Located at the Corner of 10th St & 6th Ave, Downtown Canmore, 117-1001 6 Ave, Communitea is a vibrant cafe serving fresh and healthy dishes 9:30am – 6:30pm daily. I visited the cafe on a Sunday afternoon to try out some of their most popular dishes and see for myself if the ‘most popular’ dishes were as great as the reviews.
The verdict? Pretty impressive!
My Order
Having arrived at 4pm, the cafe wasn’t too busy but still had a welcoming atmosphere that later quietened down as the evening went on. Before ordering, I asked a member of staff for any recommended dishes to try and opted for the menu’s ‘most popular’ Pad Thai and added chicken for an extra $5.50.
The Pad Thai had an authentic taste with a mild-medium kick to it. As there is no ‘non-spice’ option, I wouldn’t recommend to anyone who doesn’t like any heat. The tofu and chicken were cooked well, the overall dish was colorful and it definitely lived up to expectations.
With 80+ loose-leaf teas to choose from with some ‘staff picks’ options, I ended up opting for the Grizzly Bear tea after having the opportunity to sample a few as I was trying to decide.
The tea is served in a mug with a steeper and lid to let it sit and brew for a few minutes before drinking.
The Menu
The Pad Thai is their popular hot dish and the crowd-favorite fresh, cold dishes on the menu are the ‘Buddha’ and ‘Yoga’ Bowls with their ‘chipotle chicken & avocado quesadilla’ as their favorite handheld option.
For those with a sweet tooth, there are various baked goods options available to choose from including banana bread (which is freshly baked on-site) and brownies, energy balls, cookies, macaroons, and lemon squares that are freshly sourced from a local bakery.
Beverage options include hot or cold teas and coffees with milk options ranging from 1% low fat, 3.5% whole, and breve +$1.50 to almond and oat alternative options for an additional + $0.75. Craft brews are also available that are sourced from local breweries and cideries.
Dining Experience
With options to dine in or order takeout, I decided to dine in where I placed my order at the till. They operate an online booking system for those choosing the takeout option allowing for pre-ordering to avoid any delays for visiting patrons. The service was excellent, I got my tea almost immediately, and my main dish was served in under 10 minutes.
A self-serve station is available for visitors to quickly grab essentials such as napkins, water, and condiments which adds to the ease of flow of the cafe and convenience for patrons.
There is ample seating, both low and high-top, available to suit people of different ages and needs, and the combination of plants and natural light in the premises adds to the earthy atmosphere. You can also sit near a window and people watch as you enjoy your chai latte or cold craft beer.
The background music compliments the overall ambiance making it a relaxing atmosphere to sit and chat with friends at ease. It’s worth noting they operate a no-laptop policy during peak times to ensure sufficient seating is available for dine-in patrons.
Retail Section
Beyond their culinary offerings, Communitea Cafe offers a retail selection and special bundle deals on their range of greeting cards, branded mugs, local chocolate bars, and loose-leaf teas. Every sale of their unique Communitree socks also goes towards their eco-conscious efforts with a tree planted for each pair sold.
Some of their popular salad dressings and sauces are also available to purchase by the bottle including the Pad Thai sauce, Yoga (maple tahini), Buddha (tahini garlic), and Vegan Caesar. Visitors can also benefit from Pad Thai deals on Tuesdays.
Sustainability & Community
Their Communitree campaign represents their efforts in encouraging and supporting sustainability by planting a tree for every order placed with 235,625+ trees planted as of January 2024. Additionally, they have a $0.35 upcharge on disposable cups to discourage their use and this extra charge goes towards their Communitree tree planting campaign. Communitea Cafe has received recognition for its excellence in the community. Winning Canmore Business of the Year in 2015 and the Bow Valley Business Excellence Award for Customer Service in 2017, the cafe has established itself as a local favorite.
Final Thoughts
With live music returning to the cafe from February 2024, visitors are in for a treat with the addition of live music on top of the tasty food choices, welcoming staff, and relaxing experience. I give Communitea Cafe an overall 4 out of 5 star review. Although I wasn’t a huge fan of some of the tea options, and find some of the retail items to be on the pricier side, I highly recommend it to anyone in the area looking for a relaxing Sunday afternoon, whether it’s alone reading a book or catching up with friends over coffee.
