Experiences that change people’s lives:
Falling in love, getting married, your Éclair at Notte’s Bon Ton

Established in 1926 by Oreste Luigi Notte, Notte’s Bon Ton has been serving French & Italian pastries for 65 years.

Located since 1936 on Granville Street in downtown Vancouver B.C., the family-run patisserie still creates everything fresh each morning, earning the Notte’s a following that is nothing short of credit. Window’s filled with pastries welcome customers into the shop’s main room. Elaborate wedding cakes. Glass cases are filled with cookies, croissants and cream puffs. Old-fashioned street lamps illuminate the Tea Room where customers sip tea and nibble sausage rolls. A small sign lets patrons know which of the psychics will be available for tarot readings. But none of them predicted the closing of Notte’s Bon Ton on July 28th. The Bon Ton announced mid week that it was being forced by rent hikes to leave its Granville location and relocate to 3150 West Broadway.

On the last day, Alain Notte, Oreste’s youngest son, had been working in the kitchen since dawn getting the enormous number of orders ready. Extra stuff was on hand to meet the needs of customers flooding into the store. By 10:00am, the Bon Ton is packed; the line reaches outside, and the Tea Room is full. Family members and long-time customers keep popping into the kitchen to pay their respects to Alain and his brother Alessandro, who has come out of retirement for the day. Everyone comments on the passing of an era Bob and Margaret Morris have been customers for years. "Bob remembers his parents taking him to Notte’s Bon Ton when he was 12 years old, sixty odd years ago. Margaret says as she blinks back a tear we always have an Honore Cake from the Bon Ton for Birthdays and celebrations. At Christmas we have the Bon Ton Yule Logs and at Easter the Chocolate Eggs."

Margaret is not alone in her devotion to Notte’s Bon Ton. Another customer explains that she is buying a cake for her father’s birthday. Although he passed away last year, she continues the tradition she’s known all her life.

It is 12:00 and the pastries on the counters are vastly disappearing. One customer leaves with seven dozen cookies, two cheesecakes and 36 pastries. Obviously, they don’t agree with Agnes Notte, who says diamonds and pastries "one at a time."

"Like a good diamond, more than one is too much abundance.
You don’t gobble your taste; the otherwise, it’s wasted."

3150 West Broadway
Vancouver, BC 
604.681.3058

Bakery Hours
Tuesday through Saturday
9:30am - 6:00pm
Closed Monday & Sunday