I know that all of the loyal readers of Espresso with a D have been craving more after that first post, so without further ado here is the first official review.
Before I start with the review, I want to preface that because of lockdown it is hard to gauge the overall vibe of the café, however this just means that in the spring/summer we will make a return.
Kensington Market
Let me set the scene. It was a brisk Saturday morning winter day – about -20 with the windchill (which before I get some criticism is very cold for the big city) – I rounded up 2 of the local coffee experts and we started our trip through the Toronto tundra. Before getting to the coffee we thought what better thing to do than to check out some of the local thrift/vintage stores in the market. Although I did not personally pick up any items, a nice thrifted button down was acquired by the group. One thing we realized was that Harley Davidson apparel is in right now, as every thrift/vintage shop was selling it. Overall, if you’re looking to pick up some new pieces and you can get creative, the market has you covered. If you’re looking for something on the more affordable side, Urban Catwalk is your spot. If you’re feeling a little expensive and potentially looking for a vintage statement piece, checkout Lost Boys Vintage.
Fika Café
After wandering aimlessly around Kensington we decided it was time for a warm pick me up. Although there are several cafés to explore in Kensington, we were intrigued by Fika café. As you might’ve guessed from the name, this café is Swedish inspired and the minute you walk in, that vibe is on full display. Whether it be the layout of the store, or the unique products they sell (checkout the tote bag I copped, showing off different coffee cups from Toronto cafés) this place is very welcoming and cool.
The staff were super friendly and my oat latté had just the right amount of foam. Although we were unable to sit inside, they have some picnic tables in the front for anyone who enjoys the cold. Apparently there is a cute backyard patio so I am excited to check this place out once the weather is warmer and “lockdown” (knock on wood) is more or less over.
If you’ve made it this far I would like to give you a fun fact about espresso: Espresso is both the name of the drink and the brewing process. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for our next post :)
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