Luzzara Coffee Bar

My trips home to Edmonton now have to include a trip to Luzzara on Whyte Ave. My sister’s office is around the corner so she started going there a year or so ago. Her daily trips here made her fast friends of the owner, Sarah Jackson. Of course my sister brought me along with her one day, so now Luzzara is a favourite for me as well. What I love is that Luzzara is housed in the front part of a scooter shop with a environmentally friendly hair dressers above. Sarah started her business when she reached a crossroads — instead of going back to school as she originally intended, she started her own business to encorporate her love of coffee and chatting with people.
When you first walk into Luzzara you are always greeted with a smile and the daily specials are written in chalk on the cupboards behind the counter. As the food goes, they get wiped off the board so you don’t have to even ask what’s left (though the ghostly chalky imprints make you envious of the people who came before you). Not only can you get an amazing cup of coffee but you can get a selection of homemade sandwiches and paninis as well as sweet treats from local bakeries. As Sarah has to eat gluten free, there is always something for those who are the same. And for the vegans out there, there is not only soya milk but almond milk for a bit of a change.
Today, I started off with a soya Americano misto with one Splenda — my sister’s drink of choice. As we sat around and chatted (and my sister knitted), I got to try Luzzara specialty — an almond milk mocha. The almond milk makes it taste marshmellowy and reminded me of my first ever coffee I had in Vancouver. It was a mocha. The gateway coffee to get you hooked on a steady diet of coffee related beverages. I’ve even been known to have it black these days.
So if you are in E-​town and are craving some coffee, company and a little snackage, go say hi to Sarah. You can also follow her on Twitter at @Luzzara.

Luzzara is a true class-​act and certainly something that every neighborhood café should strive to achieve. Sarah, the owner, is friendly and happy to entertain her customers and creates an atmosphere that is really unmatched with anything else that I’ve seen in Edmonton.
There are many small coffee shops and all businesses have friends who’d occasionally visit and be treated well. At Luzzara’s everyone is a friend and everyone is treated nicely! It’s unique.

Luzzara is a gem. Unlike most other places in town, you can expect an interesting conversation when you stop by here (although don’t stop by expecting to get some work done like in other coffeeshops). It’s a refreshing change from the impersonal, keep-​to-​yourself attitude in pretty much every other place in town. I feel like Luzzara could be the setting in some kind of Edmonton-​based sitcom.
And Sarah makes a mean hot chocolate too.

Possibly the best spot to have coffee on the Ave of Whyte, Luzzara is both classy and casual. The cappuccino is sultry and smooth, the cookies are fresh and delectable, and something delicious is always cooking in the panini press. Personable and hilarious barista Sarah is the icing on the cake.

After hearing about the out of this world hot chocolate, I had to drag the Hubs down to try it out for myself.
And we were not disappointed.
The hot chocolate (and mochas) are made with a blend of different chocolate (and vanilla) sauces that is truly unique — just like Luzzara itself.
Sarah is really friendly and always has a smile ready. She seems to truly appreciate every customer that comes in the door.
She also hosts different «event» nights, like a knitting club and information sessions presented by other local businesses on various topics.
This is a great addition to the community

This might just be my new favourite coffee shop! If it isn’t the rich hot chocolate or flavourful teas, it’s the fun conversation with Luzzara owner Sarah.
The space is so cool. Super-​cute black and white wallpapering (and curtains to match!) and cute little tables (but don’t worry, they’re big enough to hold at least two Macbooks, a theory which we have tested rigorously).
I haven’t tried any of the desserts here yet, but Friday sounds like a good day to swing by and try a free cookie with my beverage of choice!
Sneak a peek into the scooter shop next door, too, where Sarah holds info sessions some evenings on any topic you can imagine!

Luzzara is a boutique coffee shop on east Whyte Avenue owned and operated by Sarah Jackson. Sarah is a fantastic lady with an appreciation for coffee.
Luzzara serves a variety of coffee’s, italian soda’s, and has, quite possibly, the best hot chocolate in town. Yes, it’s bad for you — but try it with the whole milk, it’s delicious.
She serves sandwiches as well as desserts, and visit on Friday’s for a special cookie treat.
If you’re in the area, this is a delicious coffee shop that you need to try. You can also follow her on Twitter as @Luzzara.