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Leva Cappucino Bar
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Italian Coffee & Tea, Italian [Edit]
86 Avenue NWUnit 11053
Edmonton, AB T6G 0X1
(780) 479-5382
- Hours:
Mon-Wed 7 am - 7 pm
Thu-Fri 7 am - 10 pm
Sat-Sun 9 am - 6 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Good For:
- Dessert, Lunch, Breakfast
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Trendy
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
28 reviews for Leva Cappucino Bar
Review Highlights
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"Cool selection of espresso machines in the back, too." In 3 reviews -
"The thin crust pizza are top notch, but are frequently..." In 3 reviews -
"Great selection of gelato, clean facilities, a perfect..." In 7 reviews
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28 reviews in English
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Review from Michael J.
Edmonton, AB
12/11/2011 5 Check-ins Here
Leva is slightly hidden off of 87th ave and it's better this way because compared to many other Garneau coffee shops, you can actually get a seat, some pizza, and a delicious bowl of gelato. I love the big windows, the people watching, and the variety of life music that is brought in.
The Lattes are hands-down amazing. I can't say enough nice things about them.
My favorite pizza (thin crust euro style) is the simple, margarita-- though I have a feeling I'm spelling it wrong.
If you need to park, good luck, but the walk from the LRT is about 5 minutes from the university hospital and it's worth going that one block past the Tim Hortons. -
Review from Morv K.
Edmonton, AB
5/22/2012
I felt very cold the three times that I went there.
If you are not a big fan of tiny cups and you prefer a large cups, this is not the place for you.
The environment is not very romantic so not a good spot for first dates but good locatiin for break ups. The sweets are not very fancy either. -
Review from Duncan W.
Edmonton, AB
5/10/2012
I've had some fantastic lattes, pizzas and a beer here, and enjoyed some offbeat acts. Great coffee near the UofA if you get the chance to check it out.
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Review from Rachelle B.
Edmonton, AB
4/11/2012
Leva leval leva.
Awesome food, just a bit too pricey for my liking. Try this: $18 for a pizza that had nothing but a tiny bit of cheese and 4 slices of figs. Went down in less than 5 minutes! I also had a weird incident with the waitress who couldn't remember the type of pizza I had ordered but then instead of simply taking my word for it she then proceeded to ask the entire restaurant what kind of pizza they had ordered. Kind of weird...?
The coffee is delicious and so are the salads, the crowd that hangs out at Leva are usually quite young and stylish. A definite perk is the yummy fruit water in the corner and the outdoor terrace.
Perhaps Leva has gotten a bit too snobby for me? I still think that more places like this should exist around the city. It's definitely an asset to any neighborhood and it is also educating the masses about GOOD coffee (not Starbucks or Second Cup)! -
Review from Laurel P.
11/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Why so unpleasant Leva Cappucino Bar?? We've all had to work a customer service job that we cant stand but come on! The attitude from some of the employees who work here is unbelievable.
Pop quiz time!
If a customer asks you for a takeout box for her leftovers do you:
a) interrogate the customer about why she really needs a box
b) offer the customer tiny wax-paper baggies intended for cookies
c) both a and b
d) go get them a box
If you answered "c", congratulations! You can work at Leva! Bonus points if you intend to do it with a sour attitude.
The food was decent and is my justification for giving Leva two stars instead of one. Chances are I will just grab takeout next time instead of dealing with sass. That way I can sit in my apartment that has wifi since Leva does not. Is this 1995?! I thought wifi was pretty standard amongst coffee shops.Listed in: Good Old Garneau, Local Brews
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Review from Carol K.
11/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Sorry to kill the awesome review streak, but I was not impressed. Sure, it's a cute, modern coffee shop with a good looking menu, but a few things made my experience go from a-ok to not-so-good.
1. They don't have WiFi. Somehow I was under the impression that they did. It was especially misleading because I saw someone working on a laptop, and even the people in the pictures on their website are using laptops, so it seemed like the kind of place that does.
2. Substituting soy for your latte is a ridiculous whole dollar. That's expensive.
3. My friend asked what was in the Vegetarian lasagna, and the girl behind the counter didn't know because she didn't prepare it. If you don't know what's in the food, why are you working there?
4. The girl behind the counter was pretty rude when my friend asked for a box for our leftover pizza.
The food was good, the latte was good, but it seems over-priced... and the poor service didn't help either.
23/30 -
Review from Linda N.
2/27/2012
Cool space and their patio is pretty nice in the summer. I really like their coffee, although I think it is a bit pricy. Have tried their food, but don't really remember much, which should mean that it is neither great nor horrible. Definitely a place worth trying, especially in summer.
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Review from Ryan P.
Edmonton, AB
9/21/2011
Gluten Free/ Celiac Friendly
Ever since this place was taken over, 2006 or so, it's been one of my favorite coffee bars/ restaurants in not just the University area, but all of Edmonton. You'll be surrounded by Students and Profs in this sun lit cafe, all a-buzz cause they're sipping on the finest Coffee in the city. No need to order anything past a classic Americano because Leva treats coffee right, and you won't be disappointed.
On the food side, pizza. Pizza all the way... and here's a tip for the Gluten Free. Ask for there Rice Crust! Sometimes they're out of stock, but it's worth the risk... as these pizzas are to die for -
Review from Jason L.
Edmonton, AB
"Jane! I'm home!" Yep, if the Jetson's had a local cafe, it'd be Leva. All those flatscreen menus, curvy chrome and plastics, bright whites and oranges. It's that Jetson's optimistic future and coffee, too! I love the place. You'd half expect Elroy and Astro to be hanging out in the back.
Not without irony, it's the technology that turns out cup after cup seemingly perfect espressed coffee. The machines used at Leva combine heat, pressure and filtration to produce espresso as an art form with perfect taste and crema. You get the full taste of the roast without developing any bitterness. You can actually buy one of these machines from them; they've got a showroom in the back.
There is a real argument that Leva makes the best cup of coffee in town, and in all the styles and variations, add to that, thin crust Neopolitan style pizza, hot and cold panini, soups, salads, pastries and artisan gelato, you end up dropping in a lot.
Leva is one of the reasons I feel blessed to live in Garneau. As I found out this Winter, I can actually get into the front door from my door before I can get a chance to feel cold, even in minus 30 wind chill.
Actually, forget what I said, don't go there ... I hate waiting for my coffee. -
Review from Kristin K.
Edmonton, AB
6/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great little Italian espresso shop with excellent food! The pizza and paninis are to die for here! Everything is super fresh! I always love a place that has fresh basil on their menu items!
Modern and chic... but a little on the pricey side for me. A great place for a lunch date... but not a good place for your everyday cup of joe unless you have extra dough to spare!
The only thing holding me back from 5 stars is the price... A definite must see tucked away on a quaint little tree lined street right by the U of A! -
Review from Marianne S.
Edmonton, AB
5/27/2011 2 photos
Leva is a regular stop on the way to class or work, particularly for their daily muffin creations which are always inventive and tasty. Their pizza is excellent - thin crust with minimal toppings - and they have great salads (try the spinach with roasted pear, blue cheese and candied pecans). There are also sandwich, salad and soup specials daily. And gelato for dessert is a must!
They do a great job here with any espresso based beverage, but also have a sizable tea selection. House lemonade and iced tea are always on hand and are lovely to enjoy out on the patio.
Though I don't always find staff the friendliest here, the space (both indoor and patio) lends itself well to people watching and general Garneau enjoyment. They are also open relatively late (11pm M-Th and 12pm Fridays and Saturdays) and don't mind if you linger with your lap top, notes or a good book. -
Review from Brittany K.
Edmonton, AB
11/15/2010 6 Check-ins Here
Plenty of bike parking and conveniently located just a block from the University of Alberta. The lattes here are priced higher-than-average ($5!), but they're worth it!
Make sure to try the pizza for a yummy lunch (I recommend the spinach and feta), and don't miss their many gelato flavours.
Some evenings feature live music, and the artists here are always a fun, eclectic mix. I've discovered a few new local favourites! -
Review from Plumpy B.
Edmonton, AB
3/15/2010
Damn you, Leva, damn you.
You sit there on 111th St, with your warm, glowy lighting, your ironic Dolly Parton music, your creative muffin flavours, and your goddamn correct use of the Italian plural (cappuccini!). And every frickin morning I walk by on my way to work, look into the sad eyes of the doggy who is always tied up by the door while his owner sits inside reading Baudelaire on a marble table, and I think, "I deserve that! I too deserve to spend $5 on a hot drink and muffin. I TOO wish to be given the hairy eyeball by the impossibly artsy servers when I ask for a simple coffee. I TOO wish to mistake the south bank of the Saskatchewan for the left bank of the Seine!"
It's okay, Leva. I don't need a down payment. I don't need to pay my exorbitant Garneau rent. I don't even need my dignity. Just please don't stop making those pear-ricotta muffins and the little cheese scones that come with the soup. I know that most of your staff are busy writing their fringe festival screenplays or flipping through their flashcards in the pursuit of reading Goethe in the original... but we need you, Leva, we need you.
Mille grazie! -
Review from Lauren N.
9/29/2008 3 photos
One of the coolest cafes I've been to in this city! Leva gives the impression of a modern and chic European cafe, with its clean white marble counter-tops and crystal chandeliers. They've also got these cool Samsung flat-screen monitors behind their counter which displays their coffee menu. Where else have you seen that?
Leva also offers beers, spirits, and wines, if you feel the need for something stronger than tea or coffee. Their lunch menu includes various pizzas, soups, panini and hummus, and a variety of salads. They also have desserts if you're craving something sweet. I had the flour-less chocolate cake -- delicious, but very rich and thick. It's quite big for one person too, so maybe share it with two or three friends.
They only take cash or gift card, but if you have neither there is an ATM machine to help you out. It will, of course, give you a surcharge fee, but Leva will make up for it with a free coffee, or at least a discount on your latte or cappuccino. Beware though, the ATM is very slow, testy, and noisy so bring cash if you can.
Overall, it's a great place to spend a quiet afternoon if you're a cafe person. They have soft music playing in the background, stuff like Frank Sinatra and classic French. They have books and magazines available for your reading and browsing pleasure, and a shelf full of their Danesi coffees and teas for you to choose from.
The back corner houses the Caffetech office, a company which specializes in high-tech coffee machines. They have a display of their shiny, stainless steel coffeemakers open for viewing, if you're on the market for a new coffee machine.
Leva also offers outdoor seating, although it's probably too cold for that now. It must be nice in the summer though, because they have big flowerbeds outside as well, and it almost looks like a garden.
Another interesting thing about Leva? It used to be a laundromat! I kid you not. This place has come a long way from dirty clothes, I tell ya! But if you like to find yourself in sophisticated surroundings once in awhile, check this place out. -
Review from Kit C.
Edmonton, AB
10/18/2009
1. The coffee is just okay. Should be a lot better given the buzz.
2. There is one really nice guy who works there. But I've experienced snobby rudeness from another two people there, which I think is unacceptable.
3. The food is pretty nice as is the decor. -
Review from Liv V.
Edmonton, AB
4/17/2011 2 photos
Leva is a university-area gem. Stunning leaf art top their frothy, bracing cappuccini. A robot's ransom of espresso machines line the back of Leva's trendy space, adding to its futuristic feel. The chairs are a little uncomfortable, but no matter. Tempting desserts beckon from the dessert cooler and a rainbow of gelato flavours are the perfect antidote to a hot (or cold) day. The thin crust pizza are top notch, but are frequently overlooked during discussions regarding Edmonton's best pizza.
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Review from Alan D.
6/20/2011
A bit pricey but the best espresso in Edmonton. Just don't order one to go or you will be scowled at (perhaps rightly) by the hipster baristas. Food is particularly expensive and a bit hit and miss sometimes, although the pizza is great.
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Review from Tricia B.
Edmonton, AB
3/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
good cap and nice atmosphere, looks like good food too although I was not hungry when I was there, I'll go back for lunch. They have wine and beer also so might be a good quick stop for a bite before a movie at Garneau.
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Review from Aditya R.
12/19/2009 5 Check-ins Here
The coffee appears to be quite the original Italian style espresso. I really like this place. Have been here a few times now, since I work on the U of A campus.
They offer a variety of espresso based coffee drinks. Apart from the Capp, you could try the Cafe Borgio which is a double espresso with a a dasho of cream and a slice of orange on top (may have been orange peel). A strange combination, one might think, but it gives a fruity flavor to the coffee and is unusually good.
The food's great. Try the pizzas. Again, appear to be more like a traditional Italian pizza base, a hand-tossed thin crust, but not gross like Pizza Hut. There's just something in the texture that's quite exquisite. They have a not-so-traditional artichoke pesto pizza which is worth a try. The paninis are right up there.
Has a very comfortable and modern atmosphere to it. Petite, round tables populate the main seating area. At the back, they sell coffee, espresso machines and accessories, for the extreme coffee enthusiast. (the prices range anywhere from $500 - $2000 for the machines, so it's serious business). -
Review from Jack G.
Edmonton, AB
12/30/2009
I wouldn't exactly say they have the best coffee in the world (and by world I mean Edmonton) but it is good. The service wasn't though.
The person serving me was actually kind of rude and pushy. They were just trying to rush me along and the place wasn't busy so I didn't see what the hurry was.
Many people have told me that the coffee here is amazing so I was hoping for much better than I got. So I will give it another chance sometime, they may have just had an off day. -
Review from Curtis B.
Edmonton, AB
2/13/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Great selection of gelato, clean facilities, a perfect ambience for chill'n, reading a book, surfing the web, or just chat'n with a friend. Not the cheapest place I've been, but I would rather have quality then quantity. Bare in mind that their large is a gracious amount! Neatest new place I've been in a long time.
Listed in: Date night
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Review from Adam G.
Edmonton, AB
9/29/2010 7 Check-ins Here
Best coffee in Edmonton, bar none. Cool selection of espresso machines in the back, too. Impossible to park here, but that's par for the course in the University area. All the more reason to walk or ride your bike!
Listed in: Old Strathcona food crawl
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Review from Jennifer P.
Edmonton, AB
10/24/2008
I attended a Christmas party at Leva and was very impressed with it. Their pizza was some of the best I've ever had - thin-crusted with lots of creative toppings and substitutes for tomato sauce. Pizzas of all different kinds just kept circulating until we were all so stuffed we couldn't eat another piece. During a regular visit here, You can also get panini sandwiches, gelato, an assortment of desserts, and baked goods - like blueberry feta muffins - and espresso made from an authentic Italian roaster. This place also has a liquor license so it's a nice place to drop into on a weekend. It's couched amidst homes in Strathcona and is removed from the craziness of Whyte Ave. The clientele seems more artsy, refined and chill.
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Review from John D.
Edmonton, AB
7/6/2009
Some of the best coffee in Edmonton, for sure. I like a strong macchiato, and there's was definitely that. The staff was nice and helpful, the decor chic and the music good. Big sunny windows makes it a pleasure to sit inside and there's a patio to sit outside. I had a panini, which was quite tasty and somewhat unique. It was almost a quesadilla instead of a panini. Finished off with some gelato: the strawberry tasted like strawberry jam and the chocolate was really good. Overall a really nice place to sit and eat, or to hang out and sip coffee.
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Review from Maria F.
12/18/2009 1 photo
Leva Cappuccino Bar serves what seems like the best coffee in town. I have never tried the food here so I can't comment on it, but I can definitely comment on the coffee. I often go for Caffe Borgia which consists of two espresso shots mixed with heavy cream and finished off with two orange slices. I am not sure whether orange slices are meant to intensify the flavor of coffee since I can't really taste the difference, but the coffee itself is out of this world. If on particularly miserable day you feel tired, unenergetic, and need a quick pick-me-up, come to Leva and order Caffe Borgia. You are guaranteed to become an Energizer Bunny after first two sips: )
Caffe Macchiato, Corretto, Affago as well as Chai Latte and Cappuccino are also very good and strong.
At the back of the store there shelves stocked with Kusmi tea from France and Chocophilia cocoa and drinking chocolates (spiced drinking chocolate is especially good).
I am not really sure whether I like the décor of his place. It's plain and simple; with floor to ceiling windows. In my opinion, Leva is not the coziest café, but the quality of caffeinated drinks completely makes up for this shortcoming. -
Review from Johwanna A.
Edmonton, AB
12/23/2008
Off the charts. everything you ever put in your mouth from this place is STELLAR not to mention the vibe, the folks, and the gelato. You must taste this.
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Review from Y. C.
6/27/2010
Terrible coffee.
What's worse than the coffee is the blow-hard staff that act too cool for school.
I have no idea why anyone would go to Leva for coffee now that Transcend is in the neighbourhood. -
Review from Daylin B.
Edmonton, AB
7/1/2009
Fantastic coffee, ambiance and baking. One of the places that makes Edmonton great.
