33 Best Coffee Shops in Nanaimo

“very nice little cafe with lots of greenery.“

“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!“

“Rishu and Cassie are both wonderful in providing us a warm service this morning. These type of people who are cheerful to greet everyone are a total gem. Thank you!

Every time I am here we are treated well. Congratulations to the whole team. Special mention to the following: Edward(dynamic personality), Christian(always cheerful), Anne(so accommodating) Babelyn and Rowena are always wonderful. Thank you guys! Such a great team!“

“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“

“Today was our first time trying out Waffle🧇 Magic🪄and it was absolutely DELICIOUS😋 Definitely the first of many more🙂Hidden gem💯“

“Nice staff,friendly almost immediate acknowledgment“

“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.“

“A go-to coffee shop in downtown’s Nanaimo.
I think this is the best coffee I have ever had since I moved to Nanaimo. They have a variety choices of coffee and flavour to evaluate your coffee. Whipping cream is a must try. So yummy 😋
They also have a lot of teas, and no caffeine choices, like milkshake or smoothies, etc.
The location is a plus point. You can enjoy your drink with the view of Waterfront harbour.
Lastly, I’ll try the sandwich next time“

“Just your average Starbucks, the coffee may not be as great as some cafe’s in town, but it’s still good and consistent! Service was great, kind staff, and a clean store.

Vegetarian options: Limited but some options

Dietary restrictions: One GF sandwich option

Parking: It’s Vancouver, parking is always a struggle

Wheelchair accessibility: Accessible“

“Was looking for an authentic Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo! My top 3 go-to's in Nanaimo were all closed on a Monday when they are supposed to be open per their hours, what can you do. Did a bit of searching and one site gave an honorable mention to Serious Coffee. Ordered a sweetheart latte (vanilla and cinnamon), meant to get the black forest, also had a Nanaimo bar of course and a carrot pineapple loaf frosted. Lets start with the good. The Carrot pineapple loaf was incredible. Didn't need the icing as the loaf itself was dense yet moist. Chock full of raisins, carrot but not a whole lot of pineapple. Amazing. The nanaimo bar left something to be desired. The bottom (coconut) layer was extremely dense, very coconuty. The custard was more grainy than smooth and silky and the top chocolate layer was the usual, chocolatey goodness. The latte was very subtly flavoured, I feel like the black forest would have been much more delicious. I won't be back as I've had better Nanaimo bars and coffee elsewhere, but like the site I read, honorable mention is about accurate. If everything else is closed this place will suffice. All 3 items costed $15 and change. Not bad in this day and age.“

“I was a little confused. I went to order a couple of those quenchers tonight, I was there at 730pm. Apparently you stop serving them at night? I was fairly disappointed. I wasn’t impressed with the behaviour of the staff member who helped me either. Staff member was a touch rude. Maybe if you can put up signs of what you stop serving after 7pm or whatever time it is you shut down services.

Update - this Tim’s is my go to. Closest to my home. Ever since the previous experience I have always been able to order Tim’s quenchers, frozen or not frozen know matter what time of day. In fact I was just there at 915 tonight and ordered everything we wanted and had absolutely zero issues.

I’m going to update to a 5 star.“

“Exceptional service! Friendly and down to earth. And yes they make top Nanaimo bars—you gotta get em before they sell out! And you gotta while in Nanaimo! Eclectic sitting area with lots of chairs in a nice downtown district. I’ll be back!“

“Just wanted to congratulate the workers that were working during the day on November 27th. I don’t usually review bad customer service but I will admit I’ve had questionable customer service and food quality (drinks just tasted way different than other locations) here but the workers today were super nice and attentive and friendly and the drink was definitely made with love and care because it tasted amazing and not so carelessly made like some of the times I’ve been here. The ladies (and one man) working today were also very efficient, more so than I’ve seen in the past. The wait was still a bit long, but I don’t mind since there’s always only 2-3 people running the whole shop, but if you’re the girl with the glasses and dark brown hair working, your drink rocks! I was very pleased :) Hope you get all the things you want in life!“

“Had an americano and delicious gluten-free almond blueberry tart, and my mom had a pot of tea with raspberry cheesecake she said was to die for :) great ambience, very accommodating staff and I’d definitely go again soon!“

“It was after walking the boardwalk on a cool, breezy and slightly rainy day that we stopped in at the Tea on Quay. The inside was warm and has about 6 tables. The tea is operated in conjunction with the ice cream/gelato shop. The menu is simple with only a few choices but that’s ok. We started with tea, of course. I had the very creamy clam chowder soup with an egg salad sandwich. Both good. And my wife had the tasty chicken noodle soup. And finally finished a sweet Nanaimo bar, which has a different filling than what i’ve had in years past. It was a pleasant stay for a meal. Good service and good views too.“

“Thanks for my Birthday gift. Tried your breakfast bacon Gouda sandwich, delicious😘👌 Can’t afford it too often though. Just a special treat:-) My daughter treated me to an Almond Chai Tea Latte, that also was delicious!“

“Lovely coffee and muffin on a rainy day. Guest were enjoying themselves, staff were polite, and there’s lots of art on the walls“

“This place is great!!! Food is awesome, service is great and reasonable prices! Highly recommended“

“Would not normally review a quick little coffee pit stop, but... this is well deserved. Nanaimo Ferry Terminal (slightly hidden). Sweet lady gave great service, but this is ALL about the coffee. As a coffee fanatic, BEST COFFEE I think I have ever had! And NOT expensive at all (although I can only speak for the coffee as that is all I had). Need to look into what coffee bean they use and see if available for home purchase.“

“Good location for when I go for my walks plus friendly staff...😎“

“I had a gluten free vegan cupcake and it was delicious! The icing was light and creamy. I will definitely be going back for more!“

“super good, huge servings, great service, and great atmosphere. We would go back there again.“

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

“This little coffee shop is perfect for those waiting for the ferry.Prices are reasonable. Coffee is decent, and the snacks are yummy.Staff are friendly and efficient. Washrooms are clean and nearby.There's seating inside and outside. I prefer outside to enjoy the ocean air.“

“The staff here are always polite and serve with a smile. My order is usually ready quickly, and everything tastes fresh—especially the French Vanilla and breakfast wraps.The place is clean and has a calm vibe. It’s a nice spot to grab a coffee or relax for a bit. I always leave satisfied. Definitely one of the better Tim Hortons locations I’ve visited!“

“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.“

“Great cup of coffee. I really needed it and the service was fast and efficient. I can’t remember the gals name behind the bar, but when she saw me in my uniform repeatedly glancing at my watch, she must have figured I was running behind. She quickly got my stuff together and eased my stress. Great service.
Also, the bathroom was very clean“

“While visiting Nanaimo last week I had the immense pleasure of being served by McKayla & Phoenix. They were so personable and friendly. The service was fantastic and the conversation great!! My pumpkin pie latte was delicious!! I can’t wait to go back!! ☕️☕️☕️“

“Exceptional service! I even got some gorgeous latte art!“

“I placed my first order on the Saturday of a a long weekend and it was shipped first thing Tuesday and at my door by Friday. The mugs were perfection: exactly as advertised, an excellent price and quality. Packaged expertly for shipping, they arrived in perfect order with 3 free tea samples. I couldn’t be happier with this company.“

“Everything is good here except for one thing, hence the markdown. This is a very busy location and there is often a long line up. Tim’s which makes it difficult for anyone with mobility issues. Lacking seats at the door or a take number system is a fault all over Western Canada, so it is just an indicator of lack,of respect for the elderly in general. However, Parksville is a retirement area, so I expect more from owners there. Also they used to have good soup, which is my favourite snack, but this changed a couple of years ago and it’s no longer worth the cost. It’s not bad, just thin and boring.

Dietary restrictions: Allium allergy and sensitivity is common (2-10% of the population) but totally unrecognized. I’m reduced to eating desert when I eat out. I wish a popular franchise like Tim’s would take up the cause. In the UK they have allergy codes on all their menus. An idea whose time has come in Canada.

Wheelchair accessibility: Ground level but no other particular help for the elderly.“

“Great staff, friendly and welcoming! Perfect location to get in and out with your beverage and food. I don’t care about seating in a location as I don’t hang out in the stores. Rather the increased room for staff to work and provide drinks, food and service for customers is nice.
Also one of the cleanest Starbucks I have visited in North America. I’m sure that’s a reflection of the culture in the store.“