After 2.5 years in the making, downtown Vancouver has a new Japanese-inspired cafe that just opened.
Nizu Cafe, which we first caught spotted back in 2024 with its mysterious signage on the corner of Pender, has finally soft-opened as of October 17.
According to the owner, the long delay came down to an extended permitting process.
But now, after much anticipation, the doors are open, and locals are already lining up.
The space, housed in the former Sciué unit, is a minimalist dream.
Tall glass windows flood the cafe with natural light, while pale wood furniture and soft round pendant lights create a calm, airy atmosphere.
There’s a mix of window bar seating and group tables, and on one side, a small display shelf holds a lineup of collectible character figures, adding a playful touch.
The menu reflects a balance between classic Japanese comfort food and cafe-friendly fare, with attention to presentation and detail that fits Nizu’s clean, modern aesthetic.
The pastry case showcases a range of in-house baked goods, including cheesecakes, black sesame madeleines, yuzu cakes, and miso banana bread.
When we visited after lunch, the cafe was still packed, and the dessert case was nearly cleared out.
We opted for the Vanilla Basque Cheesecake paired with the Matcha Reserve Latte, made with a more premium ceremonial-grade matcha.
Beyond drinks and desserts, Nizu also serves an impressive selection of Japanese-inspired brunch and lunch dishes available until 3 PM.
The food menu includes small bites like karaage with yuzu kosho kewpie and shoyu-ginger marinade, and fries topped with bonito flakes, curry kewpie, and aonori.
Their katsu sandos come in three versions — pork loin, shoyu-glazed eggplant, and shrimp — all served on pillowy shokupan bread with crisp panko and house slaw.
For something heartier, Nizu offers yoshoku-style pasta such as Kombutilio, featuring shiso pesto and pistachio dust, or Tomato Saké, with chashu, fresh panko, and a hint of togarashi.
While their hours are still being finalized, the owner shared that Nizu Café will currently be open from morning until 5 PM on weekdays and until 4 PM on weekends.
Nizu Café now joins other recently opened Vancouver spots like Doe Coffee Strathcona, Kuro Katsu, and Mojo Cantina Izakaya.
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: 800 W Pender St #110, Vancouver, BC V6C 1J8