Review: Fawkes is the New Cool Kid on the Block

The Kind of Place Where Wizards Would Hang Out

Review and photos by Arshdeep Kaur

Fawkes is not just another coffee shop in downtown Edmonton. It is becoming the happening spot in the city. If you’re wondering about the name like I am, it’s not just inspired by Dumbledore’s phoenix, but also named after the owner’s old dog. Walking inside, I swear this is the kind of place where wizards would hang out.

Situated just north of Bay Enterprise Square LRT station, Fawkes isn’t your typical, modern, minimalistic coffee shop: in fact, it’s the complete opposite. Stepping through the door, the dark green walls, Baroque-inspired silver tin ceiling, and eclectic decor, calmed my anxiety—like a warm hug from a wise friend. You can definitely see hints of Block 1912’s industrial aesthetic here too. That’s because the owners used to own Block 1912 pre-COVID.

The details in the decor are what keep pulling me back. Since it opened a month ago, I’ve been here four times, and each time I spot something new and try to guess its symbolism. Honestly, it gives me a dopamine rush stronger than scrolling through Instagram Reels.

There’s the peacock door handles, petite fleur-de-lis symbols on the ledge of the wall, marble statues of Aristotle and the Discobolus, lots of clean mirrors, paintings in vintage frames, and exactly 18 Persian rugs (yes, I counted). It’s all so intellectual aesthetic—I can’t help but feel smarter just being here. The bookshelf at the back? Total magnet for creative juices. I ended up writing while sipping my coffee, as you do when you’re in a place like this.

Maybe I was high on caffeine, but the people here seemed genuinely happy, and that vibe is contagious. I couldn’t stop smiling.

Now, onto the coffee. I’ve been sticking to my go-to Americano ($4.50) because, well, it slaps. My other favorite, the dirty chai latte ($5.75), was a little meh. It lacked the essential spices of the chai. My friend tried a matcha latte ($5.75), which ended up tasting more like hot chocolate than an actual matcha. It was good, but not quite what she was expecting. The latte art, though? Beauty. As for the matcha, it was way too milky and could use a bit more matcha for that bold, earthy flavour.

And then, there are the doughnuts which Fawkes is famous for. Drumroll 🥁 They’re all vegan (variety box of four doughnuts, S14.50). Some people say they’re too sweet, but hey, they’re supposed to be. If you don’t like sweetness, maybe skip the doughnuts and go for a muffin or something (don’t be a hater). I had the orange cranberry doughnut, and while it wasn’t the pillowy, spongy texture I was expecting, I loved the sugar rush and the slightly soft, moist texture. The icing made it feel more like a cake than a classic doughnut. Definitely a surprise in a good way.

They also have gluten-free doughnut options on the menu for those who prefer it.

For food, we tried a few things: grilled cheese with soup ($13), green onion cakes ($10), and a chicken pesto sandwich ($15). The grilled cheese was a bit bland for our taste, but the tangy, dense tomato soup was a total soul-satisfier. The grilled green onion cakes with sriracha sauce? Actually pretty good. The chicken pesto sandwich was a bit dry though. My friend was expecting fresh-cut chicken, but instead, she got deli meat—bit of a letdown there.

To top off my love for this place, I found a little treasure inside one of the tables’ drawers. Not gold, but a collection of handwritten notes and the kind of serendipitous connections that make a place feel special. Naturally, I left a paper airplane behind to add to the riches. All in all, I’ll definitely be back—for the vibe, the coffee, and the little bursts of creativity that this place seems to inspire. As for the food? Not so much. Fawkes is the new popular kid on the block, and trust me, it’s going to charm all of u!