Toronto Guide: Arvo Coffee

 Address | 17 Gristmill Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4, Canada

Today we return to Toronto and a stop into  Arvo Coffee.  Arvo was not recommended to us but we gladly happened upon it while in the Distillery District.  After a chilly morning spent taking long walks throughout the city and exploring local shops, the open door to this small cafe made for an inviting welcome to stop in, rest our feet, and refuel.  Even though it was a little cold outside, the cafe itself was cozy and warm.  Arvo Coffee is an Australian style coffee bar.  Their menu offers a lot of great coffee beverages, drip and espresso. Ultimately we decided to try the nitro cold brew that they serve on tap. The cold brew had a smooth thin layer of foam at the top and a rich, creamy finish to the overall taste.  Its temperature was perfectly chilled and stayed cold while we sat for a while slowly sipping. 

Just about everywhere we went in Toronto we were tempted with a great selection of breads and pastries and Arvo is no exception.  On the menu we took notice of their toast bar.  There was a great offering of sweet and savory toasts.  We landed on Uncle Eddy's Trout Toast (house cured trout, crème fraiche, arugula, pickled red onions, dill) and enjoyed every bite of this colorful and tasty toast.

The setting was really great to sit in peace, enjoy good coffee and good eats while people watching.  While we were there, two small sparrows hopped in, in search of crumbs (or caffeine kick?).  Once they left another sparrow came in solo.  Overall the vibe of Arvo Coffee was very relaxed but elegant and the intimate space makes it nice to be around people while away from the crowd. Definitely recommend stopping in here for your caffeine fix when in Toronto.