Where to Eat in Vancouver: Temper Pastry

At 10:00am on a Tuesday Temper is hopping. There are people holding plates of flaky pastry looking lost, until some others offer to share their table. Open only a few weeks and it’s already clearly a West Van favourite. So why are so many people adding it to their list of where to eat in Vancouver?

The draw is clear: Portland’s Stumptown Roasters coffee, flaky croissants, chef and owner Steven Hodge (ex-Coast), beautiful chocolates, clean interior all in light woods and marble, bijou patio.

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But there’s a European feel to it that’s hard to describe. Maybe it’s the older gentleman in the corner in expensive looking eye glasses drinking an espresso and reading the paper, next to two project managers discussing a pile of papers nearly a foot high. There’s a woman dressed from head to foot in shades of buff and beige on a muddy wet February day. Maybe it’s just been awhile since I spent time in Dundarave.

No matter, my pain au chocolat is excellent. Crispy and flaky layers surrounding a proper chocolate smear. I love eating pain au chocolat at chocolatier’s bakeries, as it combines everything perfectly. My americano, is, unfortunately, not great. The water isn’t hot enough and the shot tastes a bit on the burnt side. They seem to take their coffee very seriously though and I can’t imagine it’s anything but an unusual mishap. The thing to have here, unsurprisingly, is hot chocolate. Unfeasibly creamy, the hot chocolate comes with a delicate circle of chocolate floating on top.

Is It Kid-Friendly?

The bakery offerings run through croissants and pain au chocolat to coconut croissants, a very tall laminated brioche, sandwiches and cookies. And chocolates, of course. There’s even a $3 milk and cookies option on the menu for children.

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There are about five tables for two inside, as well as a bank of two high long tables with stools. This is not a good place for giant strollers – you could fit maybe one in. When the patio is open there will be a few more options. There’s a change table in the accessible washroom. It’s worth noting that they are closed on Mondays.