| When you’re jonesing for a cup of joe, doesn’t the ideal café setting consist of quality caffeine, comfy seating, an inviting atmosphere, good people-watching, the right tunes and delicious pastries? A vente order, for sure, but the perfect coffee house is out there. Perhaps you’ll find it among these relatively new ones.
· The Palette Coffeehouse (#214, 100 - 7 Ave. S.W.; phone 262-2724) – art deco design on Art Central’s Plus-15 level. Comfy couches and chairs. Floor-to-ceiling windows afford great people-watching opportunities along busy downtown streets. Serves its own specially roasted and blended espresso and coffee. Drink specialties include lavender maté latte, cupcake (white chocolate, pure vanilla extract, espresso, whipped cream and rainbow sprinkles) and The Jungle Book’s King Louie (chocolate-banana extract, espresso, whipped cream and candied banana). Serves fresh pastries made daily in the Siding Café. Shows classic and goofy movies daily on flatscreen TV.
· Big Mountain Coffee (1004 - 8 St. S.W.; phone 244-6864) – owner Wade Semograd takes coffee and espresso seriously. Quality drinks. Wood interior and exposed ceiling pipes. Earthy, Canmore-feel. Coldplay tunes. Limited seating. Dimly lit. Partial view of Eighth Street. Summer patio. Black-and-white Ansel Adams mountain photography. Big Mountain Coffee is made from 100 per cent arabica beans. International selection of certified organic, shade-grown and estate coffee. On-site roasting. Full leaf, organic, hand-picked teas. Nibbles include banana bread, muffins, cookies and panini. Regulars known by name.
· Mojo Monk (600 - 6 Ave. S.W.; phone 266-7555) – contemporary, streamlined design. Wood interior and exposed ceiling pipes. Comfy tweed banquette and chairs, stainless steel bar stools. Great sunlight. View of pedestrian and motor traffic along Sixth Avenue and construction of Calgary Courts Centre. Great pastry and dessert selection from Eiffel Tower Bakery and Decadent Desserts. Premium coffee beans from around the world. Specialty drinks include yerba maté, peppermint chocolate latte, nutty toffee latte, caramel crème latte, brewed ice tea, regular and non-dairy frusia smoothies. Catering available. Free on-site access to wireless high-speed Internet. Lack of nearby parking and its weekday hours (Monday to Friday, 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.) make it more of a destination for the downtown crowd.
· Buffalo Café (1309 - 9 Ave. S.E.; phone 265 6406) – not to be confused with 1886 Buffalo Café in Eau Claire. This two-year-old restaurant is Inglewood’s equivalent of the Kaffa Coffee & Salsa House in Marda Loop. Historic three-room house. Sante Fe colour scheme and cowboy art. Good sunlight. Summer patio. 1980s radio tunes. Tex-Mex lunch menu, featuring buffalo burgers, buffalo club, buffalo Reuben. Tapas dinner menu. Basic coffee selection. Muffins, squares, cookies and cinnamon buns. Great place to while away the time.
· Primal Grounds (3003 - 37 St. S.W.; phone 240-4185) – not new but not to be missed. Funky exterior and ochre-coloured interior with tribal masks and drawings of primitive people and animals. Upbeat atmosphere with chattering din. Child-friendly. Good sunlight. Motto: "Wholesome, healthy foods cooked in the style that Mom used to make." Gluten-free food. Basic coffee selection. Great eats include breakfast bagel with egg, cheese and Black Forest ham, ginger chicken wrap, roast turkey and cranberry sandwich, homemade soup, island jerk chicken, beef stroganoff. Phenomenal desserts include orange yogurt cake, pineapple whipped cream square, pistachio cake and naked turtle tarts. Branch-fenced patio. Parking lot. Catering and drive-through. (Second location: 2000 - 69 St. S.W.) |
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