**More Than a Cafe — A True Third Place**
Inspired by the idea of the “third place” — a space outside of home and work where community thrives — our cafe is designed to be welcoming, grounding, and creative. It’s where neighbors become friends, ideas are exchanged over lattes, and everyone belongs.
We believe coffee shops should serve more than drinks. They should serve people — and that’s exactly what we’re here for.
This takes us to City Smiles Initiative!

City Smiles Count:

3517

Represents the number of people served under City Smiles Initiative as of today. If you wish to donate, please use the following link:

**The Heart of Our Community: City Smiles**
Community is not just a value for us — it's an action. That’s why we created the **City Smiles** initiative, a program rooted in kindness and connection. In the past year alone, we’ve proudly served **over 3,210 free meals and drinks to members of our local homeless community**, offering more than nourishment — we’re offering dignity, warmth, and belonging.
But **City Smiles** is more than a meal. It’s the spirit behind everything we do, from our gatherings to our beans. Through weekly events, we open our doors to anyone seeking community, creativity, or simply a place to belong:
📚 **City Smiles Book Club** — Monday & Wednesday 7am | Saturday 8am hosted by **Jarrod Regan**
✍️ **City Smiles Creative Writing Club** — Tuesdays 7am hosted by **Aliocha Perriard Abdoh**
🎤 **City Smiles Open Mic** — Thursday 7pm hosted by **Taylor Moon**
🎷 **City Smiles Sunday Jazz** — Sunday 5:30pm by **Kody Buchart, Jillian Lebeck, and Alfred Abrenica**

– City Smiles Roaster –

[ East café ]

Come for Coffee.
Stay for Community.

We believe that great coffee is only part of the experience. Whether you're a writer looking for inspiration, a musician finding your voice, or someone simply seeking connection, you’ll find a place here.
Welcome to your third place.
Welcome to **City Smiles.**

Events at East Cafe

City Smiles Open Mic

Thursday 7pm

Come be part of City Smiles Open Mic, a welcoming space where local musicians, poets, and performers come together to share their voices, stories, and creativity with the community. This event celebrates self-expression and connection, giving artists of all levels a supportive platform to shine. From heartfelt music to powerful spoken word, each performance adds to the vibrant spirit of the City Smiles Program, promoting joy, unity, and cultural expression. Whether you're performing or just enjoying the show, you're helping build a stronger, more connected community—one smile at a time.

Taylor Moon

Our host for City Smiles Open Mic for the past year and a half. Her unwavering dedication and support have been the foundation of our community, and we could not have come this far without her.

The East Café Chronicles

theeastcafechronicles.substack.com/subscribe

Melanie Kage – Editor-in-Chief, and Lana Chebib – Visual Artist, launched The East Café Chronicles, a trusty neighbourhood “newspaper”: slow, warm, and textured. It connects readers to the life and creative pulse of our artist hub at the heart of Hastings Sunrise. Through regular interviews with East Café patrons, the publication captures authentic voices and moments of human connection.

Melanie Kage & Lana Chebib

Melanie, a trained linguist and media & communications expert, writes with boundless enthusiasm for art, culture, nature, and community.
Lana, a visual artist with a deep passion for community (and a self-confessed lack of hula-hoop talent), brings those stories to life.

City Smiles Writing Club

Tuesday 5:30 pm

City Smiles Writing Club – Hosted by Phiroozeh Petigara, this gathering invites people to tap into their creative energy and express it through writing. It’s a space where stories are shared, ideas are nurtured, and inspiration flows freely. Through words, the club brings people together—fostering connection, empathy, and a shared sense of imagination.

Phirooze Petigara

The author of *Black Elder Voices* and a coach for writers seeking to move from self-doubt to creative flow. She helps writers overcome anxiety and reconnect with their authentic voice. Deeply rooted in the spirit of community, Phiroozeh brings this same belief to the City Smiles Initiative.

City Smiles Sunday Jazz

Sunday 5:30pm

Join us for City Smiles Sunday Jazz, a special event that brings the community together through the smooth sounds of live jazz. Featuring talented local jazz musicians who are also seasoned professionals, this event is a celebration of musical artistry and community connection. These artists generously share their time and talent to support the City Smiles Program, bringing joy, unity, and cultural enrichment to our neighborhood. Come enjoy an afternoon of great music, warm company, and the vibrant spirit of local talent—because every smile starts with a shared moment.

City Smiles Book Club

Mon&Wed 7am Sat 8am

Discover the joy of reading and connection with the City Smiles Book Club, where community members come together to share thoughts, insights, and meaningful conversations about the books they’ve read. More than just a discussion group, the book club has become a warm and welcoming space where friendships grow and ideas flourish. Through shared stories and diverse perspectives, a wonderful sense of community has formed—bringing people closer and supporting the mission of the City Smiles Program to spread joy, understanding, and togetherness across our neighborhood.

Jarrod Regan

Our host for City Smiles Book Club and one of the most generous and kind individuals I know. His passion for City Smiles was the driving force behind the creation of our book club.

City Smiles Scholarship Fund

The City Smiles Scholarship Fund is created to help young students who lack the financial means to pursue their passions in academics, arts, music, or monetary scholarships and mentorship programs. Our scholarship committee comprised of our club hosts, including Taylor Moon (Open mic), Melanie Kage and Lana Chebib (Newsletter), Kody Bucharest (Sunday Jazz), Jarrod Regan (Book Club), and Phiroozeh Petigara (Creative Writing) will oversee the selection process and organize fundraisers.

We will be awarding scholarships ranging from $1000 to $2000 for each recipient in June 2026, with applications opening later this year. This initiative is our way of bringing the community together to mentor and support local students as they pursue their dreams

If you wish to donate, please do so using e-transfer - citysmilesdonation@gmail.com

If you wish to get involved in a fundraiser event, please DM for a chat

Space Rental (3 separate spaces available)

Upstairs space is available for East Café patrons from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
(We kindly ask that you enjoy your drinks to go to help avoid spills.)

You may also book the space from 9:00 AM to 11:30 PM for private use.
Please refer to the rates below — 100% of proceeds support the City Smiles Scholarship Fund.

Writer’s Cave

From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - $70 / hour

From 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - $50 / hour

All day flat rate = $250

Artist’s Cave

From 9:00 am to 5:00 pm - $40 / hour

From 5:00 pm to 12:00 am - $30 / hour

All day flat rate = $150

Main Cafe Booking

Cafe can be booked outside of its regular business hours for an hourly rate of $150 or flat rate of $400

* Minimum two hours for booking

To book the space DM @theeastcafe

100% of the rates go towards City Smiles Scholarship Funds

- City Smiles Roaster -

Upstairs, the smell of freshly roasted beans tells another story: City Smiles Roaster, our in-house roasting program dedicated to quality and sustainability. We roast small batches of organic, ethically sourced beans to bring out the unique flavor profiles of every origin — from bright, fruity East African coffees to deep, chocolatey Latin American varieties.

Our baristas are not just coffee lovers — they’re trained professionals who can tell you the story behind each cup. Whether you're here for a perfect pour-over, a silky flat white, or a bold espresso, we promise something worth savoring.

We are proud to serve specialty coffee with intention, care, and deep respect for every hand that touches the bean — from farm to cup.

Roasting..

Roasting coffee beans, particularly those sourced from organic farms, is a meticulous process that honors both tradition and sustainability. Organic beans, cultivated without synthetic pesticides or fertilizers, reflect a commitment to environmental stewardship and the health of farming communities. These beans often originate from regions renowned for their rich coffee heritage, such as Ethiopia—the birthplace of coffee—Colombia, and Guatemala, where high-altitude climates and volcanic soils contribute to their distinctive flavor profiles. The roasting process itself plays a critical role in unlocking the complex aromas and nuanced tastes inherent in each bean, shaped by its origin. By choosing organic beans and carefully controlling the roasting process, producers preserve the integrity of the coffee’s origin while delivering a superior, ethically responsible cup.

– Brewed Fresh Daily –

Location

2401 East Hastings Street,

Vancouver, BC V5K 1Y8

We are located in the Hastings Sunrise area of Vancouver.

Get Directions

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East Caffe (specialty drink)

Latte

Americano

Cortado

Cappuccino

Macchiato

Espresso

Hastings Havana

Mocha

East Cafe Drip

East Cafe Chai

Hastings Fog

Strawberry Matcha

Coconut Matcha

Blueberry Hojicha

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In-house granola bars

Come try our granola bars - baked in-house and extremely popular.

Banana Loaf/Lemon Loaf

made from scratch in house by our pastry chef Judy Lee

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