48 Hours in Abbotsford, BC

Just an hour southeast of the Vancouver Metropolitan area is a city called Abbotsford and we had the opportunity to spend a couple of days there with our son and dog.

This quaint and bright city was in full bloom and we loved how much green space there was. The city is very walkable and extremely bike friendly with bike lanes everywhere.

We stayed two nights at the Sandman Hotel Abbotsford Airport location which was about 10 minutes from downtown Abbotsford. We were a little worried about traffic and staying close to the highway but this hotel location was perfect and the drive into the downtown area was very quick.

We didn’t experience any rush hour traffic and found the city very easy to navigate by car.

When we arrived on Sunday, we checked into our hotel and went to dinner at The Table Bistro located inside the Mahogany at Mill Lake Building. It was about a 7-minute drive from our hotel.

We were welcomed with smiles and had an incredible experience dining at The Table Bistro.

This spot has been open for less than a year and will be celebrating its anniversary in August.

The staff were super friendly and made an effort to check in, accommodate allergies and make sure we had everything we needed.

So what did we order?

Mike had the Smash Burger (left) with potatoes and Cierra got the Peanut Bowl with Chicken (right).

Mike said, "Wow, this burger is excellent."

Cierra said, "Incredible, the peanut sauce is perfect."

To drink, Mike ordered a chai latte and Cierra got a mocktail that they made special for her.

We had a delicious meal and we finished it off with a deconstructed cheesecake and left with a charcuterie board to graze on later at the hotel.

The Table Bistro was definitely unique and we would agree that they are an approachable and artisanal dining experience.

After dinner, we went back to our hotel and settled in for the night.

The next morning, we woke up and drove to downtown Abbotsford to spend the day exploring some local shops and cafes.

Our first stop was a new coffee shop called Aurora Cafe and Roastery. They just opened in February of this year and we really enjoyed it. The vibe was industrial meets the gold aesthetic. The open space concept was really cool and they had lots of seating to enjoy your beverage or baked good. We will say our only hope is that they will eventually have more gluten-free options as they only had one item on their baked goods menu that was gf, no biggie just hoping they will have more next time we visit.

After Aurora, we walked right next door to a shop called Yes, Chef!

Yes Chef is a speciality kitchen, home and giftware store and wow is all we have to say.

It’s funny because Cierra didn’t realize until we walked in but she had been following this shop for MONTHS on Instagram and always wanted to visit but didn’t connect the dots that it was in Abbotsford so when we walked in Cierra was overwhelmed with excitement.

This shop is the perfect place for any foodie, kitchen obsessed, cook or baker. Honestly, we were in our element walking around this store. The aesthetic, the offerings, the products, the customer service, everything was fantastic and we ended up buying some sourdough tools, the cutest spoon and an espresso cup.

Honestly, we could have spent hundreds if not thousands $$$ in that shop and we can’t wait to visit again. To learn more, visit Yes Chef online.

After visiting our now favourite store ever, we walked around the area working up an appetite so we stopped at TracyCakes Bakery Cafe.

If you’re someone who loves a cute and quaint cafe with cupcakes, teas and lunch items, look no further.

We loved our lunch at TracyCakes Bakery and had a really nice time. Cierra ordered the Turkey Club with Salad and Mike ordered a veggie panini with chilli.

We also tried their gluten-free baby cakes and they were super yummy.

We learned that they do offer high tea reservations which include a variety of home-baked items, finger sandwiches and tea, so next time we visit we want to try that offering because it looked really awesome.

The bright space was inviting and welcoming, the staff were very kind and our overall experience was lovely.

After our visit to TracyCakes, we continued to walk around the area and stopped by the cutest gift shop called Spruce Collective. This shop was perfectly curated with fun and exciting trinkets like stickers, patches, apparel, wellness products and more.

Once we left Spruce Collective, our son fell asleep in his stroller so we went back to Aurora Roastery and Cafe to answer a few emails.

Once he woke up, we got into the car and went back to the hotel to freshen up and let our dog out.

Then we headed down to our next stop, Field House Brewing Co.

So side note, we don’t drink alcohol so we don’t often visit cidery’s or brewery’s BUT this spot was awesome and super friendly and accommodating. They had a non-alcoholic menu which was fantastic. Mike tried a Kombucha brewed local to Whistler, BC and Cierra got a Phillips Craft Cola which is also made in Victoria, BC - we love local products.

After we high-fived about non-alcoholic options, we ordered some pretzels and mustard, a club and chips and a braised pork sandwich.

Everything was so so yummy and you could tell that everything was homemade including their sourdough bread, thoughtfully created and made with fresh ingredients.

It was raining when we visited but their patio was heated, covered and dog friendly which was so cool that we could still sit outside. They also had a lawn with tables and chairs and an indoor dining area.

If you love good eats, good company and good drinks, Field House Brewing is a must-visit.

After our brewery visit, we headed back home to jump into the hotel pool to relax for the night.

Our last day in Abbotsford was one for the books.

Our first stop was a GLUTEN-FREE CAFE, yes a 100% gluten-free cafe called Polly Fox and we were in shock that this actually existed in Abbotsford, cue a happy dance.

They had a lovely breakfast menu but their deserts were superior above all. We got a Nanaimo Bar, an Apple Fritter donut and a cashew bar. Then for breakfast, we got avocado toast, waffles and a chicken sandwich on a waffle with a mocha.

It was really good and the interior of the cafe was warm and welcoming with exposed brick and wood tables. They also offered some gift items like snacks and clothes.

Then after Polly Fox, we drove out into the countryside for the coolest experience.

We visited the Abbotsford Tulip Festival at Lakeland Flowers and wow, wow, wow.

With over 5 million tulips, this local festival was one for the books and if you visit Abbotsford, you have to visit in early May because seeing the rows and rows of tulips was breathtaking. Happening until May 13, 2023, this festival is honestly breathtaking. Cierra couldn't stop saying wow.

After 48 hours in Abbotsford, we fell in love with this sweet city full of green space, cool shops and thriving entrepreneurs who are evolving their city with unique, trendy and memorable spots.

This city is a must-visit, it’s family and pet friendly, and welcoming to all.

Until our next destination,

C & M

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