In the short time since its grand opening on March 19, this cozy Bloorcourt Village café has been earning online accolades for its coffee, treats and good neighbourliness.
Several notable aspects set Hello Coffee apart from Toronto's impressive fleet of intimate coffee shops. One is its strategic location at 800 Bloor West, just across the street from the beckoning lawns of Christie Pits Park. Another is its decor. Instead of the cool, minimalist, Zen, and/or industrial elements that dominate many of its java-brewing brethren, Hello Coffee skews decidedly, and almost radically, bright and cheery.
The outdoor façade and indoor walls and counters are awash in the vivid cerulean blue of the sunniest of skies and adorned with garlands of white and yellow daisies, rendered in a carefree naif style. It's a chromatic conspiracy that strives to make even the most curmudgeonly customer break into a smile. And that's before ordering the coffees and teas served in signature blue and daisy cups.
Originally from Ireland, owner Sarah Bofin had been working in the coffee trenches for close to a decade before deciding she wanted to take the plunge and open her own café. The impetus was to create a convivial, welcoming neighbourhood space where customers could get a pick-me-up that involved more than just a jolt of caffeine.
In addition to beverages, Hello Coffee offers a range of breakfast bowls, salads, and baked treats, including maple scones and pumpkin pepito muffins, almost all of which are healthy and some of which are vegan and gluten-free. A few cater specifically to kids, notably the banana hot chocolate (which supposedly has a loyal adult following as well).
The nearby park promises that take-out will be popular once spring kicks into gear (and the selection of iced beverages expands). However, the vibrant space and friendly service will no doubt encourage customers to bask within Hello Coffee's sunny microcosm, which to date, has earned unanimously positive reviews.
Hello Coffee is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
