Ovaltine Cafe, Heritage diner in Downtown Eastside, Vancouver, Canada
Ovaltine Cafe is a restaurant with Italian Renaissance architecture in Downtown Eastside Vancouver that has preserved its original furnishings from its early period. The establishment features classic booth seating, vintage furnishings, and an original neon sign at 251 East Hastings Street.
The Ovaltine Cafe opened in 1942, named after the Ovaltine drink, and has kept its original interior since then. It is listed in Vancouver's community heritage register. In 2018 The Telegraph placed it among the world's 50 best cafes.
The cafe's old-fashioned interior has drawn film and television crews looking for a period restaurant set. In 2018, Telegraph travel writer Craig Moss and a panel of experts placed it among the world's 50 best cafes. The name comes from the Ovaltine drink.
The cafe offers affordable meals with many options around 5 dollars, including breakfast specials and burgers from 8 AM to 6 PM daily. Visitors should note that the Downtown Eastside location is active, and seating can be crowded during peak hours.
Randall Wong, Canada's first Chinese-Canadian federal judge, worked at the Ovaltine in his youth. The cafe then stood near a courthouse and a police station, and Wong traced his interest in law to conversations with law-enforcement patrons.
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