Fenyk Coffee & Social
Seats: 80 (Northland), 120 (Winsport)
Outlets: 18 (Northland), 27 (Winsport)
Closing times: Both locations open until 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday, 8 p.m. on Sundays.
Vibe: Modern and spacious
Few things are more annoying than showing up to a coffee shop for a date and finding all the seats are taken. Thankfully, Fenyk has you covered with 80 seats at its original café at Northland mall in Brentwood and 120 seats at its larger southwest location at the Podium Apartments near WinSport. Open until 10 p.m. most nights, both locations offer substantial food menus if you and your date start to feel snacky. And along with non-alcoholic drinks like coffee, tea, smoothies and Italian sodas, you can order beer and wine (plus cocktails at the Winsport location) if the mood strikes.
110, 5049 Northland Dr. N.W. and 10 Canada Olympic Common S.W. (Winsport), 403-906-2592, fenykcoffee.com
Semantics Cafe
Seats: 34
Outlets: 6
Closing times: 9 p.m. Monday to Saturday
Vibe: Industrial chic
With a roster of events ranging from live music to crafting workshops, there’s no shortage of things to keep you and your date entertained at this Beltline café with a cool industrial vibe. There’s local art on the walls, games to play, and an interesting selection of more than 300 new and used vinyl records and books to peruse together. If the date goes well, finish the night by snapping a photo in the Lucky Snaps vintage photo booth for $7.
1010 1 St. S.E., 587-330-5532, semanticscafe.com
Canadian Heritage Roasting Co.
Seats: 65 inside, 48 outside
Outlets: 20 double outlets inside, 3 double outlets outside
Closing times: 6 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday, 4 p.m. Sunday and Monday
Vibe: Cozy and rustic
Located in the historic C.C. Snowdon building in Ramsay, this local roastery and coffee shop was founded by two wildland firefighters during a backpacking trip through Alberta. The spot brings a warm, cozy ambience with its rustic brick walls and handmade wooden tables and benches spread over two levels. The more than a century-old backstory of the heritage building is a great icebreaker as you chat over pastries from Canela Vegan Bakery or, on Fridays and Saturdays, creative cookies from Sarah’s Cookie Jar.
2020 11 St. S.E., 403-455-2472, canadianheritageroastingco.com