Vogue Cakes Vegan Bakery

Vogue Cakes, recommended to us by another friend, is a Vegan bakery that makes Custom birthday cakes. Trying plant-based bakeries can be a hit or miss and luckily, Vogue Cakes was amazing.

When we called the bakery, they were so helpful with questions. You can either place the order online or call in. We ordered a few days in advance and picked up the cake the day of the party.

Guests enjoyed the Birthday Confetti Cake, it wasn't as sweet as we expected with all the sprinkles.

It was a good size, accommodating all of our guests and there was even some cake leftover!

Friends have already asked which bakery we got the cake from 🎂 

Don't forget your snacks!

Vogue Cakes

3278 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V6K 1H4

Check out their website for more info

Nelson the Seagull Cafe

Nelson the Seagull Cafe,  located in the Gastown neighborhood of Vancouver, is known for it's sourdough bread. They often sell out of the loaves! 

Their avocado on toast with poached egg is another popular menu item.

They also offer a few sweet pastries including chocolate croissants and a few different cookies.

The cafe has plenty of indoor seating but it can get busy during lunch time. There are a few seats outside when the weather is warmer.

It's a great spot for a lunch or meeting a friend for a coffee break!

Don't forget your snacks!

Nelson the Seagull Cafe

315 Carrall St, Vancouver, BC V6B 2J4

Check out their website for more info

Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel Gothenburg

The Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel was recommended to us by friends, so we decided to try it out during our visit to Gothenburg, Sweden. 

This beautiful hotel features a whimsical design with playful details on each floor. As soon as you enter you're transported to a fairy-tale reminiscent of classic European Grand Hotels.

They offer free breakfast with all bookings and it was fully refundable until the day before the booking.

There's an amazing slide for the kids from the 1st floor down to the lobby, a free carousel (this runs at various times throughout the day) and it's right next to Liseberg Amusement park! Note: Tickets to Liseberg are not included.

Family room had a separate bunk bed area for the kids. It's a suitable space for a family of 5. Soundproofing on the rooms made it a quiet, comfortable stay even if the hotel was filled with families.

The buffet breakfast included Kid-friendly and Allergy friendly options! 

With a hot food section and a cold food area, there is a lot to choose. Swedish style pancakes were also available with plenty of fun toppings for kids and adults :)

Hotel staff were available even in the late  evenings and were helpful with all our questions. 

The gift shop sells some Liseberg Amusement park souvenirs and some Hotel souvenirs, as well as snacks like ice cream.

We had a lovely stay at the hotel and the kids really enjoyed it! We loved the short walk from Liseberg home to the hotel after a long, fun day at the theme park!

Don't forget your snacks!

Liseberg Grand Curiosa Hotel

Herman Lindholms torg 1, 412 63 Göteborg

Check out their website for more info

ELLIPSIS Restaurant

Tucked inside Arthur Erickson's iconic Waterfall building near Granville Island, you'll find coffee and cocktail bar, ELLIPSIS.

It's not your traditional cafe, you wait for a table and order at your table. They offer some pastries like croissants but later in the day most of them were gone. ELLIPSIS opens until 10pm or 11pm most days.

The restaurant features a unique setting. The drinks were delicious and latte art is always pretty. If you're hungry for more, they also have happy hour and other snack options.

The ambience was relaxing and it's a lovely location for a date night, or a coffee break. 

Don't forget your snacks!

ELLIPSIS

1540 W 2nd Ave #205, Vancouver, BC V6J 1H2 The Waterfall Building

Check out their website for more info.

Unscripted Coffee YVR

 

Located in downtown Vancouver, new cafe Unscripted recently joined the list of the city's cafes. What sets them apart is their unique story and delicious pastries.

Unscripted Coffee is a cafe started by two sisters, 17 and 23, who had zero experience.

They offer pastries from Vegan bakery To Live For Bakery and Scandinavian-inspired bakery, Freya. We were impressed with the Swedish cardamom bun. Flavors reminded us of the traditional bun! We were told these are popular and often sell out. 

The cafe offers plenty of indoor seating and quite a few treats and drinks to choose from. If you like matcha, you'll enjoy their matcha latte.

It's a great place for a coffee break, solo or with friends, or to grab something on your way!

Don't forget your snacks!

Unscripted Coffee

451 Granville St, Vancouver, BC V6C 1V4

Check out their instagram for more info.

Stockholm Summer

Stockholm, the capital city of Sweden is a beautiful city surrounded by water. There are many different neighborhoods to explore but one things for certain, in Summer, everyone is out enjoying the weather and longer days before the winter arrives. Many Swedes also spend time at their Summer house.

Here are some things to enjoy in the Summer in the city!

Ferry Ride to the city

The views from the Katarina Elevator on Södermalm

Gröna Lund Amusement Park

Skansen 

Fun family visit in Sunmer but winter too!

A walk through Gamla Stan

Fika in the sunshine 

Picnics in the sun

Summer festivals

Sitting by a lake

Enjoy the Summer in Stockholm or your Stockholm visit!

Don't forget your snacks!

More info on the list above:

Katarina Elevator 

Ressel Ferries

Cafe Pascal

Scandinave Spa Whistler

If you are looking for a break from the hustle and bustle of the city and visiting Whistler, head to the spa! Located just an 8 min drive from Whistler Village, the Scandinave Spa is a perfect haven for some quiet time. Book a reservation online for your spa experience or walk-in that day. There could be some wait times.  

Scandinave is open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. There is no time limit once you're there so no time pressure.

The spa has a no phones or talking policy so you can just relax, disconnect and soak in silence. 

We enjoyed the different warm pools and sauna. It was also nice having different areas like the Firepits and Hammocks area. 

Note: The layout includes lots of stairs so be careful moving around using sandals/slippers. 

The spa provides complimentary tea and apples. For other snacks, there is a small cage but unfortunately the gluten free options didnt have much protein and were mostly sweet offerings.

No need to bring your own lock. A bathrobe and towels are also provided for you. There are some Scandinave Spa souvenirs for purchase near the entrance but no actual gift shop.

Parking is free but the lot can get full. 

Overall we really enjoyed our spa experience at the Scandinave Spa and look forward to the next visit!

Don't forget your snacks!

Scandinave Spa Whistler 

8010 Mons Rd, Whistler, BC V8E 1K7

Check out their website for more info 

Doe Coffee Roasters

Offering delicious treats like Matcha cheesecake muffins and Ube loaf, Doe Coffee Roasters is a great spot for a coffee break.

We tried the location in the Hastings-Sunrise neighborhood where they offer limited indoor seating. There are kids' seats available if needed.

Their coffee beans are available to purchase and enjoy at home too.

We had a lovely experience and the coffee was delicious. We will definitely be back.

Don't forget your snacks!

Doe Coffee Roasters

2263 E Hastings St, Vancouver, BC V5L 1V3

Check out their website for more info.

Lix Espresso and Ice Cream Hornby Island

Open from 7am until 7pm, this little cafe is located at Hornby Island's Ringside Market.

Lix Espresso & Ice Cream offers hot and cold drinks and some milk alternatives. There was soy and oat milk during our visit.

They also have a few different pastries depending on the time of day. We saw muffins, apple strudels and croissants.

Not many places are open at this time, so it's a great spot to get your coffee and sit on a bench at the Ringside market.

There is, of course, ice cream too 🍦 and it's nice to support the local businesses.

Lix Espresso and Ice Cream

5875 Central Rd, Hornby Island, BC V0R 1Z0

Check out their instagram for more info.

Coffee Bike Mobile Coffee Vancouver

We've tried Coffee Bike conveniently located at different locations around the city. This one is at a playground, dog park and along the seawall.

It's always a pleasant surprise when we are out and see there's a cart. Grandparents and kids also look forward to getting a drink, especially when it's chilly out. Kids usually get the Hot Cocoa. They also offer milk alternatives like Oat milk. Hot drinks make playground time a bit more tolerable in the cooler months.

We noticed the cart started selling hot dogs more recently too. We usually just get the drinks - iced or hot available!

Coffee Bike also caters for company events. Keep an eye out for them around the city! 

Don't forget your snacks!

Coffee Bike Vancouver

Check out their website or instagram for more info.

101 BOBA

If there's something kid-approved that they learned to enjoy because Mama did, it's Boba also known as Bubble Tea 🧋

On a warm, sunny day stop by 101 BOBA for the perfect Summer drink. The tapioca balls are always fresh and they offer fruit smoothies with or without dairy. They also offer different tea drinks and some even include ice cream.

The bubble waffle is tasty and made to order. Crunchy on the outside and soft inside. Eat it right away for the best quality.

Stop by 101 BOBA for some delicious Bubble Waffle and a Bubble Tea! They often feature monthly specials too.

Don't forget your snacks!

101 BOBA

2828 Cambie St., Vancouver, BC V5Z 2V5

Check out their website for monthly offers and locations.

FIFA World Cup Granville Street

Granville street in downtown Vancouver has been made a pedestrian zone during FIFA World Cup!

With live music, outdoor seating and a few screens as well to catch the World Cup action, it's a busy time in the city!

It seems like FIFA is everywhere in the city and fans are using transit to get downtown. So be sure to give yourself extra time especially during the days when games are taking place at BC Place!

Don't forget your snacks!

Cha Tra Mue - Original Thai Tea

If you're a Thai tea fan or even just a Tea fan, you need to visit Cha Tra Mue - Original Thai Tea located in the Broadway area of Vancouver. 

This Thai Tea hails from Thailand and has been around for 80 or so years. This location recently opened and has been even more popular with the Summer weather.

Choose Thai tea with ice, blended Thai tea slush and even soft serve! You can adjust the sweetness level of the drinks with ice but not the blended drink. We found it a bit sweet at 70% sweetness level so will go lower next time. They also offer Matcha latte and Thai iced Coffee.

Try a weekday afternoon to avoid the lineups! It's a popular place for a cold drink on a warm afternoon!

Don't forget your snacks!

Cha Tra Mue - Original Thai Tea

736 W Broadway, Vancouver, BC V5Z 1G8

Check out their website for more info.

Mon Pitou Bistro and Bakery

After our Afternoon stroll, we found ourselves at Mon Pitou Bistro and Bakery. This French bakery offers delicious snacks like Pain Au Chocolat, seasonal scones and cookies. 🍪 If you're hungrier they also have sandwiches!

The Bistro and Bakery offers both indoor and outdoor seating. On a sunny day, it's nice to get a breeze.

Mon Pitou also has some other food items like soup or granola you can buy to enjoy at home.

We had a lovely coffee break and will be back for the cappuccino!

Don't forget your snacks!

Mon Pitou Bistro and Bakery

1387 W 7th Ave, Vancouver, BC V6H 3W5

Check out their website for more info