Start your day with a refined latté from one of downtown’s favourite cafés. Coffee aficionados are in luck because some of the best coffee shops in the city are located within just a few blocks of each other. The “crème de la crème” of the coffee scene are deVille Coffee (one in Fashion Central on Stephen Avenue and one in Art Central on 7th Avenue SW) Caffè Artigiano (two on 3 Street SW) and Chiasso (4th Avenue SW).
All of the cafés mentioned serve espresso and perculated coffee. Sometimes just the aroma can give you that jolt you are looking for. These roasteries know their way around coffee beans, but Caffè Artigiano is the home of Sammy Piccolo, who has been the world barista champion since 2003.
If you are looking for something a little stronger deVille also offers a selection of wine and cheese. Get out there coffee lovers, because whatever kind of quick fix you need you can find it in one of Calgary’s fine downtown cafés.
Are there any others you’d add to the list? Let me know in the comments.
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I would add Bumpy’s on 8th St and 11th Ave. Excellent espresso and a great atmosphere and staff. Can’t speak to the food as I’m usually in there for an espresso fix.
I agree. The only reason I left it out was that technically its not in the downtown district. Bumpy’s is actually my #1 choice in the calgary.
Thanks for the feedback.
I’m a big fan of Kawa coffee on 8th Street and around 15th… great savoury roasts and tasty bagels, and a great atmosphere.
Two big oversights here- and yes, they’re both in the core (unlike Kawa and Bumpy’s, both great but not technically downtown): Caffe Rosso, in the Telus Convention Centre, and Insomnia Coffee Company, in the Burns Building right on Olympic Plaza. So the DT cream of the coffee crop- meaning places that source the best beans, have the best machines, have the best-trained baristas, and of course make the best drinks, would indeed be these five.