Bowen Island is a small Island but definitely worth a visit. I had been in this island quite a few times now and every trip is not the same without a food adventure.

Bowen Island being a small place with only 3,680 (as of 2016) population, this Island do not have a lot of choices for food, but whatever they have are so far good. It’s not the quantity that counts but the quality.

These are few of the cafe and restaurant that I had noticed when I was there, I tried some of them while others are on my list to try

• Tell Your Friends Cafe – breakfast and brunch
• Branch – snack
• The Snug Cove Cafe – breakfast and brunch
• Doc Martens – lunch, dinner
• Barcelona Tapas and Wine Bar – dinner
• Bowen Island Pub – brunch, dinner
• Artisan Eats Cafe – breakfast and brunch
• Cocoa West – snack

So far, only the Snug Cove Cafe, Doc Martens and Barcelona Tapas and Wine Bar were the ones left for me to try next time.

Of all the places I’ve tried so far, the Artisan Eats Cafe is my favorite among all of them. I cannot skip going to this place whenever I go to Bowen which makes it difficult for me to try the Snug Cove cafe which also serves breakfast and brunch items. I can only eat so much and so I have to choose the best one to try.

15 -20 minutes walk from ferry terminal .. but it is worth it

Artisan Eats Cafe is a bit of a walk from the ferry terminal, I would say 20 minutes? Or even more depending on your physical condition. While the Snug Cove Cafe is literally right off the ferry terminal, maybe 5 – 8 minutes walk. This makes it more accessible to most people who wants a quick breakfast.

But I have to say that whether you walk to the Artisan Square or you drive, it’s worth the trip. I love, love the Artisan Eats Cafe so much that I can live with just going to this place more than the others. Let’s talk more about that and why I highly recommend it.

Let’s talk about the location ..

Location:

Artisan Eats Cafe is located at 539 Artisan Ln, Bowen Island, BC V0N 1G0 which is about 20 minutes (or more) walk from the ferry terminal. You can access this place without a car, but if you have a car then even better. There is also a bus (280, 282) that goes inside the square which literally stops in front of the cafe. Regardless of what mode of transportation you decide, trust me.. it’s worth it 🙂

What’s on the Menu:

Breakfast, brunch, lunch, snacks .. they got you covered

One of the reason why I like going to this cafe for brunch is because they have a lot more options to choose from. They breakfast specials like egg bennys, tacos and soup. For breakfast they have toast, pancakes and more heavy full plate breakfast (Bowen Breakfast).

For lunch they have braised lamb, veggie curry bowl, tex-mex salad, and they also have french fries which really looks good, I will definitely try the Truffle fries next time.

The Cafe:

Comfy, cozy and homey vibe

The cafe itself has a very nice vibe. I would say, a homey vibe. They have different types of sitting area inside and outside the cafe.

The Lounge:

There is a small cushions sofa for lounging. Very comfortable if you are just having light snack and drinks or you just want to have a cozy place to hangout and chat. Ir really feels like you are in a living room of a house.

The Communal Table:

They have 2 long communal long tables in fhe middle and at the back. This oen here is the front table, more like a living room long table. The good thing about the location of this table is it is closer to the self service coffee counter. The donside is that this area gets crowded and busy specially during peak hours.

At the back close to the window is more like a long dining table. This one is here is what I prefer as this area is not as buy with people coming and going. Plus if you come early, you” have a nice view facing the window. The side table along teh window is my favorite spot .

Self Service Coffee Counter:

They have a small area for coffee counter and utensils. Very rustic looking, reminds me of the cabinets you see in old cottage houses.

The Service:

Good food, excellent fast service, reasonably priced meals, nice ambiance .. what else can I asked for? The staff were very polite and helpful and despite the logn line up, it was surprising how quick teh service. Our meals were served in about 10 minutes.

The sandwiches are already prep and ready. These are the faster option if you are in a hurry. We ordered Avocado & Egg Croissant and Chorizo Burrito which turned out to be both great as per my friends feedback.

I like that they have vegetarion, vegan and meat lovers options for people to choo se from. Optiosn are alwasy great.

Food:

We’ve come to the most important part .. the FOOD!

It all comes down to the food, right? This place have it all.. but best of all they have great baked products and breakfast options. I wish I could try more but sadly I can only eat that much. We got different things and so far, the feedback from my friends is that they are amazing and they wouldn’t mind ordering the same thing again. Here are what we ordered.

It was great. We like a lot what we ordered but being a baker myself, I was really happy with the baked goods here. The Pistachio Bar was amazing, the Orange Chocolate Chip Muffin was soft and not too sweet. Cannot wait to go back here to try the other baked products.

Overall Rating:

Overall, I would say I highly recommend this place for breakfast, brunch or lunch. The baked products are really good, a lot of options for breakfast and few lunch options that cater for both meat eaters and vegetarians.

More Information ABout Bowen Island

How to buy ferry ticket

To get to Bowen Island, you will need to take a 20 minutes ferry ride and would costs 11.70CAD round trip. You can buy the ticket at the Horshoe Bay Ferry Terminal. Unlike other busier BC route where you can buy the ticket online, this one is an exception. Because this is a short and less busy route, tickets are sold onsite. It is a short cheap ferry ride which makes Bowen Island a great day trip get away. Have a look at this video here to get an idea how to get to the Horshoe Bay Ferry Terminal and what the ferry ride looks like.

What is there to see and do?

Bowen is a small island but there’s more than enough activity that you can do for the whole day. If you plan to do more hiking and exploration of the place, I suggest doing an overnight trip so as not to rush the trip.

Aside from hiking, you can do kayaking, biking, walking in the park and promenade, snacks and meals in the cafes and restaurants and shopping in the quaint shops in the island. This is definitely a more quiet island as compared to other Vancouver island, like Victoria.

How long do you need to allocate for the visit?

The Dormant Point Hike itself is a very short hike, only 45 minuets round trip. Definitely, this is going to be just one of the many activities that you can do in the island. You can do a day trip to explore the place, with or without a car. You will definitely reach more area with a car but even without it, you will have fun exploring and hiking around the snug cove area. This is what I did and it was a great day trip.

How to get there?

As I mentioned earlier, you will need to take a ferry ride. BC ferries operate a route to take you to Bowen. Have a look at this video.

What is the best time to visit?

Even if it is just a day trip, I suggest coming early on a Summer day. End of Summer, around September are better are the weather is cooler but still sunny. This makes walking around and exploring the place more enjoyable. Although these 2 hikes are inside a forest, there are some areas that are open. July to September are great time, but I prefer the month of September. You can still get lucky and have a nice day on October but the chances of rain as more as Fall is starting.

Highlights of the Visit

Tue Kilarney Lake Loop Hike was the highlight of my Bowen Island visit, on top of the Dormant Point Trail Hike. These 2 are the most recommended trails if you are visiting Bowen without a car.

Tips for the Trip

1. Plan Ahead – Weather you are driving or walking when you get to Bowen, it is always good to plan ahead. Weekdays are better time to visit as it is not as busy, but if weekend is all you have alloted then that is good as well. Bowen Island is not as busy as other Vancouver Island which makes it a great option for a quite and more relax get away.
2. Check the weather– Always check the weather before you go especially if you are visitng early Spring or Fall. Here in BC, we get more rain during Fall so just be prepared, it won’t hurt to bring an umbrella or poncho with you.
3. Wear proper clothes for the weather: Whatever season you visit, dress for that season. Summer could be hot, do not forget to bring sunscreen or wear a head covering. Early Spring could still be cold and wet, same with Fall. Bring your cold and rain gears with you. Lastly, Winter is definitely going to be cold, mitten, toque and warm jacket are advisable. I personally recommend visitng Bowen during Summer for better experience.
4. Bring Snacks – There are quite a few places to eat in the island but when you do the hikes, there are no food or drinks places inside or even close to the trail. I highly recommend to bring drink or light snac with you just in case you get hungry while doing the hike.
5. Come in Early – Bowen Island is a small p lace, but if you are only doing a day trip it is a good idea to take the earlier ferry. This will give you enough time to check the island and stop for a meal or snack.

Bowen Island Videos:

• A Ferry ride from Vancouver to Bowen Island
• Easy 45 mins Hike to Dormat Point
• Good hike close to the ferry terminal – Kilarney Lake Loop Trail
• Quick stop for snack at Tell Your Friends Cafe
• A lovely promenade to relax at Lady Alexandra Promenade
• The BEST brunch place, The Artisan Eats Cafe
• A stroll at the Artisan Village Square
• A short hike away from the crowd at Wild Coast Nature Conservatory
• Cannot miss the Lighthouse at Cape Roger Curtis
• No effor hike at Sea Walk

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