Café for Contemporary Art

This place was the best thing about working on the North Shore.
Usually vegetarian options in burrito places that aren’t vegetarian specific are a real let down, but the multiple options here are so excellent I stopped bringing dinner to work, so I could grab lunch here before my shift & take a burrito with me when I left. (They are also able to convert some to vegan, too, if you need it.) They also always have some kind of seasonal beverage (s), like iced hibiscus tea in the spring/​summer.
That staff are really chill & friendly, and the service is quick for a place that makes everything to order. (I believe most, if not all, of the sauces are made from scratch in the morning, too…) Even though there’s usually a line at major meal times, the line goes pretty quickly. And if they are a bit busier than normal, you can kill a few minutes in the art gallery inside as well.
If you’ve got kids, they have a play area for them away from the main tables, with lower seats for parents/​etc. to hang out with ‘em.

I was in this place two times while being in Vancouver. The interior looks cool with pictures hanging on the wall and staff is nice. But one thing I was really disappointed with is their coffee. Coming from Europe, i know how coffee should taste like and I’ve been to a lot of great cafes in Vancouver but this is just not the right taste. It is sour and not tasting good. I don’t know what, but something they are doing with the coffee here is off. Their food though is really delicious. I got their fish burrito and guevos rancheros and they were both delicious. My husband got ham burrito and it was also good. Overall, it’s a cool place, but do not go here if you just want a great tasting coffee.

Great space. Ordered the chicken burritos and they were great. Service was excellent. Friendly staff. Oh and all the customers were good looking.;)

How to drink the expressso.
2 – 3 sips. Then gulp the rest in one mouthful.
First few sips will be bitter. There is no need to add sugar or milk.

I really wanted to like this place. I moved into the building above it a couple of weeks ago and was excited to give my money to a local place instead of Starbucks.
Had the espresso right away and almost couldn’t drink it — to my taste buds it was extremely sour. Several others I was with felt the same way. I realize espresso needs some acidity to balance it but to me it was just way too much. Everyone will be different though, many may enjoy it.
Stomach rumbling today and on my way home from work I decided to see what was available for a snack. Walking up to the door around 4:30, I could see people inside sitting at tables so I walked in. At the counter, I was told they closed at 4 and that was the end of it. Perhaps you should lock the doors if you are closed. It only served to remind me of another situation.
A new coffee and gelato shop opened across the street, below the Pinnacle Hotel. One evening my boyfriend and I looked off our balcony and saw the sign was lit up as open. We went right over only to find the doors locked and the lights off. Disappointed, we started to walk away when the owner popped his head outside and invited us in. He set everything up, served us, and even chatted with us for quite some time. This is the place that will get my business going forward — you should try it too! Their coffee is quite amazing.

My god the tacos are good. Don’t know what else to say other than they rival any of the other best places I have had a taco. New favorite place on the North Shore.

Super casual, friendly environment to enjoy a coffee/​tea and a burrito. I wasn’t expecting a burrito brunch but had little option after being told no teeth-​staining food/​beverage for 24 hours.
I had the El Tyger burrito, which comes with chipotle-​lime marinated chicken. I can’t say it’s authentic, but it felt just right and wasn’t too heavy. Healthy serving of vegetables inside.
If you’re in the Lonsdale Quay area I’d recommend checking it out.

Some of the most delicious and gluten-​free soft tacos I’ve ever had. In fact, only had better ones one other time. I could, and usually do, eat here weekly. Affordable, too. I ALWAYS, order Joey D and Rhonda Maria tacos! YUM! plus they have yummy GF treats made by a local GF Bakery, Two Daughters. Cool place to hang and work, too. My office away from the home office :)

A little out of the way but a super cute place to enjoy a coffee… like Simon K said, there isn’t much in the way of a decent cup of coffee in the Quay. I wandered around near the shipyards a bit then found this place nearby using the Unilocal app on my phone.
I grabbed a latte and enjoyed the casual atmosphere while seated at the long communal table. Otherwise, the staff are extraordinarily friendly, answering questions, making food recommendations and even checking in with guests as they bussed tables.
I spotted a few plates of food – the tacos and burritos look lovely!
I wish I could give this four stars but my latte was a tad overfilled and the barista spilled some into the saucer but didn’t clean it up. Then of course, I spilled more on my way to my seat even after trying to sip some off the top. As far as little coffee shops go, I was impressed but I feel like my drink could have been served up a bit nicer. There was coffee all over the cup, handle and saucer before it was even handed to me.
As Marc D notes, there is so much potential here. I’d return for coffee if I were in the area again and I’d love to try the food. There was a lot of takeout traffic while I was there. Also, there is a little play area for kids off to the side.

Visiting from San Francisco, I was not expecting much from this little place. But wow I am impressed.
I don’t like burritos, because I feel they are mushy, bland, and there is nothing really to crave or change my life. But this place has changed my perception.
We ordered the La Vida which is just a fish burrito. But in it we found fried fish, cole slaw, cilantro, and a little salsa. The balance of flavors were amazing, plenty of textures, and put together very well. The vegetables were crisp, the fish crisp, and even the tortilla was pan fried to give just a hint of crunchiness.
The latte we had was good. We felt the coffee was lacking a little art per the name. There was art but it was not clearly defined.
Overall the price and how well the burrito was I have to say a new must try if your in the area!

This is my first review I’m so excited …
I was searching a good coffee shop near by my place
They had good reviews, why not try them…
I know lots about coffee (my friend own a coffee shop in Italy) — he thought me so much I became expert…
Any way back to my review… All I can say is go try it !!!
Food & coffee & décor is well blend
I can see that owner and there staff took lot a effort to make customer happy
I will be back and back and back again

Nice café but they were playing their Motown selection too loud today. Add a couple of crying babies, and I had to leave. I was looking for peace and quiet — this wasn’t the place for that today.
Having said that, the service is friendly and the food options are nice alternatives to the standard selection you’ll find at other cafés.

Fantastic banana nut muffins… great coffee, friendly service,
Really glad to have stumbled upon this place during my stay in Vancouver.
Keep up the good work and keep the freshly baked goods coming…

You know the words, «I really want to like this place, maybe I was here on a bad day», well this is one of those places. I needed a coffee, was really around the area and used the trusty app to surprise and wow me, and this ‘high’ star came up. I’m not familiar in the area and felt the coffee in the Quay wasn’t up to snuff and from the steller write ups, I can’t lose and then I put the coffee to my lips.
So this place serves up 49^th Parallel coffee, I am already a fan once I saw this being on the brew. It was a Saturday, one of those dull sunny days where not anyone was in here so I was able to see everything offered. They have food here, not just your pastries and biscuits that you would expect from a coffee joint, but they have tacos & burritos. Their menu is split between vegetarian and meat & fish, so there is something for every palate in terms of fillings, I didn’t get a chance to try the food but I would give it a shot the next time I come around to this place.
I’m in here for my brew to get me through the day, I don’t take anything with my coffee and I had the first sip, urgh sour. Maybe my tastebuds were off, drink second sip, bigger sip, worse result. OK now, this is some premium coffee your serving at least get the taste right, maybe it’s been on the burner a little too long, still no excuse to serve this stuff to anyone. This coffee definitely woke me up, while my partner decided to look at the art work hung everywhere around this place and they had some children’s books on sale where she took one to read. We enjoyed our time here while I my mouth was going crooked drinking my remaining coffee.
I love the feel of the space of this place, I will return and hopefully have a better experience from the one listed above, cool concept, a space to display art that also serves coffee and food, probably just an off day.

* Potential *
Somehow I’ve never stumbled upon this café/​art space before.
I like the concept — particularly having dedicated art space. While the place overall feels a bit sterile in a new development sort of way, adding in the art space helps make it feel a bit different than a typical Starbucks in a new style development, etc.
It was packed, and some of the clientele were not very considerate of others — taking up multiple chairs with their coats when some people couldn’t find a place to sit. Shame on you North Shore. Shame.
I had already had lunch, so I didn’t order any of their tacos. But I did have an espresso. They use 49^th Parallel beans, and the espresso was pulled correctly. They were a bit sloppy with the cup — perhaps they could put the cup higher to avoid all of the splatter? A bit sloppy. But the espresso tasted as it should:
I’d likely avoid the rushed crowded times, to avoid the inconsiderate customers, but when on the North Shore I’d certainly pop in again for an espresso and to try a taco as the good coffee selection on the North Shore is pretty slim. So a local 4 star.

I really don’t have the words to express how much I love this place. It’s basically my north shore happy place, giving me something to actually look forward to during my 45-​minute commute to work each day.
When it comes to coffee, I think you can really judge a place by the quality of their americano’s…and the americano’s here are no joke. They are smooth, potent and without the slightest hint of bitterness.
I also pop in for lunch at least once a week. Every single one of their taco offerings is delicious, you can’t go wrong. Have yet to try their breakfast burrito’s, but my friend says they’re pretty fab. The place is also very vegetarian/​vegan/​gluten-​free friendly and will happily accommodate dietary restrictions.
There’s only one thing wrong with this place… the cookies. We’re not all on the gluten-​free bandwagon, or actually stricken with Coeliac disease (which is a very serious condition, not to be scoffed at) — would be nice if they carried even ONE cookie/​sweet that wasn’t gluten-​free. It… just…doesn’t…taste…the…same…sorry =(
But I forgive them for their cookies because the staff are so sweet, the space is perfectly quirky, and they are a bright spot of originality in let’s face it a rather «vanilla» north shore.
P.S.
Apparently, they’ve set up a sort of «back alley» gallery space… how awesome is that?

great quality coffee and food. I LOVE that this place is next door to me!
This place would make a coffee snob happy.

Love this place. Mostly because it is slightly oddly located so not many people know about it. It’s small and quaint with a room designated to art work only, a concept i greatly support. 49^th parallel coffee, pretty delicious and innovative muffin combo (chocolate pear anyone?) and someone was eating a soup (i think borscht?) that i was very close to grabbing a spoon and digging in. The americanos were yum albeit slightly bitter.
Only gripe was the music selection felt like it was leftover from last night’s rave or something… not exactly sunday morning but not a huge deal.

Was over in North Vancouver for once, did a quick search on the Unilocal,and this place was close by. The front door said it had 49^th Parallel Beans, so I knew it was gonna be good :)
No 2 chairs are alike in here, that’s the first thing I noticed! It actually took me a few seconds to choose my seat, as they all looked unique: D Very open and minimal, what I’d expect from a gallery/​coffee shop. Friendly guys at the counter (all good-​looking too, hee hee!), and they made a lovely, strong latte, which came with a free biscuit, YES! A point is knocked off for it being a little bit pricey for an 8oz coffee, but I’d def return!

Woah! How have I missed seeing this place before?! My beandar must be on the blink.
Very cool industrial, Zen-​like café space, serving in house baked goods, and 49^th Parallel coffee, (who have a spiffy new logo btw). and with an adjacent art gallery for contemporary works from local and international artists. Looking forward to checking out an event there!
Down to earth owner Tyler is the perfect balance of business savvy and friendly. With a clear community focus and with a 2 year reputation already under his belt, I hope he considers this project a success.
Awesome work! We’ll be back.