Vancouver cafés for a cup of Turkish coffee

Besides its rich cultural history, Turkish coffee is known for its strong flavour and unique unfiltered texture. It is poured into small cups from a copper cezve, grinds and all. Though not for the faint of heart, this beverage is favoured by many coffee fans, but can be hard to find if you don't know where to look. These Vancouver cafés and restaurants serve tasty traditional Turkish coffee to start you off.

By Shannon Tien

NUBA

1

3116 Broadway W, Vancouver, BC V6K 2H3

• Phone Number
  • 604-336-1797Primary
• Directions

Nuba is a Vancouver-based Lebanese restaurant with a focus on fresh, healthy ingredients and old family recipes. The mini-chain has multiple locations throughout the city – Gastown, Yaletown, Mount Pleasant and Kitsilano – and is a local favourite for lunch, dinner and even brunch. The Middle Eastern menu features pitas, hummus, halloumi cheese, falafel, fresh salads, grilled meats and plenty of other regional delights. The strong, authentic Turkish coffee makes a great finish to your meal.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Koko Monk Chocolates

2

1849 1st Ave W, Vancouver, BC V6J 5B8

• Phone Number
  • 604-708-3366Primary
• Directions

This artisan chocolatier stocks delicious chocolate bars and bonbons handcrafted with organic ingredients, raw origin cocoa beans, and natural sweeteners such as Monk fruit, maple syrup, dates and coconut sugar. The shop also features a small café with a drinks menu that includes hot chocolate (you can actually order a flight of hot chocolate to sample a variety of different flavours) as well as small-but-strong cups of traditional Turkish coffee. Visitors can also pick up canisters of imported Turkish coffee beans to brew at home.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Brews & Bites Cafe

3

1-1635 Main St, Vancouver, BC V6A 2W5

• Phone Number
  • 778-379-7224Primary
• Directions
• Menu

This quiet, beautifully decorated café can be found in Vancouver’s Strathcona neighbourhood. In addition to the typical coffee shop fare – cappuccinos, lattes, muffins and cookies – the Brews & Bites menu also features Turkish coffee. If the straight-up coffee is too bitter for your tastebuds, try the hazelnut version for some added sweetness.

Carthage Café

4

1851 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4A6

• Phone Number
  • 604-215-0661Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Have you ever tried Tunisian food? Well, if not, Commercial Drive’s Carthage Café is a great place to start. Serving a mix of Tunisian and French dishes such as escargot and couscous, the dinner menu also includes a mean Turkish coffee. Order it with your meal or dessert to end the night on a classy note.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

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Afghan Horsemen Restaurant

5

202-1833 Anderson St, Vancouver, BC V6H 4E5

• Phone Number
  • 604-873-5923Primary
• Directions
• Menu

As you can probably already tell from this list, Turkish coffee is by no means confined to the geographical borders of Turkey. It has long been a popular way to consume coffee throughout the Middle East. The Afghan Horsemen serves authentic Afghani cuisine and has won the Georgia Straight’s award for Best Middle Eastern Restaurant in Vancouver too many times to count. Turkish coffee is among the many beverages you may order to accompany or conclude your internationally inspired dinner.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Restaurants serving a taste of the Middle East in Vancouver
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Jamjar

6

2290 Commercial Dr, Vancouver, BC V5N 4B5

• Phone Number
  • 604-252-3957Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Jamjar is a Lebanese tapas restaurant on The Drive specializing in communal eating and is renowned for its delicious hummus, which you can buy in jars to go. The wide variety of hot and cold mezze dishes make this a great venue for a crowd; roasted cauliflower, lentil stew and falafel are all menu must-trys. Stop in for lunch or dinner or just sit at the bar and order a Turkish coffee in a beautiful metallic serving pot. Alternatively, try the Turkish Delight cocktail, which features Turkish coffee mixed with Baileys, halva (a sweet Middle Eastern confection) and cardamom bitters.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Roots in Beirut: Lebanese restaurants in Vancouver
• Vancouver restaurants for fresh and flavourful hummus
• Best spots for foodies on Commercial Drive

Rice N Spice

7

400-555 Hastings St W, Vancouver, BC V6B 1M1

• Phone Number
  • 604-563-3143Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Tucked away in the basement of the Harbour Centre, Rice N Spice serves affordable, vegetarian-friendly Middle Eastern dishes that you can scarf down between classes or pick up to take back to the office during lunch hour. Wash down those unique Sri Lankan flavours with a cup of steaming hot Turkish coffee and head back to work refreshed and energized.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

• Places to get vegetarian food downtown Vancouver

Antolia's Gate Restaurant Inc

8

7084 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC V5E 1E7

• Phone Number
  • 604-525-2519Primary
• Directions
• Menu

As one of the city’s few restaurants serving authentic Turkish cuisine, Anatolia’s Gate in Burnaby is treasured by many a Vancouver resident. Serving traditional Turkish dishes like chicken iskender, lavish bread with tzaziki, and lamb guvech for lunch and dinner, all meat is halal and you can bet that your meal won’t be complete without a Turkish coffee.

Rumi Rose Garden Cafe & Market

9

3660 Hastings St E, Vancouver, BC V5K 2A9

• Phone Number
  • 604-558-4455Primary
• Directions
• Menu

Rumi Rose Garden’s signature Turkish coffee has been referred to as “heavenly”. This quiet Sufi Tea House can be found in Burnabys Heights, a unique cultural area with a diverse array of restaurants and cafés. Stop by for a couple of hours of studying, grab a coffee to go, or stock up on a selection of specialty Middle Eastern groceries and spices at the on-site market.

More from Shannon Tien

Shannon is a writer and a coffee drinker living in Vancouver. You can read more of her food writing at http://www.youcaneatnow.com/

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