Inside Nemesis Coffee's new cafe and bakery before it opens (PHOTOS)

If you thought Nemesis Coffee’s original Gastown location was dope, just wait until you see the team’s new space in North Vancouver.

Situated on the street-facing side of The Polygon Gallery in the heart of Lower Lonsdale, the highly anticipated cafe and bakery is almost ready to welcome its first customers through the door.

The 1,600-sq-ft space has all the trappings of the OG Nemesis: an airy, modern design featuring light wood, lush greenery, and sleek coffee bars topped with everything that would make a seasoned java aficionado swoon.

• See also:
• • Downtown Vancouver Indian restaurant quietly shutters after 41 years (PHOTOS)
  • Long-time Whistler restaurant sold after over 30 years of operation
  • Richmond’s new dessert spot has some seriously epic eats (PHOTOS)
  • Popular pasta joint to open new downtown Vancouver location (PHOTOS) 

Scattered throughout the space you’ll spot Nemesis’ signature collection of vinyl records.

This location is currently displaying albums like Portrait of a Legend from the King of Soul, Sam Cooke, along with Igor, the latest release from American rapper Tyler, The Creator — so you can imagine how the music here marries into the cool and collected vibe that the cafe’s interior exudes. 

While the overall vibe and some standout decor details may match up with the Gastown cafe, there are some noticeable differences between the two spots.

For one, that signature sky blue from downtown has been swapped for a punchy cobalt shade for North Vancouver. This colour is present in the brand’s swanky new boxes, meant to hold treats from Nemesis’ in-house bakery, The Dope Bakehouse.

You’ll get to check out these cheeky boxes if you stop in to grab-and-go, but if you’re aiming to stick around and get comfortable in the cafe’s ample seating, you’ll soon find out there’s a lot more to enjoy.

With seating for around 35 people, Nemesis Polygon has cushioned booths, low tables and chairs, and bar seating on either side of the space too.

As an added bonus, those bars have a couple of outlets if you plan on working from the cafe.

If you’re familiar with Nemesis, then you know the team’s coffee game is strong. The drink program at the Polygon outpost will continue to offer folks stellar pour-overs, espressos, lattes, and teas, to name a few.

We’ve also always known their pastry/savoury eats were killer, but at the new location, customers can expect upwards of a dozen house-made pastries in the case at any given time.

The fluffy croissants and chocolate-packed cookies are just the tip of the iceberg, as Nemesis’ team will also be baking their own loaves of bread here, which is incorporated into its savoury menu but can also be purchased for take-home too. Bread lovers can expect to find 2-to-3 different varieties on the shelves daily.

When it comes to the savoury meal selections, we got a taste and we liked what we saw. Here, Nemesis continues its elevated approach to classic cafe fare but takes it up a notch (as always).

From the Brekkie Sando made with a cheddar omelette and smoked prosciutto, to a hearty beef toast topped with squash puree and a poached egg, the dishes were delightfully plated and perfectly portioned to boot.

It’s clear a great deal of thought and planning has gone into the menu details here, including locally sourced BC grains for the house-made breads and even some house-made cheeses.

The team at Nemesis is a tight-knit one, telling us at the tail end of our visit that their goal is to make every location they open better and better.

Considering how much people already love the downtown Vancouver cafe, we can’t wait to see the reaction from this spot.

One of two new locations coming up for the brand, Nemesis Polygon is officially opening its doors to the public on December 13, and the opening hours will be 9 am to 3 pm.

After that, this new spot will be open daily on weekdays from 7 am to 6 pm and on weekends from 9 am to 5 pm.

Nemesis Polygon

Address: 101 Carrie Cates Court, North Vancouver

Facebook | Instagram

• See also: 
  • Downtown Vancouver Indian restaurant quietly shutters after 41 years (PHOTOS)
  • Long-time Whistler restaurant sold after over 30 years of operation
  • Richmond’s new dessert spot has some seriously epic eats (PHOTOS)
  • Popular pasta joint to open new downtown Vancouver location (PHOTOS)