Surprise – Richmond has another new cafe.
But this one I’d say has a lot more character and intrigue than the rest.
Even by its exterior, H&A Art Caffe looks different from what you usually see in Richmond.
The cafe soft opened back in mid-September, at the a corner unit along Park Road – just two blocks from CF Richmond Centre.
H&A is the name of the founders Hamlet Hovakimyan and Arega Grigoryan, who are fine artists and art educators who studied together in Armenia before moving their work to Canada.
Hamlet grew up in the mountain village of Karbi, Armenia, and has taught fine art for more than 10 years, while Arega has represented Armenia at the Vancouver International Art Fair in 2023.
We went in to check it out, and the room has more character than the sleek, minimal cafes that have been opening lately.
A statue of David holding a coffee cup greets you before you even get through the door.
Inside, the owners’ large paintings hang on the walls, and moss-topped orbs the owners made from plaster dangle from the ceiling.
Seating runs from a yellow tufted sofa with blue armchairs to wood-slab tables along the windows.
There are two display cases at the counter.
One holds Middle Eastern desserts, including baklava freshly made by a friend of the owner in North Vancouver.
The blueberry ube baklava comes as purple swirled domes dusted with green crumbs, and the tag lists it at $4.88 each or two for $8.
We ordered it and a chocolate baklava.
They were both delicious and not heavy. We were actually stunned that it was sugar-free.
The other case holds cakes, and one is sold as a blank canvas for you to customize.
The cake comes out on a wooden painter’s palette with dabs of coloured frosting and a cup of brushes, and the cafe calls the cakes generous enough for sharing.
The drinks are chalked on a board cut in the shape of a painter’s palette, with an Ararat Latte marked as the house special.
Right next door, the studio and gallery show the owners’ artwork, and other artists will soon be able to hang theirs too.
The studio runs classes and workshops for kids from age four up to adults, plus art and wine sessions and team-building sessions, and its site says new students get their first two hours free.
The cafe’s website says it also welcomes musicians and singers for live performances.
If you’ve been hunting for a Richmond cafe that stays open late, it’s open until 11pm, which is rare in this city.
H&A Art Caffè joins other recent Richmond openings like Xiaoyu Bistro, Mr. Noodle Chen and Dolan.
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Address: 120-8160 Park Road, Richmond, BC
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