Pumpkin spice season has landed in Edmonton, and the city's coffee scene has gone all in. Beyond the usual big-chain option, independent cafes across Edmonton and neighbouring St. Albert are pouring their own takes on the autumn classic — some with house-made pumpkin puree, others with pumpkin-shaped marshmallows on top.

Start with the original. Starbucks helped turn the pumpkin spice latte into a seasonal institution when it launched the drink back in 2004, and this year's version hit menus on Aug. 25. It'll be available at various locations throughout the fall.

If you'd rather support a local roaster, Boxcar Coffeeshop in the Calder neighbourhood is a strong bet. Widely considered one of Edmonton's best coffee shops, it launched its own pumpkin spice latte in late September, made with pumpkin puree prepared in-house. It's open daily — 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday, and until 8 p.m. Thursday to Saturday — at 11926 129th Ave NW.

Over in St. Albert, two spots are worth the short drive. Ahlan Coffee House serves the drink both hot and iced, and stays open until midnight daily at 130 Bellerose Dr. Carmela's Whisk Bakeshop + Coffeehouse goes further with its seasonal lineup: alongside the pumpkin spice latte, there's a pumpkin chai latte, a spiced maple flat white, and an Earl Grey matcha on the way. Expect limited hours, though — 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday to Saturday on Tache St.

Back in the city, Malina Cafe and Bakery in Cameron Heights has added the latte to its new fall menu, complete with adorable pumpkin-shaped marshmallows — and its pastry case is worth a look while you're there. It opens 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tuesday to Sunday, at 629 Cameron Heights Dr NW.

For atmosphere, Block 1912 on Whyte Ave is hard to beat. Twinkling lights, a cosy room and a long drinks-and-treats menu make it a favourite year-round, and the pumpkin spice latte returned for the season on Oct. 2. Hours run 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday to Thursday, with a midnight close on Fridays and Saturdays.

For travellers, this is a low-effort, high-reward way into Edmonton's cafe culture: pick a neighbourhood, order the seasonal drink, and linger. Old Strathcona (for Block 1912) and St. Albert both make easy half-day outings, and the latte crawl pairs nicely with fall walks along the river valley.