Tokyo Smoke in Toronto Launches Shop and Event Space
Directly south of the hectic, and sometimes tiresome, Trinity Bellwoods and Queen West strip, is Tokyo Smoke on Adelaide St. W. The small coffee shop is located in a section of the old 850 Adelaide Street West tobacco factory. It opened early spring of 2015, and instantly became a favourite for locals of the neighbouring communities who wanted a quiet spot away from the main strip. It might feel like Toronto is saturated with coffee options, but Tokyo Smoke is more than a quaint corner for those seeking a caffeine fix. On April 20, 2016, Torontonicity was invited to attend Tokyo Smoke’s party to launch the expansion of their shop and event space.
Mobile coffee cart, carrying the signature black and red Tokyo Smoke colouring.
Walking past the coffee bar and into the intimate working space, visitors will notice that the snack and drink selections have been meticulously selected. Tokyo Smoke keeps two of my favourite local drink options in stock at all times: Vams Culture and JUST’s craft soda. Both companies experiment with flavours beautifully, but my top picks are the Beach Kombucha from Vams, and the Habanero Peach (yes, it does have a spicy kick) from JUST’s.
Aside from the communal working table you’ll also notice a vast array of smoking accessories, and this is another key feature of this shop. Tokyo Smoke is about a lifestyle filled with carefully curated goods for those who appreciate things like a fine cup of coffee, and a quality high. You won’t find bulky, hand-blown glass accessories here. Instead, you can purchase the Alair vaporizer. Alair is one of the smallest and sleekest vaporizers on the market. It’s roughly the size and weight of a ballpoint pen, and incredibly well-crafted.
Late April of this year, Tokyo Smoke opened their doors to the lower level shop, a gallery and event space that will officially carry their clothing line, once only available at Gotstyle. The brand has zero frills, and is clearly designed with a confident, professional, and street savvy individual in mind. This is a clothing line for those who work hard, and who understand how important their personal time is, using it to enjoy only the best Toronto has to offer.
Poached pear with brie and caramelized onions.
The space itself has lower ceilings, exposed brick, and a featured exhibition wall. It complements the coffee shop in intimacy, but allows for very different interactions. It’s a wider space that feels casual, cool, intriguing and inviting. It also conveys the similar clean aesthetic found throughout the Tokyo Smoke lifestyle.
Duck with daikon on battered nori bed, with black sesame and carrot. Simply delicious.
The April 20th event hosted Alair representative Seema Dhillon, as well as the Shearer & Dahl chocolate edibles team. Shearer & Dahl brought their spiced caramel squares, traditional truffles, cheesecake bites, and brigadeiros: a rich and creamy Brazilian fudge ball. The brigadeiro was absolutely delicious and not overly sweet. It was far superior to any I’ve tried before in Toronto, and left me craving more. If chocolate isn’t quite your thing, my next recommendation would be the caramel squares, which were a close second for crowd favourite.
I can understand if the growing cannabis culture in Toronto, and Tokyo Smoke’s strong ties to it, have left you second guessing a visit to their coffee shop. I assure you that even a simple drip cup of coffee is worth the walk down from Bellwoods Park. If you’re a fan of quality and design-forward goods, then you’re bound to find your next favourite something at Tokyo Smoke on Adelaide St. W. The open garage facade alone will have you coming back for more on a hot Toronto summer afternoon.
