49th Parallel Café & Lucky's Doughnuts - Thurlow — Restaurant in Vancouver

It was my first visit to this Parallel 49th location having been to some of their other locations many times. This cafe has a menu of breakfast sandwiches and toast in addition to the doughnuts and coffee. There's actually not much seating inside. The patio has a lot more tables but is not very useful when it's cold out. My friend and I did manage to squeeze in but it's kind of tight seating. I got: Avocado toast: I think $15 for a single slice of toast with probably half an avocado and a sprinkling of chickpeas and pickled onions with a simple side salad is steep. It was good avocado toast, though. Nothing fancy, but the spiced crunchy chickpeas were a nice touch. Crème brûlée bismarck: This was great! It was my first time trying a bismarck donut from them since I usually visit the other cafes early in the morning before the bismarcks are ready. The yeast dough was very fluffy and the pastry cream inside was delicious; even though it was just vanilla pastry cream there was a really nice flavour. They were making all the yeast doughnuts heart-shaped for Valentine's Day which was really cute. Decaf americano: Pretty strong for an americano and a little acidic but not unpleasant. It really grew on me as I was drinking it. Other food tips: My friend ordered a breakfast sandwich and the egg came out very runny and messy. I think he liked it even if it was messier than he wanted. The eggs are cooked to order, so it may be worth mentioning if you want a less runny egg. Also, while I have only had that one doughnut here, I love the old-fashioned and vegan/GF doughnuts that I've gotten at other cafes, so I feel like I can vouch for them as an all-around great doughnut spot. All the coffee and tea lattes are great, especially the...

49 Parallel is a place that I always walk by when I'm making my way to other places. Obviously catering to the business professionals, they are not lacking for customers. There's always a long lineup, so I wasn't in a rush to try them out.

One nice Friday afternoon, I decided to leave the office but continue "working" somewhere else. It was just too beautiful of a day to be trapped at the office. Lo and behold, there was no lineup for once, so I finally got to try this place out.

I am simultaneously mad that I didn't try them sooner and also ecstatic that now I have a high-end cafe to frequent and even do work at. A smattering of tables outside is practically just screaming for you to set up your laptop and enjoy a donut. So that's exactly what I did. Except it wasn't a donut I was enjoying but a breakfast sandwich called The Doug. Don't ask, I have no idea about the genesis of the name. But what I can tell you is that it is so damn delicious. It's nice and soft, and there were so many scrambled eggs that they kept escaping with every bite.

I did set up my laptop, but I was focused on my sandwich. Anyone walking by would absolutely assume that I was just an administrator diligently working away while enjoying some food.

This is the kind of place that 49 is, a classy hotspot that just looks fricken expensive if you get my drift. Hell, even the outdoor tables are marbled. This place literally gives you status, the automatic appearance of being a professional.

I'm so glad to have found this place, as it has fast become one of my favorite places...

Second Visit – Still Impressed! We came here for breakfast for the second time, and once again, it didn’t disappoint. I ordered the salmon toast — it came with a generous serving of fresh, smoked salmon on top of perfectly toasted bread with a creamy cheese spread. It was accompanied by a side salad with a light but incredibly flavorful dressing.

Everything tasted fresh and balanced, and the presentation was beautiful. Overall, a very tasty and satisfying meal full of great flavor. Definitely becoming one of our favorite breakfast spots!

First Visit - Absolutely loved our visit to 49th Parallel Café in downtown Vancouver!

The space is beautifully modern with a warm, inviting atmosphere — definitely one of the most stylish cafés we’ve been to. The staff were super friendly and welcoming, which made the experience even better.

We ordered a cappuccino, which was rich, smooth, and clearly made with high-quality beans. My wife had an Americano, and she really enjoyed it too — full-bodied and flavorful.

We also shared an almond croissant, and it was hands down one of the best we’ve ever had — perfect texture, just the right amount of sweetness, and absolutely delicious.

The café offers the option to sit outside, which was amazing for enjoying the vibe of beautiful downtown Vancouver. There’s also a great variety of pastries to choose from, which makes it even more tempting to come back.

Prices were decent for the quality and overall experience. Highly recommend this place whether you’re a local or...