The Only Cafe Toronto

In Toronto’s East End, there is one building with two doors, side by side. This evening, I choose the Bar entrance.

Consider this, “The Yin.”

Consistent with the Yin and Yang principle in Chinese philosophy, this beer bar has a darkness that is only broken at the front by a garage door window that opens up onto its Danforth patio (in warmer months).

Behind my seat at the bar is a portrait of a mysterious Frida Kahlo, just down from us is a photo of a very chill Bob Marley. Perhaps Bob and Frida represent the contradictory opposites of old and young, female and male, which characterize the Yang and Yin of this third-century religious concept. 

It’s hard to believe that this small space offers such a wide selection of domestic and international beer. In fact, it has one of Toronto’s widest ranges, with over 200 varieties of bottles and cans, and 25 others on tap. The rotation of draught is so frequent that the listing of what’s available is displayed on a monitor.

This place is popular, with extremely limited seating, so visitors be warned: you can always lounge at the connected One in the Only Café and wait for an opening, if necessary.

What’s Spot On:
• An old pinball machine and a small collection of board games are available to serve your yen to play.
• After 30 years in business, this place is as now as iconic as the many celebrities framed on the wall.