There's a brand new all-day café with a terrific coffee and drinks program and incredible food that's just opened up in Vancouver, but the cozy, modern spot manages to feel like it's been there for ages.
The new spot is Novella, which has been in the works for just about a year now, and it's from the same team as the award-winning Published on Main and Bar Susu.
Ambitions are big for the Mount Pleasant space at 2650 Main St (previously something called Josephine's Restaurant and Catering) but with the doors newly opened, they're keeping things compact for now, starting with daytime service and an impressive menu of breakfast and lunch fare. Coming later will be evening hours with its own menu of food and drink, as well as a boutique-style grocer section (through a charming "secret" door in the dining area) that will boast local goods and a bakery counter for their house-made bread.
For now, however, the cleverly decked out Novella has ample seating areas styled for different kinds of café vibes, including couches for those chats over coffee moments, tables perfect for setting up with your laptop and a quick bite, or tables for a sit-down meal. Novella offers counter service but the staff are on the floor and are attentive.
What's on the menu at Novella
At the counter you'll see a loaded pastry case with an assortment of breads and treats, but if you're able to stay and have a meal, you most definitely should. Novella is turning out stunning dishes like a perfect golden-yellow French omelette, fluffy yogurt with sea buckthorn and hemp seeds, and fresh vibrant veggies like a salad of beets in a tahini dressing. There are a couple of standouts, like their savoury steel-cut oats with poached egg and mushrooms, a hash with crispy and light potatoes, farmer's sausage, and a Japanese twist with seaweed, tobiko, and spicy Kewpie mayo, and their unreal "Turbo" breakfast sandwich - an absolute banger of hashbrown, sausage, egg, cheese, a grainy mustard sauce, all piled on a buttery bun. Could this be the best breakfast sandwich in Vancouver? It's most assuredly a contender.
Coffee is a central focus at Novella, and the venue serves a program featuring North Vancouver's House of Funk, including a full coffee bar menu, including its award-winning espresso, Technicolour, rotating drip coffee options for all levels of coffee lovers, cold brew, and limited-edition coffee concoctions.
Novella is currently open Monday to Friday, from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Follow @novella_coffeebar on Instagram for updates
Watch: Getting a taste of Vancouver's buzziest new all-day café, Novella
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