Vancity Vibes | DAY 2: (Pt .2) Gastown Feat. Café Kitsuné

Read Part 1 HERE !

Within walking distance was the scenic tourist district of Gastown. Along Cambie we travelled, aligning ourselves with the Gastown Steam Clock.

The route passed Victoria Square, past which I had stealthily sped on several occasions in previous explorations.

On Cambie between West Cordova and Water was a familiar-looking alleyway - this one significantly more visually appealing than the one connecting East Hastings and East Pender.

 I snapped a few shots for reference, reserving them to confirm my suspicions later on. My recollection proved correct: Discussions with my virtual dance partner had informed me of TWICE's LIKEY MV filming in Vancouver, and the backdrop coincided with the scene.

The Thai ahgase and I got our - well, her - tourist fix of the Gastown Steam Clock before venturing towards the clearing, where the West Coast Express trains could be spotted. Questionable figures lurked around the corner, so we cut our photo time short in response.

While she headed into the nearby Starbucks in search of lavatories, I perused the area to its east. My gaze fell upon Maison Kitsune and its adjacent Café Kitsuné.

View the full album HERE !

Locals and social media posts had enlightened me of its West Cost arrival, though I hadn't bothered to investigate its coordinates just yet. The Gastown location marked the first - and only! - physical retail store in the nation, and I was delighted to have found it purely by chance.

​The retail portion of the establishment was compact, yet carried a variety of items, including some limited time collaborations. The array wasn't particularly vast in terms of accessories though, for there was just a handful of wallet and pin styles, and an absence of purchase-worthy magnets. I took my brewing inquiry to a member of staff, who regrettably informed me that they had never received the LINE Friends collection.

​Browsing of the store continued until the arrival of the Thai ahgase. Navigating to the café section, more merchandise was discovered: Coffee beans, granola, lunch bags, jam/preserves, and monogrammed apparel stocked the cubbies by the entrance and the ordering counter. In true Vancouver nature, an umbrella basket resided next to one of these shelves.

I wasn't particularly impressed with the Vancouver-exclusive products, which spanned a tote design that layered "Vancouver" in block letters over white or black canvas and a bearded, yellow rain jacket-donning man in a canoe over grey cotton or more white canvas. Hesitant to splurge on a generic piece of clothing, I made one more round about the space and settled on the unisex Note de Yuzu fragrance resulting from the brand's partnering with Heeley Parfums.

A mini black canvas tote was also chosen with the intention of using it for camera carrying, because there was no way I'd be tossing leak-able lunches into a fifty-dollar bag - and unlined at that! ​(Little did I realize that the same product was available on SSENSE for five dollars less...)

The splurging didn't cease just yet though, for I was eager to sample the offerings of the café itself. On the menu was a featured Steam Clock Matcha, supposedly reflective of the neighbourhood's prized Steam Clock. However, its constituents of white chocolate, sesame, and matcha, weren't particularly unique to the district, albeit being distinctly Western-Japanese. I opted out of the pricey beverage, and instead turned towards the rest of the assortment.

​An Iced Americano set me back four dollars, the Black Sesame Fox Sable another four dollars, and the beautifully decorated Matcha Financier an astounding seven dollars.

​Their coffee was quite good, though steeply priced. I had contemplated the more economic alternative of drip coffee (at three dollars), but foregoed it on the basis that it was available hot only. Contrary to my expectations, the Black Sesame Fox Sable was horribly dry and dismal. The Thai ahgase broke off a leg and nodded in agreement. Hints of black sesame were nowhere to be found, in spite of its speckled appearance. The standard for sable cookies was of buttery, sandy nature and minimal sweetness, but Café Kitsuné's edition had merely succeeded in being bland and crumbly.

Turning to the Matcha Financier, I immediately deemed it ideal for research purposes. Constructed of a very dense batter with raspberry inclusions, its profile was not preferable to the brown butter delicacies I had constructed personally. The matcha coating contrasted nicely with its pink and white garnishes, though was impossibly sweet and failed to deliver satisfaction. Visually speaking, the presentation ought be considered for future creations of my own. In a gustatory sense, I'd be far better off with the traditional French variation, devoid of the decorative add-ons.​

​The interior of the café was beautiful, retaining the modern, minimalistic appeal of Japanese eateries with wooden panels and sleek, fox-shaped handles for door knobs. Hidden from view was a corridor of individual washroom stalls, dimly lit within but very pristine. I also appreciated the banning of laptops, which allowed customers to enjoy the ambiance of the space without interference.

​We continued eastward along Water Street following the stopover, finding souvenirs at Michelle's.

​It was, quite notably, the sole shop that charged not for bags and even supplied durable eco bags with every purchase.

​Continuing along the cobblestone, we find more gift shops.

The narrow aisles host a variety of local vendors, with product ranges including everything from Nanaimo Bar gift boxes to plastic sushi keychains to knitted pouches (à l'orange).

Multiple stops are made, until we eventually find ourselves at Maple Tree Square.

The intersection features a historic building as expressive as the Gooderham Building of St. Lawrence. It is known as the Leckie Building, a heritage building bearing historic significance as a point of transport, marking Vancouver's foray into commercial expansion.

​The Thai ahgase proposed detouring into Secret Location, a boutique brimming with luxury products from lesser known designers. Our entry draws all eyes on us, reasonably so given the value of their merchandise. The staff are observant of our every move, entailing a sense of discomfort as we make our path along the perimeter.

​We then retrace our steps to the Steam Clock. I hand over my own bag of souvenirs to her as I venture into the Starbucks. A small queue has formed outside the bathrooms at this point. When it is my turn, I enter to find possibly one of the grossest Starbucks stalls, along with a needle disposal box with biohazard labels. One can only fathom the explanation behind this feature and deduce the demographic of washroom users in the area.

The Herschel store still provides one of the best, unobstructed views of the Vancouver Harbour, at just the elevation to peer above the purple and white passenger trains.

​As the Thai ahgase continues with her shopping, I browse a few more shops along West Cordova.

Given our steady departure from Gastown, the scene has changed: the lofty trees vanish, revealing light poles and overhead utilities. Service staff are a tad more condescending. Street signage is more widespread, sidewalks are filthier, and homelessness is encountered once more.

Read Part 3 HERE !