TOT the Cat Cafe

Cafe: TOT the Cat Cafe
Address: 298 College St.
Phone: 647-748-2287
Operating Hours: Mon-Sun 10 AM - 8 PM
Website: www.totthecatcafe.com

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Only soy and almond

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: None
- Limited food menu at the moment

Review

My Order: Masala Chai, $2.25

Toronto's first cat cafe, TOT the Cat Cafe, opened in Kensington Market this November. I've been to one of Montreal's cat cafes this past summer and wanted to compare.

I was slightly bummed out with my trip here. My first disappointment was the cost of my Masala Chai. It was $2.25, which I found was overpriced for a teabag in hot water. The menu itself was pretty standard and at the time I was there (in November), their food menu was limited. I was told that they are planning to bring in more food so that might have changed by now.

The cafe has a separate room for customers to go in and view the cats because of regulations. Everyone that enters the room has to wear a pair of cute cat slippers in order to keep the room clean. It is small and compact with various cat furniture for the cats to climb and sleep on. In order to get into the cat room, you must register yourself onto a waiting list. The length of time you are allowed to stay in the cat room varies on how busy the cafe is. This can get a bit frustrating when the cafe gets really busy and there is a huge wait list.

They had eight cats during the time I was there and one got adopted that very day! The process of the adoption takes awhile because hopeful owner(s) would have to meet with the shelter for interviews and processing paperwork. The cats were definitely adorable and I think this would be a great place for any cat lover.

I was mainly disappointed with my experience because of my order and how the cats weren't allowed to roam free due to regulations. I saw that people could get annoyed waiting to get in when there was a huge line-up. I hope that the menu have improved since I was last there because I felt that they could have added more to the experience.

Toronto Popcorn Company

Company: Toronto Popcorn Company
Address: 147 Baldwin St.
Phone: 416-834-4880
Store Hours: Mon-Sun 11 AM - 7 PM
Website: www.torontopopcorncompany.com

Interior

Menu

Review

My Order: Small Blueberry, $4

I saw a picture someone posted on Facebook of the popcorn bag they picked up from the Toronto Popcorn Company. My interest was piqued and I started to see a buzz about this store online. Essentially, it's a specialty shop dedicated to popcorn. They have a wide range of flavours, including: Cheesy BBQ, Honey Mustard, Buffalo Kick, and more! My favourite type of popcorn from them are their candied flavoured ones. Some candied flavours included are: Banana, Toffee, Black Cherry and more! I got myself a small pack of Blueberry popcorn and my friend picked up the Lemon one when we were there.

I honestly think this is a cute place to pick up a surprise snack for a friend or for yourself. They have samples available so you could try before you buy. Their prices are wallet-friendly as well. It's my favourite specialty store within Kensington Market so far and I high recommend it!

Castle Board Game Cafe

Cafe: Castle Board Game Cafe
Address: 454 Spadina Ave.
Phone: 647-748-1955
Store Hours: Sun-Thurs 12 PM - 12 AM, Fri-Sat 12 PM - 2 AM
Website: www.castleboardgames.com

Wi-Fi?: No
Study Appropriate?: No
Stamp Cards?: No

Interior

Menu

Drinks - Soy/Almond/Lactose-Free Options?: Soy only
- Roasted coffee beans from Dark City Coffee Company
- Drinks with Bailey's available
- Nutella Latte available

Food - Vegan/Vegetarian/Gluten-Free Options?: Yes to all
- Cakes and pies from Wanda's Pie in the Sky
- Gluten-free snacks available
- Soups available

Review

On a Sunday night after a birthday dinner, my friends and I wanted to find a place to chill at. We tried Snakes & Lagers but we were told to wait for an hour. They did not take reservations and we definitely didn't want to keep checking back to see if a table was available. Instead, I suggested that we try Castle Board Game Cafe, which wasn't far from Snakes and Lagers. I passed by Castle Board Game Cafe a few times in the past and always wanted to try it out, so this was the perfect opportunity.

It was super crowded when we got there, but we called ahead of time to make sure that there were tables available before making the trip. Of course, the sitting fee is $2.50 per hour and anything else you get is additional. We ended up playing Monopoly Deal for the majority of the time we were there, which was a fun and easy game.

I think the cafe is good, just nothing to really differentiate itself. It gets pricey if you stay longer than two hours since the sitting fee racks up. It doesn't seem like they have a Game Master because when I was there, I did not see anyone helping out the customers with the game rules. Since my friends and I did not order anything, I have no comment on the food. However, they do offer a variety of items, including pies and soups.