I remember when this used to be a pleasant location to work on the weekend and have a nice cappuccino. I used to know the staff that had been there and it really added to the experience. The other week I went in to order my usual cappuccino with soy and the girl at the counter said I should have it with milk since it foams better. I told her politely that I wouldn't mind it, but I prefer the texture of soy. The barista beside her asked me if I was lactose intolerant and I told her no, but I prefer soy milk. They both pushed me into trying the milk saying that if I wasn't allergic I should try it and I said, no, I really don't want milk and could you please make the soy cappuccino, and could they make it extra hot because I was going to have it to go. The one girl rolled her eyes and made the drink really quick and dropped it on the small counter making a mess and walk away. I didn't want to bother asking her to remake it or heat it up (it wasn't extra hot and it was more liquid than foam). I just wiped up the cup, went down the street to another coffee shop and ordered another cappuccino. I won't be returning. read more

Was looking for a place to grab a cup of coffee with a girlfriend, so Yelped "coffee shops" along commercial and Prado's pictures looked the most inviting. Upon arrival the decor was a little more sparse than what I was expecting, but I didn't mind the minimalistic decor. My cappuccino was surprisingly good and the staff were very friendly. While nothing particularly stood out for me, I find myself nonetheless wanting to go back...so clearly this place is doing something right! read more

Liked: Clean, minimal interior Good music choices Wifi name is OMGLOL or something like that Disliked: Burned soy latte Lack of outlets read more

Came here with my bf after work on a Friday. We decided to sit outside because it was too warm inside. This cafe does have their own outside seating but there was also a Public seating area outside the cafe which we decided was really cool so we sat there instead. I had an iced lemongrass tea in a glass jar which was refreshing but it was sort of watery so I couldn't taste the lemongrass. I think there was too much ice added or they didn't seep it long enough. My bf ordered an interesting drink that wasn't bad but he didn't like it. I forgot what it was called but it was part soda and part coffee. It wasn't that sweet and the coffee was strong enough that you could taste it. We also had an inside-out peanut butter cookie with chocolate filling which was yummy. The peanut butter was my favorite part because it was crumbly and peanut buttery. The chocolate filling wasn't bad but I thought there was too much of it and it was too sweet for me. read more

Since I'm a sucker for interesting cafes, I had to check Prado out when I was passing by. It has a great ambience and really cool interior that kind of reminded me of Analog Cafe in Calgary. The coffee shop itself is fairly spacious, but there isn't too much seating, such a few wooden benches and tables. There are a lot of hipsters with Macbooks here, as others have commented. It's a really pleasant space if you feel like sipping coffee, doing some work, reading, or people watching. The coffee is served in really pretty blue cups, which added a nice touch. I ordered a chai latte and a brownie, which came to around $5--very reasonable. Chai latte wasn't as sweet as I usually like but still enjoyable. Overall, would come again, but I'd probably order another drink. read more

Prado Café - Chai latte. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

It's the coolest cafe in the city, with high ceilings white walls and large windows lots of natural light. -It's nice to find people take their coffee serious without the attitude. -The coffee itself was smooth, rich in taste, and not bitter at all. Prado cafe is easily my favorite place to get pour over coffee. I'll be back! read more

This is a perfectly nice little coffee shop that gal pal and I happened upon one day after work. We were looking for a coffee shop that wasn't Starbucks, and as JJ Bean was PACKED, we gave Prado a try. I had their regular drip coffee, which was perfectly acceptable, and my friend had a latté, which was presented gorgeously. By the time we got there (around 5pm) the place was still busy, but starting to thin out, so we snagged a table without a problem. The crowd was mostly made up of students and hipsters, which is A-OK with me, since I love hipsters. (Why do they get such a bad rap, anyway?) I liked the decor of the shop, which was very simple and almost Scandinavian. Kind of like an Ikea coffee shop. As I recall, the bathroom was a little scary, though. Will I go back? Sure, but it isn't a place that I would specifically seek out. It doesn't hurt that this place is next door to my favourite clothing store in the city -Barefoot Contessa. read more

Hands-down favorite coffee shop in all of Vancouver. I could (and have) spent hours looking out at the windows at the passerbys, in between chapters of my book and good conversation. The coffee, chai lattes and tea are always excellent. Reminds me of a lovely coffee shop that i used to frequent in Montreal. Similar vibe, similar decor. The *only* complaint I have is that the chairs aren't very comfortable. however, if they were, you'd never get a seat. read more

I love this place! I used to live and work across the street from there so I was quite spoiled being so close! I now live in Surrey so I can only go there once in a while. I like the brightness and huge windows to let the natural light in. Most of the staff are friendly, however sometimes the person behind the counter is grumpy and act as if the customers are an interruption to them. It can also be frustrating sometimes when you can't get a table or even a seat for that matter as there are single people with their laptop computers hogging a table and two chairs nursing the same coffee for hours! Owned by a nice, hardworking, young woman who is very dedicated to her business. Great lattes and yummy baked goods. The raspberry squares are to die for! read more

I heard so many good things about this cafe that I just had to make the effort when I was in Vancouver. My first impression was "wow, what an awesome space for a cafe". I liked the woodwork, the minimalist look and the white espresso machine, aesthetically it was well done. I ordered a soy chai, it was watered down and not very good. My boyfriend ordered an ICED soy latte what he got was a HOT soy latte with a few ice cubes... If that were milk it would have been a SERIOUS health code violation. I am sorely disappointed in Prado, I hope they get their shit straight. read more

All the ingredients are there for a great shop: big, open space, sunny windows, sturdy wooden tables and seating, 49th Parallel beans, a good espresso machine, and now world-class owner Sammy Piccolo. But despite all of this Prado just kinda still sucks. I'm trying to figure out what's going wrong despite all the things Prado seemingly has going for it. The coffee is pretty tasteless. Much more so than 49th Parallel itself. Their milk always has terrible texture and is never sweet. Somehow, even if it isn't too hot, the milk still tastes scalded. The baked goods and pastries are unremarkable. The baristas seem stuck-up, curt, and full of themselves which, believe me, is unwarranted. Seldom do they even say anything to me when I walk to the counter. I feel like I'm bothering them to place an order. About the only conclusion I've come to is that either Sammy isn't training these people or they just don't give a shit. I suspect the latter. If that's true just fire these people and get staff are who want to do good work. I've been to Prado four or five times now. I want to like it because the space is a really great bright place for gloomy Vancouver. It isn't happening though and I don't think I'll be back - except maybe to enjoy the space and get some tea. Do yourself a favor and go a few blocks North to Bump n' Grind if you want good coffee and service. No, I don't work for them. read more

Beach Boys LPs on repeat and friendly/fast/fun counter staff, and grrrreat espresso...win for all! Loved soaking this spot in, felt really comfortable and at home here, even upon first visit. Will return. Lots of different folk enjoying a day off, smiles and good vibes all 'round. Hard not to really dig this spot!!! read more

The coffee is great (well, the Americano that I order is good). I live nearby, and Prado has been my go-to cafe. But it's only for the coffee, and there are lots of other cafes I can walk to on the Drive. And that's what I'll be doing next time I want a take-out coffee. The staff at Prado are probably the most pretentious group of people I've encountered in a Vancouver coffee shop (Elysian on Broadway runs them close though). They are far too good looking and cool to ever give the smallest f*ck about their customers. Case in point - today I went in and ordered the usual 16oz Americano to go. The person on the till barely acknowledged me, given that I'm a middle aged man (and look like one), and have forgotten to get full sleeve tattoos and pendulous piercings. Not to worry - the barista will at least acknowledge that I exist, right? Wrong. She's worse. She's much too good looking to bother with me. And it's not just me. While I'm there, she places an in-house order of macchiato on the counter and announces with a barely audible whisper that it's now ready. Nobody in the cafe has heard her, so nobody comes to collect. In the 10 mins it took to get my coffee, she didn't bother repeating it, and so the coffee was left chilling on the counter. When it arrive I thanked them for my coffee (ignored), and thanked them again on the way out (double ignored). Whoever owns Prado needs to speak to their team about the basics of customer service, unless the dont-give-a-f*ck attitude is a Drive marketing strategy. read more

Prado is a shadow of its former self. It is still one of the best cafe's on the drive but it has suffered a bit since the change of owners in 2012. The key feature of Prado is its windows, you'd be hard pressed to find better people watching on the drive from the cozy interior of this cafe. The place now has air conditioning as well so on hot summer days with the sun hitting those windows hard it is still cool as a cucumber inside. Sadly as cozy as this cafe is, it isn't exactly comfortable. In an effort to increase the number of people who can fit inside they added disastrously uncomfortable benches along the windows - so not only are you seated on something that is turning your rear to a rock with a 2x4 piercing your back, you are facing INSIDE, the exact opposite that you'd want to be facing. One nice feature is the vinyl record player - adds some warmth to the ambience. They serve Parallel 49 coffee and espresso so they're working a good base, but despite the owner Sammy's barista awards on shelves along the walls, the quality of the pour is highly inconsistent at Prado these days. The staff seems to be following some hardcore rulebook but it never really gives way to the natural art of espresso. The worst part of their coffee service seems to be a lack of attention to the cup and plate - I get a beautifully poured leaf across the top of my latte but it is served in a splattered mug and plate or with coffee grounds on it, or crap along the rim that I don't want to put my mouth up to. There is one barista in particular that does this nearly every cup - I thought she's be gone by now but it has been over a year and I'm still getting the same crap cups. The staff generally seems uninspired. Unfortunately one of the key features of a quality cafe is missing at Prado, and that is the pastry selection. There are a few good pastries but again the quality is hit or miss, you could get a soggy muffin one day or one that is dry and hard as a rock another. Additionally the selection is missing some essentials - no savory pastries, if you want savory you have to order a whole meal (breakfast brunch, which is excellent) or a burrito. Would love a cheese scone or a ham and cheese croissant! The WiFi is hit or miss, seems to be set up badly or something and requires frequent reboots to keep it upright. I used to love Prado because it was clean, comfortable, had amazing coffee and baked goods, and an inspired staff that almost felt like a family. It is no longer that place, a bit colder all the way around and could use a bit of warmth and attention to user experience. It is still a fantastic cafe and worth a visit, though lately I find myself more often down at JJ Bean. Sorry Sammy, I really tried! read more

I've never tried any of their food but it looks pretty tempting. I think the only coffee place I'm willing to grab a snack from is the ones like JJ Bean where the muffins are actually still warm when you get them.. Anywho, there's not too much to say about this plain little spot. My friends are always in there though so I never forget to take a peak when I walk by. The windows are nice and big. I think I've only actually sat inside once. I like their coffee and since I drink it black it has to be good or I won't have it again (unless to throw some whiskey in and hang out with some buddies in the near by park...) It feels clean inside. It's hipster-esque I guess which doesn't even faze me.. I live on the drive and I think it's a cute spot. The staff always seem pretty rad except for when their friends come in and they chat too long with them and ignore me (only happened twice..) hahah.. read more

Prado was blessed by the café gods with a fantastic location: windows facing South and West which allow for glorious sunlight and all the people watching you desire. But what the gods can bless, they can also curse. The staff, attractive as they may be, prepare drinks with little understanding of coffee. Take, for example, my request for an iced soy latte. The barista added ice cubes to a beverage prepared hot and intended as such. Stick with hot beverages and enjoy the free WiFi. Everything else is a gift from the gods. read more

THE best people watching in East Van and a great place to have a conversation or spend a leisurely afternoon with a book, journal, or laptop. But don't expect to work super efficiently or finish a major project. Specialty drinks are hit or miss, espresso is medicore, and coffee is OK. Pastries are decent. Sparkling water is on tap and self-serve, though! I don't understand the complaints by other reviewers about snobby or unfriendly service. I expect prompt, professional, and polite. The staff are all of these. This is a cafe, not a concierge service. There's a tiny wooden "parklet" open to the public just outside on the sidewalk with benches and tables. It functions as extra seating for Prado when the weather's nice. If you're hungry, bring over a sandwich from La Grotta del Formaggio across the street, an absolute institution in this area. Leave your Lululemon and Herschel in Kits. Here you'll need to wear grungy looking clothes and carry a beat up leather messenger bag. read more

This is my go-to coffee place whenever I go back to Vancouver for a visit and stay at my parents. My parents' house is a good 8 blocks away from the cafe but I would make sure I paid it a visit on foot for a good cup of bold and strong latte to start my day. read more

I loved Prado. It's a fabulous hip serving delicious coffee beverages and small eats. Love the decor; big windows and high ceilings. I could easily spend entire day here and not even notice. It's a pity I don't live in Vancouver, but if I did I would be here all the time! read more

Prado Café - Latté - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

With its beautiful cream-coloured walls and high ceilings, Prado is one of those Vancouver hot-spots that attracts a steady stream of gorgeous hipsters. The 49th Parallel coffee is quite good (not as good as the offerings at Revolver, though). I wish that they would serve a better variety of snacks -- maybe something with a little protein? -- but that's just a chronic problem with the coffee joints in town. Prado seems to be popular with students and self-employed folks who need a space to get work done. Unlike some other cafes, I've never felt pressure to leave within a certain time-frame. A lot of the cafes on Commercial don't have wifi (I assume this is to increase turnover), but Prado seems to pride itself on being available as temporary work-space and meeting-hub. It's a service that I appreciate. read more

I see this little café full of people as I've passed by before. It looks cute. I thought today I'd go in. Everyone was on their lab-top computers. Tap, tap tap. I assume they have free wifi. There were big windows but no one was looking at anything other then their computer screens. They might as well have been in a basement. Just sad. Lots of hipster types wearing loafers tapping away at their devices. Perhaps they're version of socializing in the real world is sitting outside their home on a computer? Not hating, I just think it's ironic. The service was decent. My tea cost $4. Not cheap. Like the bag was probably 30cents and the rest of it was water so I think it's safe to say that's pretty ridiculous for tea. Positive: The teacups were nice. I didn't order food because of the unimpressive food options. The washroom was dark and the key didn't work well. One of those "you just have to keep shaking it" keys. read more

Prado Café - june 2017 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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I absolutely love their coffees. However, if I wanted my coffee for sit down, I always had to walk to another coffee shop nearby because they are aaaalllways packed with people with laptops and books...there was not a single time I could find myself a seat to comfortably sit down and enjoy my coffee. I started to get really set off by seeing all the people taking up seats with laptops whenever I go to a coffee shop. If I were the owner, I would be enforcing the rule of staying 1.5hr max per visit! I noticed there's a outside seating area now which is very nice but sometimes it's a bit chilly out, I'm still wondering if I'm ever going to get a seat inside in this coffee shop :s read more

Good Coffee and Hot Chocolate, pretty inexpensive too. The sandwiches are relatively inexpensive and taste real as opposed to oily and artificial. Hipsters everywhere tho, but food is good enough for a quick take out. read more

This is a charming coffee and cafe spot for breakfast and brunch. We were visiting from San Diego and stayed at an Airbnb around the corner from this place. It was an easy walk and we strolled right in with our 3 y/o and ordered. There is ample seating space for singles and small groups. I ordered the Prado Special (Avocado toast with arugula and poached egg) and hubby got a waffle with Ricotta. The servings aren't as big as US portions but that's probably a good thing. Everything was tasty and I would definitely go again. It did take awhile for our items to come out so I wouldn't recommend if you are in a hurry unless you are just getting a baked pastry. read more

This place.. where do I start PRETENTIOUS is the word that comes to mind. I actually lived above this shop for a few years and went elsewhere for my coffee. The staff in there seem to have been coached to look at you like they're "OVER IT" when they serve you. Smiling is definitely NOT cool. If you walk by the place and look into their windows you'll see that mood that has been set, no smiling! EVER. Ok they have great oat bars. If you're STARVING and walking by and it's the ONLY place open to get food (that'll never happen on the drive) Run in, ask for Blueberry Oat Bar, avoid Eye contact and leave. When a place overrules Great Customer Service just so they can Milk the Hell out of the Hipster Vibe.. I'm a NOPE! Customer service is King and treating people like humans is important.. yes.. More important than your Lattes. read more

This place has great staff, but that's about it. Constantly understaffed, which seems ridiculous considering the prices. Can they not afford to hire more people?? Turn over seems constant, which isn't surprising considered I once saw what looked like a ten year old working. Not even sure how that is legal, much less helpful. As someone who has worked a lot of food service jobs, this location comes across as having incredibly poor management. I hope the upper management either changes or the place shuts down and a shop that treats their staff better replaces it. read more

great atmosphere and great coffee! lovely place, highly recommend. will definitely return!

What a relief it was to step out of the rain and into a warm, coffee scented atmosphere. White coloured walls, exposed brick, communal tables and baked goods is what to expect as you approach the counter at Prado Cafe. It makes a great place to study or sit down for a chat. As a corner establishment, the big windows provide a lot of natural light. Staff members are friendly, witty, but sometimes in a huge rush to help everyone in the line up. What would've made my visit perfect is if the tables with crumbs and dirty dishes was cleaned, and if the coffee served to me didn't spill all over my handle. Oh well. Life's imperfect, but I wouldn't mind returning to Prado. It gives me that old feeling of home. read more

I was looking for a new place to draw on commercial drive and this may fit the bill? I had passed prado a few times and noticed it had nice big windows and decent sized tables. I thought I would give it a shot. The good: -The tea. Nice flavours, good selection. May I also note they have one of the coolest tea brewing systems I've ever seen. -Lots of light . Good for reading, drawing, writing,etc -Decentish size tables -Music. Many cafe's in the area could learn a lesson from Prado in the area. The music is good and not deafening. It's good for background noise, and oh my goodness I can actually talk to people, and hear them?! It's adding to the experience rather than feeling like an indoor concert. -You don't need a key to use the cafe washroom. The bad -The prices...Nearly $3 for a large cup of tea? I'm not sure if they do hot water refills with the tea brewer but for that price they really should -It's not accessible. Stairs to get in, and stairs to the washroom down stairs -The pastries. So disappointing. That croissant was super dry. -Tables can only really fit two people working and don't really have enough room that elaborate tea system and pastries. -Not got for big groups Could be better, and could be worse. Nice place to draw, and catch up with a friend over a coffee though! read more

Good space to study but the lemon/orange cake was obviously a few days old - Americano and tea was ok - birds nest cookie was yum but not worth the price overall just come here for the coffee avoid the food read more

Prado Café - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

This is a really nice spot to go sit down and have a coffee or use your laptop. Neat, bare, wooden decor. Good coffee. Lots of light - it has huge windows on two sides, facing South and West. Good wifi and lots of people working or surfing, most of the time so you'll fit in right in. And, if you're just having a coffee and a chat? Yeah, that works too. read more

They use 49th Parallel coffee! (thats very good) and i think there the only ones to do so on the Drive. The place it's self is very plain but a lot of window for sunlight. read more

Prado Café - Cjs - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

I went there one morning for an espresso, the barista made it 3 times just to make sure everything was perfect. I'd say the effort he put in justifies the $3 price tag. read more

Favorite coffee on the drive. The raspberry bar is real tasty, you should probably get one. read more

Stars are for FOOD only: Came here at 8am to grab a quick coffee and bite on the go.The delcious apple crostada was so buttery and the filling was soft and a good amount of sweetness. There are a variety of baked goods including large freshly baked muffins ready for you to indulge in if the apply crostada is not your cup of tea... but I'm telling you to try it because you will not regret it. For a drink - I got an indian chai - not too sweet and nice hints of spice. (and this is where my four star rating ends...) They make their drinks at 140 degrees, so don't expect it hot because it's not.... luke warm at best. Warn them if you want something hotter because if you say something afterwards like I did, they'll give you a snooty answer and basically tell you that you're SOL in not so many words. I thought that in a service world, the customer is always right. I just wanted a hot drink to taste...well... hot. read more

Prado Cafe is located in a heritage building with high ceilings and huge windows. The decor is simple, modern and clean. I don't drink coffee as it doesn't agree with me, but I go here with a coffee aficionado whose cup always has a thick crema on top and smells divine. My tea isn't anything to shake a stick at either. They use good quality loose leaves and piping hot water. The condiment bar carries a variety of milks including soy, sugars and honey. They offer a good selection of baked goods to go along with your hot beverage. I have had the fruit squares. They are tasty and a good sized portion. They also have wireless internet for their customers. If you can't get a seat inside they have a few benches outside where you can sit and people watch. read more

Good place to hang out, relax and spend time with loved ones or fiends. We went on a Sunday morning so it wasn't very busy. The sun was actually shining in a bit despite the rain! Definitely felt more like a hipster place; though would fit right into Austin, Texas' coffee culture! We got a mocha latte and a liege waffle for breakfast. Great way to start the morning! read more

Prado Café - Starting a Sunday morning early at prado Cafe with a mocha and a liege waffle! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Vancouver, British Columbia

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If I find myself on Commercial Drive, which I do quite frequently, I'll often pop into Prado for an Americano and a muffin. While Commercial Drive is famous for its old-school Italian coffee shops, I visit the modern-looking minimalist Prado because it's bright and airy and the wall-to-ceiling windows make for great people-watching. Prado's also a place I can bring my laptop to and get a lot of work done. In many ways, Prado's a hub of the neighbourhood, especially for people who work from home and want a change of scenery. Many people come here with their laptops or reading material. It's not unusual to see 8 or 9 tables covered in MacBooks! The service is always friendly, efficient, and the coffee's great. Oh, and the muffins are fantastic. While I find the chocolate chip Nutella muffins to be sweetness overkill, the lemon poppyseed is great, and the cranberry, oatmeal, candied ginger muffins are amazing. read more

Great atmosphere, lousy coffee. Stop burning it! Update! New owners=great espresso...finally. read more

I love everything about the Prado. Their color scheme is soft and inviting; lots of whites and browns and the little bit of sky/turquoise blue keep things from looking bland. There is a lot of seating, but it never feels crowded even when all the seats are full. This is probably because of the wall to wall windows covering 2 of the 4 walls. It lets a lot of light shine through and it can be a pain when you're using a computer but if you get the right spot, it's not so much of a problem. I order a london fog for dine in whenever I go to a new cafe and the Prado's didn't disappoint. It was a decent size, really good for the price ($3.50 or so, I can't quite remember), and the drink was really flavorful and rich without being too overbearing. The staff are wonderful and friendly and really make the place good. Accessibility: I think there was a short step to get into the cafe and the door is heavy. Unfortunately, there are also stairs to get to the washroom and the establishment isn't wheelchair friendly. Seats are made of wood or metal, not uncomfortable, but can be for somebody with issues with that. read more