Take a Self-Guided Donut Tour of Vancouver

Photo: Anna Sullivan/Unsplash

Vancouverites love doughnuts. With flavours ranging from classic to innovative, our city’s bakeries serve up delicious doughnuts. Visit five doughnut shops on this 6.7-kilometre-long self-guided tour that is perfect for biking or walking.

Biking Note: This route uses quiet streets and bike lanes where possible, but it does involve a little bit of riding on busy streets. Walk your bike on the sidewalk if you aren’t comfortable. Use this link for turn-by-turn directions on Google maps.

First Stop: Lucky’s Doughnuts

Start your tour at the Kitsilano branch of Lucky’s Doughnuts, located inside 49th Parallel Coffee Roasters.

They make their doughnuts from scratch, with several batches rolling out throughout the day. Look for their seasonal flavours as well as vegan and-gluten friendly options. Customer favourites include lemon meringue Bismarck, apple bacon fritter, and classic peanut butter and jelly.

Location: 2198 W 4th Ave, Vancouver

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Second Stop: Their There

Your second stop is just a block away – head east on West 4th Avenue to Their There.

This stylish cafe also serves beer and wine alongside their popular doughnuts and pastries. In addition to crueller-style doughnuts, they also make mochi doughnuts that are a bit crispier and chewier than traditional doughnuts. Try the raspberry cheesecake mochi doughnut or creme brulee doughnut.

Location: 2042 W 4th Ave, Vancouver

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Third Stop: Lee’s Donuts

Continue your doughnut tour by heading to Lee’s Donuts on Granville Island about 1.5 km away. To get there on foot or by bike, go east on West 4th Avenue, then turn left to go down the hill on Cypress Street. Turn right on West 1st Avenue and stay on it as it crosses the railway tracks and intersects the False Creek Seawall. Turn right and take the seawall until you are under the Granville Street Bridge. Turn left and follow Anderson Street to the Granville Island Public Market. You’ll find Lee’s Donuts inside.

Lee’s has been making doughnuts in Vancouver since 1979. Their make yeast, vanilla cake, and chocolate cake doughnuts in classic flavours like jelly-filled, and powdered sugar-dusted. Locals love Lee’s, which is why Seth Rogan chose to bring David Chang here on an episode of Netflix’s Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner. Seth recommends the raspberry jelly doughnut.

Location: 1689 Johnston St, Vancouver

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Fourth Stop: Swiss Bakery

The route to your fourth stop, Swiss Bakery, is mostly along the seawall. Follow Anderson Street back under the Granville Street Bridge, then go left along the False Creek Seawall to Olympic Village. Just past the Creekside Community Centre, turn right onto Ontario Street, a designated bikeway. Turn left on 3rd Avenue and find the bakery two blocks later, about 4 km from your last stop.

The Swiss Bakery is a bit of a hidden gem. They serve up all kinds of baked goods, including classic doughnuts. But the real reason to visit is their signature “frissant”, a hybrid croissant and fritter. You can get them filled with custard and seasonal flavours like blueberry are sometimes on offer.

Location: 143 E 3rd Ave, Vancouver

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Fifth Stop: Cartems Donuts

The final stop is just up the hill at Cartems Donuts. Turn right and go south on Main Street for three blocks to 6th Avenue. Use care if you are biking as it is a busy street.

Cartems is known for its simple doughnuts and innovative flavours. They make both yeast and cake doughnuts and also have vegan and gluten-friendly options. Their regular menu includes classics like chocolate glaze and apple fritters alongside artisanal flavours like London fog and Nanaimo Bar. Their specialty doughnut menu includes out-there options like rose wine and Blueberry mint.

Location: 2190 Main St, Vancouver

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