Edmonton is a city that has no shortage of coffee culture. You don't have to look very far to find…read morea hip cafe or a specialty roaster - they're practically on every block. However, not many have grown and expanded quite the way that The Colombian has. I also don't think that anyone else can say that they get their beans from their own family farm... In Colombia. At the helm of the business? Thee actual Colombian himself, Santiago Lopez along with partner Kristin Panylyk. They opened their first full-service coffee shop with a roastery on site in 2018 - this flagship shop still operates today in Glenora and its where all of the beans get roasted. The business has now expanded to seven locations, including one in Saskatoon, each one acting as a hub in its respective community. EDify Magazine named The Colombian as Best Coffee 2025 and there's certainly no disputing the amount of impact that this Edmonton success story has had on the city's coffee scene. I visited the original Glenora location on a sunny Saturday afternoon and you cannot miss The Colombian's signature marquee signage that lets you know (in lights) that you are in the right place for coffee. The cafe was absolutely bumpin' with every table occupied and a long queue to place orders. Santiago Lopez was buzzing around the space greeting customers and taking the time to give detailed bean recommendations. The vibe is fresh and modern with light woods and black accents. The cafe certainly feels like the place to be on a weekend afternoon and I can only imagine that the rest of their six locations are exactly the same. (In fact, their Parkallen spot happens to be my "neighbourhood cafe" but I usually like to visit the OG when I'm writing.) While the interior of the cafe was quite busy, I found solace outside on the adjoining patio. I will admit right away that I am not much of a coffee purist but I do know what I like. I could order a latte or a mocha but I almost always gravitate toward the seasonal drinks menu (if there is one). These menus are usually where you'll find interesting flavours and creative ideas from the baristas - which is what I'm always on the lookout for. On this visit The Colombian was serving up an Orange Blossom Latte (Cardamom and fresh orange syrup, espresso, steamed milk. Floral and bright - $7.25 for regular size) which fit my desire perfectly. Served with a classic latte art look, this might have been my favourite drink that I've ever gotten at The Colombian! Not only could I taste the coffee, a nice robust roast, but the warming cardamom and hint of orange was very enjoyable. Not too sweet, not too bitter. The balance was just right and this felt like the type of latte that I could see myself ordering again and again. A pleasure! The Colombian offers more than only coffee and you'll also find a food menu. Most items lean toward breakfast but there are some sandwiches as well. I've been a fan of their Loxocado (a smoked salmon avocado toast) in the past but unfortunately it no longer appears on the menu. In its absence I chose the Avocado Toast (Avocado, cilantro, garlic, onion, lime, walnut oil, hempseed - $12.00) with an egg added ($1.50). Crusty bread was well-coated in a thick layer of smashed avocado and I really enjoyed the citrus notes to boost the flavour. Very bright and fresh! The textural elements were great too. I cut into the poached egg expecting a satisfying cascade of golden yolk but sadly the yolk had been cooked through. None the less, a decent avocado toast. However, I definitely missed the Loxocado version. Lastly, I was excited to try their Colombian Guava Croissant (Pastry stuffed with guava filling - $4.50). This reminded me a lot of the Empanadas Queso y Guava that I often get from Paraiso Tropical. I thought that it was very cool that they found a way to make a cafe version of this - a croissant instead of an empanada. I was very impressed by this tasty pastry! Not only was the croissant deliciously buttery but the sweet and jammy guava filling really helped to add a playful Latin spin. It's really nice to see some menu items that actually reflect the Colombian heritage - a great accompaniment to the coffee! The Colombian has set their focus on so much more than running multiple coffee shops. The heart of the business is all about sourcing sustainable, traceable, fairly priced beans. But there's more! They offer coffee subscriptions, fundraisers, and even coffee classes. They've got a blog. They've got a podcast. Plus there's a specialty coffee shop on wheels called The Coffee Mule that can be rented for events. Is there anything that The Colombian can't do?? It doesn't seem so. This Edmonton coffee mogul is impressive to say the least and there's probably a cozy cafe location right near where you live. Why not pop in and grab a latte?

My boyfriend and I heard good things about this place so we decided to check it out. The parking…read morelot out front was pretty much full, but luckily we managed to snag the last spot available. I ordered the regular Vanilla Latte with oat milk and my boyfriend got the large Mocha with oat milk. The lady taking our orders was friendly and nice. And they served our drinks right to our table. I absolutely loved my latte. It was creamy, robust, and very smooth. One of the smoothest lattes I've ever had. The oat milk complemented the espresso well. It had the perfect sweetness level. The Mocha was pretty tasty as well. It had a rich chocolate-y flavor. My latte was so well-done that my boyfriend kept stealing sips from my drink. We had a great time at this place and I can't wait to visit again.

Mexico is known for its chocolate. If you've ever visited an all-inclusive resort in Mexico you are…read morevery familiar with the vat of hot chocolate that is almost always on offer - usually at breakfast time - and the clay mugs that you drink it from. Edmonton's ch. Cafeteria, located in Grovenor, is a specialty cafe that celebrates exactly this: Mexican chocolate in all of its forms. The Edmonton Food Faves We Crave 2024 list named them as Favourite Dessert and with good reason! I visited their lively cafe on a Sunday afternoon, their corner location and bright fuchsia signage impossible to miss. The entire interior (and exterior) is a work of art with a strong focus on work by local artists, handmade items for sale, and an absolute eclectic explosion of colour. The space feels warm and inviting with cozy seating, communal tables (I met and chatted with a lovely family from South Africa while seated at ours), and greenery in every corner. It's a cafe that feels like a community hub, special and unique from the moment that you enter the building. The friendly staff enhances this atmosphere. Chocolate and coffee feel like pretty close cousins making the Mocha de Olla ($6.75 for small) feel like a natural choice. The best of both worlds! ch. Cafeteria also offers different types of chocolate in their beverages including; dark, milk, hazel, and white. This allows for a wide range of personalization to one's exact taste! Their Xocolatl is prepared spicy which is what many people think of when they imagine a Mexican hot chocolate. The Mocha de Olla is made with coffee brewed with raw sugar and cinnamon, chocolate, and milk. My favourite part of the beverage is how well the warming spices come through, truly highlighting the beautiful flavour of cinnamon mingling with the sweet notes of chocolate. Meanwhile, the slight bitterness of the chocolate is a perfect match for the coffee itself. The balance is perfection! I did find that my drink tasted a little bit watered down and I could have used even more developed and robust flavour. An overall delight nonetheless. I wanted to expand my visit from the typical cafe fare (coffee/pastry) to trying some of ch. Cafeteria's actual food. The menu is bigger than you'd expect! You'll find classics like Molletes and even a pulled pork sandwich. But the star of the menu is the Chilaquiles (Corn chips covered with red or green salsa, sour cream, melted cheese & feta cheese - $13.00). This is the dish that nachos (as we know them in North America) originated from. I got mine with Chicken (+$3.50), Avocado ($+3.00), and Extra Cheese (+$3.00). You can also choose from Mexican pulled pork or chorizo as proteins. I chose the green salsa as the flavour of this salsa is a bit more acidic, which I enjoy. These "Mexican style nachos" are pointed out to be a bit soggy - a texture that is desired in this case. Traditionally eaten as a breakfast dish, the correct texture of the chips is for them to be soft but still with a nice bite to them. ch. Cafeteria achieves this spectacularly. I was shocked by how addictive and delicious these chilaquiles were! The salsa was flavourful, bringing the aforementioned acidity to brighten up the dish. The shredded pieces of chicken were juicy and abundant. There was heaps of melty cheese. Every component, as simple as they were, came together to create one exceptional dish. I can see myself returning regularly to order this because I already can't stop thinking about it. Forget about the nachos that you know, chilaquiles is where it's at!! If there is one must try item at ch. Cafeteria I think that we would all agree on the Chido Dessert ($7.50). These famous layered chocolate mousse treats come in at least six different flavours and new ones are popping up all the time. It's like a mousse parfait and trust me, you want one. My personal favourite is the Woodstock but there is honestly no wrong choice here. The Woodstock is made with milk chocolate, caramel, and peanuts. For a chocolate and peanut butter-loving girlie like myself, this is the perfect chido. Each bite is filled with creamy decadence as you dig down into the bowl to capture every single component. The mousse is whipped to a creamy-light-airy perfection while the caramel adds a gooey sweetness. And the whole peanuts bring a great textural crunch. This dessert can only be described as velvet deliciousness. Everyone should take it upon themselves to try every single type of chido - it would be time well-spent. I also always make sure to grab a couple of ch. Cafeteria's housemade Truffles ($2.50 each) because this is the purist way to taste their chocolateria magic in action. This time I tried a Hazelnut & Chili one and a Peanut Butter one. You cannot go wrong with these! A perfect little bite that truly showcases what they do at ch. Cafeteria. I like the Hazelnut & Chili because its got some heat and really showcases the signature spice that you can find in Mexican chocolate. And the Peanut Bu

ch. Cafeteria Located at 14802 - Stony Plain are in…read moreEdmonton, ch. Cafeteria is a coffee shop and eatery spot. Part of a small strip mall, ch. Cafeteria is a very cozy and charming place to eat and drink for locals, and to meet family and friends. I drive in front of the shop for so many years, telling myself to go try this place - I finally did, and I was happy I did. I was greeted by a very friendly and welcoming employee!! I took a large latte coffee to go, with a Mexican pulled pork sandwich, which was accompanied with a small portion of pickled onions. The onions were a delicious addition to the sandwich!! I used to drink a lot of lattes in my early adult years when I was a university student. I considerably reduced my consumption of the coffee over the years, but once in a while I drink one. The latte at ch.Cafeteria is very tasty - it was very hot and fresh. The coffee shop is cozy and comfortable. It has table for both small and big groups. There is music in the background but isn't too loud, making it easy to have a talk with your coffee drinking companion(s). The shop also sell sweet treats such as chocolates and cookies. You may also find hot and cold drinks, and a good menu as well, as you can see in the photos provided. Coffee beans can also be bought there. A good amount of art and craft works are sold at the shop, this encouraging local talents. Finally, ch. Cafeteria is a very pleasant spot to have a drink and food, to read a book or meet with friend or a date.

We were exploring a different part of the city in search of a new place for coffee and breakfast…read more That's when we spotted Cafe Rista. The large list of breakfast wraps and sandwiches was a pleasant surprise. I ordered the spicy breakfast wrap for $9.50 in 2025. It was freshly made to order and hot both in spices and temperature. I enjoyed it once it cooled down a little. My partner ordered the Italian breakfast sandwich which was also $9.50. It looked similar to what I ordered except for it being a sandwich and less spicy. She enjoyed her dish as well. We both had a large drip coffee. The coffee was served in a generous sized cup so we thoroughly enjoyed our drinks. Noise was not a factor here as it is in so many places now. The cafe seemed to be clean. There's several tables of various sizes so finding seating should not be a problem. Overall I was very pleased with our morning coffee and breakfast experience although, strangely, the fellow behind the counter seemed somewhat indifferent to our being there. Maybe he was just having a bad day. The prices are excellent for the quality of food and coffee so I know that we'll return here.

The food was good and reasonably priced. I ordered the lox bagel. The guy behind the counter nodded…read moreyes when I asked if he was the owner. I found him surly, but it was 10 am and maybe he's just not a morning person. He seemed to be more friendly toward a male who came in after me. The lox bagel came unconstructed. When I asked if I could move the chairs, he said he didn't care. The guy just doesn't seem to love his work. A couple hours later another staff member came in. I had already ordered my medium latte, which had arrived hot. She may have been friendlier- did not interact with her. Overall the food was good, the decor was fine, and the service was ok.

Culina on the Lake has been a nice addition to Hawrelak Park. The food is pretty good freshly made…read morewith different options to choose from. Wine and local beer options too. The wine could be better - at the start they had better/more options. More expansive beer options would be nice too instead of choosing from just a few. The big fire place outside sets a nice vibe. The hours are not consistent with google - we've went a few times when it said they were open and they were closed. Call them ahead of time to make sure they are open as I know they change hours seasonally but should be open year round.

Tried out this little cafe on Sunday, September 26th around 11:30am. I had read some of the reviews…read morefrom other sites, so I was aware of the slow prep and cook time. I had ordered the breakfast sandwich and a friend ordered the halibut burger with fries. There was a steady stream of customers ordering food and beverage items while we were waiting for our food and there was a larger order just ahead of us, so it did take about 15 minutes to get our food. My breakfast sandwich with ham was delicious. Definitely would get it again! The bun was super fresh and everything tasted great! My friend really enjoyed her halibut burger and the fries that came with it were really great as well. And a very large portion of fries too! The staff was friendly and overall I would go back if I wanted to grab something to eat at Hawrelak park. The kitchen is very very small, so prep and cook time is really slow. Just keep that in mind when you order unless you order a bakery item like a cookie or something that's already ready to go. It's great to have a locally owned cafe at Hawrelak park.

This is my regular west end Starbies…read more The staff are fast, friendly, and always get my order right! What more could you ask for in a Starbucks? Just remember the parking lot her is a b it akward and when you exit on the road it's one way on either side of this location (West or East) onto 170th where it intersects with Stony Plain Road.

I frequent this location because it is so close to my work. Sometimes going more than once a day!…read more My drinks are always hot/refreshing and made just the way I like them. Sometimes I'm even upgraded to a larger size at no charge. Since I've been going here I see the same faces on both sides of the counter! That's saying a lot for a coffee shop. I often wonder if some patrons ever leave! After their recent facelift it has helped with flow of the queue that forms in the morning and lunchtime rush. Less in shop seating now from the looks of it, but I've never actually sat and enjoyed my drink. The only thing negative I have to say is that they usually run out of sandwiches before lunch even starts! And there is one staff member who could benefit from smiling once in a while... But over all my experiences have been above average!

Delicious, amazing gluten free baked goods They have…read moreéclairs, moon pies, Nanaimo Bars, honey cruellers.... The only problems here are parking and the goodies running out. Best to call ahead

Oh my goodness, my taste buds are so happy, and my texture buds if that is even a thing. I have…read morebeen waiting for a time to go into Celebrate Gluten Free since I had found out I had an allergy to Wheat and today was the day. The shop tucked in a building on stony plain road and 152 street. I am sure over my time in Edmonton I have driven by it but did not know the treasures that were in store. The place inside looks clean and bright. You can see right back to where the magic happens when you walk in. When I went in in a Saturday at lunch, they had a good selection of sweet options and savory and i decided on the pretzel pizza stick, a birthday cake bar, cheese scone and a ginger snap cookie for research purposes. Oh dear the texture of that pizza stick was exactly what I have been missing. The fluffy, chewy texture was in each bite and I was so happy. That texture that I have been missing in a bread product has finally been found and the flavour was there too. I finally felt like I wouldn't have to miss out in the things that I once really enjoyed. The birthday cake bar was also delicious and will be something that I would get for a party for myself or anyone else so they don't feel like they are missing out on the cake. And while I haven't eaten all of the treats, I can confidently say I will be back and soon to hit up the fresh bread because it has been too long since I have had a nice sandwich. Delicious!