Dalina - Vancouver

The moment I open the door to Dalina I’m always filled with utter delight and excitement. (Ok so I’ve only been twice so sue me. Why?<br/ <br/ Because they have a grocery section offering a ton of delicious locally made goods (check out Nora’s ice creams . They make a mean berry mascarpone scone, not too sweet so my aunties are huge fans! The patio seating outside has amazing vibes. It’s chill. Oh, and they have almond milk on tap!!! Say what.<br/ <br/ Mom loves it here too. Check it out! I hope I can give their breakfast/lunch menu a try one day. When I visit Vancouver again I mean....<br/ <br/ Happy eating!<br/

A very pleasant surprise on a rainy day. The expectation was an overpriced coffee/hip deli in downtown, but the expectation was delightfully failed. The prices were very reasonable and the coffee, food and service were spot on. The Chorizo Bun with a Smoky Pepperoni soup (who knew) was divine, perfectly spiced and well portioned.I would recommend this to anyone looking for a bright atmosphere and savory food, even the gluten free folks; they've got you covered.

Everybody gets worried sometimes, and for me, it’s been more than usual lately. I’m pretty sure the season plays a strong part in it. Working in an office from 9 to 5 will do that to you. Getting to the office in the dark, leaving the office in the dark… Depressing. Drains all my energy to deal with the worries and anxieties.

Sitting at the window of Chinatown’s glitzy new Dalina, which just opened Saturday, we spot a young man strolling by with his Starbucks coffee. He spots us, then glances down at his paper cup. We recognize that look: that would be coffee envy.The green mermaid’s stock has been declining, and maybe that’s just a lagging indicator of Vancouver’s caffeinated attitude. In the years writing this blog, there’s one distinct evolution that has been noticeable. That would be the fading popularity of big chain coffee.

During this extremely cold weather in Vancouver, I always love to sit down at a cafe and enjoy a cup of hot mocha. DALINA would be one of my go-to place! There is a mini-grocery store, with local, organic, and healthy products on one end. On the other side, it is a modern cafe that sells sandwiches, espresso beverages, and much more.