27 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“

“Kind staff, fresh from the oven gluten-free scone (!), great coffee. Thank you!!! 😊“

“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!“

“As coffee shops go, one may be tempted to imagine that all Tim Horton’s are the same. They are not.

My 5 star review of this particular location on Northfield is due to many factors: the generously long drive-thru lane; the quality hockey-themed dark wood tables and chairs; the availability of the double chocolate donut (not available at all locations); the overall cleanliness and easy accessibility of washrooms - WITHOUT having to get an access key from staff; the option to enjoy your coffee break with authentic mugs and saucers; and of course…the wonderful staff; including the lovely AMANDA, who is always dressed professionally and colourfully, putting a daily smile on customers’ faces.

Winter time is here, and for most drivers, a hot cup of something at Tim’s is in order. This particular Tim’s would be my top choice in all of Nanaimo.“

“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“

“As a group of six we were delighted to find such a lovely place to stop for brunch. Dropping our son at university was the reason for our visit. Rick the manager went out of his way to chat with us and help explain what was available. Three of us had breakfast ciabatta, a ham/cheese panini and two lots of waffles. All delicious. Drinks were good, place was spotless. Staff not overly engaging but polite. Rick thanked us for visiting which was a really nice touch. We will return. Many thanks.“

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

“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.“

“Javawocky Coffee House is absolutely amazing! The coffee is rich and flavorful, and every cup tastes perfect. The place has a warm and welcoming vibe that makes you want to stay longer. Definitely one of the best coffee spots I’ve been to—highly recommended!“

“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!“

“⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A cozy and relaxing spot to unwind for about an hour. I really enjoyed the cappuccino — rich and perfectly made — along with a delicious dessert. The atmosphere is calm and comfortable, with friendly staff and pleasant seating.

The only downside was the washroom cleanliness, which could use some attention. Overall, a lovely experience and definitely worth stopping by for a coffee break in Nanaimo.“

“Nice staff,friendly almost immediate acknowledgment“

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

“They went to a lot of trouble to make it an enjoyable experience The tea was brewed to perfection This place is really a good tea shop!“

“The perfect way to start your day in Nanaimo! That first sip put me in a great mood that lasted all morning. Perfectly crafted coffee, cozy atmosphere, and a spot that clearly takes its craft seriously. Right on Commercial Street in the heart of the Arts District — easy to find, hard to leave. Highly recommend! ☕“

“We had an experience we wanted to share. We had accidentally left a pkg. of Starbucks coffee we bought and had ground there a few days ago. We just realized it today, spoke to Andrew and he could not have been more helpful. He was kind, compassionate, and delightful. He listened carefully, took our details He checked with staff, and got our situation straightened out and called us back. Excellent service and very nice young man.“

“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!“

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

“THEIR CUPCAKES ARE SO GOOD. I'm soo happy they have vegan gluten-free options that have good flavour and are moist and delicious 😭❤️🥹 And love the extra sprinkles ;)“

“Had great service from the three ladies there today! Handled the busy line really well.
I got a chai with gingerbread (was highly recommended!) and husband got gingerbread mocha and shared an almond croissant straight from the oven. So good!!“

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

“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“

“Coffee is great. I ordered a oat milk latte. I could actually TASTE the coffee, and it was more dark roast than any other I've found on the island. The drink was perfect temperature so I didn't scald my mouth, but didn't drink it to quickly. Perfectly perfect. Oh, and the solo barista was awesome, juggling all orders with a smile. She was terrific.

We are traveling from Eugene, Oregon, and I've stopped at many places along the coast and on the island. This, I would say was the best oat milk latte I've had so far.

I figured ordering a latte at coffee stand at the ferry terminal would be so so. I'm usually hesitant to order coffees from random places. I usually check for best coffees near me when traveling, and choosing highest ratings. This one has a 3.2, so I nearly skipped it. Glad I didn't.“

“Excellent customer service and food.
Around 12:17 a white boy took my order and he made it exact same ice latte which i was expecting and the egg wrap was fantastic perfectly grilled and also the girl who made the wrap was amazing.
Thanks to Both of you guys
Appreciate your hard work😇
You just made my day“

“I wanted to find the best Nanaimo bar in Nanaimo and this place is a contender for that title. I tried the blackberry lavender bar. It had a nice light crust with a generous layer of filling and chocolate on top. The iced pina colada matcha was also a refreshing twist on the usual iced matcha flavours. Worth checking out!!!“