Kitsilano runs on yoga, beach volleyball and very good coffee. West 4th Avenue is the main strip, West Broadway has its own pockets, and the residential side streets hide neighbourhood cafes that locals guard closely. Here’s where to go before or after Kits Beach.
West 4th Avenue
- 49th Parallel & Lucky’s Doughnuts (2198 West 4th Avenue): The roaster’s Kits cafe has a lovely patio and one of the city’s busiest doughnut counters. A Kits ritual.
- Culprit Coffee (Vine Street at West 4th): A small cafe just off the main strip.
- Other West 4th stops: The strip between Burrard and Macdonald has bakeries, chains and independents. Walk it and see what’s busy.
West Broadway
- Thomas Haas (2539 West Broadway): One of Canada’s best-known chocolatiers and pastry chefs. The double-baked almond croissant with an espresso is a classic Vancouver treat.
- Their There (2002 West Broadway): A coffee bar with a killer brunch and cocktail menu, and baking it takes very seriously.
- Platform 7 (2300 West Broadway): A train-station-styled room that’s popular for sitting and reading for a couple of hours.
- Purebread, Broadway: The Kitsilano Broadway bakery is still open, even though a newer Kits location closed in 2026.
Hidden gems
- Arbutus Coffee (2200 Arbutus Street): In a 1907 former corner grocery with a heritage plaque, serving Bean Around the World coffee and house baking. The neighbourhood’s living room.
- Lumine Coffee (1965 West 4th Avenue): Multi-roaster beans, drip flights and house-made pastries like the double-baked croissants.
- Kits Beach Coffee (1945 Cornwall Avenue): Across the street from the ocean, with community events like a pottery club.
- Oide Coffee: Just east of Kits in Arthur Erickson’s Waterfall Building, with a simple menu of espresso and matcha, with or without milk.
Coffee and the beach
Grab coffee on West 4th, walk down to Kits Beach, and follow the path to Vanier Park and the Maritime Museum. On a clear day you’ll see the North Shore mountains across English Bay.
Local tips
- Parking on West 4th is tough on weekends. The 4 and 7 buses run along 4th.
- For Granville Island, walk east along the seawall from Vanier Park.
- Note: Matchstick, once a fixture of the city’s coffee scene, wound down all its cafes in 2026.
Frequently asked questions
What’s the best coffee in Kitsilano?
49th Parallel on West 4th is the headline. Arbutus Coffee and Lumine are local favourites.
Where can I get coffee near Kits Beach?
West 4th Avenue and Cornwall Avenue are a short walk from the beach.
Last checked November 2026. Cafes change hours, owners and addresses often, so check a cafe’s own Instagram or Google listing before making a special trip. Know a spot we missed? Tell us.
More Vancouver guides: Mount Pleasant · Commercial Drive · Kitsilano · All Vancouver
