Velvet Cafe in the northwest part of the city is a small, cozy and local cafe that provides an alternative to Calgary’s (arguably) more famous, retro and hipster cafes. They offer good food and drinks in a comfortable, albeit run-down, setting.
After going to the University to drop off some forms, I met up with my good friend Kiel (here on Instagram) and we decided to go to a local cafe nearby to do some work. With the lack of choices in the northwest and northeast area of the city, we chanced upon Velvet Cafe in Mount Pleasant.
We do visit a lot of cafes and dessert houses, and we have a certain standard when in comes to independent cafes. When we arrived at Velvet Cafe, we were surprised. Even from the outside, I sort of knew that it would be a local’s cafe for regulars. Like Central Perk in Friends. The place was run-down and a bit messy, just what you would expect from a “local” cafe (or restaurant). The star of the cafe, though, is their very friendly staff!
By the time we got there, the lunch service was just starting so there was a line of people waiting for food. Despite this, Kiel and I found a seat and we ordered our drinks—she, the peppermint mocha and I, the (classic) soy latte. I was a bit bummed that they didn’t do latte art, but oh well.
While not the best, Velvet Cafe offers decent food and drinks in Northwest Calgary. I am a proud supporter of Calgary’s small businesses, so try this out if you’re in the northwest part of the city! However, if you want a hipster “cafe experience,” I recommend trying out Calgary’s other cafes such as Philosafy, Analog, Baya Rica or Alforno.
Recommended? Sure, if you had no other choice.
COST: Normal. Prices are moderate, and almost the same as other cafes. For a large espresso-based drink, expect to pay around $5. My 16 oz. soy latte was $5.
TASTE: Okay. My soy latte tasted good, but I didn’t like the consistency of it. I thought it was too thin, even when I mixed the foam into the latte. Kiel thought her peppermint mocha was not minty enough, so it was so-so for her. Conversely though, she did like her meatball sub.
ACCESSIBILITY: Moderate. The cafe is located in the Mount Pleasant neighbourhood, just north of Calgary’s downtown area. There are buses that service the area, but it might be out of the way. If you do drive, there is a parking lot in front AND there is a school nearby where you can park.
ATMOSPHERE: Nice. Velvet Cafe is a small coffeehouse with limited seating. However, it doesn’t get too busy anyways, so you may or may not find a seat. If the day is nice, you can enjoy the patio outside! The place is a bit run-down and old, but I would think that regulars like it the way it is. Nevertheless, it is cozy and comfortable—a nice cafe to sit down on a cold winter day.
SERVICE: 8/10. The staff is the star in this cafe. They are very friendly, and are very easy to talk with (if you want to talk)! I think this is the norm with a lot of small independent coffeehouses, much like what you would see in small towns.
Velvet Cafe
Address: 101, 502 25th Avenue NW, Calgary AB
Phone: (403) 338 – 2087
Hours:
- Monday: 8AM – 5:30PM
- Tuesday: 8AM – 5:30PM
- Wednesday: 8AM – 5:30PM
- Thursday: 8AM – 5:30PM
- Friday: 8AM – 5:30PM
- Saturday: 9AM – 4PM
- Sunday: Closed
Website: velvetcafe.ca
This is not a sponsored post.