Duchess Cafe opens Sept. 3 on Adanac with no-tipping model and B.C. cocktail brand behind it

Duchess Cocktails, the Vancouver brand behind B.C.'s best-selling Cosmopolitan and Canada's first 12 per cent bar-quality bottled cocktails, is opening its first brick-and-mortar cafe on Adanac Street in East Vancouver on September 3.

Duchess Cafe will be located at 1249 Adanac St. in the same building as Coupe Beverages' production facility. Founder Olivia Lovenmark-Hay, who launched the brand six years ago, designed the space herself, with dedicated areas for retail and community events.

"We've spent the past eight months considering every detail, from the layout, paint colours, and lighting to the custom cups and menu," Lovenmark-Hay said. "After years of bringing Duchess to people through our bottles, pop-ups, and events, it feels incredibly special to finally have a place of our own where people can experience the brand in person."

What sets Duchess Cafe apart is its operating model. The cafe will operate with no tipping, instead compensating employees with a "fair living wage." The source does not specify the wage rate or salary range.

The cafe has partnerships with local suppliers. Ex-Animo will provide coffee and pastries, while Whisked Away — founded by a mother-daughter duo — will supply bespoke cookies, including a custom Duchess cookie.

The space reflects Lovenmark-Hay's design sensibility and the brand's identity, built over six years of bottled cocktails and pop-up events. For residents on the Drive and nearby neighbourhoods, it marks the first opportunity to experience the brand in a dedicated venue.