Perkins Coffee

Reviews

• Kyle P.

  star star star star star_border 14 June 2026

  We went to Perkins Coffee four or five times while we were in Nanaimo, our hotel was just around the corner. The breakfast sandwiches are awesome very fresh, very tasty. The oatmeal and chock cookie was okay. The Breakfast Parfait was outstanding, granola was great, lots of fruit and the yogurt was spot on. My son had a few hot Chocolate's and said they were the best ever, he's probably right! Lastly, the Chai Tea Lattes were great as well. No complaints!!!

• Courtney L.

  star star star star star_border 27 May 2026

  A visit to Nanaimo is not complete without trying its namesake dessert, the Nanaimo Bar!  When we set foot in the city, we picked up a brochure outlining the "Nanaimo Bar Trail", a list of 20+ shops that offer this sweet confection in either traditional or specialty forms.  Perkins Coffee caught our attention when we read that their classic version of the Bar has been a family recipe for years.  Plus, we were only a short walk away, so there really was no contest.  This little cafe was easy to find, located just a few blocks from the waterfront. As a mid-morning treat, we ordered one Nanaimo Bar to share along with some coffee as we heard they also roast their own beans.
  
  The Nanaimo Bar was HUGE, comprised of its three signature layers: a crumb base mixed with shredded coconut and chocolate, a custard-flavored butter icing and a thick layer of chocolate ganache. We shared a single Bar, but it was served right out of the refrigerator and therefore very difficult to divide into pieces. We couldn't smoothly cut through it and instead had to chip away at it with a spoon. Perhaps it's not intended to split with utensils, but considering how rich it was, I'd be surprised if anyone could polish off an entire Bar by themselves. The crumb base was heavier than expected and contained a substantial amount of coconut. With a sugary icing and completely solidified chocolate ganache on top, this turned out to be an extremely decadent dessert. My sweet tooth was satisfied after just three small bites.
  
  We also ordered some coffee to taste Perkins' custom-roasted blend. My Americano was smooth and not bitter at all. Surprisingly, I was able to drink it black, and it balanced out the sweetness of the Nanaimo Bar. From what I could see, Perkins has a pretty vast pastry case with various goodies and also offers a number of quick lunch items.  Focusing specifically on the Nanaimo Bar, it was overly sweet and I'd be interested to compare their recipe with that of other shops. However, with their delicious coffee and homey atmosphere, this is a nice spot for a quick lunch or midday snack.
  
  3.75 stars.

• Joanna L.

  star star star star_border star_border 19 May 2026

  This a cute little cafe. The food is okay as well as the service. The staff is sort of grumpy and I am less inclined to dine here next time.
  
  They have decent numbers of items for breakfast. It is not unique nor do the items on the menu have anything that is beyond ordinary. The food is overpriced.
  
  I would be less inclined to come back unless I am in a major rush. I may give it another chance but it may be less likely.

• Manbir R.

  star star star star star_border 18 May 2026

  This is locals place. Mostly all olderly wise people have their morning breakfast here so i joined them too.
  Limited things to choose from menu. Its very customised. Hot n cold drinks range from $2.25-5.25 depending on sizes. Had my breakfast cheese n egg toast plus a medium cappuccinoin just $11.00 after taxes. I personally felt cappuccino was more foamier so less of the drink. Very soft bread of the toast so i loved it.
  Place is meticulously clean n well organized with kids toys stacked on the side of the lounge table. Colours,books,kids story books to puzzles is available for ur use at no cost. Just use it n keep it back.
  The first thing that u want in the morning is smile. Barista needed to work little bit on that but again it depends from day to day too. One lady was so joyous n cheerful and the other was so quite n poker faced. No hard feelings though. I m sure there are smiling days too.

• Ciara M.

  star star_border star_border star_border star_border 16 May 2026

  If only I could've given 0 stars...
  
  Many mistakes were made when myself and three friends ate here earlier (coffee and sandwich orders incorrect and/or totally forgotten for all four of us) and when we advised staff of the errors, we received nothing but aggression in return. I genuinely thought we were being filmed for a hidden camera show...
  
  Mistakes are fine now and again but there's no excuse for the completely unwarranted rudeness. Definitely a case of too many (inexperienced) cooks in the kitchen. Don't waste your time!!!