Built on the traditional territory of Katzie, Kwantlen, and Matsqui First Nations, and the former fur trading post for the Hudson Bay Company, Fort Langley is a gem nestled in our corner of BC. If you’re looking for fun and eclectic shops, breathtaking scenery, and a good dose of history to go with your locally-brewed coffee, this is the place to be. The town has worked hard to preserve its history and heritage appearance, while also nurturing major growth in small businesses that provide unique shopping and amazing food. Because we have serious Fort Langley pride, it is with great pleasure that we highlight one of our favourite coffee shops just a short block from the river.
Blacksmith Bakery was built on the original site of Reid’s Blacksmith Shop, circa 1910, and has established itself as a go-to for locals and tourists alike. Their pastries, sandwiches, gourmet pizzas, soups and more are handcrafted by in-house chefs and their team of talented staff members. Their coffee is brewed with local beans by Republica Coffee Roasters (just a street away!) and they make one of the best mocha lattes outside of Vancouver. This is, in part, because they make their chocolate sauce in-house, allowing its semisweet flavour to bring out the depth of the espresso. It isn’t simply chocolate and coffee in a mug; it’s a well-blended harmony of bold, rich flavours that complement each other. In short, it’s frickin’ delicious. We often get our mochas made with coconut milk, so be sure to ask your barista for their multitude of milk substitutions. They even have an oat milk latte! 
Blacksmith Bakery keeps some classics on hand at all time, such as their clafoutis (a custard-like dish with cherries baked inside) and classic sticky buns, but they also like to keep us surprised with a rotation of season-appropriate treats. Just this past fall, they crafted an Earl Grey eclair that found the perfect balance of sweetness and spice. Today, they offered a double-layered chai carrot cake. While their sweets are no doubt enough to bring back loyal customers, we go wild over their savoury bacon and swiss croissant. Flakey, buttery, and full of thick, long slices of bacon, one of these croissants can keep us full well until a later lunch time. 
Sometimes it can be hard to find coffee and bakery shops that offer items for gluten-sensitive, vegan, or vegetarian eaters. Fortunately, Blacksmith offers gluten-free cakes and an incredible salad that has us begging for summer already, with its ingredients of butter lettuce, pink grapefruit, watermelon, yellow pepper, feta, red onion, mint and creamy poppyseed vinaigrette. A simple request to swap out the feta and dressing makes this a mouth-watering option for dairy-free or vegan diners. 
Blacksmith doesn’t only specialize in breakfast fare; they offer a wide range of lunch and dinner options, having recently extended their closing time from 6pm to 7pm. Parents can enjoy a glass of white wine with their Bee Sting pizza (tomato, hot soppressata, jalapeños, kalamata olives, mozzarella, honey drizzle) while their kids play in the safe and easy-to-watch toy area, complete with its own child-sized kitchen and books. There is a coveted couch with ample space for a mom date placed right next to the play area, and we have personally enjoyed many great outings without worrying about our children getting bored or antsy. 
Every time we go into Blacksmith Bakery, we feel welcomed. The staff is warm and friendly, their bathrooms advocate for multi-gender use with a clever sign, and it’s impossible to go without bumping into someone we know. This is a beloved, well-established eatery that cares about delivering quality food, and quality service. To visit Fort Langley without dropping by for a hello and a latte is unthinkable to us. We love Blacksmith Bakery, and making memories while eating phenomenal food is just too good to pass up.
