The vibrant coffee culture at Yorkville Village

While coffee is not natively grown in Canada, the first reference to coffee being drunk in North America was back in 1668. In the 1960s if you asked the average person, they did not know the difference between a latte and a cappuccino. But, today, coffee is the most popular hot beverage in the country.

Yorkville Village in Toronto has a different story, though. Back in the 1960s, Yorkville housed the city’s most popular coffee houses, including the Riverboat, The Purple Onion, and the Penny Farthing. Yorkville was a sanctuary for the counterculture movement in Canada. A network of 40 clubs and coffee houses created an intimate setting for the expression of art and talent in various forms.

In the last couple of years, though, the city’s cafe culture has changed significantly. Independent coffee shops are popping all over the city bringing back the culture of great coffee served with a side of art and music. Goldstruck coffee is one such cafe, through which we wish to pay tribute to the spirit of the 60s in Yorkville Village.

Yorkville neighbourhood back in the 60s

In the 1960s, Yorkville became the bohemian spot of Toronto. The old Victorian houses were transformed into coffee houses as a social space where people could appreciate art, poetry, and music.

As part of that scene, hippies, artists, and others who embraced the counterculture took these places to sit, discuss politics, and even enjoy high-quality live music. There were musicians from every genre: blues, jazz, folk, rock… Singer-songwriters like Gordon Lightfoot, Simon & Garfunkel, Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Buddy Guy, Ian and Sylvia, among many others performed at the Yorkville cafes.

There was a vast exchange of creativity, ideas, and culture in the area. It was an essential part of Toronto’s music culture. The coffee houses began to close in the late 1960s and were mostly gone by the early seventies.

Nowadays, Yorkville is one of the city’s most stunning and affluent neighbourhoods, featuring high-end shopping, upscale restaurants and coffee shops, beautiful homes, and luxury hotels.

A contemporary park, located in the very heart of the neighbourhood, brings nature and an extra touch of art to the area. The free tables and chairs make it the perfect place to sit, enjoy a cup of coffee and watch the world go by. The Yorkville Rock, an approximately one billion years old massive rock, completes the scene.

The area is also home to some exciting events: Bloor-Yorkville Icefest, Yorkville Exotic Car Show, Bloor Street Entertains, Toronto Jazz Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, among many others.

No visit to Toronto is complete without spending time and enjoying the glamorous and full of culture courtyards and alleyways of Yorkville, its charming Victorian homes, classy boutiques, antique shops, galleries, and museums.

Our cafe is located in the heart of Yorkville. Right away, you will notice the cafe’s rustic and cozy atmosphere and will be drawn in by the good music and very friendly and experienced baristas.

Our talented baristas handcraft every cup of coffee using high-quality beans and the most innovative coffee machines. Every beverage we prepare has a unique recipe and touch.

We pride ourselves in serving only freshly roasted organic coffee from local roasters and offering a long list of espresso drinks and delicious alternatives, with a touch of creativity.

No visit to Yorkville is complete without a cup of coffee from Goldstruck Coffee!