On any given day, rain or shine, a line forms outside Banter Ice Cream. The only variable is its length. Some days, only a few patrons wait; other days, the queue stretches from the door, down the wooden patio ramp, and into the park beyond. This downtown Abbotsford establishment, located at 33660 South Fraser Way near the awkward intersection of South Fraser Way, Essendene Avenue, and McCallum Road, serves some of the best ice cream in the Fraser Valley. It is definitely worth the wait.
“The longest I’ve waited here was over an hour,” admits area resident Melissa Gallardo, who recently guided Postmedia News through her neighborhood to showcase its evolving offerings.
Gallardo, a resident of Abbotsford for nearly seven years after moving from Vancouver to Langley and then further east, notes that the downtown core has experienced a significant boost in recent seasons. “It’s become a lot busier,” she says. “There are a lot more coffee shops, a lot more restaurants, and a lot more life than when I first moved out here.”
The transformation is driven by creative crossover concepts like The Knotty Brew Crochet Cafe (33723 Essendene Ave.), which features a wall of yarn and crocheting tools alongside a menu of drinks and bakery bites, with plush velvet chairs for seating. Another example is Foxglove Floral Cafe (2724 Montrose Ave. Nos. 101-102), which opened in March 2024. It pairs cafe favorites with a petite floral boutique, offering a deal where customers can buy a small bouquet with a latte for $15.
“I was doing florals out of my home for weddings, markets, and pop-ups. I wanted to open a flower shop, but I also love coffee and visiting cafes, so I thought it was a perfect combo,” says owner Andrea Mcallister. Located in the new Rail District development at the end of the downtown core, Mcallister says the area’s residential boom has boosted her business. “There are so many new residents, so we are seeing a huge increase in foot traffic as well as familiar faces every day.”
According to Gallardo, a younger demographic moving into the downtown area is driving innovation and new openings. “I think that is what has really brought in a lot of that change,” she says. Where she once had to leave the neighborhood to find a matcha or iced caramel coffee, there are now numerous options for trendy beverages and bites nearby. “Having the flexibility of more coffee shops and more social spots has become a bigger thing,” she notes.
On a sunny Friday, we stopped for lunch at Revive Boutique Bistro (33757 South Fraser Way), a unique concept that combines home goods, fashion items, and gifts with a curated food menu. The eatery was buzzing, with several tables full of patrons enjoying light bites and beverages. Opened in 2022, the corner bistro has become a hub of the “growing and lively centre,” according to owner Mallery Madsen. “I knew I always wanted to own a boutique, but I didn’t want it to be just that. I wanted it to stand out and be special in some other way,” she says of the boutique-restaurant idea. “Combining food, wine, and a place to celebrate accomplished that.”
The Revive Bistro menu draws inspiration from Greek, Italian, and Mexican cuisines, featuring flatbreads, nachos, wraps, and charcuterie boards. “Our kitchen team is led by a couple of surprisingly young and ambitious ladies who lead the team to create beautiful and delicious food,” Madsen shares. A heaping plate of Smokestack Nachos ($19) with pulled pork and coleslaw was more than enough for two, yet we also ordered one of Revive’s famous flatbreads. The Berry Flatbread ($19), topped with prosciutto ham, blackberries, and walnuts, proved to be tangy, salty, and all-around delightful. “It’s good, right?” Gallardo asked with a smile between bites. We washed down the lunch with Sparking Juice concoctions ($4), flavored with mango and blackberry. Stuffed as we were, we still found room for a scoop of Banter Ice Cream.
Touring downtown Abbotsford, there is an energy that feels optimistic and fresh. Mcallister, who grew up in Abbotsford, hopes this will attract more visitors and residents to the “cute and charming” area. “It has become such a great community to be a part of,” she says.
Eat Streets: What to Know About This Area of Downtown Abbotsford
Location: Montrose Avenue between South Fraser Way and George Ferguson Way.
Number of restaurants and food options: More than 19.
Parking: Free, with a maximum duration of two hours.
What Are Metro Vancouver’s Eat Streets?
This article is part of a series highlighting Metro Vancouver’s must-visit Eat Streets, celebrating stretches of community with notable concentrations of local food businesses. Know of a great Eat Street? Email artslife@vancouversun.com.
Then and Now: Downtown Abbotsford
1905: Townsite of Abbotsford, now the intersection of Essendene Avenue and Montrose Street. 1920: Photo from the Great Northern Trestle (now Legion corner of McCallum and South Fraser Way). 1928: Essendene Avenue looking east. 1936: View west along Essendene from Montvue. 1947: Essendene Avenue. 1950: Postcard of Essendene Avenue. 1955: Interior of the Legion Cafe. 1964: Interior of Little Mountain Dairy milk bar. 2002: Cars line Essendene Avenue. 2026: View from the busy intersection of Montrose Ave and Essendene Ave.
