Victoria! Mirage has multiple locations as do Discovery, and Fantastico. The interior is European deco, but it suits the feeling of the establishment. Check it out for an affordable and quality brew.
Coffee/Tea places I like to hang out at:
1) Special Teas on Fort
2) Bean around the World on Fisgard St.
3)Moka House in Cook St. Village
4) Dolce Vita on Yates St.
5) Union Pacific on Herald St.
Hopefully this was helpful! Happy sipping
