Fair Grounds Organic Cafe & Roastery

I come here whenever I am in the area. The coffee is decent, I usually have the Americano. It’s nothing special but I think it’s the best coffee spot in the area. The selection of baked goods is where I think they have the best quality. Their Nanaimo bars are the best ones I’ve ever had personally. Atmosphere is a little dark but I usually take it to go anyways. Location is beside the lake which makes for a great pit stop before a nice walk or even bike ride.

A peaceful place with great coffee & delicious muffins. Extremely polite staff. They are wonderful.

Great espresso albeit a bit expensive. There's a small patio out back. Their beans are pretty good too.

Best Coffee in town! Hands down! This coming from a retired coffee roaster.

Returned here for the first time since before the pandemic. I had been especially put off at that time when they moved their business out onto the full front sidewalk - forcing pedestrians out onto the road to get around if they wanted any distance (was a tough time for businesses, but they have a robust and visible side area so it was a wild choice).
The glass front door is shattered and has been for quite some time (?) and I had forgotten how impossible it is to get in with a stroller (and I would assume any mobility device), but having said that I don’t recommend it for smaller kids anyhow - not a family cafe which is fine. Bare bones seating.
The prices are very high, ok coffee and ok baked goods.
The two stars are for the baristas who are always lovely - but in the years preceding the pandemic the turnover was super high.
That last fact, plus the first one about the sidewalk always left me feeling the ownership was the problem.
Happy Bakers up the road is another great small local business if you’re looking to have a coffee with kids along.