Art Cafe

What is Art Cafe? Tucked inside the merchant stalls at 1921 Eglinton Avenue East in Clairlea-Birchmount, Art Cafe is a low-key neighbourhood refuge bridging Persian homestyle cooking with modern cafe culture. The compact space functions around a tidy ordering counter and a few closely grouped tables, offering a calm respite from the industrial bustle along Eglinton. It is warm, family-operated, and distinctly community-minded, welcoming market visitors and locals looking for authentic flavours and steady espresso.

Art Cafe Menu & What to Order The menu balances casual breakfast staples with hearty Middle Eastern classics you rarely find in standard coffee shops. Order the Big Bagel Simit crusted in toasted sesame, or opt for a bowl of Ash Reshteh, the classic Persian noodle and herb soup finished with sour whey. The savoury standout is the Art Cafe Best Chicken Wrap, styled after a street-level Afghan burger, which pairs brilliantly with a pot of black tea steeped with fragrant rose buds. For sweet finishes, skip the generic pastries and get a slice of the homemade mix nuts cake alongside an iced strawberry matcha latte.

Know Before You Go With limited seating inside the exchange building, Art Cafe runs strictly on a walk-in basis, making weekend midday visits the most competitive for open tables. Ample surface parking is available in the plaza lot off Eglinton Avenue East, and the location is easily reached via TTC bus routes connecting to Warden and Kennedy stations. Keep in mind the kitchen is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, operating from 11:00 a.m. on weekdays and 10:00 a.m. on weekends.