Heather McIntosh

One of my favourite things to do is write in cafes. After all, there are only so many places in my living space that I can actually sit down and write. And since my last blog post focused on getting out of analysis paralysis and following my gut, I decided to translate that into my next café venture in the Hammer!

So I checked out this place called Crown and Press. This will be my second time going, and I really like the space, vibe and food. Because it's in the east end of Hamilton, the area is a bit rough around the edges, which I think makes Crown and Press even cooler when you walk in.

The space is huge! It gives me Sex and the City vibes with its pink colour palette and dressed-up mannequin greeting you from the entranceway door. Underneath the tables are power outlets, which is perfect for anyone who needs a charge (who doesn’t nowadays?) But the star of the show is this Bacon Scone Breakfast Sandwich with maple chili aioli. It’s shockingly filling and the maple aioli really makes the sandwich shine. I get it if you aren’t a mayo person, but I swear, this will convert you.

With an art gallery to the back, and canvases scattered throughout the café, I could easily swap a cappuccino with a glass a wine and get my culture on. Maybe I should parlay this into becoming an undercover art spy