A beloved Whistler cafe just opened a location on West 4th Ave. Provisions Kitsilano first opened on May 27, and celebrated their Grand Opening on June 2nd with a ribbon cutting ceremony.
Total Toptable Make-Over
You’ll find Provisions Kitsilano at the corner of 4th and Vine, in the space which was previously occupied by Brown’s Socialhouse. The Toptable Group owned building is all dolled up with a new paint job in the navy blue and white brand colours. In fact, the change of the exterior colours was one of the first hints that we would be getting a Vancouver iteration of Whistler’s Provisions.
The Toptable restaurant group is also responsible for fine dining establishments in Vancouver like Elisa, Blue Water, and CinCin as well as Marilena in Victoria. With Aquilini ownership comes some financial freedom. They took possession of the 4th Ave space in 2024 and have since refreshed it, inside and out.
Toptable didn’t just paint the exterior of the cafe, but the entire building, including the fire escape. New navy blue awnings have also been installed. The effect is refreshing, bringing a crisp newness to the heritage building.
The Best Breakfast Sandwich
The interior of Provisions is similar to the Whistler location, with the continued use of the branded navy blue, as well as lots of white marble. In terms of layout, the openness of the design lets customers see the Provisions team in action, whether they’re stocking the pastry case, steaming milk for a matcha latte, or serving a breakfast sandwich.
Whistler’s Provisions is best known for its wildly popular breakfast sandwich. The Kits location is thankfully serving it as well. The Provisions Egg Sandwich comes with tomato, avocado, smoked cheddar, and an impressive crispy poached egg. Impressive because the yolk of this crispy egg is still beautifully runny. There’s also a Bacon, Egg & Cheese as well as a Sausage, Egg & Cheese, which are simple and classic. They are reminiscent of bodega egg sandwiches, but elevated. As mentioned, everything is done in-house at Provisions, including the sausage patties. All of Provisions’ breakfast sandwiches come on house-made seeded milk buns. You can grab a latte made with Thierry Espresso or a glass of orange juice, squeezed fresh daily. And be sure to add an order of the Crispy Tater Tots to your breakfast sandwich of choice. They’re served with a side of Provisions’ zesty Morning Sauce for dipping.
Provisions Provides Non-Breakfast Eats Too
Breakfast-wise, Provisions also serves the prettiest Avocado Toast. You can feel free to add a soft boiled egg, smoked salmon, or prawns. For a sweet morning treat, the display is packed with pastries like croissants, banana bread, and cinnamon buns, which are also, of course, baked fresh daily.
While they do breakfast exceedingly well, Provisions Kitsilano will be open from 8 am to 8 pm, so they have all-day menu items like soup, salad, and other non-breakfast sandwiches as well. Most exciting is the Smash Burger. Meats at Provisions are curated in collaboration with Luigi & Sons, the butcher shop attached to the award-winning Elisa Steak in Yaletown. The Provisions smash burgers are made with a custom grind that delivers a juicy and satisfying bite.
European Flare, Alpine Vibes, West Coast Flavours
There’s a European feel to Provisions Kitsilano’s sidewalk patio. It will be lovely to enjoy a summer coffee or a sunset beer there. That’s right, in addition to offering lunch and dinner menu items, this neighbourhood cafe also has a liquor license. This is another element that gives Provisions European flare. Any cafe in Paris, for example, will just as happily serve you an espresso as a glass of Chardonnay.
Perhaps slightly less European is the Toptable team’s warm hospitality. This is a company that cultivates talent and likes to promote from within. Leading the front of house team at Provisions Kitsilano are Store Manager Leama Vallely and Assistant Manager Gigi Lai. Together, they have over a decade of experience working with Toptable. Vallely was at Elisa for six years, and Lai worked at Thierry for seven years, in addition to a year at Blue Water Cafe. The team goal is for a visit to Provisions Kitsilano to feel warm and elevated while remaining relaxed enough to be a daily go-to spot.
Welcome to Kits
Since I first tried the Provisions Breakfast Sandwich, I’ve been hoping, dreaming, and wishing that I could get it here in Vancouver. And now, I finally can. This summer brings a few exciting openings to West Fourth Avenue. There seems to be new energy on the strip, as big names like Aritzia also move into the neighbourhood. An all-day cafe like Provisions is a welcome addition, especially as Kits blooms during the season it does best: summer.
