What I Thought of It

Second Cup, McKenzie Towne Centre
30 High St SE
Calgary AB  T2Z 3TB
Phone: 403 257 2805

The Second Cup on High Street SE in Calgary is part of a pleasant little shopping street. It can be a hassle to find and get out of the area, but otherwise it’s a pretty nice location.

Inside, this Second Cup feels spacious, but it actually doesn’t have that much seating. The ambiance is warm, however.

You order at a large counter flanked by large signs overhead. These signs are not much help when you’re not a regular Second Cup customer. Today I settled on a Dole Apple Juice (skipping the coffee) and a slice of poppyseed loaf.

Of course I can’t tell you how the coffee was, but the poppyseed loaf was good. (I thought it seemed more like a piece of cake, but what’s in a name?) It was very fresh, flavorful, and just crammed with poppy seeds.

I was with a group of 6, so we couldn’t find any spot to sit all together. In the end, 3 of us took the couch/low chairs and the other 3 took the high chairs by the window. Nothing wrong with that, but this Second Cup should really offer more places to sit.

Last thoughts: Coffee shops are not really my kind of thing, but they’re great for hanging out with a group. A lot of them try to be upscale lounges, but they don’t quite get the “lounge” part, so they just become expensive places to get coffee and kick back for a bit.

Food ++++
Service ++++
Ambiance +++
Washrooms ++++

Second Cup, Sunridge
3192 Sunridge Blvd NE
Calgary AB  T1Y 7G6
Phone: 403 250 3557

After going out for dinner, it seemed fitting to cap the evening with coffee. I went to the nearby Second Cup on Sunridge Boulevard, close to Sunridge Mall and the movie theater. It was around 9 pm and very busy in the coffee shop. The girl who helped me was friendly and efficient. She offered me a cup of Butter Pecan coffee for the same price as plain coffee, because they were out of my first three choices.

I took my coffee to one of the cushy armchairs in front of the fireplace (which was turned off, unfortunately). I was eager to savor the delicious-sounding butter pecan. Alas, the coffee was terrible! Not even cream and sugar could rescue the atrocious flavor. I ended up drinking less than half of it. I just couldn’t stomach any more.

The Second Cup coffee shop itself was prettily decorated and had a warm feel, with earthy colors and framed drawings everywhere, including the washrooms.

Last thoughts: The Sunridge Second Cup is not bad at all, as long as you don’t get the Butter Pecan coffee. I wouldn’t mind visiting this coffee shop again to try a different beverage.

Drinks +
Service ++++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++

Second Cup
338 - 10 St NW
Calgary AB  T2N 1V8
Phone: 403 270 9698

After a leisurely walk through the trendy Calgary neighborhood of Kensington, it was time to warm up a bit before heading home. And what’s the best way to warm up? Somewhere that serves hot drinks, so my final stop was Second Cup.

The Second Cup coffee shop on 10th Street is right across from the Safeway grocery store, just beyond the main row of shops. From the outside, this Second Cup does not look very big, but the inside had a lot more seating than I expected. There were high tables with stools, low tables with chairs, armchairs, and even a fireplace. The walls had many framed prints and pretty decorations, making for great coffee shop ambiance.

At the order counter, the staff were not very friendly and appeared to regret being at work that day.

There was a sign announcing free wireless Internet for customers, but to get access you need to make a purchase of at least $5.

Going to the washroom was a bit tricky. As in many coffee shops, you need to ask for the key at the counter. I was told, “Sorry, but it’s only for customers.” Huh? Why would I be standing there in my shirt, not wearing my jacket, mitts, and hat (it was freezing outside), if I wasn’t a customer? I’d advise the staff to pay more attention to the customers and try to remember a face longer than one minute (two minutes would have been enough in my case).

The new Cuzco Fair Trade Organic coffee I got was nothing to rave about. It was a bit weak for my taste (I like my coffee strong). Maybe they could put a few more beans in the coffee machine.

Last thoughts: The Second Cup in Kensington is a nice place to sit and enjoy a warm drink. The coffee was not great, but it will do on a cold day. When I’m in the neighborhood again and in need of something warm, I will stop by and see if the staff are having a better day.

Food / Drinks +++
Service ++
Ambiance ++++
Washrooms +++