Belljar Cafe

If you’ve ever wanted more out of your coffee shop experience than just a cup of joe, put Belljar Cafe on your must-visit list. Equal parts espresso emporium, cocktail bar, music venue and neighbourhood hangout, Belljar has a little something for everyone.

Located in Roncesvalles, the café is owned by husband and wife team Geoffrey McPeek and Lisa Kannakko. Geoffrey has an incredible taste in music, as he comes from a musical background and is an accomplished songwriter. Lisa is a filmmaker and the creator of “Live at the Belljar”, a video archive of the music shows that happen at the space - including two intimate performances by musical giant and neighbour Daniel Lanois. These owners have defied the norm and created an interesting space that is multi-dimensional, with a different vibe from day to night.

“Come here in the day for the best espresso ever. Come here on the weekends for a really great brunch, spend hot summer nights out on the patio in the back or relax in the evening with good friends over cocktails or craft beers,” says Lisa.

In addition to offering food and drink for the morning rush to the nighttime crowd, the cozy café is also a family-friendly spot that fits right in on a street of art galleries and creative thinkers. The food menu offers a variety of crowd-pleasing sweet and savoury items including vegan breakfast burritos, gluten-free brownies and grilled avocado pesto sandwiches.

People want to come here, “because it’s in their neighbourhood and it a fun place to hang out,” says Lisa.