Arts Café

"For the Love of Good Coffee Arts Café is pretty much what every coffee shop should be about: beautiful design, delicious food, and quality coffee prepared by competent baristas. Trust me when I say that after visiting Arts Café, most other places will pale in comparison. The decor is especially inviting. Tons of heavy wood, a very original light fixture by the window, and pops of color reminiscent of the pastels of an art studio make for a very inspiring space. Writers and students take great pleasure in visiting. The food is also noteworthy; I have been known to walk the 2 kilometers between my flat and Arts Café simply to get my hands on a delicious old-cheddar grilled cheese with onion chutney and green apples. While the interior is splendid, what really makes this place special is the massive outdoor terrace à la Européenne—the perfect place to enjoy a strong espresso on a sunny day."

"The Arts Café is a hip and welcoming little café in the Mile End that lives up to its name, with industrial bulbs, books, greenery, and wooden floors. The menu is vegetarian-friendly, but poutine aficionados will love their breakfast poutine, which comes complete with duck confit, poached egg, caramelized onion, russet potato, cheese curds, and Hollandaise sauce. That, plus a mimosa or a Bloody Caesar, and you've achieved the perfect start to the day." - Richard Burnett

"Given Arts Café’s location (just down the street from Fairmount Bagel), it’s no surprise that their gravlax plate takes advantage of that. Served open-faced with a smear of lemon cream cheese, generous ribbons of house-cured trout gravlax, and a sprinkling of fried capers, the combination of toppings does justice to the bagel beneath." - Mallory Frayn