The Riverbend Cafe & General Store in Port Alberni

The river bend cafe is a super cute half retro style cafe and they have board and card games available to play on any visit. The frozen yogurt has really nice flavour unlike any frozen yogurt I ve had + all the drinks are super tasty. All the staff I have met were really nice and helpful if game instructions were missing

Just stopped in due to the ad we saw in Tofino Time magazine...we wanted a tea and snacks on the way out, and Riverbend did not disappoint! Also, superb gift store. Charming establishment. Make it a point to stop by if passing thru

The menu is limited, but in some weird directions. The coffee is decent, but primarily in the fancy variations. The Riverbend Cafe is an interesting place, and its primary claim to fame would be location. Its the last place before you head out of town, and about your only option (aside from Tseshaht Market and Dellas at Sproat Lake) before you get to Tofino. You can get coffee or an assortment of canned and bottled pops. You can get frozen yoghurt, a limited assortment of muffins or cookies, candy bars, or chips. (You can also get a few varieties of what might be termed camping foods.) There is a wall of packaged teas. There are a small variety of high-quality local crafts and artworks. All housed in a place that gives a feel of an extremely light, airy, high-end shack. Service is helpful and friendly, but staff is generally limited, so if a bunch of people all hit it just before you do, youll have a bit of a wait. (Although never too terribly long.) Its an interesting place.

Our favorite local cafe. Friendly service, clean bathroom, great coffee, beautiful homemade muffins, funky gifts, board games and cards to play, etc. We go at least once a week. Love it

We were just passing through, looking for a coffee and were so pleasantly surprised! The coffee is excellent, especially the caramel macchiato ;) Super nice service and the atmosphere was so great! Really good music, funky interior, would love to come back! Food

Fun and funky. Fabulous staff, excellent flat white, tea served with real milk in a jug. Try the scrumptious west coast trail muffins.

Such a cute little spot!! Got a sticker and a cherry coke .

Very tasty coffee in a beautifully locally decorated shop. Very nice saleswoman! Recommended :)

Best espresso until Tofino. Load up!

Its the best cafe in town and has a a 50s theme going on. They also have some corner store groceries and unique merch. Its well worth the visit. I also appreciate that they are open every day until 6 pm. Its hard to find a late afternoon coffee in Port. Dietary restrictions: They have coeliac friendly options and non dairy options here.

Riverbend Café in Port Alberni is a delightful haven for both locals and travelers heading to or from Tofino. The café shines brightly with its excellent coffee and exceptional customer service; staff members are invariably friendly, making every visit a pleasant experience. The decor is wonderful, adding to the warm and inviting atmosphere. Moreover, the café offers a charming selection of little gift items, perfect for picking up a unique memento. Overall, Riverbend Café is the kind of place you find yourself hoping will succeed and stay open forever, as it brings a touch of charm and warmth to Port Alberni. Whether youre seeking a quick coffee break or a lovely gift, Riverbend Café is sure to exceed your expectations.

Local vibes.

The CUTEST general store and coffee shop- obsessed with all the fun things they have. The matcha latte was done well and there s fun things to look at while waiting

Best double shot espresso prepared by 2 cute barista girls.

Could not love this place more. Great atmosphere, fantastic coffee, and friendly staff. Highly recommend.

Great stop along the highway! Actually has good coffee and fun trinkets to browse while waiting. Will be back!

Love the place Blast from the past Food

Just love the retro feel Dietary restrictions: Can work with vegan and gf needs. Parking: Limited parking lot. Wheelchair accessibility: Wheelchair accessible all around.

Parking: Parking behind the building, turn onto road and left into the lot Kid-friendliness: Cafe has many free games to play, and a big candy selection! Food : 5/5 |

Great muffins and coffee, Memories of Home ambiance. Beautiful gift shop. Thanks to Pat and Janice for bringing us there

Its certainly a hidden gem in Port Alberni! Great drinks, yummy snacks and they sell many local artisan items inside. Its on the way to Tofino and worth stopping to check this place out. Staff was super friendly and such a cozy and relaxing place.

Spent the afternoon here playing games and drinking coffee with friends... surprisingly spacious inside with lots of local foods, books and art for sale or viewing. Prices are right in line for a boutique coffee shop, and they are right on the highway heading out of town on the western side, so very busy with locals and tourists topping up with caffeine before heading to the coast.

I visit Riverbend Coffee Shop 1-2 times a week with my fiancé. Love this place! Everyone is so nice. Good job.

Absolutely love this place. It s a must stop on our way through town, always. Best coffees around and such a cool selection of local gifts. So much work has gone into making this place a modern version of a retro road stop. It s worth the time to pop in! Super nice local husband and wife run business.

A beautiful stop on the way to/from Tofino or when visiting Sproat Lake. We make a point of spending time here any time we re passing through. Love the attention to detail throughout.

We happened upon the Riverbend Cafe on our way across the island last December and I am so thankful we did! What an amazing spot! The BEST mocha Ive ever had, we stopped on our way back across the island because I couldnt resist. A must stop!!

Morning Glory muffin, moist and delicious. Americano style coffee is great. Lot s of treasures in this store

Great coffee and treats.

They have Gluten free stuff too. Beautiful place in Port Alberni Food

stopped here on our way back from tofino to grab an array of drinks! we also ended up finding some very interesting and affordable stickers and souvenirs like coasters etc. service was very friendly and quick and it wasn t too busy

Great coffee shop! Great coffee, great atmosphere and some really cool stuff in their gift shop. Friendly service, ample parking Food

Such a cute place for a coffee stop! Plenty of seating and lots of locally made gifts.

Coffees are great and the service is excellent. The place feels warm and inviting, theyve done a wonderful job.

Quaint store with awesome frozen yoghurt and friendly service !

Loved the vibe of this place!!

Top notch coffee from the cutest business with the friendliest owner, Wish . Strong, real, quality espresso that fuelled us for our 3 day hike up to Della Falls. Highly recommended!

The sub sandwiches used to be much better and bigger. Definitely not worth the $9 each we paid. Quite disappointing.

If you are in port alberni, this place is a MUST! Very fun atmosphere, yummy drinks, candy, & artwork.

Stopped to get food and coffee but the was no food which I thought was strange for a cafe. Good coffee though

This café serves top notch coffee, prepared food, frozen yogurt, and other delicious offerings! It has a stunning interior, with retro themed decor and music. There s some Vancouver Island locally crafted and themed merchandise and art for purchase. The service is spectacular and atmosphere that s one of a kind! This is the best café in town hands down.

Amazing little café, with nice souvenirs and gifts. If you love everything related to mushroom, you will love this place. They sell such nice tea blends ! They have vegan option for coffee and snack. Theyre such a cool vibe to the place.

Got a cuppa tea for my trip back to Vancouver. The store had a nice charm to it

Nicely decorated cafe & store with delicious muffins and good coffee.

Very cute spot with great coffee and lots of fun souvenirs

There is an outside area, where they allowed my dog. Even though my drink didnt have marshmallows, or whipped cream it was still very delightful.

Fantastic coffee, excellent sandwiches. Cool atmosphere. I highly recommend stopping by. Food

Take the kids here for frozen yogurt quite often and a coffee for myself and the wife. Very good service and excellent food. I remember going to that store when I was a kid for candy and selling mushrooms there as well, nice to see it reopened again.

An absolutely lovely cafe and small market/shoppe with friendly staff and great coffee!

Perfect place to grab a good coffee in Port! Local, independent, and featuring Vancouver Island products. Easy access on your way to or from the west coast.

Chris (owner i met today) made this place by hand and alone over more than a year. Reclaimed materials from a heritage building and so much character (ask about the counter). Outstanding Van Island roasted coffee and teas with a great selection of local ethical goods. A new gem in Port and easy to get in/out of on the road to Tuff. Highly recommended.

Really good coffee and atmosphere. Love it here.

Absolutely love it!

The Morning Glory Muffins are legit AMAZING sold from local wildflower bakery !! Great little washroom coffee break pit stop !!

Very cozy coffee stop with a great ambience! Good coffee and baked goods. There is a small corner exhibiting masterpieces of local artists. We couldnt leave without picking up a couple of gifts. If you are in the area, stop by and you wont regret.

Relaxed and spacious atmosphere, breathing new life into the original corner store that occupied the space since the 30s. Generous tribute to local artists and vibe of the area. Friendly and skilled staff, with healthy, tasty snacks for people with dietary restrictions. Its a pleasure to have this calibre of business adding to the revitalization of Port Alberni.

Lovely new shop and cafe. Really interesting local gifts , good coffee, and snacks.

Great coffee in a unique building. Would love to see more food available such as sandwiches or wraps.

Cozy, friendly service, and great coffee - everything you need from a café! We ordered a latte, london fog, and chai latte and they were all really good. This place is definitely a hidden gem!

Great coffee cute spot - happy to see the spot refurbished and successful!

Great place to stop by for a coffee and see what they have in stock - especially if youre on the way to Ukee or Tofino. Youll also find some awesome folks welcoming you inside.

What a cute little spot! Good coffee, with all the basic espresso-based drinks that a cafe should have. There are a few tasty and high quality baked goods as far as food selection. They have only been open for a few months, but having a larger selection of these, if not going the extra step of serving lunch, would be a great way to expand. There is also a variety of local products - fresh frozen ready to bake meals, locally made chilled beverages, lots of loose leaf teas and dried herbs, T-shirts and carvings and hats They ve created a very nice ambiance with a mixture of repurposed and modern furniture and art from local artists. Will definitely be back.

One of the best coffee in BC.

Awesome place to meet

Very cutee place!! Love all the updates the new owners did. We tried the London fog and Caramel macchiato and both were delicious

It is a cafe with a good smell of coffee in a clean and cozy atmosphere.

A great little place with a 60 70 vibe

This place is a hidden gem. They have a lot of locally made cool pieces of art and gifts. I bought a couple cute little crows made of metal. Their coffees are awesome. The staff are all super friendly. If you are driving up to Spriut Lake or Ucluelett or just in Port Alberni, pop in here, you wont regret it.

Great iced coffee! Lovely local gift ideas.

Hand made frozen yogurt! So delicious

Beautiful and charming cafe. Exciting retail section. The staff are extremely helpful and friendly! Their drinks especially the teas are incredible.

Great café! They had a great drink menu and delicious baked goods. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone.

Amazing coffee amazing cookies, Julia was an absolute pleasure

Good finds, coffee not so good :/

Really cute space offering coffee drinks, pastries, pantry items as well as a fridge full of fresh items like hummus and soup. Plus they have a whole array of handmade gifts and childrens items. Worth a stop for sure!

Super cute, but we were definitely expecting more goods etc., Very limited supply of general store type his - and nothing we were really interested in (a lot of mushroom stuff?)

Great coffee house. Excellent latte, delicious muffin. Nice patio in the back.

Good coffee. Good pastries. Clean bathroom. Tight selection of gift items. Great stop!

Such an awesome CLEAN, welcoming place! Fun trinkets and great coffee!!! Must visit!!!

Its mostly just a coffee shop, I dont believe they have a kitchen but its definitely the best coffee in town and we have tried everywhere.

Looks a bit run down on the outside, but inside, it looks artsy and modern! Lots of art on the walls as well. I was unable to try their coffee at the time of my visit because I forgot my wallet... but I will next time for sure. Plenty of seating and friendly staff too. :)

Nice comfortable little place to have coffee or tea!

Great place to stop after driving back from Tofino to other places on the island. Good service, coffee was excellent, they have yummy snacks and cute gifts.

I have been anxiously waiting for this place to (re-)open. Well worth the wait. The owners are very welcoming and very community oriented. The coffee: I am not a professional coffee critic but, as with everyone, I know what I like. I have had a cappuccino and an americano using their house blend. The flavour brings me back to the pre-Star****s days as well as before the Tim s explosion. A good tasting roast, not burnt, not overly acidic or bitter. A good tasting and enjoyable cup of coffee. I was not even tempted to add any sweetener. I regret not taking the time to look at the other offering in the store section but I was told that the products are all local. So glad to have a regular coffee shop in town.

The local corner store you grow up going too, lovely people, and of course amazing submarine sandwiches! If youre passing through make sure to stop on by!

Friendly staff, with prompt service

The subs here are SO good. What is thier secret? Simple fresh subs - calms the hangry symptoms

Its great service suits shop

Always friendly service

They are a very small convenient store but they dont speak any English and they have some really random stuff plus they have a lot of the basics like chips and chocolate bars.