Samuel's Coffee House

Cavendish is the heartland of Anne of Green Gables country, the stretch of Prince Edward Island’s north shore where Lucy Maud Montgomery grew up and set her 1908 novel. The village sits beside the red cliffs and white sand of Prince Edward Island National Park, and in summer it fills with families who have come for the beaches, the amusement parks, the golf and the literary landmarks. Green Gables Heritage Place, the farmhouse that inspired Montgomery's setting, is the main shrine of Anne's fans, and Lovers Lane, a shady path in the woods that she described, is a short walk away.

Within this landscape sits Avonlea Village, a themed village of heritage-style buildings that recreates the fictional world of the novel with shops, craft stalls, entertainment and eateries. Samuel's Coffee House is a seasonal café in the village, and it is described as a place that blends PEI heritage with modern ideas. The idea is a relaxed stop where visitors can sit down with a coffee or a meal between sightseeing stops, in a setting that has some of the charm of old-time Cavendish.

The café offers full-service menus with an emphasis on local ingredients, a natural choice on an island whose farms and waters supply some of the best seafood, potatoes, dairy and berries in Canada. Coffee, teas and other beverages are available, and the kitchen is said to cater to a range of dietary needs, including gluten-free, dairy-free and vegan requests, which is helpful for travellers with allergies or preferences. It also offers catering and can host small gatherings, with space for a group of up to about thirty-five people.

While it is not a museum or a fixed historic site, the café is best taken as a pleasant stop rather than a destination in its own right. It operates seasonally, normally in the warmer months when Avonlea Village is open, and hours, menus and prices change from year to year, so check before making a special trip. Many people combine it with a day at the beach, a visit to Green Gables and an ice cream from COWS, the island's popular creamery, which has a shop nearby.

Cavendish is busiest in July and August, and a quieter visit is possible in June and September, though some businesses close early in the autumn. Visitors, whether families or Anne fans, will find the area well suited to a relaxed day.