Patisseries we pine for in YVR’s CBD

We’ve had a handful of upscale coffee shops on our go-to list for quite a while now and have been slowly ticking them off, one buttery croissant, meringue and macaron at a time.

To whet your mid-week appetite, here’s our carefully crafted list of three haute bakeries guaranteed to grab your sweet-toothed attention.

Thierry Chocolaterie Pâtisserie Cafe is a chocolate-lovers haven in the heart of downtown (find them at 1059 Alberni Street). Owned and operated by acclaimed pastry chef Thierry Busset (who rubbed elbows with culinary influencers such as Gordon Ramsay and Pierre White to name a few), we challenge Notables not to become repeat offenders. Sample and savour an array of handcrafted chocolates, pastries and much-lauded macarons – bet you can’t bite into just one! Tuck into a custom-blend cappuccino or opt for something spiked and sinful (they are licenced). We also adore their baguette offerings – the perfect lunch-rush fix with an optional sweet finish. 

Ganache Pâtisserie opened the doors to its swanky Yaletown boutique pastry shop in 2003 to great (and continued) success. Ganache offers visitors a taste of Paris, specializing in a plethora of sweet offerings that range from custom petit to full-size versions of classic cakes, galettes, crème brûlée and more. Our guilty pleasure? The Dark Chocolate Mousse is supreme and the Caramel-Chocolat is a close second. 

We’re thrilled about the recent arrival of David Hawksworth’s Bel Cafe (located at Vancouver’s recently opened Rosewood Hotel Georgia). Offering plenty of buttery pastries, specialty confections and Parisian-inspired melt-in-your-mouth macarons, this is a definite must-visit.  Never mind the fact that they further entice discerning palates with house made caramel popcorn, shortbread, gourmet sandwiches, soups and a rotation of different wines and cocktails to compliment seasonal offerings. Don’t take our word for it, drool over their menu and stock up on their Chocolate Croissants and Valrhona Dark Chocolate Chunk cookies (always a welcomed treat on a rainy day).

Photo courtesy Thierry Chocolaterie Pâtisserie Cafe