East Café in Marpole (formerly Gigi Blin)

East Café in Marpole is a cozy neighborhood coffee shop serving specialty coffee alongside a lush, leafy garden patio. The venue stands out for hosting live outdoor jazz performances as well as featuring an underground jazz speakeasy called The Pocket beneath the café.

Commenters are overwhelmingly enthusiastic about the cute, cozy atmosphere and view the café as an exciting addition to Marpole, drawing comparisons to New Orleans' Bacchanal Wine. While many are eager to visit and ask about dog-friendliness and jazz schedules, one commenter pushed back against labeling the downstairs space a hidden speakeasy.