From crispy coffee buns and decadent cheesecake to ice cream rolls and fresh-baked pastries, those looking for dessert in Downtown Vancouver are SPOILED (seriously spoiled) for choice.
Getting dessert downtown makes for a great hangout or date when bundled with another activity, like happy hour, shopping or another one of our fun Vancouver date ideas.
So yes, if you want to eat your weight in waffles, you have our complete blessing.
Wondering where you can find the best dessert in downtown Vancouver? Read on for some of our favourite picks, after meticulous munching and testing.
Help us improve this article! Here at Vancouver Tips, we only write about places we’ve personally visited, which is why some of our articles are fairly short. If you have any insider tips or recommendations for us to try out, let us know in the comments so we can expand our content!
Papparoti
Originating in Malaysia, Papparoti’s coffee buns are some of our favourite sweet treats available in the city. If you’re looking for a dessert in downtown Vancouver that’s indulgent yet light, be sure to give these a try!
The specialty here is their coffee-caramel bun, which has a crispy sweet exterior and a fluffy, buttery interior which goes perfectly with the wide assortment of toppings they have available.
Our personal favourite? The “Maple Eh” bun, which comes with ice cream, maple syrup, and two kinds of drizzle. We’re salivating just thinking about it.
Nero Waffle
Nero has long been one of the most famous waffle places in Vancouver, and for good reason.
Their two specialties here are Brussels waffles (light, crisp and unsweetened rectangular waffles that pair perfectly with toppings) and Liège waffles (briochey dough studded with caramelized sugar bits).
Their tasty menu consists of both savoury and sweet flavour combos, but if you’re looking for one of the top dessert fixes in downtown Vancouver, you’re best off going for their sweet classics like berry mascarpone, and lemon ricotta.
Breka
Since 2006, Breka has been a mainstay for Vancouverites thanks to its excellent pastries, donuts, cakes, and sandwiches.
They now have 6 locations to visit across the city, all of which are open 24/7, meaning you can get your munchie fix any time. Hands down, this is one of our favourite places to get dessert in downtown Vancouver because it’s chill, the choices are plentiful, and the cakes are… oof, so so so so good.
We recommend getting an assortment of their cake slices and pastries to try. We’ve had the tiramisu, strawberry shortcake, kahlua chocolate mousse, mango coconut mousse and caramel macchiato praline crunch. All are absolutely delicious!
Trees Cheesecake & Organic Coffee
Anyone who has walked by a Trees is familiar with their boastful signs declaring “BEST CHEESECAKE IN VANCOUVER”… but does it actually live up to the hype?
In our opinion, it does. Perfectly rich cheesecakes in a myriad of tasty flavours await at this chain of coffee shops, which have been a Vancouver institution since 1996.
The cheesecakes here are New York style (meaning thicker, creamier and more indulgent). When served in-house, they are even presented with a dollop of whipped cream and drizzle for good measure. Key Lime and Oreo are two of our favourites, but you really can’t go wrong here.
Passione Gelato Artigianale
With a delicious assortment of flavours made from organic, seasonal ingredients, the small but mighty Passione Gelato Artigianale can be found at the Parq Vancouver.
Spearheaded by Naples-born Salvatore Boccarossa (who formerly worked for the famous Bella Gelateria), this is where you’ll find some of Vancouver’s best gelato, with delicious vegan options too if you’re looking for plant-based dessert.
We recommend trying the Black Sesame flavour if you’re looking for something to try something new – it’s delicious!
On Yogurt
For a unique dessert experience in downtown Vancouver, Yaletown’s On Yogurt is a must-visit.
The specialty at this Yaletown gem is Thai-style ice cream rolls, AKA stir fried ice cream, known for its distinctive roll shape.
These beauties are made before your eyes on a frozen stainless steel work surface, so you can watch step by step as milky liquid is poured and slowly molded into flat creamy sheets that get rolled up and doused with toppings. The end result is an Instagrammable and creamy treat that is surprisingly light!
Not feeling for ice cream? They also have delicious bubble waffles and Taiyaki.
Purebread
Last but not least, if you’re looking for a sweet fix downtown during the day, then Purebread is a great option. They’re more of a bakery than a dessert place, but their decadent pastries make them worthy of inclusion on this list of downtown Vancouver’s best dessert spots.
One step inside and you’ll be transported to a buttery heaven with stacks of cakes and treats presented in the most tantalizing way. It’s hard to recommend a single thing because everything we’ve tried has been good, but the lemon buttercream loaf is pretty fantastic.
Did we miss any of your favourite dessert places in downtown Vancouver?
Let us know in the comments so we can add more recommendations to our list!