Ethos Café, located at 612 7th Street North, has quickly become a cornerstone in Golden’s food scene, praised for its vibrant menu and local partnerships. Known especially for its handcrafted sourdough loaves, the café’s bread is already a local favourite.
There’s something about walking into Ethos Café that immediately feels like something between home and that special cozy destination that you’ve been dreaming of all week. Maybe it’s the rich smell of freshly ground coffee or the friendly bustle behind the counter. Maybe it’s the warm lighting on a cold Golden morning, or the fact that you can’t sit for more than a few minutes without running into someone you know.
Now, that welcoming experience has grown. Literally.
Earlier this spring, Ethos expanded into a brand-new bakery space, right next door to their original café. The walls are still that familiar cheerful white, but now there’s even more room for sourdough loaves, golden croissants, and flaky tarts that somehow taste even better than they look.
And they look really good.
It doesn’t stop there, though; the daily offering of new baked delights that change regularly is the efforts of Joel and Daphne’s newly expanded staff, particularly a pastry chef directly from France.
“We couldn’t believe our luck,” says Joel. “A brand-new pastry chef, a recent graduate, had moved from France to Golden to start her career.”
A Taste of the Menu
Let’s talk about the food. If you’ve ever ordered their breakfast sandwich, commonly known as the Breaky Roll—the one with the thick slab of egg frittata, melty cheese, served on brioche—you know these guys take their food seriously. The Breaky Roll is a combination of breakfast items that are brought together by the aioli, the true rockstar in this dish.
It’s worth noting here that the Breaky Roll is a regular that doesn’t change with the seasonality of the menu. No, sir, it’s here all the time.
Sourdough is available by the full loaf, and with the new space, they’ve been able to double their daily capacity. It’s the kind of bread that makes you want to eat a slice standing at your kitchen counter with just a swipe of butter (or next level: try tossing it in a frying pan).
The 2025 summer menu features a few new players:
• Mushroom Mole (pictured below) – A Mexican-style sauce with a complex, earthy flavour to it, paired with local mushrooms and micro cilantro … I don’t want to give too much away, because you really need to try it for yourself. Hint: The micro cilantro is key, so make sure you can stretch it out into every bite.
• Ajo Blanco – a cold, creamy white soup made from almonds, fresh garlic, grapes and cucumber. Yes, you read that right. It is flavourful and refreshing, the perfect antidote to a hot summer day.
The current menu also sees the return of some previous favourites – the beef dip and the croque monsieur. (I’m still holding out for the grilled cheese comeback!)
Their French macarons, made in partnership with Pauline’s French Macarons, are delicate little works of art—bright, crisp, and filled with flavour combinations like raspberry lemon or lavender vanilla. These aren’t just sweets; they’re a special occasion in a bite-sized shell. Of course, Pauline doesn’t stop there; many of the pastries offered are her creation.
On a recent visit, I picked up a pistachio doughnut that tasted like something pulled from an Italian bakery. Sweet but not cloying, soft in the middle with just the right amount of glaze.
Pair that with a freshly brewed coffee or a cool iced tea, and it’s hard not to linger.
Community at the Core
What sets Ethos apart—whether café or bakery—isn’t just the food. It’s the values baked in. Owners Joel and Daphne have long emphasized and remain committed to local ingredients and sustainable sourcing. You’ll find Elevation Kombucha and Stoke Juice in the fridge, locally grown microgreens topping sandwiches, and even seasonal produce from nearby farms used in their soups and baking.
Their new space continues that mission. It’s not just a bakery—it’s a community kitchen, a spot where Golden locals gather for coffee chats, morning rituals, and the joy of watching dough rise, literally and figuratively.
Worth the Visit
So if you haven’t popped by the new bakery yet, go. Go early if you want the good stuff (those loaves go fast), and don’t be surprised if you leave with more than you planned. A croissant for now, a loaf for later, and maybe—just maybe—a box of macarons for someone you love.
Or for yourself. No judgment.
Ethos Café & Bakery is open daily, located at 612 7th Street North in downtown Golden.
Whether you’re a regular or a first-time visitor, you’ll find that Golden’s favourite café just gave us all one more reason to slow down, sit awhile, and savour something good.
