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When I peeked into the minimalist expanse that is Habit, I felt ready for a bolts of disdain and boredom to shoot from the too-cool gaze of the hipster baristas, who look like they listen to bands that the bands you'll be listening to in five years are listening to now.
Not so.
After the striking interior (which looks like it was designed by a claustrophobe), the next impression I got was a warm welcome by a couple of baristas. When they heard I was from out of town, they gave me a cute little hand-drawn, photocopied card with local businesses that the shop recommends. When they heard I avoid gluten, they were happy to show me around their gluten-free options. When they heard I liked BBQ, they gave me very specific directions to a BBQ joint in town.
Not only were the Habit baristas informative, they were also well-read. Along one wall is about 25 options for magazines to buy, or "HABIT COPY"-labeled copies to peruse. They ran the gamut from foreign affairs to interior design, but they were all interesting.
The drinks themselves were scrumptious. The baristas had saved their disdain, and emptied it on the very thought of drip coffee. "We don't do drip," one said, "Want to try french press?" French press is all I do at home, and they do it fairly well here, though a little weak for my taste. The cappuccino I ordered was just right, as was the rice triangle with a hint of cardamon.
Best coffee in the city. I get lattes because that`s my preference and they are delicious. I live across the street and I am within a block from about 6 other coffee places that don`t ever get my business because Habit gets it every time. You can also bring back in your take out cups and they`ll recycle them which makes me feel like an environmentalist.
A couple of times I`ve had pastries from there and they were also fantastic. If you`re downtown bypass Starbucks and give this place a try.
Great vibe and authentic feel in an area so close to the main tourist hub. The baristas are friendly, the coffee bean quality great, and beverage preparation is top notch.
I liked perching at the window with a good book, and intermittently people watching the trendy clientelle in and out of the store.
There's an intriguing photograph series throughout the cafe, and a handy chalk board with recommended community events.
Definitely check this place out.
We had just taken the ferry over from Vancouver and we had been carrying our luggage and we were looking for a coffee bar where we could refuel and just chill a little. The West coast makes the best lattes, ie Seattle, Vancouver, and San Fran, so i was really not surprised at the quality that Habit produces. We ordered to lattes, and usually Lattes come in porcelain mugs but these came in glass, so u could really see the textured milk. The space is so open and minimal and the baristas were so nice. I am not a big fan of Victoria but i would go back just for their lattes.
I'm a Seattle coffee snob. That said, Habit met and exceeded the bar for high taste quality coffee, made and poured correctly, served in an aesthetically pleasing environment. Good pastries and local rags were a bonus.
We visited during the Fringe Festival.
If I was rating Habit strictly on the quality of its espresso, I would have given it five stars. Habit has become my must-visit source of quality caffeine every time I'm downtown. The baristas are really friendly, and I love perusing a magazine or two as I down my latté.
So why only four stars? As someone who spends an almost excessive amount of time in coffee shops (I'm a freelancer, so coffeeshop = office), I tend to place a pretty high value on the availability of comfortable seating and overall ambiance. Since Habit's seating is mainly high bar stools or benches along the wall, it's not exactly the perfect setting for working or for lengthy conversations with friends. That's okay though -- Habit's quality espresso will still have me returning again and again.
I love coffee, but I wouldn't say I'm a coffee connoisseur. I can tell a good cup of coffee from a bad one, but I don't know that I can tell a great cup of coffee from a good one, if you know what I mean.
Anyway, this place has great coffee. But to me, what really makes me like this spot is the space. It's got a really nice open layout and classic Victoria brick walls.
If a tourist stopped me downtown to ask where to go for coffee, this is where I'd send them.
Hailing from Portland, I am always thankful to stumble across a great coffee dig. Places like Habit are committed to excellence. Discerning, rather than snobby. The friendly baristas I ran into were not full of attitude, rather, they were full of good spirits. The environment is clean and modern, totally youthful. Complete with a full complement of magazines (meaningful ones not "US" or "People") and bad, hip art. It may take 6 or 7 minutes to get a cup of french press, but it arrives perfect and only seconds old when it hits your lips.
go here.
Habit is all about coffee and style. They are pretty good at both, but Victoria sets a pretty high bar for coffee culture. I think that they should concentrate less on the style and more on the coffee. The pastries / cookies aren't worth eating for their own sake but good enough to accompany one's coffee.
All in all, with Discovery Coffee so close by I don't end up at Habit that much, but if you happen by and want a break they are the best for a half-dozen blocks around.
This is the best in Victoria, for sure. My first shot here was sub-par; but everything since has been fantastic.
I've revised my review after taking some of their beans home. To my surprise, I think I've figured… Read more »
I recently visited Victoria with my girlfriend, and the first place we wandered into was Habit -- a cute looking place to get a coffee and a sense of the town.
We were absolutely blown away by the fantastically friendly and helpful service, the great coffee, and the wonderful snacks.
The place was wonderfully friendly, and Shane not only poured us some fantastic drinks (the cappuccino was excellent and the french press coffee was very well done) but he also took the time to give us some insight into the town and the area. I really appreciated the friendliness and attentiveness.
We also tried an oatmeal cookie covered in dried fruits and nuts and a little sesame concoction, both were delicious. All the food seemed creative and well thought out.
And to top it all off, there's fantastic artwork, a bright airy feel, and an excellent selection of alternative magazines for sale, with Habit copies for people to read while they're caffienating.
I highly recommend this place to anyone and everyone.
What a pleasant surprise on my latest trip to Canada with the folks and my girlfriend. Coming from Portland, where coffee shops of all sorts of look-n-feels, vibes and sizes are abundant, it was refreshing to find something that was set up for serious coffee in such a robust shopping district of Victoria. The baristas were well trained, they were very informative about there standards and practices. The business lit was very upfront about where the beans were sourced from, co-op, etc...and the turnaround was on point. My parents, who aren't coffee folk at all, loved it and we all enjoyed a very pleasant sun drenched cup-a-joe out in front on their slatted wood benches. Well done!
We have many coffee places in town where you might get a great drink, or you might get a horrible one. Thankfully, the coffee at Habit is good, and consistently so. I've never had an espresso or cappuccino that was lacking. The baristas obviously care about their work. The coffee is french press so it is always fresh.
I like the atmosphere. I've heard complaints about a too cool for school attitude but I have experienced nothing but awesome, friendly service. The shop is clean and uncluttered. You won't be climbing over chairs and coffee tables to get your coffee. During the early afternoon the front half floods with sunlight.
I'm taking off one star because the service can be slow when they get a large line. I'd rather wait and get good coffee, but it can be a pain when you are in a rush. The selection of pastries can be really sparse. If I'm in the mood for something sweet I'd rather walk up to Cascadia.
Good atmosphere. Friendly baristas. Above average espresso.
If you're OK with being in an intensely trendy environment you might like it They have good coffee and everything but it's just very exclusive.
Excellent coffee shop. Recommended on our visit by the people at Ditch Records. Besides coffee they have all sorts of vegan brownies, muffins, etc. The decor is very modern with those high barstool height chairs. Great place to work. I bought a book by a local artist off a rack there and the guy behind the counter, for some reason thinking that I personally knew the artist, told me about a birthday party the artist was going to be having later that day. I didn't end up going, but it really made me feel welcome in a town that I just happened to be visiting. So...five stars definitely!
Listed in: Places we visited in Victoria,…
Victoria, BC
Victoria, BC
Victoria, BC
Victoria, BC
Victoria, BC
