20 Best Cafes near Gabriola

“I don’t usually write a review but had to say after popping in for a tea and sandwich today the place was lined up down the sidewalk. The staff did an amazing job today, I was really impressed with the speed and service. With everyone complaining about staff shortages this place is truly blessed with great staff“

“Becky was INCREDIBLE. We booked her to cater our wedding and she was insanely amazing. Not only was this a convenient option for us having our wedding on Gabriola Island but she blew our expectations OUT OF THE WATER. From picking a menu - to me having some weird requests that she fulfilled without question. We last minute ordered some breakfast munchies for the morning after and without fail - Becky and team created the most beautiful fruit tray I have ever witnessed and the most delicious baked goods. I cannot say enough about how incredible Ground Up was to work with and we will continue to be frequent customers at the Ground Up Cafe!!!!!!!“

“This place is such a gem. Great service, amazing food and such a great vibe inside. Highly recommend ✨“

“it gets busy at around noon so get in early for brunch. eggs Bennie is really good“

“The vault is the coolest location in Nanaimo and going there is an experience. This spot is popular with locals and with tourists, as one of the best venues in town as well as just the coolest spot. The staff are amazing and the food is awesome. If it's poppin in there will you wait a bit? Yes, but that's because it is well loved.“

“We will be back here for more! We stopped in for a chai latte. Good quality, nice portion, served in a ceramic mug. The service was friendly and genuine, so I added on a Nanaimo bar, which was made exactly the way it is supposed to be made. There is indoor and outdoor seating. We came with a dog, so we took a table and chairs on a clean, lively streetside area. You really can't ask for more!“

“Pleaseeeee do try the hot dogs!!! Hot and fresh!!!! It’s one of the only shops opened on New Year’s Day, we were searching for eats, tried hot dog and clam chowder, it’s good portion!The small shop has only three tables but has regular customers who come for coffee every morning, owner was really nice lady. Everyone here were friendly and we had a great chat!“

“This is our go to coffee shop! Great cinnamon buns and muffins! Lovely atmosphere and staff!“

“Friendly and welcoming place. Great vegan breakfasts available. Staff was willing to accommodate meals to make sure they were suitable for vegans it if was not explicitly mentioned. All the food and coffee was of made of spectacular quality ingredients.“

“I certainly don't share in some of these other petulant reviews. Ive often had the "full breakfast" at Connections and found the food to be fresh, tasty, nicely cooked and hot. The coffee tastes fresh and acceptable. The staff are always courteous and accomodating. Try buying a breakfast in downtown Nanaimo and you will pay 20% more than Connections and you will have to wait longer and probably stand in a lineup to order.

Parking: Affordable parking“

“On the Nanaimo Bar trail! The peanut butter one was so good that it could have ate the whole thing myself, but I shared. They serve Umbria coffee, which is yummy. They have some lunch items and were out of both strawberry and blackberry lavender Nanaimo bars. Sufficient tables for 2-4 people. Quiet music in background so it's great for conversation. Cute party of old city area with a cluster of shops to wander around.“

“I came over to Nanaimo with some friends with the EXPRESS mission to taste the best Nanaimo bars ever. We drove in Saturday afternoon and found out that sickness had taken the bakery by storm. I made a comment on thier Facebook page just saying I had driven in to taste the best bars and was so sorry that sickness had taken them; the owner commented that they would be at the shop filling an order and to stop by and that I did..16 bars later 😂 I cannot thank them enough for thier hospitality and I can say with confidence that these are THE BEST bars EVER!! The cooler is full and now I truly understand the reason that they are #1. Many thanks again to the crew of Red's Bakery, you all are top tier!! ❤️“

“Had a really nice BLT and coffee, great service Thanks“

“We had an amazing treat at Ironworks Cafe & Creperie. So many tempting choices, both sweet and savoury. Three of us wanted to share two crepes, and asked if our choices could be cut into thirds. Renee plated the thirds individually with full garnishes. 🌟🌟🌟 We had the ‘Four Berries and Cream” (sweet) and the ‘Spinach, Artichoke & Brie” (savoury). Hmmmmm. Latte was excellent. 🌟 Locally owned, caringly staffed, local ingredients. So impressed. Thank you.“

“Mille Grazie! Your food is always magnificent! Not only did you fit us in without a reservation on a busy weekend night, after I called the wrong restaurant; but you gave us a wonderful table with amazing staff! Very special mention to the Ceaser I enjoyed before dinner! Highly recommend it! May you have a wonderful 2024! You always make your guests feel like part of the family!“

“The chocolate croissant was incredible; warm with a gooey chocolate center, perfectly fresh and flaky. The matcha latte was also excellent, not overly sweet (which I really appreciated). When my drink was made in the wrong size by accident, the staff were so friendly and accommodating, fixing it right away without hesitation.

We also tried the chicken club sandwich, which was delicious! It was juicy, fresh chicken with bread that tied everything together perfectly.

Overall, a great spot for tasty food and drinks, especially convenient for travelers waiting long hours for the BC Ferries.“

“Great food, friendly loved it.“

“A health care provider recommended this coffee shop while I was waiting for a friend at the hospital. Am so glad I tried it out! delicious muffin that was fresh out of the oven and a tasty iced vanilla latte! highly recommend“

“Definitely one of my favourite coffee shops. I visit regularly- the staff are very friendly and attentive, the atmosphere is always relaxed and welcoming. The coffee is first class!“

“I would consider myself an ice cream aficionado and let me tell you this place has some of the best real gelato and homemade ice cream flavours. It's incredible the owner makes all the flavours themselves, I haven't had them all but I've taste tested plenty along with having quite a few others and never not been impressed, it makes it so hard to choose when there because I promise you they will all taste amazing. Somehow they all taste so real like take the root beer, one of my personal faves, it tastes remarkably like an actual can of root beer down to tasting the carbonation almost somehow through the ice cream. The nanaimo bar gelato is another fave that tastes like nanaimo bars were smashed into the ice cream somehow and that's the theme you'll find with all the flavours.

I first discovered this after moving back to Cedar recently as some family was visiting and we were looking for a good gelato. We mistakenly went into another ice cream shop that's close by a few doors down, thinking it was the right one we had read amazing reviews on, but alas it was not and we were incredibly disappointed. We walked out and we were leaving when we came by this place and quickly realized this was the one we read about, but we didn't want to have another ice cream. We walked in and talked with the owner who was there, she worked her magic and had us tasting every flavour and soon we all just had to try it. It was all incredible, everybody was so happy with all the flavours they got and some nanaimo bars for my brother in law. She just really turned around a poor experience that night and I've been loyal since not only for the incredible service but more importantly the phenomenal gelato

So much so I even order it every year a couple times all the way out to Cedar on door dash and I am so so happy they allow it as an option“