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The Only Cafe
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Music:
- Live
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- Outdoor Area/ Patio Only
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Has TV:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for The Only Cafe
Review Highlights
"...beer but they have a very very extensive beer selection."
(in 6 reviews)
"ps theres a pinball machine."
(in 3 reviews)
"...side you'll find a small pub kinda reminiscent of bars..."
(in 5 reviews)
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22 reviews in English
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Review from Hoa N.
1/19/2012
Probably my favorite pub in Toronto. It oozes an understated shabby-chic charm. Walls are covered in prints and posters of different stripes; the furnishings are eclectic; the crowd is age-diverse; the ambiance, cozy.
Narrow and a bit dim. I love that they play vinyl records. And even though it is listed as a "dive" bar, it's not gritty or gross. It's beat and chill. My guy and I can bring our boys here in the late afternoon and play chess at a large farm table and laugh our heads off at Trivial Pursuit questions with parental pints of beer. I love how welcome our family has felt there--patrons would look over at us occasionally and smile. A friendly place.
An extensive menu of beers PLUS a full bar. Caffeine on the cafe side with jars of baked goods for your sweet tooth. Pleasant helpful staff.
HINT: it's a great place to while the time while your Danforth Pizza House pie is cooking... -
Review from Caroline W.
Scarborough, ON
1/15/2012
This bar has the most extensive selection of beers I've seen at any bar in Toronto. There are beers from several different countries, as well as some local brews. You can see from behind the counter what bottles of beer they have, and you can also see the brews on tap. It might be a good idea to ask for the menus, as they list the full selections.
I was surprised at how crowded the place was for a bar in the east, but it's a nice place to go. The decor is kind of rustic and eclectic, and the place feels welcoming. Maybe it looked really crowded because the place is tiny and the layout is kind of weird, but there were several people standing up, when all the tables were full.
The bar is connected to another room, where they serve coffee drinks. When there were no places to sit in the room with the bar, my companion asked if we could sit in the other room, which was ok with them. I like the other room better, as it feels much more intimate and it's nowhere near as noisy (the bar gets really loud, it might be difficult to hear your friends talking)! Plus, the other room has some comfortable looking couches. It's a place I could spend a few hours at comfortably. -
Review from Courtney B.
Pickering, ON
12/15/2011
I have to preface this by saying I have only been for coffee, as it's in my friend's hood and she just had a baby and is unfortunately not currently drinking. The place has the best, coziest ambiance. Everything is dark wood -- the walls, the floor -- and there is lots of mismatched, comfy seating and tables. I would guess that it used to be a bar, considering that there is a HUGE BAR down one side, but I love that vibe.
They have an amazing tea selection, and I love that they have little samplers so you can smell the tea before you choose. I absolutely love that they serve their tea in pint glasses. I hate tiny mugs of tea! Their coffee is great, too, and they do great coffee art. The service is really friendly as are the patrons -- really chatty and interesting and friendly. I wish I lived where my friend does! Especially when she is back on the booze and we can check out the pub side of things. -
Review from Stephen H.
East York, ON
2/3/2012
Great place, but NO MORE PINBALL MACHINE. That part I don't like. Great beer selection. Go there! You'll like it.
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Review from Stephanie M.
East York, ON
5/12/2011
I don't drink beer but they have a very very extensive beer selection. So my beer loving friends love coming to this little place on the Danforth. I really enjoy the atmosphere and the other patrons as well.
One friend hosted a sub-crawl: a pub crawl via the subway, get off at one stop, find a dive, have a drink. Get back on the subway go one stop and repeat! The Only Cafe was one of the stops on this tour and compared to the other "really" dive bars we were at, I found the Only to be one of our better stops! I don't consider it to be a dive.
I would say the prices are fair. -
Review from Eliah H.
Toronto, ON
11/7/2010
Years have past since I've been to The Only Cafe, but after having had the opportunity to step in the other day I was glad to see the place still oozed the charm of my earlier visits. If you are looking for a somewhat hip, down-to-earth, local cafe/pub this is perhaps one of your best bets. Unless that is you are some kinda business professional looking for something corporate and sterile, to which there are plenty of Starbucks around for you to bask in.
The Only Cafe is actually two establishments in one, cafe and pub, separated by a wall. You crossover to either side via a magic drape located near the back. On one side you have a comfortable and cozy cafe with a fair amount of seating. They serve up coffee, tea and various munchable treats. Only one blend of regular coffee available but it's super yummy. Espresso based drinks go without saying. The prices are quite reasonable and the staff are friendly.
Cross over to the other side you'll find a small pub kinda reminiscent of bars along Queen St. W. back in the late 80's early 90's. 70's rock plays over the music system as people hang out and sip their beer of choice. To note, I think The Only Cafe is one of the few places you can get a Black 'N Tan beer in one of those jug like bottles. Kewl. The prices again are reasonable and there is a good selection of beer and spirits, just don't come here looking for some rare Speyside scotch.
Perhaps some of The Only's charm comes from the lack of it in this neck of the Toronto woods. The place stands out like a water hole in a desert. But I think the place stands on it's merits in comparison to other pubs and cafe's. I recommend if you are in the area. Here's a tip: The Only Cafe is part of that Indie Coffee Passport thingy where you can get up to a $5 drink at 24 cafes' across Toronto for $25 up front.Listed in: Eliah's Big List of Go To…
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Review from Mark H.
Toronto, ON
9/17/2010
This review only covers brunch. I could see that there is a great beer selection but I couldn't stomach a drink after too many the night before. The brunch menu had some tasty options like huevos rancheros, a breakfast wrap, eggs benedict etc. but I was put off by the general filth and relatively small breakfasts.
The coffee mugs are an assortment of stained old mugs, the sugar jar had a year of dust and grime on the top of it and the tables looked like the walls - partially stained and spotty. The food itself tasted fine, the sausage and eggs came with one sausage, a small scoop of potatoes and two eggs. This would be fine for $3.99 but it was $5.99 which sounds like the price of two beers here or even worse 6 ice teas according to Kat F.
To top it off I'm convinced there is cinnamon in their coffee. If not it was something from the dirty mug. Stick to the beer. -
Review from Alex F.
2/21/2011
This place is pretty legit. I am in Toronto for a family reunion and while in town we have been going out trying to find a place that has good craft beers that one can find outside of Canada which we hadnt really been able to do prior.
The ambiance was cool. We ended up going with a group of 5 and got the area up front that had a table and a sofa for us to sit on. The lighting was intimate and the music was the right volume as to where we could enjoy the tunes without having to yell over each other.
As for the beers, they were good and the selection was great with craft beers from the states that we were endulged in. The prices were about average. They werent cheap but werent expensive they were average.
I would recommend this place and will probably end up going back before our trip ends :) -
Review from Kat F.
Updated - 5/4/2010 9 Check-ins Here
OK, so now that I know better than to ever order the food here, I'd recommend it for all beer lovers. On the first Sunday of every month they host a Beer 101 course next door at The One In The Only. Come for a drink on the bar side and you just might get some free runoff...
Huge beer selection (like, three fridges' worth), the staff is cool and knowledgeable, and there is a sweet back patio that I'll bet you didn't even know about. Iced tea (Nestea) and pop are both humanely priced at $1, which is much appreciated when you're having a non-alcoholic night and don't want to be gouged for being a teetotaller.
I say no to "good for groups" because this place is narrower than a matchstick and unwieldy when at capacity. The bathrooms, as expected, are terrifying.
The decor is kinda dumpy but you'll surely find something to fall in love with: Smurf figurines on the countertop, mismatched portraits of high school crushes like Ruhollah Khomeini and Yoko Ono, or perhaps the macrame barn owl that I secretly want to steal for my bathroom wall??Listed in: Toronto's Most Terrifying…, The Dive-iest Dive Bars In…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/21/2009
Cute atmosphere, possibly nice for drinks, but the breakfast burrito that I ordered was among the… Read more »
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Review from Adrian P.
East York, ON
9/13/2010
My favourite East end bar.
An incredible beer selection for all those aficionados (try the Schlenkerla Rauchbier), nice staff, a frustrating but addictive pinball machine and an excellent 2 storey patio out back. What more could you want?
The coffee bar, couches, laid back atmosphere, trivial pursuit and other games are also good additions.
With Opera Bob's in the West, Smokeless Joe's in the South and The Only in the East, what could the North have in store...? -
Review from sarah l.
2/9/2010 4 Check-ins Here
I have never eaten food here. Moxie tells me there is no food served in the evening, just drinking, but that you're welcome to bring food from somewhere else to go with your beers.
The good:
- Good selection of draught beers and very good selection of bottled beers - Coopers and the special edition Innis & Gunn
- Cheap. We had 4 or 5 Coopers and it was like 24$
- Great staff - very cool people, very cool recommendations, great time all around
- Great crowd - it was a bit older, people who live in the area, everyone was happy and there for a good time, no one was out to cause problems
The bad:
- it's hard to get to from my house. Seriously, I can either take a trolley and a bus or a trolley and the subway. I want to only take a trolley.
- I wish they had SOME food
Would I visit here again?
Yes. Yes, yes, yes. Absolutely. If it was easier to get to it would bump Prohibition for my local. -
Review from Ben S.
9/27/2009
So I recently moved to the Danforth area. No, not the trendoid, yoga-mat-toting, Big Carrot-shopping organo-mom zone between Broadview and Chester. And not the Souvlaki-til-you-drop zone of packed (yet mediocre) Hellenic spots between Chester and Pape either. Nope, this is the Danforth at Jones avenue, east of all that claptrap.
It is a slightly dumpy part of the street that's home to a melange of Greek, Ethiopian and Indo-muslim shops, restaurants, and even a large mosque. It's charm is in its diversity, and in the low key surprises you stumble upon . . .such as the Only Cafe!
You enter to a dark but personality-filled room (actually two if you include the 'One in the Only' cafe next door) jammed with rickety tables, mismatched mugs and cutlery and a whole mess of prints on nearly every square inch of wall.
There is no separate kitchen, just a high bar behind which the staff cook simple breakfast and lunch fare, around the two giant coolers with a better bottled beer selection than you'd find at most LCBOs.
The staff are friendly, and include a fiesty 4'11'' white-haired firebrand, who dances to the 60s soul tunes they pump out there, when she thinks she's hidden behind the counter.
The clientele is always interesting, and includes a good number of what I would describe as "working class boys" from the neighbourhood. Mostly white and ball-capped, they are loud and sometimes drunk at suspiciously early times. But they are harmless and give the place a bit of down to earthiness missing from so many hipster and artist infected joints in this town.
Having only sampled the breakfast I will speak on its behalf: It's damn good! Nothing fancy here (despite references on the Only's outdated website menu to stuffed banana-bread French toast, such an item does not exist) but good, ample without being ridiculous, servings of classics done well.
Belgian waffles are that perfect blend of fluffy and crisp, sprinkled with powdered sugar and surved with a mound of actually quality fruit (kiwi, berries, honeydew among them). The fact that they're made in an antique looking all-cast iron waffle press balanced precariously on the edge of the bar adds to the allure. Thumbs up!
French toast, served with the same fruit as the waffles, includes four wedges of melt-in-you-mouth eggy bread, without the metallic taste that sometimes clings to lesser attempts. The sausage it came with was ordinary but plump and good. Extra points for syrup served in an old pop-top Grolsch beer bottle.
Breakfast burrito (elsewhere panned on this page) was the least impressive of the item I've tried. The burrito is actually not really the focus of the plate, taking up a scant one quarter of the plate. It was tasty though with the spinach and scrambled eggs inside a different experience. And it comes with a big side of tortilla chips, bean dip and a salsa that I thought was quite passable.
Other dishes such as Cowboy and Cowgirl breakfasts are variations on the two eggs, toast, ham or sausage and homefries. I have only eaten this of others plates (I'm terrible at saying no!) but have witnessed properly prepared eggs, and good, well-seasoned and slightly charred homefries. None of that bag to deep fryer crap some places get away with.
Oh how could I forget -- the coffee is good too. The shop next door uses Mercury Coffee beans, and I think the same are used at the Only.
All adds up to a pretty decent place to recover on a Saturday or Sunday morning. -
Review from Gord M.
East York, ON
5/4/2010
A little dirt never hurt.
Though this was a cleansing stop on the Dirty Danforth pub crawl, I've actually been here quite a few times, so don't think of it as necessarily dirty.
This is a local hangout. It's not trying to win any awards but it certainly can be proud of a cheap menu, massive beer selection (two overflowing fridges) and I think its WTF-bohemian style is really something to see.
In addition to the beer, there's solid live music, pinball, board games plus knowledgeable and friendly staff to boot. That's a winning combo that keeps me coming back.
So, if you're in the east end and you're at all adventurous, don't be afraid to give The Only a try. Just bring a wet nap.Listed in: Dirty Pub Crawl Danforth
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Review from Karl R.
2/20/2010 7 photos
This place is small and fills up quickly on a Friday night. There's a weird mix of patrons. The Only Cafe (around the corner from the Donlands subway station) seems to be the last decent place to get a beer before the Danforth turns sketchy. So you seem to get the night life crowd from Pape/Greektown and bar flies from east of the Donlands.
Yelp's lovely August L. asked a nearby patron (an older gentleman that didn't seem to want to take off his winter coat) if he could take a group shot (the Mad About Plaid yelp contingent) and he quickly suggested the women in our rather conservatively dressed group hike up their tops to reveal their chests. Hmmm. (Not that I'm one who should be getting up on his moral high horse... but I got dibs on those all those boobs, buddy.)
That all aside, what's really awesome about this place is the 30 or so imported beers they have in the fridge. They run about $7.25 but it's awesome to drink a Russian beer followed by a Chinese beer followed by an Italian beer.
All 'n' all, if I had friends that lived out this way, The Only Cafe would be a great place to huddle, slowly work our way through beers of the world as we slowly age, and chat about retirement planning. -
Review from Danielle P.
Toronto, ON
2/20/2010
With plaid in hand I schlepped my way through Greek town to find this quirky pub/cafe. After parking my car (with ease might I add) I navigated my way through the 2 feet of space between the bar and the wall o' patrons that flanked the busy bar.
I discovered my compatriots to the rear and found a nearby chair to deposit myself. While this was not a frenzied search, I did however highly regret the giant purse I had on my person, as I indelicately knocked tables, lamps and fellow yelpers in my quest for a seat.
I was struck by all the famous art-inspired paintings covering the walls, oh and the passing people making their way to the over-sized patio to...breath in, and out as it were. Making my way to the bar was another trek through the maze of people and chairs, but I was happy to discover a true artist of customer service.
I am not a regular beer drinker, so when I come to a pub known for their on-tap fare I am a little lost. The delightful bar baroness poured me a couple of samples and started me a tab...get this...without a credit card necessary.
As a proponent of continued customer service I added a star to this review, normally this would stand as a true three star establishment in my books. Loud, uncomfortably crowded, and touting furniture older than my grandmother I might have written it off if not for the pleasant staff experience. Bottom line...get ready for bountiful brews and tight quarters, so make sure you bring a friend. -
Review from nikki c.
Toronto, ON
2/23/2010
Forgot to leave my review after the awesome plaid event!
I used to live just down the street from The Only Cafe, but never once went in for a drink. This was primarily because The Only is inconveniently located on the Danforth, east of Pape--an area that's a little sketchy once the sun goes down (and also while the sun is up). But for Yelp, I braved the 30 second trek from Donlands station. And so glad I did!
Turns out The Only is a cozy little pub with an excellent selection of beer. "Cozy" and "little" might be understatements, actually. This place is TINY! I arrived just after 9pm and almost didn't get a seat. The seat I did get had obviously seen better days and the springs and stuffing were poking out the top. A little dirty, a little scuzzy, but the decor wasn't all bad -- lots of artsy stuff on the wall to look at, including a painting print of a naked lady that I got to sit across from. Boobs and beer make a fine combo on a Friday night.
Which brings me to the beer. I'm not really a beer drinker, but when I saw the variety of bottles and cans peeking out at me from the fridge what other choice did I have? I hate making barmaids repeat the beers the have on tap and I choose my beer based on the label/can design so this was perfect for me.
Music was loud so it was tough to hold a conversation, but this didn't really matter. . . because they played Joy Division like all night long! Very nice.
My advice would be to avoid the area altogether, but if you simply must hit up a pub in this neighborhood, hit up The Only. I probably wouldn't go back on my own, but if there was another UYE there I probably wouldn't hesitate to attend. -
Review from Leeor J.
4/8/2010
I randomly happened upon this place after having given up on drinking anywhere other than an Ethiopian night club (I was coming from the easterly direction). It was a pleasant surprise. Good selection of bottled beers as other reviewers have said and one or two interesting draft options. This definitely feels like a locals type of place and has a nice vibe. You would be hard pressed to find a chunk of bear wall anywhere in the joint. paraphernalia is everywhere. some kitschy, some just plain random. I would probably go back if i found myself in the neighbourhood..particularly if i have a craving for some Ethiopian food beforehand :)
Update: I went back here recently. Somehow I missed the belgian beer fridge in the front the first time. I'm upping my review to 4 stars because they have the cheapest belgian bottled beer in town! and they have nearly the selection of volo at 3/4 the price. westmalle tripel for $7.25! sweet! mort subite for $8. sweet! -
Review from Marie F.
4/25/2010 7 Check-ins Here
So this is where my mom threw away all my shit from my childhood! I thought this place was adorable. I was wandering the Danforth and wanted to grab a coffee somewhere.
I ordered a large latte and it was LARGE (the barista handed us our lattes in a Mill Street pint glass!) It was ok... I guess. I get the feeling that even though the word caffe appears in its name, this place shines best as a bar. To best honest I don't think I would eat here... in fact I didn't even know they had food until I read the other reviews for this place. No one brought us a menu.
In any case I sat down in some comfy chairs and took advantage of the numerous boardgames in the back. I will definitely need to try this place out during the night one time. -
Review from Jimi S.
ON
11/15/2008 8 photos
jeez. im stumbling on all the good stuff where no one has written anything yet. The Only Cafe (here to for referred to as "the only" but without quotes) is all about the feel good atmosphere. and its beer.
FEEL GOOD ATMOSPHERE: sit down and gab with the bartender, you are sure to have a good conversation. take one of their boardgames and play with yourself (no one will judge) or a friend. stare for countless hours at the walls which are plastered with posters of musical and movie icons and lord knows what else. wonder how long that candle which has spilled wax over the bar, on the floor, up your shoe and onto your leg has been burning. smile and listen to the music. OR just get tanked and do all of the above at once.
enter AND ITS BEER:
so i wont list them; i wont be that tedious, but if you are a beer lover, connoisseur, or cultured drunk i guess, youll love the choices they have from all the best beer making countries on earth (or maybe thats just europe and canada). ask the bartenders, they know. or just do as the romans do and follow the advice of the graphic designer that created the label good enough to dupe you into trying his beer. both methods work just as well.
for a hoot, try their brunches on the weekends and lunches during the week. ive only tried the brunch and it was quite tasty: say the queens breakfast or for the sweet tooth, the belgian waffles. and bands play on sundays i think. check the website.
ps theres a pinball machine.Listed in: Favorite Bars in the City
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Review from Todd V.
Toronto, ON
12/5/2008 1 photo
So cool is this place, it has been mentioned in a Lowest of the Low song. So cool as well is the fact that the name is a lie. The Only is not the only Only. There's also one in Peterborough, each one modelled after the other.
As soon as you step in, you are affronted with a very bohemian, avant-garde bar area with collections of art work and sculpture scattered throughout. An old wooden bar lines the side wall to the rear of the restaurant which is dark and candle-lit, making this a place you'd wish to hear poetry read...or ghost stories, take your pick.
The collection of beers and liquors is equally as eclectic as the décor. Presenting beers from across Ontario, Canada, and the world, the drink menu is wide of range and not overpriced in the least, a testament to the starving artist community that imbibes there. The food focuses on brunch and lunch only, but a snack menu is available featuring tasty dips and other snackables at most times throughout the evening. If you catch them at a late point in the evening where the kitchen is closed, they have no trouble with you going across the street to the 7-Eleven (http://www.yelp.ca/biz...) to grab some chips or beef jerky to bring back. I'd go way more often if I had an excuse to get to the neighbourhood more. -
Review from Jarek B.
Toronto, ON
7/4/2009
Now, you may be asking... is it really the only cafe? Well, no, but it definitely is one of the best! A friend of mine who will remain nameless caught wind of a cafe in town which served our kind of beer at really-really-ridiculously cheap prices. We knew we couldn't let that information just slide, so we went to check it out. Turns out, the Only is probably one of the best places in the city to enjoy imported beer. At these prices, you're practically STEALING. Wonderful experience which was enhanced by the amazing atmosphere and chill clientele. I had such a great time, I can't wait to go back.
Listed in: Downtown Toronto Beer Elites
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Review from Ryan F.
Toronto, ON
4/18/2009 1 photo
A personal favourite. Overflowing with charm, history, 90s indie rock, and at times customers! Gets full because people know a good thing.
