REVIEW | Five Nights At Breka
Breka isn’t just your everyday bacay (bakery cafe); it's a way of life. Breka is where you go to grab a bite to eat before studying until you can't remember who you are. Breka is the spot for a thirst quencher before hitting Jericho Beach in the summer. Breka is the heart of Vancouver. Vancouver is Breka. I visited every single Breka in the city to investigate which one should be my new go-to. Eight locations, five days, and countless memories: welcome to my great Breka review.
Breka Fraser
Opened in 2006, Breka on Fraser Street is a small bacay with five small round tables inside, and some outdoor seating. Being located on Fraser Street with multiple bus lines passing by, it gets an 8/10 on the location scale, especially for the unlicensed. Plenty of people come in and out, and oldies music that plays from speakers in the ceiling. This Breka earns an 8/10 for ambiance — they gave me a free sample of their Sovital bread. However, their tables are small and there are very few. Studying would be difficult here, but it is perfect for a sweet treat.
Breka Main
Closest to Hamber, Breka on Main Street is the perfect free block side quest. For that alone, it places an 8/10 on the location scale. The shop itself was big, with seating inside and outside. They have a water jug of iced water that you have to pour yourself, unlike the other locations that have designated water fountains installed. The customer volume is unpredictable; one moment it will be calm and quiet, and the next there's a ten-person line out the door. Its ambiance is a 7/10 — it is very much a normal Breka, and I didn’t note anything special.
Breka Davie
Going to the Davie location was an experience, to say the least. The shop itself is a little brown box. You order at one till and then check out at the next. The part of Davie that Breka is located on is covered in scaffolding and has limited walking space. It is also one of the farther locations from Hamber. I give it a 3/10 location-wise. Many working people were picking up food while I was there. The tables inside were sizable compared to the small circular tables seen at their other locations. Overall, I give the ambiance a 5/10. Breka on Davie isn't the nicest out of the eight, but it is still a good place to stop by when you are in the area.
Breka East Hastings
Opened in 2024 in the Hastings-Sunrise neighbourhood, the East Hastings location is very fresh. It was quite a far commute from Hamber, but the R5 stops right in front, so it gets a 5.5/10 on the location scale. Imagine stopping and getting a panini before going to PlayLand this summer! They have Dyson hand dryers in the washrooms and graffiti on the mirrors. When people aren’t hogging tables or pretending to read feminist literature, it’s a worthy visit if you’re in the area. This Breka gets an 8.5/10 for ambiance. It can be quite loud and busy, but the interior is perfect except for the lack of sizable tables. Service was quick — overall, great Breka, so-so geographical location.
Breka Kitsilano
Where do I even begin? This is THE Breka to be at this summer. It's close to the beach, close to all the boutique stores on 4th Ave… overall 10/10 location. Being the only multi-floor Breka, it is very spacious and has a designated laptop work area on the second floor. It got busy, but the workers at this location were super speedy and made it feel like the line was imaginary. The ambiance at this location was an immediate 10/10. This location is basically perfect, and the matcha was so creamy it was like drinking whipping cream. The Breka in Kitsilano is the best of the eight.
Breka Bute
The second location to the Breka monopoly, Breka Bute is a few meters from Robson Street. Besides the construction happening on Bute Street, the location is a 9/10. It's newly renovated and has lots of seating. There is a massive wooden table in the middle, ideal for studying. There's a lot of natural light, and the layout of the shop is designed well. The workers are really attentive and very quick with getting food out. The ambiance is 10/10 right after school, but it can get busy since it is downtown.
Breka West Hastings
In front of the R5 and about 100 m from Waterfront Station is the West Hastings Breka, which I give a 7.5/10 for location. The store is quite wide but always busy, and small tables line the wall, which have outlets under the booth seats. They get an 8/10 for ambiance; there is room for improvement 0n their seating layout. It’s a solid place to go to in the Waterfront area. Their matcha, however, was bland and watery — I do not recommend.
Breka Denman
Across the street from downtown Safeway is Breka Denman. It is a small grab-and-go location, workers are quite efficient and really cheerful. They have large long tables for working and they have benches at the windows, which is the perfect type of seating for locking in. The ambiance is a 10/10; everything inside is just perfect to me. There is a parking lot outside and it is close to English Bay and Stanley Park. My big summer plan includes biking around the park in the morning, getting a Breka panini, then heading to the beach. The location for this Breka is beautiful, so I give the Denman location a 9.5/10 on that scale.