Finding a quiet place to think on Granville Street usually feels impossible.
But that just changed with the arrival of a new “sanctuary” in the city centre.
Slo Coffee has officially soft-opened its highly anticipated downtown location.
A Noms Mag community member (@deannawoo) shared with us that she spotted someone post about the cafe has quietly soft opened, taking over the former Take Five Café unit.
If you remember, Slo Coffee Co-owner and Brand Director Paul Irwin shared with us this exciting expansion back in September.
Since Slo opened along Fraser Street in June 2024, the cafe has been celebrated not just for its specialty drinks but also for its thoughtful atmosphere.
The brand is famous for its “wabi-sabi” Japanese design philosophy, which focuses on finding beauty in simplicity and imperfection.
At the time, Paul shared that the Downtown location would also carry that philosophy over, but with some new twists.
We visited (anonymously) on a rainy Sunday to see how the space turned out.
The result is genuinely impressive.
The interior is wrapped in textured, plaster-style walls and warm wood paneling that instantly lowers your heart rate.
It features a mix of tables and unique stadium-style stepped seating, perfect for people-watching or hiding from the rain.
“There is a strong thread that ties both locations together, ensuring a familiar Slo experience, while allowing each space to express its own unique character,” Paul shared with Noms Magazine.
As for 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.
On the staff’s recommendation, we got the Pistachio Matcha Latte.
It is rich, creamy, and visually striking.
The food menu includes substantial options for the lunch crowd, including a Kimchi Sando and a Bacon Sando on an English muffin.
You can also grab pastries like cinnamon rolls and croissants from the glass case if you are in a rush.
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 cafe is still in soft opening phase, but it looks like it will close at 7PM on regular days.
Slo Coffee Downtown now joins a growing list of recently opened food spots in Vancouver like Big Way in Mount Pleasant, Goldie’s on Fraser, and Onigiri-Ya Downtown.
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