Matchstick Yaletown

This review is about one staff member — the girl wearing the red top today — not the entire café. I came in, ordered my usual drink, and I did leave a tip: one dollar. I know it’s not a big amount, but a tip is not an obligation. It’s optional — a gesture, not a duty. Still, the reaction I received from her was unnecessary. From the moment I said I wanted to dine in, the attitude felt off. I clearly said I wanted to have my drink here, inside the café — yet she gave it to me in a plastic to-go cup. When I asked for it in a regular ceramic cup, she simply pushed the ceramic mug toward me and said, “You can pour it yourself.” I didn’t mind pouring it myself, but the tone was dismissive. Then there was my breakfast sandwich. I also told her I was eating inside, but she wrapped it in paper like take-out. She placed it on the counter, didn’t call out my order, didn’t say my name, didn’t even say “breakfast sandwich.” After about ten minutes, I had to go to the counter and ask, “Is this mine?” She laughed and said, “Oh, this is yours?” in a way that felt disrespectful. (The sandwich wasn’t really warm either, and I’m not even sure it was the right one — but the bigger issue was the attitude.) All of this happened right after I left a tip. And again — I did tip. I shouldn’t be made to feel uncomfortable over a single dollar. Staff already get paid hourly; a tip is extra, not something customers owe. And this is not just about this café. This is something every workplace needs to teach their staff: A tip is optional. A tip is kindness. A tip is EXTRA. No employee has the right to show irritation or change their behaviour because of how much a customer tips. I work in customer-facing jobs too. I never change my behavior based on tips. My job is my responsibility, and professionalism should stay the same — whether someone tips or doesn’t tip at all. Every year, tipping pressure is getting worse everywhere — in thousands of cafés, restaurants, and shops. We should start correcting this mindset. Managers should train their teams properly, because this kind of behaviour pushes customers away and creates unnecessary tension. Again, this review is only about one staff member, but the message applies to many places.

It is a very nice quiet place. It looks differently, I love the style. People sitting inside and outside looked satisfied and relaxed) There was no lineup and I didn't wait long for my tea and snacks. Everyone was very friendly. I'll come again.

A Daily Gem in Vancouver’s Coffee Scene This coffee shop has quickly become a cherished part of my daily routine in Vancouver. I’ve been going every morning, and it continues to impress me with its welcoming atmosphere, excellent selection, and consistent quality. The menu offers something for everyone. Their coffee is always brewed to perfection, with rich, bold flavors that start my day off right. In addition to classic espresso drinks, they offer creative seasonal options that are fun to try and always well-balanced. The pastry case is a highlight—stocked with buttery croissants, muffins, scones, and other freshly baked treats that are hard to resist. Their sandwiches and salads are made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and are great for a light lunch or a satisfying snack. I especially love the inclusion of wholesome options like pea salads and veggie-forward dishes that feel both nourishing and indulgent. What makes this spot even better is the atmosphere. There’s plenty of seating inside, and the space is thoughtfully laid out to accommodate people working on laptops, catching up with friends, or parents with kids in tow. The vibe is always warm and community-focused, without feeling too noisy or chaotic. The outdoor seating area is another big plus—perfect for those sunny Vancouver mornings. It’s pet-friendly too, which is a bonus if you want to bring your dog along for your coffee break. The staff are consistently kind, efficient, and seem to genuinely enjoy working there. Whether you’re stopping in for a quick coffee or setting up for a few hours of remote work, this café is a fantastic choice. It’s a true local gem that manages to strike the perfect balance between cozy, functional, and delicious.

Great experience this morning! #1. Flat white with oat milk (only plant based option). #2. Treated well... They created a vegan breakfast sandwich just for us... We really don't need the fakey bacon...the arugula was a nice touch. #3. Enjoyed hanging out in the fresh beachy feel decor with modern artwork!

We are so fortunate to travel the world. Still I think I can count on one hand how many coffee shops feel like home or Cheers, iykyk. Matchstick in Yaletown is that special kind of place since our first time. Great coffee and food always. Some of my favorite Matcha ever. The best people. Ayush, Akari, Isabell, Taylor, Kim, Leah, Mickey, Dean, and more, I am just forgetting the names. 🫶🏼🙌🏼

Food was fabulous. I had the Breakfast sandwich with Bacon, which was excellent, finished off with a chocolate chip cookie. The food is slightly overpriced for what you get, but the flavours make up for it. Coffee was great, though slightly expensive too. Decent atmosphere, though not the comfiest. Some staff friendly, some quite reserved. Overall, the food is the star of the show here.

Simple latte with a croissant and a breakfast sandwich. Sandwich was taken but the bread was a little hard on some areas. Drink was tasty, chai latte, and paired well with my almond croissant. Cozy place to get some work done.

We came here for a chai latte and a cappuccino, it’s clean, bright and cozy. Like most places they have a station to add your own milk and sugar, but found it weird that they didn’t keep the coco or cinnamon there. When we asked the Barista if we could use it he seemed hesitant and somewhat annoyed, but other than that the coffee was great.

Came here to work with some coworkers, and I'd say this is definitely a great place to meet up with colleagues, group members for school, or even just get some work done on your own! I ordered the strawberry matcha with oat milk and an almond croissant. The matcha was pretty good, but the almond croissant stole the show--plenty of filling, and it was nice and flaky! The drinks took a little while to make, even though it wasn't busy inside, but I don't mind waiting, especially when I'm planning to stay and work in the café.

My favorite season has arrrived - Vancouver Croissant crawl festival! I visited Matchstick coffee. What I got: Pumpkin Cheesecake Croissant Pumpkin cheesecake, in a croissant! Topped and filled with our pumpkin mascarpone goodness, you'll find there's no better way to celebrate fall. Pumpkin cheesecake filling was very good. Pumpkin mascarpone was very creamy, I could taste a subtle pumpkin flavor. Dough was just ok, it was a bit too soft for me. I wish it had been crispier to match with filling. The size was very generous. Overall, It was nice item to have in fall season.

Cute cafe in Yaletown. Love the brightness and good vibes. Definitely on the pricier side though... it was ~$12 for a classic breakfast sandwich and a small coffee. Can be difficult to find a seat sometimes.

We loved the vibe inside this coffee shop- great music, ample places to sit, and nice open windows and natural lighting. But, the coffee itself was okay. We got a pour over and a cortado. The pour over was alright, lacking strong flavors, and the cortado felt a bit burnt. Maybe a different coffee option would be better.

Stopped into Matchstick Coffee for breakfast one morning while visiting the city. It's a very trendy coffee shop with modern seating arrangements and a fast-casual vibe. We walked up, ordered at the counter and chose our own seats. Once our drinks/food were ready, they called our name and we went to pick it up. I noticed a variety of people inside; all ages, some in there eating breakfast and others working on a laptop. The staff behind the counter were super friendly and the food was delicious! For anyone stopping in for breakfast, I highly recommend the smoked salmon & poached eggs!

Customer service needs improvement for 1 particular barista. Half an hour is plenty of time to drink a coffee in store for 2 people. A number of stores in Vancouver will provide a For Here mug no matter what time they're about to close. Sounds like laziness from that one particular barista who can't handle cleaning a single cup at the end of a part time shift.

Friendly and pleasant service await you at this Richards street coffee spot. Nicely decorated with contemporary art, overall clean and tidy. Modest assortment of baked goods, but the scone and muffin we had were tasty. A little bit strange to encounter an open bulk dispenser for sugar and sweetener, individual packets would have been more sanitary. Overall it was good but not exceptional.

Fantastic coffee (oat milk latte, oat milk flat white, matcha latte) and awesome baked goods, especially around 7:30am. I wont take a star away for their pasty boxes but felt like they needed a mention. I get wanting to use them up but they should make them more function-able with tape or reinforcement. They do not hold their shape and do not do what they're meant to. Kuddos to the great staff at Richards St, friendly and competent. I enjoy my few visits each week.

I am very happy to have such a beautiful coffee shop within walking distance of my home. I like their croissants and their coffee. The service is always nice and friendly. I've made it a habit to give my name as "G" on my order to make it easy on everyone and now they remember me. I love that neighbourly feeling. Courtney is behind the counter most of the time when I come to get some work done and she's supercalifragilisticexpialidocious! She'll remember you and really make you feel happy to be there. My favourite thing about this place is the interior design and decoration. Great place to sit at and talk to someone or get some work done while sipping on a coffee and having a snack. I wouldn't pay the high-prices for the food, just cos I doubt they could live up to their price-point.

Hip hip hooray! Plenty of vegan options!!! Of course this gets my vote. Very delicious chick pea sandwiches and breakfast sandwiches with chickpea omelettes inside. They do make some non vegan items and have gluten free options. Let me tell you the CHICK PEA sandwiches are BOMB!!! I am giving them 5stars because it's hard to find so many urban vegan options. The staff is young and friendly. Ambience is clean and airy. Looks like I'll be back again, and again! I will say tho....bathrooms get a D-! Sorry not well looked after and I tried to use 2 both were nasty

Awesome spot, all around! Friendly staff, excellent lattes, great pastries and breakfast sandwiches - seriously, always happy to find a place where the "classic" breakfast sandwich is vegetarian, and they also have a vegan option. We got our order to-go, but the interior looked appealing to stay as well. Will definitely be back while here visiting Vancouver!

Friendly staff, nice atmosphere and seating setup. The pour-over was good, but the salmon with poached egg was excellent (the egg was cooked perfectly and the bread was really good). We also had the eggplant and edamame sandwich but that was just decent.

I love Avo Toast and I love Poached Eggs on Toast. I am who I am and god it feels good to finally just come out and say it. Lucky me indeed then that Matchstick on Richards is only a hop skip jump away and I can enjoy my weekend Americano and Millennial Poached Egg on savoury Sourdough Toast in the bright and clean comfort of Matchstick's stylish digs. Leather chairs, wooden benches, oversized leafy plants - think Martha Stewart Living meets comfortable 30's something Young Professional. No Avo Toast here but no worries because Ian and I made do with an order of Smoked Salmon and Poached Egg on Toast ($11). What kind of Pacific Northwesters would we be anyways if we didn't go for the Smoked Salmon option now and again? Turns out this was the perfect situation because nothing is lusher than lounging by the window in oversize leather chairs with your slice of Sourdough Bread dressed with a schmear of cream cheese and smoked salmon. Adorned with zesty dill, sweet pickles, and briny capers with a runny poached egg to wrap it all together, this is a marriage of things I can get behind. Not too heavy with its cream cheese, the whole thing is both luxurious and light enough to get me pumped enough to drag my body to the gym for a Saturday mid-day sweat sesh. Lush and light, would I return? Come on now - being a 5 minute walk away, it'd be rude not to.

I think I started this review pre-C19. Otherwise known as "BC," Before Covid. With that out of the way, I want to say that Matchstick never missed a beat with giving my Yaletown neighborhood excellent service. They were there with coffee to go, as well as coffee beans and at-home making coffee supplies. Now that we have returned to in-store coffee, things are mostly returned to pre C19 days, with in shop places to plug in and drink up. Just recently, while at Nat Bailey, a friend ran over to MatchStick to buy a round of lattes for our group. My latte was warming, creamy and oh so wonderful, especially while hanging with friends. I usually never buy anything from the kitchen, but in January, i had an open faced breakfast sandwich, which had a poached egg and avocado. It was absolutely heavenly.

Sadly I am not a fan. My parents did not like their coffee and croissant, and the vegan pastries I got were underwhelming as well. Chocolate Chip Cookie (4/5) A bit sweet, but the best out of the bunch. Crispy on the outside and slightly chewy on the inside with lots of chocolate chips. Chocolate Hazelnut Cookie (2/5) The base was very bitter and I couldn't taste any chocolate flavour at all (and I'm a fan of really dark chocolate). The hazelnuts added a nice crunch and were what gave this cookie a passing score. Earl Grey Muffin (2/5) Flavour was average, and the texture was really weird. It was kind of chewy and dry, which I wasn't a fan of.

Amazing coffee, one of my fav in town. Their pastries always fresh and yummy . If u haven't tried it , u should!

Stopped by this new coffee shop in Yaletown. Ordered an iced latte! Very bright and cozy place with lots of seats! The iced latte was just ok ( a little bit expensive) but the staff was friendly

Excellent coffee, service, and breakfast food. We had the mushroom egg sandwich. Nice decor as well.

Great place to get some work done. Great atmosphere and environment to work. Very common place for people to sit with their laptop. Awesome place to network and meet other likeminded people. Highly recommended

Visiting from Seattle, this place was excellent. The Barista was knowledgeable and welcoming, we had a solid, in-depth convo about brewing methods and the city. His recommendations and technique were pristine, all while walking a co-worker through aeropress technique. The result was a tasty, full-bodied and memorable cup. I love the unique layout and outdoor seating. 5-stars well deserved.

Love! Among the very best coffee in the city, friendly and enthusiastic service (for baristas), and absolutely amazing space to work, chill, and chat. Sparkling water on tap is brilliant. Food is solid every time. If they were to open a location in Kerrisdale it would shut the competition down. Sadly until that happens Matchstick will be a treat for whenever I'm in Yaletown. Have tried the London Fog, latte, cappuccino, and a selection of their teas, and would recommend all of the above.

Great food. decent drinks. Staff was less than friendly. The music was loud enough that the staff didn't hear my order after 2 attempts, so I pointed the what I would like to order and said it a third time. The response was "You're pointing. You're not saying what you want." in a rude tone. After I repeated myself again and mentioned that I did say what I wanted, he just shaked his head as if I was lying. Despite the foods and drinks, I likely will not return to this establishment.

Beautiful space full of light. A variety of seating options - tables, lounge chairs, benches, etc. Excellent espresso. Healthy food options and freshly baked treats. Free wi-fi. A welcome addition to the neighbourhood - thank you!

It was great atmosphere. But the coffee wasn't great. It was disappointing. I got a latte with an extra shot and you can barely taste the coffee.

Matchstick opened up on Richards st in Yaletown not too long ago. Been here quite a few times since they opened, love that this place is less than a block away from home -- but also have a few gripes. Buckle in! Food 3.5/5 -- As far as café food goes, they have a pretty decent selection. They have an assortment of ready-made foods and then do a few other things such as poached eggs and soup. The eggs and soup are a really nice addition to have near home, where I would otherwise have to walk *gasp* two blocks! As most cafés go, their ready-made options leave a lot to be desired, however, I will add that they are generally better than what you'd find at most other cafés. This is simply just not a strong point for cafés in general. Their coffee is great. Love the quality of their espresso, and often get either a double shot or cappuccino. Haven't had their drip coffee however. Service 5/5 -- I think this is one of the few cafés in town that I go to and genuinely feel like all the staff actually enjoys being there. They add to the overall pleasant vibe. There aren't a lot of opportunities to be attentive in a job where you're behind a counter but they manage to do it. A few examples would be not assuming everything is to go, offering water and cutlery instead of leaving people to either self serve or be confused about whether to ask. They always make conversation too, and I liked that when I would go more often some would remember me by name, or at least by face. Atmosphere 2/5 -- This May be a bit of a shock because I think this is one area where Matchstick is celebrated quite a bit, but there are some major flaws once you get past their comfortable interior design. Ever since the first time I came to this location I noticed how much the seating sucked. I had an hour to kill on a rainy day and decided to check it out... was impressed by the comfortable leather chairs they have, but only six in the whole store. Sad face! Of course these chairs are a hot item that get snagged up quickly. They have a bunch of two tops with half bench half chair seating, which is probably the next best place to sit. There's a sort of community bar seating area that's 'okay'. It's pretty much the last place I'd want to sit, simply cuz I don't want to sit facing a complete stranger... there's a divider with plants in it, which I also don't particularly enjoy. Usually I end up sitting at bench seating where I don't want to, but those are the only places that are always unoccupied. The bench seating is not comfortable at all. In the back they have a bench facing the bench against the wall, which I generally use as a table. There's also a bench in the front that has a foot stool which I use as a table. Then there's the middle bench section which is kind of just weird, but thankfully it's normally occupied by small groups of people. The layout is not particularly conducive to comfort either. I feel like they should have planned it way differently from the very beginning. Wish they had put a whole bunch of comfort seating in a lounge type area, and then had another seating area where they just to try to pack in as many people as possible -- it's always busy here, so often hard to get a spot. There's a wall in the middle of the guest area m that's used as a dumping station -- it takes up a ton of space and I feel like they could have just put a dumping station elsewhere and worked it into the existing frame of the room. Then they have the other familiar problems with popular cafés. It's always crowded with people who aren't buying anything after their first coffee, and end up staying for hours. I always try to keep making purchases, because I appreciate and want to support businesses where I can hang out and read a book... problem is, lots of other people also appreciate hanging out at coffee shops but then don't keep making purchases. Aaaaand we're back to the not enough seating problem. On weekends I don't even bother going in because every mom on Richards street is at Matchstick with their stroller or bored young children who are forced to be seen at a coffee shop. Welcome to weekend daycares in Yaletown! All the moms have the exact same idea, and that idea is to take their kids to Matchstick. Good luck finding a spot to sit when there are a million strollers in here. Incidentally, their bathrooms are awesome, but I can't go into great detail about it since I spent so much time critiquing seating. Cleanliness 4/5 -- Lets finish this on a high note. Generally it is cleaner than other coffee shops but still has the enduring issue of people not bussing their own tables, which is problematic in a crowded and busy establishment. They manage it fairly well. Overall 3.625/5 -- It all comes to atmosphere. They nailed the interior design but totally missed the mark on utility.

Why is everything at Matchstick disgusting? The chia chocolate pudding is gross. The chocolate cookies are too soft and the taste is off. The mocha is nothing special. What are the recipe makers thinking? Did they actually taste the food they created before deciding to sell it to the masses? If so, I question their taste. Add to that the high prices, and there's not much I can recommend about this place. All style. No substance.

Not impressed with the service here, especially given the prices. I've tried coming here about 3 times in the past month and it always take a very long time for coffee orders. The iced coffee sizes are also really small. Today, I asked for an almond chocolate croissant and got a pain au chocolate. I didn't see this until I was long gone because it was in a pastry bag. Not planning to return again.

The staff was super rude like they were better than you. Not sure if it had anything to do with us being an asian family with little kids. No hi, no thank you, no smiles, NOTHING. We aren't chatty people but we recognize poor customer service. It is ironic because next to their menu, they have a poster encouraging you to make connections with strangers and how trivial human connections are good for your mental health. Food was just okay. We used to love matchstick (the mt pleasant location)but now I don't think we will be returning customers anymore.

Matchstick is my go-to neighbourhood coffee shop to work in. The place is brand new and sparkling clean so it's comfortable to work here. While the coffee is great, in my opinion it is a bit overpriced.

Great coffee, great vibe, friendly service. We had a super strong americano and London fog. Quality shots and smooth, strong taste. Also, the merch is very cute; I'm likely to pickup a mug next time I'm in. Later this week, they're having a community forum about climate change, which I might go observe. Overall, it's a great neighborhood place deserving of 5 stars.

Not sure why this place has less than 4 stars. Best London fog I ever head & tastiest earl grey muffin out there! Go try it!

I agree that the music was a little loud when I went there, I was the only one with two other people and when I asked they were good about keeping it down. I wanted to just have a latte and to read for 30 minutes. I get the ambiance that they're going for. I had a regular latte single shot that tasted fine. I also had a lemon square...good service.

Great staff and amazing coffee, I usually come by about once a week for a coffee. A must try is their orange cranberry muffin. If you bring your own cup you get a small discount off your coffee. If you want too buy their beans, bring your own jar and save some bucks, plus you get a complementary coffee/tea.

Great ambience and stylish coffee shop. Situated in one of the newer buildings in Yaletown, Matchstick is a great place to both get some work done or to socialize over a cup of tea or coffee. It's a nice alternative to the big chains that dominate this neighbourhood. The coffee is quite good but a little bit pricey for what you pay. Their largest size is only 12 oz.

Just came in to pick up a quick snack and the person who rang me up was extremely rude. They started counting cash instead of asking if I needed help or saying "hi". After a few seconds they said "it'll just be a minute" in a condescending tone. When they handed me my food I said "thank you" to which I got a blank stare, no "you're welcome", no smile, no anything. Wow, low blow matchstick. Used to love going to your cafes for the design and the service... probably won't go back for awhile.

I really like this place, and I'm not sure why the reviews are so poor. The layout is quite nice, and there's lots of room for either chatting with groups or working by yourself on your laptop. The coffee and teas are good, and the pastries are decent as well. Really nothing much to complain about.. Also I love how they stay open until 9 pm, which is much later than most cafes!

Some of us are really not ready to use the communal open sugar bowl and spoons with people hovering all around the station waiting for their coffees. How can the barista flat out say, "no we don't do that anymore", to a simple request to add sugar? Have some compassion. Even if you think I'm ridiculous.

Good place. Good coffee. Good food. Gets hard to find a spot to sit, which is a good sign. A good coffee shop was much needed in the neighborhood​. The music can be too darned loud (I'll get back to that). Service varies between superb (mostly) and surly (not often), but that's totally fine -- they all know what they're doing. The coffee-shop condescension​ is fairly minimal. And there are plugs! And wifi! Okay, and here's the (minor) gripe that makes me sound 84: Why is the music so darned loud sometimes? It seems way louder than the other Matchsticks -- it's been like bar-level loud at 8 am. That said, it really​ depends on the songs and playlists -- but sometimes, it's almost unbearable (Kurt Vile and droning electric guitar solos seem especially loud in the morning). It gets to the point that it's tough to talk with friends -- or read without noise-canceling​ headphones. And I like to come here for those things, because the space is pretty great.

Really bad service and just o-k espresso.. mellow work station ambiance if that's what you're looking for. Wouldn't recommend this place to friends.

Decided to go for the poached eggs and smoked salmon. It was bland and meh! Not a very big menu at all like four items. Seating is quit uncomfortable. Just an average so so place

Good coffee but terrible service, 3x I've been waiting at the counter to put my order in for over 5 minutes before even being acknowledged by the staff. Won't be going here anymore

Their baked goods are quite nice but for some reason, about half the time I don't get what I ordered. Seems like the staff don't pay enough attention. I also get a lovely hair in my latte and the apology I received was underwhelming.

matchstick is a lovely experience. i enjoy its interior design, although i will note that it is an awful place in terms of ergonomics if you're looking to work on a laptop. they do a great pourover, their baked goods are fantastic--especially the chocolate chip cookie--and items like their french toast are lovely to eat.