Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Editor's Review

In the newly developed Canary District in Toronto’s east end, local chain Dark Horse occupies a modern, clean space that looks as fresh as it did two years ago when they first opened. Moving in on the ground floor, both for the neighbourhood and the building they reside in, has allowed the company to grow with the area and ingratiate themselves within this community. A George Brown College student residence is located above the café and a YMCA centre is right next door. Add on the thousands of residents living in the nearby condo buildings and public spaces popping up around them and you start to see the formation of culture and community that Dark Horse was banking on.

Appropriate for having moved into a completely blank canvas, the design in the space is exquisite and pleasantly crisp. The walls are covered in wainscoting to emphasize the verticality of the vast space. The large communal table has become a symbol of the brand, as it is a purposeful effort by the owners to bring people together. Substantial freshly made sandwiches and salads make this a perfect lunch destination or study retreat. And for these lucky locals, it certainly doesn’t hurt that unlike most of the other Dark Horse locations, this café is licensed for alcohol.

Reviewed by Peter de Vooght.

Cafe Features

Baby Change

Buy Beans

Loose Leaf Tea

Brunch/Lunch

Licensed

Outdoor Seats

Table Seating

Toilets

Wifi

Coffee + Drinks

Cold Brew

Decaf

Filter Coffee

Iced Coffee

Non Dairy