Benny's Cafe

Benny's Cafe, or as it was originally known and how everyone still calls it, Benny's Bagels, is somewhat of a Vancouver institution, although it has only been around for a little over twenty years. It has survived ownership changes, a fire next door, and a swiftly gentrifying street. The atmosphere is still funky, the beer is still cheap, but most importantly, the bagels are fantastic. Chewy, slightly sweet, perfect for a sandwich, toasting up with jam, or just eating plain, a rare month goes by when we don't bring a baker's dozen home.

Despite the variety of bagels available, I don't think we've gotten anything besides plain, cinnamon raisin and wheatberry.

Apparently, their muffins are also quite popular.

There are other bakery items as well, some baked in house, others not.

Besides their baked goods, Benny's has an interesting menu, which includes bagel sandwiches, salads, and soup.

We didn't have time to linger today, so we brought a few items home.

cinnamon raisin bagels

The apple pie has a sugar-topped crust and loads of not-too-sweet cinnamon apples.

The date squares are made in house.

This cheesecake has no crust.

They were out of sweet bees, but they had some frozen ones for us to bake at home. Mmmmm, crazy good!

For the bagels alone, Benny's would be worth the trip, but if you have the time, grab a chair, sit back, and relax. The quasi-bohemian decor, hip music, and easygoing staff have hooked in customers for years, and I'm happy to say that we're no exception.