Gigi's Cafe
A Hillside cafe with coffee, baked goods, soups, and sandwiches.
The Quadra Village living room that ran on soup, Fernwood coffee, and open mics.
For eight years the corner of Hillside and Quadra had a homespun, women-led cafe where the soup was made in-house and mostly vegetarian or vegan, the bread came from Wildfire, and the coffee was Fernwood. It was the kind of room that put students, retirees, writers and musicians at the same scuffed tables, with local art on the walls and handmade things for sale on the bookshelf. Gigi's leaned warm over polished on purpose. It felt like a neighbourhood's shared front room, which is exactly why people are still sad it's gone.
The move
Regulars came for the roasted tomato grilled cheese and the Early Bird BLT, a bowl of soup with Wildfire bread, and a Fernwood coffee while they got work done. The real ritual was the monthly Writers' Open Mic, the cafe's beating heart.
Go when
Gigi's served its last cup on May 23, 2026, after the landlord wanted a longer lease than owner Gino was willing to sign. The Writers' Open Mic lives on at Camas Books on Quadra, first Thursdays.
“It has been such a pleasure to know you & a true honour to serve you.”
Gigi's Cafe, in its farewell to the community
Known for
Perfect for