Before there were four Nemesis cafes across Metro Vancouver, there was this one: a bright corner room at the foot of SFU’s Charles Chang Innovation Centre, looking across West Hastings to Victory Square. It opened in early 2017 and quickly became shorthand for a new kind of Vancouver cafe, where the coffee is serious, the food is restaurant-level and the room is designed to make you want to stay.
Nemesis Gastown at a glance
| Address | 302 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4 |
| Neighbourhood | Western edge of Gastown, at Hastings and Hamilton |
| Type | Specialty cafe with a full brunch and lunch kitchen |
| Known for | Pour-over from guest roasters, pastries, brunch plates |
| Best for | Brunch dates, coffee meetings, visitors who want food and coffee in one stop |
| Price | $$–$$$ |
| Nearest SkyTrain | Waterfront Station (about 7 minutes on foot) |
Location and getting there
Nemesis occupies the ground floor of the SFU building at the corner of West Hastings and Hamilton, directly across from Victory Square and the cenotaph. You’re three minutes from SFU Harbour Centre, five from Revolver and about seven from Waterfront Station. Watch for the white inverted heart on a blue background, the brand’s logo.
What Nemesis offers
From the beginning Nemesis built its coffee program around pour-over and guest roasters, with early menus featuring respected names such as Five Elephant from Berlin and Seattle’s Slate. Today the lineup rotates, alongside Nemesis’s own house program.
- Coffee: Pour-over, espresso drinks, batch brew and cold brew, plus seasonal signature drinks.
- Food: A real kitchen. Expect brunch plates, toasts, sandwiches and a pastry case that sells out on weekends. The original chef came from some of Vancouver’s best-known restaurant kitchens, and the food still reflects that standard.
- Pastries: Cookies and laminated pastries are a big part of the Nemesis identity. Grab one even if you didn’t plan to.
The vibe
About 40 seats in a voluminous, 1,500-square-foot room with floor-to-ceiling windows. It’s bright even on grey Vancouver days, which is half the appeal from November to March. Music runs to hip-hop and soul, staff are friendly and quick, and the room has a buzzy, social energy at brunch. It’s a good place for a coffee meeting or a slow Saturday, less so for silent study.
A practical note: outlets have historically been scarce here, so come with a charged laptop or plan to focus on the coffee and food.
What to order
- Coffee person: Whatever single origin is on pour-over. Ask which roaster it’s from.
- Brunch: A seasonal toast or the day’s brunch special with a flat white.
- Quick stop: A cookie and a cortado to go.
Tips from a regular
- Weekend brunch lines can build after 10 a.m. Arrive early or come mid-afternoon.
- Weekdays before 9 a.m. are calm and the light through the windows is lovely.
- If you love this room, the sister locations are worth a trip too: the red Great Northern Way building, the Polygon Gallery in North Vancouver, and the Surrey and Coquitlam Pavilions.
Photos
Find Nemesis Coffee
- Address: 302 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC V6B 2N4
- Neighbourhood: Gastown
- Map: Open Nemesis Coffee in Google Maps
- Website: nemesis.coffee
- Instagram: @nemesis.coffee
Hours change seasonally, so confirm on the café’s own channels before you visit.
Nearby cafes in Gastown
- Revolver, one block down Cambie, for a tasting flight.
- Timbertrain Coffee Roasters on West Cordova for house-roasted beans.
- Monaco Cafe at the Water and Cordova flatiron for pastries and people-watching.
Explore more
Other Nemesis locations we’ve profiled: Great Northern Way and Polygon in North Vancouver. Plan a full morning with our Gastown cafe guide or start from the Vancouver cafe hub. New to pour-over? Read our coffee brewing methods guide.
Frequently asked questions
Was Gastown the first Nemesis location?
Yes. Nemesis opened at 302 West Hastings in 2017 before expanding to Great Northern Way, North Vancouver, Surrey and Coquitlam.
Does Nemesis Gastown serve food?
Yes, a full brunch and lunch menu plus pastries and cookies.
Can I work on a laptop at Nemesis Gastown?
You can, but outlets are limited and brunch hours get busy. Weekday mornings are best.
Last checked November 2026. Hours and menus change, so check the cafe’s own website or Instagram before you go. Spot something out of date? Let us know.
