Vancouver’s coffee scene is getting another big boost this fall as one of Fraserhood’s café is expanding to downtown.
Slo Coffee, known for its calming wabi-sabi–inspired design and meticulous approach to coffee, is officially expanding into the heart of the city.
A Noms Magazine community member recently spotted their signage at the former Take Five Café Pacific Centre unit, confirming the expansion.
We had to give them a poke to see what they have in store for downtown folks!
Co-owner and brand director Paul Irwin shared with Noms Magazine that the decision to open Slo Coffee in the first place was rooted in passion and community.
“I’ve always been passionate about coffee, and my experience managing cafés in Belfast, along with running music and creative events, inspired me to create something of my own,” says Paul.
Partnering with Colin, a longtime collaborator, the two set out to build a café that blended hospitality, quality, and intentional design.
Since opening in June 2024, Slo Coffee has been celebrated not just for its specialty drinks but also for its thoughtful atmosphere.
The Fraser Street café embodies wabi-sabi, a Japanese philosophy that finds beauty in simplicity, imperfection, and the passage of time.
That design language will carry into the downtown café, but with some new twists.
“The downtown location will be a few hundred square feet larger than Fraser, giving us more room to play with,” explains Paul.
“There will be a strong thread that ties both locations together, ensuring a familiar Slo experience, while allowing each space to express its own unique character.”
On the menu, downtown customers can expect the same dialed-in coffees, hand-crafted pour-overs, signature matchas, and house-made syrups that fans already love.
But the team is planning to expand the food offerings with more grab-and-go options tailored to the busy downtown crowd.
Seasonal drinks will also continue to rotate in, giving guests fresh reasons to return.
For Paul, downtown Vancouver felt like a natural next step.
“It’s the heart of the city—a place where people are constantly on the move. We saw an opportunity to create something that’s often missing in that busy environment: a sanctuary for being present,” he says.
“Our goal is to bring a moment of pause and connection to the fast-paced rhythm of downtown.”
The upcoming Slo Coffee is just steps away from another highly anticipated project, Aburi Market, which is taking over the former Meinhardt Grocery Store.
Together, these openings signal a new wave of food and beverage options for Granville Street.
Slated to open in late fall, Slo Coffee Downtown will mark a major milestone for the café’s young journey.
They now join other upcoming Vancouver food spots like TOUK, Mortadella, and Miso Taco DT.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.
Address: 609 Granville St, Vancouver, BC