Happy Coffee & Wine — Restaurant in Toronto

Parkdale Grows Up (But Keeps a Flask in Its Sock)

Intro Scene

Once upon a 3 a.m. in Parkdale, you’d stagger out of Stones Place with half your shirt untucked and a stranger’s cigarette in your hand. The streets were sticky, the air smelled like tequila and existential crisis, and nobody owned a yoga mat. But things have changed. Now, I sip house wine in daylight, politely request a volume adjustment, and smile at someone’s dog in a sweater. This isn’t the old Parkdale. But damn it, I think I like it.

What Was Ordered

At Happy Coffee & Wine:

Espresso that could file your taxes for you

House red that was light, cheeky, and surprisingly grown-up

A flirtation with a pastry still in the oven

A quiet table under a wood-and-glass canopy where the ghosts of old bars go to detox

Service Commentary

Not a trace of Parkdale’s old barkeep indifference here. The server smiled, listened, adjusted the music, and didn’t once make me feel like I was bothering them. A strange, refreshing experience—like discovering the bouncer at Bambi’s reads Proust.

Vibe Check

This is what happens when the kids from the Stones Place era grow up but still want a little chaos with their caffeine. People here are stylish in an unbothered way. There’s a guy on a laptop who’s definitely editing a zine. There’s a couple sipping orange wine like it's holy communion. The vibe is soft-spoken rebellion.

The Space Itself

Inside: wood slats, mustard stools, wine bottles arranged like they’ve read Kinfolk. Outside: a back patio that feels like you stepped into a tiny Montreal film festival. All light, no ego. You could host a breakup or a book club here, depending on the weather.

About the Neighborhood

This is King West meets pre-gentrified Parkdale, where Tilt Arcade screams across the street and the memory of The Cadillac Lounge lingers like stale beer in a dive bar hoodie. The ghosts of Not My Dog, Wrongbar, and Stones Place still pace these blocks—waiting for a bartender who no longer works here and a jukebox that no longer plays The Clash.

Hits & Misses

✓ Espresso and wine both nailed it ✓ Back patio perfect for quiet plotting ✓ Staff were warm, no Toronto attitude ✓ Space has depth and intention ✗ Not many pastries if you show up late ✗ You might miss the chaos of old Parkdale if you're too nostalgic

Final Verdict

Happy Coffee & Wine is Parkdale’s clean-shaven older cousin who still has “Miss You” on vinyl. It’s soft but sharp, minimal but warm, and just chaotic enough to keep things interesting. If you’re mourning Stones Place, don’t worry—this spot has good wine, good light, and just enough weird to make you feel at home.

Rating: 4.2/5

Perfect For

Reformed party kids who now drink Pinot

Second dates that might turn into...

Update: I recently tried the “shrimpy burger” from their food menu and was BLOWN AWAY!! It was so incredibly delicious and perfectly spicy. Staff still friendly and they have now opened a beautiful, cozy, covered patio for dining service. Love this place!

Who wouldn't be Happy, with some coffee and wine supplied by a friendly neighbourhood shop?! When pandemic first hit, I was bent on supporting local and bought some fancy coffee from these guys to experiment with (it was delicious). As bottle shops (thankfully! FINALLY!) became a thing, I bought some lovely wines from Happy over the summer as well. More recently, I went down the fancy home coffee brewing rabbit hole and ended up with a billion questions. Happy did not disappoint. While they ended up not having the equipment I wanted in stock, co-owner Ed spent a chunk of time one evening when it was quiet and no one else was in the shop, fielding all my newbie questions, imparting knowledge, opinions and advice, and just generally just being kind, patient, honest, and totally non-condescending in dealing with all my wacky queries. I will continue to support these guys. Stop in for coffee, snacks, takeout sammies or lovely wine and support this...

Here’s a hidden gem on King Street that doubles as both a bar and café, and I’m so glad we checked it out after a local stranger highly recommended it. The space is super charming, with plenty of indoor seating, but the real surprise is the outdoor patio - it’s much larger and nicer than you’d expect from the outside. Perfect for soaking up the gorgeous fall weather.

The menu has a nice mix of wine, beer, cocktails, and coffee, plus some light snacks to pair with your drinks. It’s the kind of place that works just as well for an afternoon latte as it does for after-work drinks or pre-drinks before heading out.

The vibe is relaxed and welcoming, making it easy to lose track of time here. We don’t usually venture down this way, but now that we know about it, we’ll...