Cafes
Sublime Cafe
Sublime Cafe is part coffee shop, part vinyl store. And it is perhaps that combination that has allowed it to thrive in Kensington Market for the past six years. Oddly enough, the cafe is actually within doors of Sonic Boom, which, you would think, would challenge its record collection. As well, there are plenty of other coffee shops now sharing Kensington rent; much more than the few when Sublime first moved in.
Yet the hybrid shop has managed to distinguish itself from the other options, perhaps because it presents each option in a uniquely laid-back way. Its vinyl, first off, isn't simply a miscellaneous mishmash. Rather, it has honed in on vintage blues and jazz, with records by Barry Miles, Pharoah Sanders, First Choice, and even Mr. T (labelled: "Buy this record. Don't be a fool"). The crates line the wall opposite bench seating, allowing customers to break from their lattes ($3.00/$4.00) to peruse the collection.
The coffee is consistent and smooth, offered a few classic ways using Rufino Super Bar beans. Manager Reza Shelly, who also happened to be part of the driving force behind Mr. Cream this past summer, tells me the initial idea started with coffee, but eventually evolved to include vinyl.
"All of our friends are record collectors," he says. "Basically, we were running out of room, so we thought it might be a good way to stand out by offering them here."
"We try to focus on soul, jazz; there's a little bit of psych and afro in there too."
The music in the crates (and also paying on the turntables hooked up to the cafe's sound system) reflect the type of live performances you'll catch there some Sundays. It's all part of the vibe, which, according to Reza, is that of an "analog cafe."
"We're not going to tell you not to bring your laptop," he says. "But there's no Wifi; nowhere to plug in. We want to get people to socialize."
Reza certainly helps to get that going, as we continue to chat as he prepares me an Americano ($2.00). I challenge him about the cafe's name, and though he admits he was a fan of the band Sublime ("15 years ago," he says), the shop wasn't named for that reason. "It's more about all the different things the word means," he says.
I leave it at that and take off with my drink, which is smooth and consistent as I often find Rufino coffee to be. Though my Americano does come off as a wee bit mild, I chalk it up to my unintentional, liberal organic milk pour, which was caused by distraction due to Mr. T album art. I guess I'm the fool who didn't buy the record, and poured too much milk in my coffee.
Photos by Jesse Milns
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check out Ken Skinner every 3rd Saturday afternoon...
What a waste of a great space. Another couple of spots I ducked into in Kensington Market on Augusta, just north of this one, also disappointed. One was like an oven. No one wanted to talk. What a lifeless, dull, rude bunch I always find in Kensington Market! The one place I popped into, which isn't marketed as a coffee shop, but which looks like it serves good coffee, just had me shaking my head. The dude was making an au lait for someone. The aisle was narrow. Otherwise, This place wasn't busy terribly either, with just one or two people on laptops at the back. So I was standing just inches from him while he had his head down, making his au lait, seemingly taking forever, and he couldn't even say hello. And his workmate squeezed by me and they started to chat like I wasn't even there. Good grief!
Moonbean I was to once on another occasion. They were unbelievably busy - and they still looked after me and pulled me a proper espresso. So, The business there, I get.
I'm so outta those other jokey places.
best record collection i've seen in Toronto
I can give you a list as long as my arm of the rude and ignorant service I've received in Toronto, but I've always had perfect service at Sublime.
Hasn't this place been open for more than 4 years and why a review now.?