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Nelson the Seagull
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Food Bakeries Coffee & Tea, Bakeries [Edit]
315 Carrall StreetVancouver, BC V6A 0A7
Neighbourhoods: Gastown, Downtown Eastside
(604) 681-5776
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 9 am - 6 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
46 reviews for Nelson the Seagull
Review Highlights
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"...next time so that I can try their homemade almond milk." In 2 reviews -
"My friend had the avocado on toast - oh my goodness it..." In 3 reviews -
"Viva la Cafe Revolucion." In 10 reviews
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46 reviews in English
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Review from Vancity V.
Vancouver, BC
3/26/2012 1 photo
The bread is baked on site and the espresso is my favorite next to cafe Roma on the drive.
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Review from Victoria R.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2012
I really wanted to love this place. The reviews were so great, and walking in the place looked absolutely adorable. I love the giant chest they have with little notes inside from strangers. So romantic.
The space was wide open, and there was a table in the back that was filled with people laughing, and I love communal tables.
But when we went to order, the options were limited. There were only three sandwiches, one of which was sold out, and they only had homo milk (seriously?)
The food took a while to come, and for what we paid, the plate was pretty sparse. The coffee wasn't particularly wonderful, and with all the space they had, there were only a handful of tables. I've had more welcoming experiences, that's for sure. -
Review from Anabel L.
Toronto, ON
5/9/2012
It's not often I get taken and taught. Not by choice, it just so happens that my friends don't eat out as often as I like.
I was in Vancouver for a week and needed a breath of fresh air. I hooked up with an old friend and he took me to Nelson the Seagull. The name. Amazing.
I walked in and it felt like something I'd find in NYC or Montreal. It reminded me of a broken down cafe, a little rustic, a little urban and a whole lot of casual. You order first and sit later.
My friend taught me that they make their own bread on site and that their brunch trumps their lunch. He also told me that this joint is owned by South Africans. I love it when a friends knows more than what's on the menu.
Course it was lunch by the time we got there so I had the meat sandwich (about $10). It was messy but really good. Generous toppings and kick-ass bread.
Our table was rickety, which was the only thing I noticed, but I suppose i shouldn't have been leaning my elbows on the table.
That's what she said. -
Review from Russell N.
Vancouver, BC
5/3/2012
Good sandwiches. Good coffee. I like the big open space. I haven't tried the baked-in-house bread, but I've heard it's good and its usually sold-out by the time I get there in the late afternoon.
My only suggestion is a bigger and more consistent sandwich menu would be nice.
They're doing a fine job and I wish them the best of luck! -
Review from Josh L.
Vancouver, BC
4/30/2012 5 Check-ins Here
In the vast sea of coffee plus pastry options in Vancouver, there is one that takes the coffee, the ambience, and eats to a whole new level. As a space, it is delightful--perhaps a bit trendy, but in a way that still manages not to feel stuffy. That said, I've never seen the counter staff crack a smile. (For smiles, go to Matchstick.)
The food is elevated here, in part because the kitchen is expansive and open and in part because of those picturesque hearty loaves they churn out and pair with your meal. For breakfast, the simple avocado and toast is sublime and similar choices in the afternoon (like the herbivore sandwich of the day) are heavy on fresh, tasty, ingredients.
The coffee is some of the best I've had--always tasty. But it's the charming ambience, the hearty bread, and convenient Gastown location that keeps me coming back.
Nelson has a wonderful bureau up front with many dangling tags--claim a box start a pen pal friendship. While you're at, find my box and drop a note! -
Review from Crystal H.
Vancouver, BC
4/15/2012 2 Check-ins Here
In haiku....
Nelson the seagull
Flies on coffee scented wings
Communal tables
Ethereal space
Dimly lit, the east sun plays
On the small cupboards
Notes to each other
Caffeinated, we gather
To drink from squished mugsListed in: Vancouver's Coffee Culture: A…
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Review from Carla M.
Vancouver, BC
3/28/2012
The place is amazing. I really love the way they decorated it, it looks like an industrial loft, but with some vintage character. It's big and wide, and I really like that they didn't filled the place with tables, but let some space free.
There's a lot of people working alone with their Mac laptops, sharing a table, so I found it a nice place to work with some (unknown) company.
I ordered a soy latte (it's what I always ask for as a coffee), and they didn't have soy mik, so I ordered a regular one. This is the main reason I don't give the place 5 stars. If they had had soy milk, it would definitely be my favorite cafe in Vancouver. I also went with a friend who ordered a decaf, and they didn't have a decaf either. They do also make some stuff for lunch, so maybe it's just that it's not a cafe but a restaurant, and that's why they didn't have a lot to offer regarding coffees. I read they have home made almond milk, and I'll definitely try it next time I go to the place.
The service wasn't great (she was an Asian girl), but I can't say she was rude. She was just short, nothing important.
So I totally recommend a visit to the place, to join the hipsters in Vancouver and some freelances taking a brake from their work at home (like me!)
Carla. -
Review from Jessica O.
Vancouver, BC
2/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
I don't feel like I need to add too much to the cacophony of bread-praise. Man, this bread is good. It is springy and moist and delicious, and the meat and cheese on my carnivore sandwich were top notch. It made me feel all rustic and peasant-y, but with less hard labour out in the fields.
The only thing keeping me from giving this a perfect 5 is the fact that my pal ordered a soup - which was delicous - but the bread that came with it was really crusty and overdone on the outside, to the point of blackness. I kind of like burnt bread, but this was even too much for me.
But a little crust won't stop me from heading back here for lunch or coffee when I feel like I need a dose of the rural life but I don't want to dirty my soft city-girl hands. -
Review from Chrissy H.
Vancouver, BC
1/30/2012
I am so sad to rate this as a 1 star as my first dining experience here about 6 months ago was wonderful. Sadly yesterdays lunch venture was an absolute let down.
After circling the block 3 times to try and find parking so we could savour the charming environment and 'Epic' sandwiches that I once remembered, I felt like a fool when our herbivore sandwiches arrived with horribly burnt bread and pathetic toppings (my 4 year old niece could have done a better job). After all of my persistence and fuss to find parking so we could savour the flavours of Nelson the Seagull I was quite embarrassed as we tried to salvage our sandwiches from the charcoal crust.
Each bite upset me more (almost mocking me with every bitter crumb) and the pathetic bunch (if you could call it that, I think there were about 8 leafs) of spinach with a few chunks of strawberry as the side salad just validated my disappointment. I was being ripped off and humbled.
So much for a lovely and charming lunch with my boo... more like boo on you MR Nelson... I no longer like Seagulls! -
Review from Kevin F.
Vancouver, BC
2/20/2012
I've been meaning to stop in here for months since seeing photos of the beautiful space online. The interior certainly didn't disappoint - it manages to feel expansive and intimate at the same time. The beauty seemed to extend to the people on both sides of the counter; I don't know if today was an exception (or perhaps it's just a Gastown thing?) but I felt as if I had walked into an alternate universe where everyone just stepped out of a magazine photo shoot.
Unfortunately the weird/slow/aloof service I received made me wonder if they've focused more on finding staff to match the design rather than finding people who can take orders and serve food in a friendly and efficient manner. With such a limited menu (which I appreciate as it makes it easier for me to decide and easier for them to concentrate on quality) it shouldn't be as difficult as it seemed to be. If you're going to take my name for my food menu, then pass the name onto the barrista so that three of us don't have to come up to the counter at once to pick up our americano...
Luckily the sandwich and the soup made up for what was lacking in service. It was the softest, biggest, tastiest, most esthetically appealing sandwich bread I've had in a long time. The potato soup was simple and delicious, though quite overpriced for what it was (perhaps this is also just a Gastown thing?).
One final niggly thing - am I the only person who finds it annoying to have to ask for a wifi password? -
Review from Lindsay E.
Vancouver, BC
12/29/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I do like this place.
Home made bread, open kitchen, almond milk(!), plenty of avocado, simple and easy sandwiches and a good atmosphere. I really enjoy coming and if you haven't dropped by yet for a coffee or a bite, you really should.
Nelson the Seagull gets amazing light and has pretty decent wifi, if I lived closer I think I'd be here a lot more often then I get to be right now.
I'd love to see them switch their sandwich menu up a bit (it's been the same two for weeks & weeks now), maybe add some additional seating, but otherwise this place doesn't leave much to want for.
Come for breakfast before 11:55 cause they sure cut it off RIGHT at noon.
A+ -
Review from Roanna Z.
Well, it appears that a particular barista is a key component to the success of this cafe! I sure hope she is being paid well because her absence had a clear impact on my unfortunate visit.
Stopped in for a drink of the divine Rocanini roast they have now, but they were out of Almond which they usually make in house. I found it lame that they didn't at least have a back up of some other milk substitute on hand, or even offer to get some. No milk substitute = no Cappucino for moi. So I downsized my order to a cup of drip, which was bitter and undrinkable. Boo. They also seemed disorganized and with really no apology.
Not sure if I will be back anytime soon.Listed in: Connect the dots on a coffee…, Best cafes & small shops in…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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10/2/2011
I finally I got to check out NTS.
The architectural features are a historical mosaic that tell the… Read more »
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Review from Sarah O.
10/25/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Nelson the Seagull, I don't believe in love at first sight but a cupid shot me through the heart when I first laid eyes on you. You are just cute as a button! I finally had a chance to try some of their stuff on a beautiful, sunny day- they let me pack my picnic platter to go- and it was really delicious! Scrumptious pesto, garlic-y hummus, strawberry preserves, nuts, chocolate, dried apricots, candied ginger (spicy!!), cheese, meat and finally, dense and chewy bread. For $10, I'm totally, totally into it.
It's simple and uncomplicated. My tummy is happy. -
Review from Rebecca C.
Vancouver, BC
10/11/2011
This place is absolutely beautiful, from the artfully crumbling tile floor to the stage-like open air kitchen.
In addition to being a cafe, Nelson the Seagull has recently started a Winter Farmer's Market program that I'm really excited about. I was on their pilot test team, and $25 got me an artfully arranged Bordeaux wine box filled with fresh bread, free range eggs from my favourite local farmer (yay!), tons of hot peppers, grapes, tomatoes, beets, apples, squash and so on. If you want to join the farmer's market, contact them through Twitter.
In addition to some of the best-people-watching in town, Nelson the Seagull serves a picnic board that reminds me of some of the better breakfasts I've had in rural German roadside cafes: a riot of bread, charcuterie, cheese, jam and chocolate.
The coffee and desserts are really great, too, but since I'm more of a savoury-food connoisseur, I really wish that they would serve something beyond sandwiches and simple salads for lunch (their bread is AMAZING, but too many carbs make me fall asleep when I get back to the office).
For breakfast, they serve fresh eggs on toast, amongst other things. While that's great, I can't believe that they charged me an extra $2.50 for a teaspoon of reheated mushrooms on the side. While I'm happy to pay a premium for good quality food, their skimpy mushroom portion is really pushing it.
But overall I absolutely love this place. I can't wait to order a coffee next time so that I can try their homemade almond milk. -
Review from Malloreigh M.
Vancouver, BC
I was just enchanted by Nelson the Seagull. This is another one of those spots that feels like it just can't be in Vancouver. It's too well-designed, too vegan-friendly, too organic, too cool. Vancouver can't really have spaces like this, can it? Isn't everything homogenous and made of money? But no, it's true. You, too, can have a housemade almond milk latte and avocado on toast with Earth Balance and fresh in-house grown cilantro and feel like you're in San Francisco or something. Or Europe. Maybe it feels like Europe.
What an amazing use of space. I am truly impressed by this place. Nothing bad to say.Listed in: Vegan Vancouver, Coffee & Tea, Exceptional Vancouver
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Review from Robin M.
9/20/2011 3 Check-ins Here
Really? This exists?? And not just in my dreams?
Sigh. Everything made from scratch, misshapen bread that looks as fresh as it does rustic, old tile insisting on being present despite the years of wear, an open floor that doesn't need to be filled to have presence, lemonade that is made to stop my heart and send it back to its childhood life, a simple menu designed for a simple life. A kitchen that is part of the restaurant, a communal table that feels that way. This is way too sweet. This is my new home.Listed in: Five Star Holler, Let's tour!, Which town? Gastown., Rose-Coloured Glasses
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Review from Derek W.
10/2/2011 2 photos
Haiku Review
Tear down kitchen walls
And then rise up, baking bread!
Surround my sandwich
So many details -
Not perfection, just itself.
How do you say it?
Eleven Fifty
Is too early to order.
Kitchen starts at noon.
"Carnivore sandwich"
What an aggressive name for
such a careful thing.Listed in: Haiku Reviews
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Review from Kayla M.
Vancouver, BC
10/5/2011
I popped in yesterday and had an espresso that was so fantastic I was compelled to order other things.... so I got some gorgeously fresh orange juice and bread with berry and jalapeño jam (weird, but absolutely delicious). The bread and the coffee absolutely blew my socks off... Literally one of the best espressos I've ever had in my entire life. I was just in heaven.
I completely adore this place. It feels like home. -
Review from Gary M.
10/24/2011
Oh My God!
A real honest to goodness latte, that tastes like pure milk and coffee and nothing more.
This room is delightful. Big, open and full of space. A wonderful place to digest a porchetta sandwich. An amazing place to have a lemony tart and small gateau of chocolate.
Nelson the Seagull is one of the reasons why Gastown is becoming the de-facto spot in Vancouver to savour life.
We killed a couple of hours here, talking and reminiscing. We could have been in Paris, NYC or Tokyo. The lovely Autumn light streaming in made it a pleasurable afternoon.Listed in: My absolute best favorites
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Review from Allen W.
9/5/2011 1 Check-in Here
I understand the idea but I think it misses the mark. I found the service to be painfully slow and poorly thought out. A few adjustments could really improve the experience.
Arrived on saturday morning to find a short line and seating about half full. I liked the large open space, simple and uncomplicated. We ordered ciabatta and eggs, as well as coffee.
We took a seat at the table across from the ordering counter and coffee station. We waited and waited for the coffee, unable to hear the person making them. Unfortunately, they serve the Americano in a thin ceramic mug that does not have a handle. Getting it to the table was painful (burnt fingers) and then I could barely drink it due to how hot the mug remained. So, I waited for the mug to cool down which meant drinking warm coffee.
It's ok to be anti-establishment but mugs have handles for a reason.
And then, we waited for our food. I watched the open kitchen to see them preparing each order. I was caught off guard by just how slowly they moved. That slowness translated into a 40 minute wait to receive our food (poached eggs on sliced bread). It also translated into a more painful experience for the man who ordered after us ... 40 minutes to receive sliced bread and a small bowl of jam.
Our hopes were shattered when the server came through with what appeared to be our order. He quietly mumbled a name, we then confirmed with him that it was indeed our name, but the order was wrong ... because it belonged to someone else with the same name. Sad.
When our food did arrive (some 15 minutes later), it was unexciting and had some issues. The ciabatta is served with a poached egg on top and I found it odd that one piece of ciabatta was toasted and the other was not. The eggs were coated in pepper but not a touch of salt ... very bland. The 'salad' was spinach leaves onto which something sour was poured (straight lemon juice?). Whatever it was, the dressing just ran off the leaves and over to the bread. It would have been nice if the salad were tossed with the dressing so the leaves were coated instead of dry.
It was so NOT worth the long wait. While I can appreciate the desire to serve locally sourced food and focus on coffee/bread, that doesn't translate into lack of basic customer service.
Ideas to speed things along for everyone:
1. Give out a number for each order; would make it easier to understand coffee orders and assist service staff with quickly finding the table where food went (instead of quietly saying a name, then wandering from table to table to ask if they were waiting for food)
2. Streamline kitchen processes so that it doesn't take so long to get food orders out (and hopefully make the food consistent and properly seasoned). If you can't cut bread and get it to a table in under 40 minutes, then something is wrong.
3. Re-think serving a hot beverage in a thin-walled ceramic mug that does not have a handle. It's pointless if I can't drink the coffee because I can't touch the mug for 20 minutes.
Overall, the coffee was ok - I didn't care for the roast, had an off taste to me. The bread was good but not radically different than any other place that uses freshly baked bread. The egg was not seasoned and bland. -
Review from Colene C.
10/1/2011 14 Check-ins Here
To say that I love Nelson the Seagull would be an understatement. Since I work a mere two blocks away, I find myself stopping by here at least 2x a week and daydream about moving in.
The decor:
Gigantic windows, plush couches, charming old tile floors. It's so beautifully appointed. I love how they've got terrariums from local florist Olla too.
The food:
Homemade, rustic, organic, delicious. Their kitchen is completely open in the back so you can see them hard at work and it tastes as amazing as it looks. The bread is some of the best baked bread in the neighbourhood and I'm pleased to see that they've started to sell whole loaves ($6). Their carnivore sandwiches feature meat from Big Lou's but it's the herbivore that usually gets me. The combination of avocado & pesto is too intoxicating.
The drink:
Fresh squeezed juice. Lemonade. Almond milk. And best of all: amazing coffee. My favourite is the Flat White (similar to a latte; less foam), just say yes.
I know some people proclaim this place 'too hipster' but I don't care about stuff like that. What keeps me coming back is the enthusiasm of the people that work at Nelson the Seagull. These people put their heart in their food and it shows.
PS. Check out the drawers up front. Many of them are 'claimed' by various regulars, including yours truly. Find mine and be my old school pen pal! I'd love to see a note in my drawer :) -
Review from Simon K.
11/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
Needing to kill time, needing some hot java, looking for a new place, going with the hype of the times. That is exactly the steps I took to coming to this place, and I was let down not by the place and setting, but by the main reason I came here, for the brew. My partner and I ventured into this domain prior to dinner hoping to relax to a good quality cup of brew. It was a dark night, and not much light was eminating from the interior outward to the street here in Gastown.
Walking in, the place was in a term 'rustic', a feel of the Gastown of yesteryear that definitely gave this place character. We noticed the beans they used for this joint were from Rocanini's, so there is another step in the right direction of good java. This place was spacious, when you walk inside it just feels big. An open concept with a few small tables, a huge long table in the middle, and fresh baking bread in the back, but as I said, our main purpose of this visit was for a drink. An order of a latte, and a (double shot) expresso. I could swear that the place was pretty quiet, and the one taking our order made me a single shot, at least he only charged for the single shot.
We sat on the main table, on some heavy cement based stools and took in our drinks. I can say that it doesn't matter how 'cool' the place looks, cause you are not living here, and you are, in the end, paying for something that goes down your throat, and it was the most 'sour' expresso I have ever had. I have had lemon's not as sour as this sucker, and adding sugar just made it worse. My partner's latte wasn't too charming either. In some ways I felt like I walked into a movie after watching a good trailer. I read all the great reviews here, and had it bookmarked to hit, and in the end I was let down.
One odd saving grace of this place is the washroom, (you are probably saying, really?), as this place totally felt different from the main room. Well lit, nice hard wood floors, and sense of charm, go check it out for yourself if you are here.
Would I come back, maybe, but you know what they say about first impressions! -
Review from Dan J.
Vancouver, BC
I was too busy when they opened to receive credit for FTR. Thpppt.
Hey! Do you enjoy a dried out three pound hunk of refrigerated banana bread with stale mini chocolate chips? It comes wrapped in Saran wrap and if you ask nicely also comes with a mini tub of frozen butter. Do you love sitting down in a clunky chair by a fake fireplace in a beige institutionally homogenized setting? While you're at it don't forget to order a stale cup of coffee from beans that were picked, roasted and vacuum sealed a few years ago.
Meet me at Nelson the Seagull when you're done. After I finish my innovative and scrumptious baked treats and fresh coffee we can go get your head examined you crazy kid you. There's a clinic nearby.
I had dropped by a few times before this cafe was operational. Each time the owner would come out and tell me what they had planned. Nelson the Seagull lived up to my lofty expectations.
-The owner said they would likely offer pourovers for their drip coffee. Check!
-He said they were looking at using beans from the same roaster as Agro. Check! They are also sourcing beans from other places. Which is fine by me because they know what they're doing.
-He said they had fancy plans for the kitchen. Check!
The first coffee I had was quite dark and strong but it had a really nice finish. It tasted like peanut butter. They get custom roasts so their beans are not the same ones you will find at Agro. That, to me, is awesome because it means more variety by knowledgeable coffee wonks. The current beans are especially awesome though. Sweet from beginning to end.
Small cafes in Vancouver are getting it right in the kitchen as well as at the bar. The baking was a really nice surprise. They make a chocolate mini cake that had me grunting every time I took a bite. Apparently a modified Julia Child recipe. I tried the zucchini carrot cupcake which I devoured before my coffee was ready. Tried a prosciutto and egg pastry that was also excellent. And a chocolate ganache square that was gluten free.
Beautiful, quirky, bright and spacious decor. And of course great service.
In case you were wondering the owners are from South Africa and "Nelson The Seagull" was a folk song from the 70's that became an anthem for Nelson Mandella while he was imprisoned during Apartheid.
The seeds of the Coffee Revolution in Vancouver are germinating and these guys are on the front lines. Viva la Cafe Revolucion!Listed in: Coffee. The Good, The Brewed &…, my R's OTD.
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Review from Michelle P.
Vancouver, BC
I think I am in love!
Every time I come in for a pour over there is a new roast/variety of beans to try! These guys know how to make a great cup of coffee. Coffee is made fresh to order in individual servings and NEVER from an urn!
Staff are friendly and knowledgeable about the beans they're brewing.
I have yet to try their food though... I must fix that soon! I have however tried their pastries, my favorite is the egg and prosciutto ham tart simply seasoned with salt and pepper. -
Review from J N.
Vancouver, BC
7/20/2011
A quaint "huge" coffeeshop that takes you back to simpler times. But careful, if you order up too much of this goodness and work on your laptop instead of tending your crops, it'll go straight to the waistline. :)
For breakfast:
Try the pastries: lemon custard. Delicious custard, but it fell apart the minute that I bit into it. Still, if I'd had a spoon...
Pastry-baked-in egg-basically a hard boiled egg baked into the same pastry as the aforementioned custard. I was a bit surprised they had no means to re-heat it; an interesting concept but I probably wouldn't order it again.
Bread, cheese and jam- delightful little "board" consisting of all three. The jam was more like a berry salsa, and a definite winner. I found it odd that we were only given three pieces of bread to share; we had more than enough jam.
They were happy to offer us more bread when asked, but bread is cheap, after all! Absolutely heavenly. Even the butter tasted better; our suggestion was to whip their own butter and stick to the "back-to-basics farm style."
And for the coffee. Pretty tasty but when I inquired about any other milk than whole milk, she looked at me as if I had two heads.
"Why don't you like whole milk?" she demanded. I was a bit dumbfounded by this question; would she have asked a vegan why she "Didn't want to order cheese?"
In this day and age, at least offer another selection besides whole milk. She did offer almond milk, but I suppose I'm still a purist that way, and wasn't going to venture that far. Our server was quite petite and I don't think she'd be drinking the whole milk any time soon.
Overall, a 3.5 star; I hope that they take a few of our suggestions. I did feel a bit guilty dining in all of this shabby chic while watching the authentic shabbiness outdoors. I guess our city is becoming not unlike SF in this way.
We certainly left with full bellies, and I was sad to leave this pretty, chic environment behind. Half the fun was taking in our surroundings!
$13-$14 with a tip for everything mentioned above (for two). Not bad at all! -
Review from Rommy G.
Vancouver, BC
6/11/2011 3 photos
Nelson the Seagull is one of the best things to happen to Vancouver since I moved here.
Every place should aspire to do what Nelson the Seagull does. Namely:
1) serve amazing food, prepared fresh, sourced locally when possible, all with a laser focus on quality.
2) prepare perfectly-made espressos (and I mean perfectly) sourced from local, responsible roasters (Agro).
3) be the place that I want to hang out in all day and never want to leave.
It's the place in Gastown for espresso, breakfast, and lunch. With the food being prepared right before your eyes, Nelson is doing what every restaurant and cafe should be doing: putting themselves out there for public scrutiny, holding themselves accountable to their patrons, and not feeling the need to hide themselves behind walls and kitchens and cutting corners like so many cafes and restaurants are apt to do nowadays. And in doing so they provide a live show into their food preparation and organization. This is not just the place to spend time in Gastown, it's the place to spend time in Vancouver.
The space is outstanding. I could spend hours here. It's wide open, relaxing, and almost therapeutic. No loud music. No trendy outlandishness. Nelson the Seagull does a great job of using the space by not using it. Its minimalist mindset is not only showcased in its decor but in its food and its simplicity is tasteful and feels lovely to linger in. The furniture, the flowers on the tables, the couches - all are in complete harmony with the space they occupy.
I had a macchiato and then had to have a second one. It was one of the best I've had in the city. Better than any I've had at Agro (from whom the beans are sourced ironically). The roast the barista (and part owner) served me was a single-origin Ethiopian roast and was responsibly-sourced as all Agro beans are.
I had a lovely lunch there today. The poached eggs on ciabatta with a fresh salad of roasted tomatoes and fresh mushrooms was excellent and the chocolate banana tart I had for dessert was perfectly filling. No excessive portions or excessive use of rich ingredients. You leave Nelson the Seagull perfectly satisfied and refreshed - the feeling you should have when you leave any cafe or restaurant.
Go. -
Review from Calvin L.
1/31/2012
Living in Oakland now and having previously lived in San Francisco's Mission District, I feel like I've seen my fair share of great cafes, so I wasn't expecting to be blown away during my visit north this past weekend. But damn you, Vancouver! You've got us all beat with Nelson the Seagull. What an incredible space. I wish we had you down here in the Bay Area. I'd be in you every day eating your jam and toast and smiling ear to ear.
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Review from Kari C.
6/2/2011 ROTD 7/16/2011
IT'S OPEN!!!!!!!! 4 stars!
I walk by this place 10 times per week, and was so excited when the black curtains were finally lifted and the doors opened. It's an incredible space that feels so open, homey (very welcoming), and meticulously cute in a Wes-Anderson-meets-botany-classroom way.
Of all the sweet details that make this place worth visiting, whether it's the friendly staff, incredible coffee (available with house-made almond milk!), cute jars of preserves, picnic-worthy DIY coffee station, and unique floral arrangements, I absolutely love the open bakery. Crusty, flour dusted breads, the warm, yeasty smell, plus the fun of getting to watch the production up-close. As somebody who also works in an open kitchen, it's good to always work as if customers can see your every move.
My sweetie and I each had cappuccinos ($3 each, mine with almond milk), and I wolfed down the bread and butter ($2), plus side orders of cheese ($1), and jam ($0.50). The two large slices of bread were crusty, spongey, fluffy, and amazing, the butter was cut into tiny cubes, perfect for spreading, the cheese tasted like a medium white cheddar, rich and salty, and the jam was apricot chutney that they also sell in bottles.
Those giant windows facing what will soon be sunshine are bound to bring in plenty of summer customers. I like this place and hope that they do well, but think there is some fine-tuning to be done, like making sure to stick prices on merchandise, because Vancouverites for the most part are very price-conscious. They'll ask for a deal right off the bat, but are often too shy to ask how much something costs if it isn't marked.Listed in: Coveted FTR's, ROTDs
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Review from Vanessa C.
Vancouver, BC
9/18/2011
It was the unusual name and the decor which lured me into Nelson the Seagull. So cute, the mosaic floor (my friend said it was "dirty", I thought it was "vintage". Could also be because we had to clear dirty plates off the table we wanted to sit at.), the communal picnic table, the homemade drinks (ie. almond milk, earl grey lemonade) served in glass jars... It's homey and a little bit old fashioned (in a good way).
Came at noon on a Saturday, was kind of dissapointed that lunch didn't start until 1, so didn't get to try their carnivore or herbivore sandwiches. (that means I'll have to come back!). Very enthusiastic girl at the counter - I liked her, she was friendly, upbeat and knowedgable. Had the leafy and grainy (half and half) salad instead. Tasty, but not enough for a meal (I need meat!) - the portion was small. But hey, six bucks, what can i expect? My friend had the avocado on toast - oh my goodness it looked so small. Literally avocado, on toast. A little bit of olive oil. Maybe some cilantro on top.
Feels kind of like a girly place to go to - especially the portion sizes. My friend and I both agreed that we probably wouldn't bring our boyfriends here. I will be back though, to try the sandwiches.
4 stars for the decor and environment, 3 stars for food. -
Review from Rick C.
9/2/2011 6 photos
I finally made it to this hip, new Gastown coffee shop. The inside feels more like an artist's open space or commune with its hipster, trendy charm of a New York street cafe.
With no doors, and everything open, it's a refreshing place to grab coffee or breakfast. The menu is basic and straightforward. The tiny counter sits more like a flea market till except with an iPad to take orders.
I ordered a macchiato with my poached eggs on ciabatta bread with avocado. It was strangely standard yet deliciously hearty and refreshing. I ate it up.
The macchiato was quite strong and did the trick in between egg and avocado bites off my ciabatta. It was such a warm, open environment to eat in.
Nelson is beyond charming. A little out of the way, I'll use any excuse to come back for a coffee or snack. If you're ever in the area, do yourself a favour and drop by this unique cafe. -
Review from Megan M.
Updated - 9/10/2011
Decided to give this place another try, and I'm so glad that I did. The boyfriend and I decided to enjoy summer with a picnic, so we picked up a picnic platter and a carnivore sandwich from Nelson's for our jaunt to Stanley Park.
The picnic platter is great-you get a mound of meat and cheese, pieces of bread, and little cups of condiments and snacks. They gave us chutney, pesto, and a thick garlic-y spread. For snacks, the cup was full of fruit, almonds, and little pieces of chocolate.
The carnivore sandwich was really delicious-the meat was tender and the pesto....well, pesto is always a welcome addition in my books.
The picnic platter was really fun, because we got to play around with different combinations of meat/cheese/spreads. All the condiments were fantastic, although I especially loved their chutney. My only complaint would be to give us more bread (which is DELICIOUS) because the meat/cheese to bread ratio was a bit off. We ended up with extra meat at the end which we WOULD have taken home if a sneaky wasp hadn't found its nesting place on top of the plate. I also wish they had lids for the condiment cups, especially if you have a bit far to travel to your picnic spot. They do give it to you in a nice carry tray, but it ain't spillproof.
They also threw in a free gluten free chocolate cake because they almost forgot to give us the meat. It was a nice way to end the meal, not too sweet or rich.
Did not have any coffee this time, but I definitely think I will be going back here again!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2011
Decided to try this place out the other day with a friend, because we're always looking for… Read more »
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Review from Jenna L.
Love the bright open space and how it looks like it's been around for awhile if you forget about the faint smell of fresh paints.
No pastries today because the pastry chef is sick.. That's okay.
My latte is excellent, and the cup is very unique too. Service is very friendly, not pretentious at all. It does have the hipster vibe - but nothing unbearable.
The location is a bit funny to walk to from dt.. But this place attracts many for its quality. -
Review from Trudi C.
7/28/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I feel like I missed out on something from all the other reviewers. It was A Ok, nothing particularly amazing. The place had no atmosphere to speak of, was certainly not very cozy or good for a gossip in. But then I'm not into wide open space coffee shops (I prefer to lurk :P).
The latte was nice, but this close to Coffeebar, I would always choose there. The price was similar to that of Salty Tongue - too expensive for what it was. Also, everyone on front of me was ordering pour over coffees at 9:30 in the morning when I was in a rush to get to work ;)
So, I was happy to try it out (I'd like to know the reasoning behind the name), but I doubt I'll be back simply due to my other faves in the area. -
Review from Justin L.
8/10/2011
Well, I've never been to a cafe quite like Nelson the Seagull, which "landed" in May 2011. Anthony C. sums it up best as a "cute explosion" of "a heritage dream, a hipster paradise, a quaint oasis" (7/18/2011). Indeed, before you order, you just want to explore every nook and cranny. This place has the most open kitchen I've ever seen. I didn't even realize it was the "kitchen" at first, since the prep tables simply occupy the back portion of the space with no barriers whatsoever, with large wooden tables not dissimilar from the tables out front. At first glance, I thought there was some cooking demo or daytime hipster cooking class taking place. If you cycled along the bike lane to get here, just roll your wheels over to the back next to the spacious unisex bathroom.
Reasonably priced breakfast items and sandwiches are posted on the large wooden menu hanging from the high ceiling. I decided to just yield to the invitation of the free-form lemon curd tart begging to be consumed; it beat out its neighboring flourless chocolate tart by a fraction of a mood: I just felt like something a little more tart to go with my Americano. Cool cup, though somewhat hot to the touch since there aren't handles.
For a space this large, there is surprisingly little seating. Large, bulky tables -- at least two communal ones -- take up all the wallside space, but the middle area remains mostly empty. And with such an eclectic interior, grooving to the vibes of an old-school record player, people tend to linger. -
Review from Curtis R.
Vancouver, BC
Nelson the Seagull is Gastown's fresh new face on the block. 3 owners that all bring their passion for the business to the table with a lot of love on the side.
Bright Gastown(esce) room with an open kitchen that is very interactive and fun to watch. They did a great job at creating an engaging, comfortable space that respects its' heritage origins in a sophisticated but bohemian way.
Jonathan worked at Agro Cafe prior to opening N the S and knows his coffee beans. The food is all homemade with a picnic focus - homemade bread with meats and cheeses, poached egg on bread, lemon tarts, banana, zucchini muffins ...
Overall great space with the only downside being getting a seat to eat in and hours of operation. Being owner operated and doing all their own production, they tend to open later than Milano or Coffeebar and are closed on Sundays. -
Review from Melissa E.
Vancouver, BC
10/25/2011
oh man i love it.
and for those of you who've read my other reviews, you know i am not a fan of the poser hipster. really not. and this place kiiiiiinda screams hipster but for some reason it works.
it is stark, there was a lone pastry chef in the back working methodically who did not emit a single sound the entire we were there. felt like it was performnace art or something. there was no music. the barrista/server/cashier guy could not have been more pleasant and cute. loved the ipad as a till idea. again, stark and simple. did i mention there was no music? took me off guard but in a way, i kinda liked it. was thinking i could actually get work done here although i'm not sure my clunky government PC laptop would work with the decor...
oh then there was the 'facebook' set of drawers against the wall. now if someone had told me there was a new cafe that had a series of shelves that regulars and employees each took ownership of through a little tag that was like their "inbox" for people to leave random little notes...i would have eye-rolled them right out the door of pretension. but somehow....it worked.
maybe i was just in an accepting mood...actually i wasn't. i was tired and a bit bitter. and this place made me happy. the people made me happy, the stark atmosphere made happy, the little mini greenhouse with herbs in the back parked next to the road bikes (omg totally hipster but still loved it) totally made me happy.
oh and the coffee...solid. i also had a baked good that was delicious albeit a tad crumbly but i'm pretty sure it was gluten-free and made with almond flour so all is forgiven. mainly because there was a little flat spoon with my macchiatto that i totally wanted to steal...so cute!
wow. i'm so accepting today.
but seriously, check it out...then let me know if i've lost my hipster mind.Listed in: Yelp's 30 day Challenge
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Review from Leah M.
Vancouver, BC
8/28/2011
My latte was smooth and delish. My bread and butter (+jam) were heavenly. Wonderful artisan bread and nice thick jam that isn't too sweet.
The space is just nice to be in. Big, bright place with lots of extra space.
Not quite 5 stars because there's something that keeps it from being the perfect place to hang out, plus I wish that they'd post their hours on their website if they're not going to open until 9. -
Review from Amy R.
Vancouver, BC
12/30/2011
Great coffee. Fantastic taste and I was buzzing from the Americano all morning. Haven't tried the food, but as poached eggs on toast were delivered to the table next door, they looked YUM. Great old building lovingly restored and decorated in thoughtful old school style - from record player to roller skates. It's airy and open, which gives it a nice brightness, but can also make it noisy when full and milk is being frothed. Wish it opened earlier than 10am too.
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Review from Daniel L.
Heritage spaces live strong here, with large chunky tables and big soft couches even the cafe cool peeps sling mugs and keyboards..
This pastry cup has an baked egg wrapped in prosciutto oh my what a treat to go with my espresso... and the staff are super sweet (wink)...
I didnt see any Seagulls but Nelson was on hand, cause this place is in ship shape.. -
Review from Geoffrey A.
Vancouver, BC
6/8/2011
So glad this place exists. They serve what I can truly describe as the best espresso in the city. Which is truly an accomplishment considering how many places in Vancouver serve espresso and the fact that they've only been open for a week!
Their baking is delicious too, I had a raisin peach tart this morning. Great atmosphere, super friendly staff and well worth the trek off the beaten path. Vancouver needs more of this kind of place! Well done, Nelson the Seagull!
