This week’s Edmonton Patio Hop isn’t one of the most well known patios in the Old Strathcona area, but it just might be my current favourite. Everything about Cha Island is quirky – from the menu, to the Island decor and here, quirky is a good thing. It’s cool, because there is literally no other place like it in Edmonton, and that laid back attitude is there in spades.
Cha Island Tropical Cafe
The Experience
Set a block south of bustling Whyte avenue, Cha Island gives you a proximity to the craziness of the Ave, without all of the “Bro”s.
The road noise is pretty minimal, as the frontage is used mainly as a connector between Gateway blvd and Calgary Trail with little chance for the traffic to get moving much more than an idle. The downside of that calmness is the diminished people watching opportunities. There is some foot traffic, but the more interesting people watching is probably going to be the patrons at Cha Island.
There’s plenty of partial cover at Cha Island too. You might not be able to escape a heavy rain, but there is enough reprieve from the sun to make me happy. I know it’s not exactly “Island-like” to avoid the sun, but my pasty, white skin – courtesy of my English heritage – burns faster than weed at a Regge festival. There’s no patio heaters though so, like on the tropical islands I’ve been on, you might need a light sweater if the evening gets a bit chilly.
There was some light jazz music playing softly when we were there on a Saturday afternoon. It wasn’t too loud or intrusive, making Cha Island a great place for conversation. Though if you’re not in the mood for chit-chat, Cha Island hosts live music on select evenings, and the lineups always look pretty interesting. I’m anxious to head back and catch a show because I think this would be a cool place to hang out and listen to music for a few hours. If you are going to sit here for hours though, you’ll probably want to snag some of the high-backed seats, which are more comfortable than the stubby-backed ones. However, if you’ve already had a couple mojitos, you probably won’t care much about the seat backs, right?
This place gives off much more of a “friend’s beach house” vibe than “big city party district” kind of vibe, and that’s never more evident than when you play their Tiki Toss game on the patio. It’s simple to play, and reminds me of games we used to play at family reunions years ago. Just try to toss the ring onto the hook! No joysticks, batteries, HD screens, or expensive consoles required. Just good, old-fashioned bar game fun.
Did I mention I love things that I can do with a drink in my hand?
Tiki Toss at Cha Island
Beverages and Bites
Cha Island may be pretty laid back in attitude, but they’ve got a serious beer selection. I saw a post on Facebook claiming 120+ craft beers, and I can attest that nary a Molson Canadian or Coors light was to be found. That’s a big plus in my books. There’s quite a range of prices too, but it seems most come in anywhere from $6.00- $16.00 (those are the big 1L beers). There’s so many interesting sounding beers that I’m already planning on heading to Cha Island with a few beer-geeks to sample a whole bunch of new ones. The Anderson Valley Huge Arker Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout, for example, is definitely a share kind of beer, as it rings in at $33.oo for the 1L. And I’m dying to try it, so let me know when you’re in the mood to buy me a beer and we’ll head on over.
The Beers at Cha Island
The cocktail selection is equally enticing, and we sampled a couple. Robyn had the Down South Lemonade, which has bourbon, lemonade, and raspberries. As most of you know, I love bourbon lemonade, so this hit the spot for sure. However, the mojito was the star of the show. It’s one of the best mojitos we’ve had in Edmonton, and we couldn’t get enough. There is nothing more refreshing than a great mojito when the weather turns hot, and a trip to Cha Island is worth it for this mojito alone.
The wine selection is small, but seriously, there are so many other interesting things to drink here that you shouldn’t worry about it. In keeping with the tropical theme though, there is sangria. I guess you could justify that to me, but I’ll still judge you for not having a mojito. If you need to keep it on the rails for a work lunch or something silly like that, there’s even some great sounding smoothies, teas (hot or iced), french press coffee, Vietnamese coffee, and even hot cocoa. Hmmmm, I wonder if you could add a shot of rum to any or all of those?
Cha Island Menu
When it comes to food, Cha Island seems to be best know for the waffles ($8-$9). There’s lots of interesting flavours to choose from, and the Salty Dog waffles we had (cocoa, vanilla, sea salt, butterscotch, and pretzels) didn’t disappoint. There were a dozen flavours on the board that day, and you can even make them gluten free for an extra buck. That ought to make you celiacs happy, hey? There’s also a long list of sandwiches ($7.50-$9) on the menu too, along with a burger of the week that they make out on the patio bbq.
Cha Island waffles
If you’re looking for a funky place with great drinks and a bite to eat, Cha Island just might be for you.
