Credo is not the kind of cafe where there’s a list of 20 different types of flavoured syrups or whipped cream options for your beverages — in every drink, you can actually taste the high-quality beans. The menu is simple, offering just a few choices, and you really can’t go wrong. If a vanilla latte is your drink of choice, you can try one speckled with actual vanilla bean, thanks to the Neilson Massey Pure Madagascar Vanilla Bean Paste Credo uses. Or, if you’re looking for something a little more unusual, Credo’s honey latte can’t be beat.
Credo also has a selection of baked goods that are made fresh in-house every day. The cheddar cornmeal muffin is legendary — check out our Best Baked section for a closer look — and the cookies are a definite guilty pleasure. There’s only one kind, but that’s all you need — a treat that’s baked until it’s crispy on the outside, soft in the middle and studded with chocolate chips and sunflower seeds. – A.M.
10350 124 St./10134 104 St./10162 100a St., credocoffee.ca
Tucked away just off Whyte Avenue, La Boule is the place to go if you want something decadent yet delicate to pair with your latte. The cruffin, which is flaky, light and offered with a variety of delicious fillings, is a must-try — especially when a new seasonal flavour hits the menu. The lemon tart is also a favourite of mine — the crust is crisp and buttery, the filling is citrus-forward and silky smooth, and the passion fruit glaze adds a little something extra. – A.M.
8020 101 St., 780-760-2253, laboulebakery.ca
Sit down on one of the modern white stools, with the seats that look like webs. The cafe’s picture windows look onto Whyte Avenue, and the white bar and furnishings make for an ultramodern, bright cafe. This isn’t the place for those looking for dark corners. While Da Capo is cozy in terms of size, it’s still a place to meet people and chat over coffee, Italian style. The Americano is rich and anything but bitter, and there’s a selection of gelato that’s made right next door in the kitchen/lab. The flavours rotate — so don’t get stuck on just one favourite variety. – S.S.
8135 102 St., 587-521-2276, dacapocaffe.com
