Dark Horse Espresso Bar
682 Queen Street East
Phone: 416.898.6235
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The first thing I notice upon entering Dark Horse Espresso Bar is the huge wooden table in one corner. The thought of sitting beside strangers unnerves me, but the bar seats are all full. Co-owner Deanna Zunde says she got the idea for a communal table while traveling in Europe: "I thought Toronto could use a little more encouragement to talk to strangers in an intimate setting."
Photo courtesy: Tim Shore.
"I love that Dark Horse has fit so well into the neighbourhood and has become a community meeting place," says Angela Bradfield in the Dark Horse Facebook group. "The communal table is such a great concept and works like magic at connecting people."
As baristas / owners, Deanna Zunde and Ed Lynds make the coffee themselves and offer baked treats in addition to their espresso-based drinks and teas. Lynds took second-place at the 1st Annual Toronto Life Latte Art Competition and will be competing in the National Barista Championships in September.
I slide onto a chair at the table and focus on the artful double heart poured into the foam of my London Fog as I studiously avoid eye contact with others seated around me. A stranger across the table remarks to their companion about an article in the newspaper they're reading. A moment later, someone else a few seats away adds a comment, provoking laughter. Subtly, the atmosphere changes.
And suddenly we're no longer just strangers sitting stiffly in the same space, pretending the others don't exist. We're chatting in the kitchen of someone's home as sunlight spills onto the table, and time slows down. Not a bad way to start the day, really.
682 Queen Street East, Hours: 7am-7pm every day
Comments (23)
this is my fave. new place. dependably wonderful coffees, prostar latte art, friendly staff, wifi, and communal atmosphere.
Love this coffee shop! Great stop as I pop up from the Don bike path at Queen Street. The wide glass is brilliant in the sun!
Great place, great vibe, really glad it's down there (falls under "Saturday morning walking distance" from my house).
That place sounds amazing - I'll have to check it out some time! And I love the design on the coffees... little things like that definitely add a smile to my day.
I used to work down the street from this place; I always loved the look of it, but not being a coffee drinker I never went in. I'm glad to see nearly a year later and the local Starbucks hasn't sunk them yet.
This place creates such an amazing vibe. It has so much character. My only qualm is that there is only one Dark Horse. There should be more places like this in the city.
This place creates such an amazing vibe. It has so much character. My only qualm is that there is only one Dark Horse. There should be more places like this in the city.
i love ed and "d"
my wife and i have recently opened an espresso bar -- bisogno espresso bar -- in the st lawrence market area (61 sherbourne street, between king street e and adelaide st. e.) and ed and "d" have been incredible support and inspiration to us. we pay tribute to them by having the same LARGE TABLE in the centre of the cafe with the same chillax atmosphere. they are good friends who are great people.
Best latte in East Toronto, and a definite All Metro contender. Friendly staff that knows their stuff. Friendly, easy-to-talk-to customers. Caffe copy of the New York Times Sunday edition. Benches (and a dog dish) outside. What more could one want?
I love this place! The staff are always friendly, as are the regulars. They even like babies :)
Aaah, finally a coffee house in Toronto that did not make me wish I was back in the West Coast. Excellent single origin coffee blends served in a french press - they even have Intellegenstia coffee imported from Chi-town. Wooho!
Love the place, love the servers, love the coffee. Oh...love the art. I bought one of the large paintings on display by a local artist. A really cool place to hang out.
If you've been going to Sta*$$$$s all these years... well you've been missing out on the very best coffee, (one of) the best coffee experiences, (I love John at Jet Fuel too!) with the friendliest crowd in Toronto, bar-none. There is just no better place to start your day. These guys know their coffee. Never bitter, always smiling, and kid friendly too. Well worth the trip over the Don.
My favourite place in the city. I love it here. It's very communal and friendly and always welcoming. The table is great. The customers are so friendly and inviting in this cafe you never feel out of place or left out.
And lets not forget they have probably the best menu in the city and the best tasting coffees. I don't even mind making the trip from U of T just to get a great cup of coffee here.
tried Dark Horse today on my weekly jaunts around the City to find the best espresso based coffee. Great vibe. Cap and Latte were good, strong and creamy but not hot enough at all. People behind counter seemed nice. Is there new owners??? Will go back but Balzac's and Manic(although Manic's arent' hot enough either) still the best.
Looks like a new Dark Horse being built at Spadina and Sullivan, among the great Vietnamese restaurants. Could be awesome!
yeah, I passed by it on the way to lunch today and it's open. Looks great from the outside and based on the comments here, it sounds like it could be a great new place for my coffee breaks!
I've been to the new one several times and love it when it's not crowded. It's bright and sunny, coffee is great and they also carry some vegan treats - important for my partner and myself. We never went to the one on Queen East so can't compare. Two things that make it stand out: the big tables are made from the floors of a demolished bowling alley, and the building it's in is amazing - the Robertson Building - there's a living wall just outside the Dark Horse's doors.
moving into the hood (well, other side of th bridge) next week. Though I've been riding by the Spadina location for way too long without going in, I'm really thrilled that this place will likely be my coffee spot
A great place to be.
From out of town.
Coffee Groundz is to Houston as Dark Horse Cafe is to Toronto.
My experience here only enhanced my already great experience in Toronto.
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