Vancouver’s popular Hot Chocolate Festival has gone summer mode!
For the first time ever, KoolFest (until Aug 10) is bringing together 50+ of your fave Metro Vancouver cafes and food spots to craft creative and refreshing iced drinks.
Think 80+ different creations from chilled chocolate creations, to BBT, floats, iced teas, and milkshakes.
Here are five of the coolest and unique KoolFest drinks we think you should give a shot!
1. Mermaid Kool Splash – À La Mode
Granville Island’s go-to for gourmet sweet and savoury pies, À La Mode always knows how to create a wildly impressive looking drink.
Their Mermaid Kool Splash is an over-the-top Italian soda float with fresh mint, watermelon, crushed peach jelly, red dragon fruit, and chocolate swirls inside a Blue Curacao mojito white chocolate base.
Topped with rainbow syrup “jewels” and a mermaid tail garnish.
There’s also an optional side puff pastry side treat, which is a “boba pearl” with lime cream.
Address: 1689 Johnston St Granville Island Public Market
2. Biscoff Banana Pudding Iced Matcha – BAK’D Cookies
If you’ve ever had one of their massive stuffed cookies, you already know BAK’D doesn’t mess around when it comes to flavour.
This New West sibling-run biz specializes in gourmet cookies that are thick, gooey, and crave-worthy.
For KoolFest, they’re bringing the Biscoff Banana Pudding Iced Matcha – a layered, hand-whisked matcha latte topped with banana pudding, Biscoff crumble, and a candy banana.
It is their take on the popular banana pudding trend!
You can even add a cookie to the drink if you’re feeling extra indulgent.
See Vendor Page
Address: 285 Nelson’s Court, New Westminster BC
3. Let’s Mango – Beaucoup Bakery
A Vancouver staple, Beaucoup Bakery is famous for its buttery croissants, delicate pastries, and French-meets-childhood nostalgia desserts.
Their KoolFest offering, Let’s Mango, is a creamy mango milk drink blended with mango purée and Valrhona white chocolate for a smooth finish.
Paired with a mango jam cookie, it’s a bingsu-inspired golden treat made for summer lovers.
Address: 600 Dunsmuir St. (St. Regis Hotel) & 2150 Fir St., Vancouver
4. Strawberry Hojicha Tiramisu – Aiyaohno Cafe
Aiyaohno Cafe is a hidden gem in Chinatown run by a husband-and-wife duo who take inspiration from countryside cafés across Japan.
Their KoolFest drink is the Strawberry Hojicha Tiramisu – an iced dark roast hojicha latte layered with sweet strawberry sauce, creamy milk, and finished with a mascarpone cheese whip.
I mean – it combines 3 delicious things into one. What is not to love about it?
Gluten-free and gorgeous, it’s the kind of summer treat you’ll wish was permanent.
Address: 030 – 425 Carrall St, Vancouver BC
5. Iced Black Forest Hot Chocolate – Thomas Haas
Thomas Haas is known city-wide for over 15 years for their exquisite chocolates and pastries.
For KoolFest, they’ve created the Iced Black Forest Hot Chocolate. It is a decadent combo of iced dark chocolate, fresh BC cherry compote, and white chocolate with a splash of kirsch.
Comes with a sour cherry financier on the side for a full dessert experience.
Address: 2539 West Broadway, Vancouver
Now these are just 5 of 80+ drinks available. Want even more dreamy sips?
Check out all all the drinks and vendors taking part at koolfest.ca.
For more new and upcoming food spots in Metro Vancouver, take a peek at our tracker here, and subscribe to our weekly newsletter here.