Small Coffee Shops Edmonton Locals Swear By

Independent spots offer special flavours, serve as community and art spaces, and are hubs for local business. Here are five of Edmonton’s favourites:

Stopgap Coffee

Located inside a historic home near Victoria Park and the Alberta Legislature Building, Stopgap’s mission is simply “hoping to better your day”. Their menu includes espresso drinks, drip coffee, pour-overs and tea lattes such as matcha, london fog, and hong kong milk tea. They also sell donuts and pastries, coffee making supplies and goods made by local artists and craftspeople. Stopgap’s exceptional service and the quality of their espresso are commended by online reviewers, earning the shop a perfect five stars on Google. Check out their adorable decor over a cozy cup of joe the next time you’re in the neighbourhood!

Labo Coffee Yeg

Labo Coffee

Across the river along 82nd Ave NW is the hip and innovative Labo coffee, which seeks to be experimental and teach people about craft coffee in a playful space. Their menu includes classic coffee and tea drinks as well as seasonal drinks, breakfast-inspired signature drinks and experimental drinks combining coffee with unexpected flavours. While their focus is on a developing and rotating drink menu, Labo also sells a few sandwiches and snacks. Reviewers give it an average of 4.9 stars for the specialty drinks, friendly staff, and comfortable environment. Many remark is a great place to get work done, go for a coffee date or even just stay and relax.

Libertacoffeelab Yeg

Liberta Coffee Lab

A community space in the Hazeldean neighbourhood, Liberta Coffee Lab offers an array of drinks, tasty Asian-inspired sandwiches, pastries and toasts, and a bright open space for co-working, coffee classes and live music. Some menu highlights include the peanut butter flavoured Liberta Latte, three specialty flavoured lemonades and Korean Street Egg Toast. If the interior wasn’t spacious enough, Liberta also has a front and back patio perfect for relaxing during the warmer months of the year.

Strom Coffee

Strom Coffee

On 104th St NW, across from Strathcona High School is Strom Coffee: a small shop inspired by Swedish culture and flavours. Their ultimate goal is to create an environment of fika– the Swedish ritual of slowing down to take a break and socialize. On the menu at Strom are typical espresso-based drinks, elderflower lemonade, kanalkaffe (cinnamon sweet cream with cold foam) and salted caramel lattes. They also make decadent Swedish cookies and buns that you can order on their own or with a cup of coffee as a 6 dollar deal. Reviewers love hearing Swedish being spoken inside, as well as the fact that Strom uses coffee beans from the Vancouver coffee company 49th Parallel.

Naked Cafe

Naked Cafe

Last on the list and located in the Downtown area is Naked (also known as Naked Cybercafe and Espresso Bar). Part coffee shop, part internet cafe, part board games lounge and live music venue, Naked is a great “third space”. Here the coffee bar serves more as a social gathering point. Expect to find classic espresso drinks along with “snacks and desserts from the Italian Bakery and paninis”. Whether you want to play checkers with someone new or participate in public jam sessions, you have the opportunity. One of the oldest underground music venues in the city, Naked also offers open mics and dance nights for the community. If you’re looking for a coffee shop that’s truly people-centric, you’ve got to check this place out.

• Share :