Vancouver’s largest coffee shop is about to open, and we got an early look inside, and the space is as ambitious as the hype suggested. C Market Coffee’s new flagship officially opens to the public this Sunday, March 1 at 10 a.m.
As we previously reported, the Tri-Cities favourite is bringing its Korean-inspired coffee concept to a whopping 5,000 sq. ft. space near Queen Elizabeth Park with seating for more than 150 guests.
Walking in, the first thing you notice is the sheer scale of this place. It is fricken HUGE. Floor-to-ceiling windows wraps around the unit and floos the space with natural light under high ceilings. The design leans industrial and modern, with polished concrete floors, dark marble countertops, and textured aggregate walls.
The seating is a mix of leather armchairs, cushioned chairs, sofas, bar stools along a concrete counter, and small round tables scattered throughout. It is clearly a space built for you to stay a while. One thing to note if you are planning to work here: power outlets are minimal throughout the cafe. At one corner sits a dedicated bar with stools and backlit shelves lined with glass vessels.
“Our flagship represents a new chapter for C Market Coffee,” owner Bridgette Hyun said in a statement. “We wanted to create a space that feels welcoming yet elevated, a place where people can gather, connect, and experience thoughtful hospitality at scale.”
This space will eventually host coffee workshops and, interestingly, an omakase experience. There is also a glass-enclosed boardroom tucked behind the main floor that will be bookable in the future. For coffee lovers, a neat detail is the row of C Market’s different beans on display near the bar.
Each one comes with a scent pump so you can get a whiff before deciding which bag to take home. All the pastries are made in-house.
The display case was stacked with colourful layered cakes, croissants, cookies, and brownies coming out of a visible bakery kitchen just behind the counter. We tried a few items during the preview. The Melon Cloud Latte has a honeydew-flavoured cream top and is one of the more photogenic drinks on the menu.
There is also a mugwort latte that is a special item only available at this location. The iced Tiramisu Latte is another standout from the signature drink list. On the food side, we had a strawberry and blueberry cream croissant and an ube dubai chocolate chewy cookie, both made in-house. The full kitchen menu goes well beyond pastries. It includes Korean-influenced items like bulgogi bowls, Korean fried chicken bowls, K-Chicken Burgers, and bibimbap wraps, plus salads and pastas.
Courtesy of Noms Magazine