The Heartbeat of the Island

Located a short walk up from the ferry hill, Denman Village stretches from the Denman Island Community Hall on Northwest Road to the Kaffee Klatsch Bistro Gallery, around the corner on Denman Road.

The Denman Island Community Hall is the spot to catch live music and theatre. Built in 1912, the Hall is a centre of “downtown” activity, and its grounds also host the soccer field, baseball diamond, tennis court, and children’s playground. In addition to the Main Concert Hall, there is also the adjoined “Back Hall”, a smaller, more intimate venue that is used for music and other public gatherings. For entertainment listings, please see Concert Series.

The Denman Island Summer Art Gallery is located above the Denman Island Senior’s Hall, and opens its doors each July and August for a lively series of summer art exhibitions. The eclectic exhibitions feature an impressive pool of local talent, and openings are held every second Friday at 7:30pm. For the Summer Gallery schedule, please see Arts & Crafts Shops.

Next door to the life-sized wooden sculpture of Denman Dancers on the Senior’s Hall lawn, is Abraxas Books and Arts, a delightful store specializing in a wide range of books, art supplies, childrens’ literature and toys, stationary, and featuring island handmade pottery in its Down to Earth Gallery. Abraxas is a great place to pick up a bird watching or mushroom identification guide for your tour of Denman or a Canadian novel for a relaxing read on the beach or at the cottage.

Around the corner on Denman Road you will find outdoor picnic tables on the sunny lawn of the Denman Bakery, where residents and tourists alike can’t seem to get enough of Bill’s handmade pizzas and super array of handrafted artisan breads, pitas and buns. Right beside it is the Kaffee Klatsch Bistro, with the best coffee and espresso-based drinks around in addition to a delicious menu of innovative food, much of it organic and locally-sourced, as well as ongoing exhibitions of local island art.

After stockpiling treats for your afternoon trek, have a pop over to the Denman Island Craft Shop, home to an ever-evolving collection of local arts and crafts, cooperatively run by a talented group of Denman Island women.

Good to Know!
Denman Island Chocolate sells their organic,  uniquely flavoured chocolate bars at Abraxas Books and Arts, the Denman Craft Shop & the General Store on Denman.

Continue east on Denman Rd. for a glimpse of Island heritage. The Denman Island Guesthouse was built almost 100 years ago, and features an incredible Wisteria vine on the front porch dating back to those early days. Owner’s Donna and Sheldon run the B&B  and the Earth Club Factory & Bistro, a company dedicated to ensuring the stability of the environment through the promotion of eco-technology products.