I've walked by this place a good thousand times, but until yesterday, I had never actually tried it. It's a little shop at the corner of Eau Claire Mall, right across the escalators that take you up to the theatres. There's usually an accordion player playing a mean polka right across the shop.
There's always been a big sign in front of the store that boasts "Calgary's Best Chai". Really??? I had to see for myself.
I ordered a medium skim chai and yes, it was alright, but by NO means was it the best chai I've had in Calgary. Sorry guys, but that's false advertising.
I must say though, the service was excellent. The man who runs the store is so friendly and nice. I was really impressed on that front.
The other thing that is super cool about The Bean Stop is that it is right beside the Free Internet area in Eau Claire Market. So you can grab your coffee or tea and sit on the comfy couches and surf the net for free. It's really convenient, and it's nice beyond words to have access to unlimited free Wifi. A lot of coffee places in the city either limit your time on the internet or they don't have a comfortable set up where you can surf for hours on end. The Bean Stop has got this covered and I really appreciate this feature.
All in all, The Bean Stop is a decent coffee place. It's location and service make it popular with the locals and it's a great place to grab a java as you continue to peruse the market.