It’s been a while since I found a new coffee spot. Thankfully, thanks to my search for Aritzia’s infamous “Super Puff”, I happened to stumble upon A-Ok Café. Located inside of Bloor Street’s Aritzia flagship store, I checked out the instagrammable coffee shop and determined if it’ll make my list of coveted gems in Toronto.
Famously known for the trademark “Everything’s A-Ok” neon sign and mirrored walls, A-Ok’s vibe catered to a millennial generation infatuated with high street fashion and quick bites. The baristas were fresh-faced, knowledgeable and fans of West Coast gangster rap. In fact, major summer nostalgia hit when 2Pac’s “To Live and Die in L.A.” blasted through the entire scene.
In terms of food and drink, don’t expect soups and salads. Rather, anticipate gourmet pastries (ranging from baguettes, cookies and croissants) and handcrafted beverages. Tap water can also be dispensed shall you decide to quench your thirst. A-Ok also sells branded merchandise including totes, coffee beans and teapots.
Bluntly speaking, this may not be the joint if you require a laptop and wifi access to power through some work. The café prides itself to be a laptop-free zone to promote socializing and community engagement. However, if you have a pen, a notepad, some printed out lectures and okay with using cellular data, then this spot can definitely work.
Overall, I am a fan of A-Ok Café. Although there may not be any electrical plugs and wifi, it’s an extremely laid back environment for weekends and maybe a tinder date. Located in the middle of Toronto’s high-end shopping district, it’s conveniently located a few steps outside of Bloor-Yonge Station and University of Toronto’s St. George Campus. If you’re ever in the neighbourhood, stop by, try it out and capture some nice Instagrams too!
Let me know what you think! Also, feel free to message me any café suggestions! I’m always down to explore!
Candidly,
Jonah
