Contra Cafe

I love this location, it’s quiet despite the current construction and the staff here are top notch lovely. The baked goods are really interesting and delicious cherry brioche didn’t even make it to a picture, the coffee is awesome as to be expected and seating was all over the place including a sweet patio. If you need a change of scenery or a treat, and Contra is nearby…. You know what to do.

Cute lil coffee spot in Christie pits! It’s quite busy even in the middle of the week but there’s quite a few tables inside. The pastries and sweets are all made in house and they’re very yummy! Big variety on their menu, they have a good mix of coffee and teas, would come again!

Contra Cafe is a nice little neighbourhood spot. I often pass by weekend mornings during or after a bike ride for a little rest and pick me up. The coffee and pastries are both very good. The service is friendly, but very slightly on the slow side it’s understandable given how small the shop is, and that there are only usually two people working. Seating is limited indoors, but there is a lovely little sidewalk patio, which is where I usually try to get a table. 4.5/5 caffeinated stars

This is my favourite cafe. The baked goods are AMAZING- especially the apple gruyere scone and the salty brownie. The almond tea is really great on its own or as a latte.

SPACE: Clean with good natural lighting. The seating along the wall was tight. Outdoor patio seemed appealing but it was raining and could not use it. Love the curb appeal on the corner lot as it seems very local and off the beaten path. CROISSANT: The butter and chocolate croissants were an enjoyable snack that could be had everyday. Well done. COFFEE: Sadly the cappuccino with oat milk fell very short of expectations. It was extremely bitter. The temperature was acceptable but the presentation was poor / non existent. STAFF: Nothing overly memorable. Kind and to the point.

* update After 5 months, nobody has tried to contact me to rectify the situation and I’m not surprised. I expected better. - The older gentlemen serving today on Wednesday the 19th at 2:54pm was so incredibly disrespectful about me having my service dog in the cafe with me. I’ve had bad customer service experiences before but this one takes the cake. Didn’t say hello, didn’t even ask me if my dog was a service dog, just completely refused me service. What turned into a nice afternoon walk for coffee with my service dog turned into a confrontational nightmare… Please train this man on how to deescalate and prevent conflicts by asking questions first instead of assuming and being completely disrespectful. He also proceeded to close the door on me while I standing in the doorway, and I would’ve been hit had I not moved. I’ve never had this issue with any other employees working at Contra. This type of attitude will loose you a lot of customers. What a shame, I won’t be returning ever again, not even without the dog. So disappointing.

Such a great cafe I wish I discovered earlier. The coffee was perfect. The pastries are delish and made in house.

Coffee is very delicious, desserts are OK subjective opinion. The location is very convenient and the interior is simple, yet cozy. Love to plan my week here.

Really good neighborhood spot. Great snack items. A few breakfast options. Friendly staff. Clean, and well spaced out for current to-go options. Outside space is nice. Coffee was really good, even drip. Def tucked away and off the main streets. Pretty sure it's independent - support local. Pricing was fair and competitive.

Cute cafe on Shaw St. There’s a patio that always seems busy when the weather is nice. There’s a neighbourhood cafe feels to this spot. There isn’t a barrier from the patio and the sidewalk so you kind of feel like you’re sitting on the sidewalk with strollers and dogs brushing past you. It may not bother some so pointing it out for those that it does. The prices are a bit steep compared to other cafes. It was over $6 for 2 drip coffees.