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Fave Vancouver Island Cafés
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items I’m a bit of a café wh0re (no shame) and an unapologetic matcha and chai snob. If you're tired of crappy matcha and bland chai, this list is for you. These are my tried-and-true spots on Vancouver Island where the vibes are immaculate and the drinks ...
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Cafes
Activities & Bring-Alongs for Self Dates or Dates with friends
The Eco-Conscious Life (because true zero waste doesn't exist)
Cafes
You all know (I mean, since you're here) that I'm obsessed with little coffee shops and cafes. I'm not talking starbucks… I'm talking about the ones that make you feel all secretive with HOW GOOD the menu items are, including specialty matchas that m...
The Vault Café is by far one of my favourite cafés to visit in Nanaimo, whether it's their delicious Lavender Matcha or the ambiance, I am so there!
TOP Favourite Hot Beverages on Cold Days❄️:
- Oat Matcha Latte with Lavender Syrup
- Oat or Soy Chai Latte
- Oat/Almond London Fog
- A London Fog Twist: English Breakfast instead of Earl Grey, with Lavender Syrup and Oat Mylk
TOP Favourite Hot Beverages for Cooler Spring Days🌷:
- Oat/Almond/Soy London Fog with Lilac and Lavender Syrup
❗ Ensure you get these in time, as their Lilac Syrup is limited.
Top Favourite Foods:
#1 The Vegan Breakfast Wrap without the wrap! Get it on a bed of their signature hashbrowns, and definitely add the avocado on top. Always ask for extra pickled onions cuz they're delicious!
#2 Their pizza is PHENOMENAL! I like going there on open mic nights and enjoying a slice of pizza with friends. It tastes authentic, artisanal and not like your cheap pizza from your local whatever place. The pizzas here are where it's at in the even...
TOP Favourite Hot Beverages on Cold Days❄️:
- Oat Matcha Latte with Lavender Syrup
- Oat or Soy Chai Latte
- Oat/Almond London Fog
- A London Fog Twist: English Breakfast instead of Earl Grey, with Lavender Syrup and Oat Mylk
TOP Favourite Hot Beverages for Cooler Spring Days🌷:
- Oat/Almond/Soy London Fog with Lilac and Lavender Syrup
❗ Ensure you get these in time, as their Lilac Syrup is limited.
Top Favourite Foods:
#1 The Vegan Breakfast Wrap without the wrap! Get it on a bed of their signature hashbrowns, and definitely add the avocado on top. Always ask for extra pickled onions cuz they're delicious!
#2 Their pizza is PHENOMENAL! I like going there on open mic nights and enjoying a slice of pizza with friends. It tastes authentic, artisanal and not like your cheap pizza from your local whatever place. The pizzas here are where it's at in the even...
The Vault Cafe | cafe | 499 Wallace Street, Nanaimo, BC, Canada
By far one of my favourite cafe's. Highly recommend their Chai latté or Matcha. For coffee: Vanilla Oat Latté
Courtyard Coffee
One of THEE most fabulous coffee places, highly recommend their Chai and Matcha Lattes
Milano Coffee
FANTASTIC coffee place and café, their Nanaimo bars are delicious! Love their Chai and Matcha Lattes as well
Home | White Rabbit
Black Rabbit Kitchen, attached to White Rabbit Coffee is a fantastic place for eats. Their house-made focaccia avocado toast slaps.
BLACK RABBIT KITCHEN
Another fantastic coffee shop, right by the beach ⛱️ their Matcha is truly fantastic, highly suggest with soy
Drip Coffee | Social
Fantastic Nanaimo bars, tons of vegan options (including Nanaimo bars). Their Chai is pretty good, haven't tried their matcha as they're usually out every time I get there.
Bocca Cafe
Fantastic Cafe and Bakery, tons of vegan options, most food is made from locally grown and organic ingredients, and the Matcha and Chai's are fantastic
The Duncan Garage Cafe & Bakery
One of the best cafés I've ever visited, at the Prestige Oceanfront Resort. Luxury, with Greece vibes.
island tarts cafe and catering: WELCOME
FANTASTIC organic café featuring elixirs, beverages, juices, smoothies, raw food and snacks. Literally EVERYTHING here is good.
The Glow Effect (@glowjuiceryduncan) • Instagram photos and videos
Best coffee, hot tea and latte cafe, featuring incredible plant-based foods to stay or to go. Highly recommend their Chai Latté, Matcha Latté and their bowls. My partner had their burger and praised it heavily.
Pink Moon Cafe
Some of the best Chai latte I've tried on the island 🏝️ they sell out of their vegan cinnamon buns quickly, ensure you get there in time to try those famous cinnies
Vegan | Fern Cafe and Bakery | British Columbia
Fantastic vegan brownies with crispy edges. Their Chai latté is really good as well
Creekmore's Coffee: HOME
Fantastic Matcha and Chai Lattés
Regard Coffee Roasters
Fantastic Rose Chai Latté!
Bees Knees Cafe & Catering | Best coffee shop in nanaimo
FANTASTIC café and market, featuring vegan and Plant-Based + gluten-free goodies, alongside incredible Lattés, coffee and more
Wild Poppy Market | Gluten-Free Bakery & Café
More of a restaurant, however, totally worth every penny for their high quality lunches. I've included it in this list as it's a block away from the Wild Poppy Market, go grab your chai tea or coffee there, go for a walk in beautiful Ladysmith (Pamel...
Plantitude Kind Food – Ladysmith, British Columbia.
My favourite Matcha I have tried so far can be purchased at JagaSilk. I haven't had the pleasure of sitting in on their tea bar, however, I'm sure it's beautiful and wonderful (just like their premium matcha).
Their tea bar is only open certain days at certain times, so please always remember to check their website.
Their tea bar is only open certain days at certain times, so please always remember to check their website.
JagaSilk
Activities & Bring-Alongs for Self Dates or Dates with friends
My absolute fave travel-sized tarot deck! I’ve had this one since 2018 or 2019, and it’s truly stood the test of time. It’s been with me through everything—from personal journaling rituals to cozy friend readings, and even professional tarot sessions...
Harmonious Tarot Mini
My fave journals ever are from Alibabette Editions Paris. I stand by these full-heartedly and have been working with them, writing and doodling in them, creating masterful ideas within the blank pages (no lines) for over 2 years now, and I love it!
Banana
I always purchase a few of these at a time. They're great for business, for personal notes, for writing tasks and just mental notes. I love troubleshooting and journaling in these.
If you've ever attended any one of my classes, you know I use these journals for my sacred webs, like the “web of desires” from the Scorpio Masterclass.
If you've ever attended any one of my classes, you know I use these journals for my sacred webs, like the “web of desires” from the Scorpio Masterclass.
Carnaval: Underwater Carnival of Colorful Fish
I love this one especially cause it's witchy! I love styled drawings and the inspiration ALONE that this cover would give me is insane.
I use these blank-paged journals for:
- doodling
- writing
- webs
- ideas
- brainstorming
- brain dumps
- therapy sessions
- in coaching sessions
and so much more. they're so versatile!
I use these blank-paged journals for:
- doodling
- writing
- webs
- ideas
- brainstorming
- brain dumps
- therapy sessions
- in coaching sessions
and so much more. they're so versatile!
Curiositas: Cabinet of Curiosities
I love the various colours and patterns within each cover of the notebook. I just loves these and can't get enough of them!
Canton: Chinese Paper Collage Motif
I also love the more simpler designs. One of the first sketchbook journals I ever had from them had a simple cover of swatches, each delicately named underneath. It brought such elegance and inspiration to my every day that I cannot describe.
Alibabette Editions Paris CH2P006 Mini Notebook
The Eco-Conscious Life (because true zero waste doesn't exist)
Everyone knows—well, if you didn’t, now you do—I do my best to live as eco-friendly and eco-conscious as possible. For me, that means purchasing with intention and choosing products that serve more than one purpose. I’m all about multi-functional ite...
And most of the time, now awadays, you can bring any of these items into a cafe or coffee shop, and they will happily fill it up for you with your beverage of choice.
I absolutely love my Yeti to-go “mug” – It's my go-to water container as it keeps things cool (or hot) for longer than any other brand I've had.
My favourite part is when you purchase a Yeti like this one, you have the choice of purchasing a secondary lid for cool drinks, and a Yeti straw.
Which, in my books, is always eco-friendly to have 1 container for multiple uses. The best part about being able to purchase lids separately is that IF, for any reason, you lose yours or it breaks, or it has fallen to the depths of a lake you were pa...
AND NO, it does not smell like soup or whatever was there previously… and your iced tea will not taste like soup moving forward lol.
The only thing I found to give this a quite lasting smell was like a strong Chai Tea, perhaps? Or electrolytes. However, over time and with a few washes, these smells go away.
If you like to drive, I highly recommend purchasing a Yeti that fits into your cup holder.
My favourite part is when you purchase a Yeti like this one, you have the choice of purchasing a secondary lid for cool drinks, and a Yeti straw.
Which, in my books, is always eco-friendly to have 1 container for multiple uses. The best part about being able to purchase lids separately is that IF, for any reason, you lose yours or it breaks, or it has fallen to the depths of a lake you were pa...
AND NO, it does not smell like soup or whatever was there previously… and your iced tea will not taste like soup moving forward lol.
The only thing I found to give this a quite lasting smell was like a strong Chai Tea, perhaps? Or electrolytes. However, over time and with a few washes, these smells go away.
If you like to drive, I highly recommend purchasing a Yeti that fits into your cup holder.
YETI Rambler 20oz Travel Mug, Stainless, Cherry Blossom
I love my Corkcicle for smaller drinks; both hot and cold beverages work well in this container. The only downside to these cute travel cups is that they don't always fit into vehicle cup holders.
Corkcicle Luxe 12oz Insulated Stemless Cup
My go-to container for the longest time, even for travel, was a simple Mason Jar. I would always carry water in it, and people would jokingly ask fun questions like "Is that your emotional support goldfish?" although I think that Costco lady was seri...
16oz Mason Jars 6 Pack with Airtight Lids
Eventually, I was gifted a few of these lids, which are perfect for mason jar drinks, smoothies, iced caps and even water!
Masontops Multi Top Flip Cap Mason Jar Lid 2-Pack