When I catch up with my friends from across the river it’s always more fun when presented with an import beer menu that rivals even the greatest liquor stores.

With this in mind, we decided on the SugarBowl Coffee & Juice Bar, a casual hot-spot nestled between the University of Alberta campus and Edmonton’s popular Whyte avenue district.

Get there early

Since parking in this area can be challenging—I made the executive decision for us to hit up the SugarBowl as soon as work released us all for the weekend.

I wasn’t the only one with this genius usher-in-the-weekend-right idea; the patio was already buzzing with conversations ranging from philosophy to World Cup Soccer to the beauty of life in general.

After a short wait—and an offer to cozy up with some patrons already seated—we grabbed a spot inside the brick-walled cafe, feasting our eyes on art by local artists, and the lively patio exposed through open garage-style doors.

Fresh Local Ingredients and Frosty Belgium Pints

Though I was a SugarBowl virgin, I was sure the creations—made with mainly local ingredients—would not disappoint. I was right.

Sipping on Belgium Floris Ninkeberry passionfruit beer, I dove right in to my goat-cheese-topped lamb burger as soon as it hit the table. This is not the kind of burger that you want to eat fries with; instead, it comes with fresh greens topped with deliciously fruity vinaigrette.

My companions, savouring baked mac & cheese with applewood smoked cheddar and rainbow trout with roasted roots, were nice enough to let me have a little taste test, and again, my taste buds were in heaven. I’m pretty sure anything on this menu can make me drool.

Perfect for Breakfast, Brunch or Lunch

As someone that doesn’t believe in setting an alarm on a Saturday or Sunday, I have yet to wake up early enough to try one of the SugarBowl’s famous cinnamon buns before they’re all gobbled up.

Brunch usually lasts until mid-afternoon, the best choice for warming my belly on a lazy-Sunday with the ladies is always a SugarBowl latte, arguably the best you can find in the city, paired with a soul food-esque eggs Benedict (perched atop cornbread. Cornbread!).

Come for the Food and Drink, Stay for the Company

The mixture of patrons at the SugarBowl is one of its best features, in fact, the next time I go on a first date I’ll insist on this spot—if his conversation isn’t interesting, someone else’s around me most definitely will be!

SugarBowl fare is reasonably priced with cost ranging from $3 to $18. Dine between 8am to midnight Sundays through Thursdays or 8am to 1am Fridays and Saturdays.