The Daily Grind is an ongoing mini-feature that highlights the best cafés in Toronto for freelance editors looking for a caffeine fix and a temporary office away from home.
By Laura Godfrey
The Rustic Owl offers a perfectly laid-back environment with ample seating and décor that lives up to the café’s name: various sizes of wooden tables, bare light bulbs that hang from the ceiling, and painted turquoise chairs that add a splash of colour, plus a vintage Underwood typewriter on display. The menu includes a decent selection of sandwiches and burritos (about $7–$9, with a small salad), all-day brunch items, and drinks that range from lattés and cappuccinos to teas and juices. A small crowd of locals can usually be found here during the day working away on their laptops or chatting with a friend, with no pressure from the staff to move on and take their work elsewhere. The space also doubles as an art gallery and event venue—paintings (owl-themed or otherwise) from local artists hang on the walls, and the café often hosts live music, comedy, and literary events in the evenings after closing time.
Wi-Fi network name: Rustic Owl II
Number of tables: 15
Number of power outlets: Available near almost every table
993 Bloor St. W., open Mon.–Sun. 10:30 AM–5 PM
Laura Godfrey is a Toronto-based copy editor, book reviewer, and editor-in-chief of EAC Toronto branch’s BoldFace blog.
This article was copy edited by Ana Trask.
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