Thierry Mount Pleasant is worth the walk off Main Street

The door is the first sign you are somewhere good. Heavy palm wood, no loud signage, on a quiet block of East 10th between Main and Kingsway. Inside it is dark wood, brass and a marble case across the room.

This is Thierry Mount Pleasant, the second Vancouver location from chef Thierry Busset. The original has been on Alberni Street since 2010. This one opened in November 2020 behind what Toptable called its iconic palm wood door, in a 2,000 square foot space with display cases built in France. Busset trained in France and ran pastry at 3 Michelin starred kitchens in London before Vancouver.

Where to find Thierry Mount Pleasant

Head to 265 East 10th Avenue, a short walk south of the Main Street shops. Closest SkyTrain is Main Street–Science World, then a bus or roughly 15 minutes on foot. Street parking on East 10th is metered and limited, so transit is easier on weekends.

What to order

Order the chocolate cake and the tiramisu if you are splitting two.

The chocolate cake. A glossy dark chocolate dome inside a chocolate collar, 3 candied pistachios on top. Deep and not sweet. Rich enough that half is generous.

The tiramisu. Built upright in a collar of chocolate petals, buried under shaved chocolate and cocoa, with a small cream rosette on top. Mascarpone sabayon over a coffee and kahlua soak.

The rest of the case rotates seasonally. On our visit it held an earl grey bergamot with almond jaconde and bergamot gelée, and a chocolate trio of white, milk and dark chocolate mousse on chocolate sponge, plus berry and lemon tarts, macarons and madeleines. There is quiche, soup and sandwiches if you want lunch first. The full cakes and tarts list is online.

Sit in, do not take out

Plates arrive on wooden trays. The room is calm, bright and quiet in a way Main Street cafés rarely are.

Planning your visit

Go on a weekday afternoon for a full case and an easy seat. Weekend late mornings are busiest and the prettiest cakes sell out first. Individual cakes are premium priced, so plan for 2 items and coffee or so. Whole cakes need about 48 hours notice. Hours differ by location, so check Thierry’s site before going.

Worth it?

Yes, if you want well-crafted pastry.