New Toronto cafe is hiding a speakeasy only accessible by secret entrance
A new Toronto cafe is the talk of the town right now, both thanks to its impressive daytime operation and its under-the-radar nightlife as a speakeasy.
One of the cardinal rules about speakeasies is that you're not supposed to tell people about them, right? Well, unfortunately, I'm about to blow the lid off one of the city's coolest and newest ones. I'm sorry, you're welcome.
It took a year's worth of build-out — we're talking a complete something-from-nothing operation — but, in late October 2025, 520 Cafe Bar, located at the base of Richmond West's Rush Condos, finally opened its doors.
Co-owner Gizelle describes the decision to open the cafe-bar as a "major risk," but, more importantly, a manifestation of her wildest dreams.
"This past year has been the most challenging with the most sacrifices that I have ever experienced. But when I look around, and appreciate the hardship, it made sense in all aspects of my life," she writes in an Instagram post about the cafe.
It wasn't until two months after the cafe portion of the business opened that the second part of the project — a speakeasy accessible only via a hidden entrance — soft opened, the cherry on top of a dream realized.
By day, 520 Cafe offers a standard selection of coffee-based beverages, teas, matcha, baked goods and prepared foods from Feast, but the space's interior, built from the ground up by Gizelle and her family, is the real show-stopper.
Floor-to-ceiling windows, rich wood accents and sophisticated seating areas give the cafe a sense of elegance without being stifling. It's the sort of place you could spend the day gladly, comfortably, working away.
From 5 p.m. onwards every Wednesday through Sunday, the front door gets locked, and 520 Bar takes over. Accessible only through an unmarked entrance on Graffiti Alley, you'll have to put in a little extra work to get in, but at least you've got the ideal photoshoot background as you do so.
Once you do make your way in, you'll be greeted with a dim, sultry space that maintains the cafe's approachability while amping up the nightlife factor with a great playlist and a selection of impressive cocktail creations.
During its short time in business, 520 Cafe Bar has already garnered some considerable buzz around the city, which comes as little surprise: people in this city love to sing for their supper.
In this case, "singing for your supper" just means tromping around the corner and trying graffitied doors until one leads you to one of the most unique new bars in the city.
520 Cafe Bar is located at 520 Richmond St. W.
@alterratoronto/Instagram
