A Whole Lot More Than A Cup of Joe: Where Great Coffee Meets Great Company!
By Glenn Rea
From waterfront patios to hidden gems, these local favourites have mastered the art of making people feel at home in the one and only city of Kingston.
If you’re like us and love a good cup of Joe…actually, “love” may not be a strong enough word; for some of us, it’s more of a need. Most days, especially in the middle of the busy spring market, we desperately need that hit of caffeine to help propel us forward throughout our day.
But even if you’re not a coffee drinker, a well-managed classic café will have something for everyone. What we personally look for in an awesome café is a cozy, comfortable vibe with super-friendly baristas delivering fabulous food and flavourful bevvies, whether hot or cold.
Fun fact: if you do happen to like your coffee on the cold side, you can thank French military troops stationed in Algeria in the 1840s for creating “iced coffee” just to beat the heat.
(Speaking of cool drinks, a special shout-out goes to P.M. Thrift Bodega on Montreal Street, a local favourite here in Kingston, Ontario. They also serve up creative mocktails and salty snacks to enjoy while thrifting or playing games in their small but mighty, artist-inspired community hub).
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A History of the Best Thing Ever Invented
There are a few different theories as to how the euphemism “cup of Joe” originated. But the most popular one is that the Secretary of the US Navy, Josephus Daniels, banned all alcohol on board naval vessels in 1914 (true story), so the disgruntled sailors began sarcastically calling coffee a “cup of Joe” out of spite because it was the strongest drink they were allowed to consume.
Speaking of slang, did you know that before the word “java” became more associated with computer software, it was also another often-used old slang term for coffee?
And by “old”, we mean really old. This slang actually originated in the 1600s when crates of coffee beans shipped to Europe were stamped all over with their place of origin: Java, Indonesia. Yes, that’s a real place.
Don’t worry, there isn’t a test at the end of the blog, but it’s kind of neat to know where the slang for our favourite hot beverage came from. Whatever you call it, we call it delicious and a definite daily necessity.
What else can you expect when living in Kingston besides fabulous coffee? The posts below will help complete the picture:
- Where Is Kingston, Ontario?
- Your Guide to Schools in Kingston, Ontario
- Exploring Our Favourite Nature Trails in Kingston
Here are some of our favourite caffeine-inspired hangouts that are among the many reasons Kingston is a fantastic place to live:
The Juniper Café
The Juniper Café, located inside the Tett Centre for Creativity and Learning on King St W, has such an idyllic setting that you may stay much longer than you had originally anticipated, and that’s okay. In fact, the Juniper Café may have one of the best locations in all of Kingston, including a patio only a few short steps from the lake!
Whether you’re soaking up the sun outside or chilling beside exposed limestone inside, it’s a great place to catch up with friends, meet with clients or colleagues, or just reset your nervous system solo style. And we’ve done all that!
Plus, if you order a large coffee to stay, you can get a free refill to go. How exciting is that!?!
They also have a wide variety of food options available too, whether you want a full meal, small snack, or just a sweet treat. And their butter pecan cookie is so tasty, we swear it must be actually good for you on some cellular level. Forget about the calories; those should burn off easily with all the extra pep in your step.
The Juniper Café has earned such a loyal following in the past decade that they have now opened a second location in Kingston’s west end, at the corner of Centennial Drive and Cataraqui Woods Drive.
You’ll know you’re in the right place because an amazing hand-painted wall mural welcomes you inside and pays homage to the arts-centred original location at the Tett (and it reminds us that we are truly fortunate to have such a vibrant and strong arts community in Kingston to celebrate and support).
As added bonuses that are not widely known, The Juniper Café accepts reservations for groups of 4 or more, serves High Tea, and offers private event bookings, too.
The Elm Café
The Elm Café on Montreal Street is just a hop, skip, and a jump from Princess Street downtown, located at the corner of Montreal and Charles Streets in an area of town known as “the fruit belt”. There’s usually parking on Charles and nearby side streets; or you can simply stroll over and, after your visit, take a walk down to the lake to get your steps in along the waterfront.
The Elm Café is cozy in the best sense of the word and has built up quite a devoted following; in fact, once you’ve checked out the place for the first time, you might become one of those devotees too.
Owners Matthew and Logan have worked their magic, turning what was once Laverne’s Laundry into such an inviting café, and the neighbourhood is so thankful they did.
With a long row of tables inside and a private patio out back, casual conversation is definitely welcome (almost as much as the cooked-to-order Egg and Grilled Cheese Sandwich in the morning). Plus, if you’re a flavoured coffee connoisseur, then you will be super impressed by their variety of seasonal signature shots, including…wait for it… “cinnamon bun latte”. Yeah, that’s our favourite too.
They also have a variety of grab-and-go sandwich selections in their front fridge if you’re in a hurry, and these super-sized sandwiches are plenty filling.
Northside
The name Northside is a tip of the hat to Melbourne, Australia, where owners Jess and Cade originated from before relocating to Kingston in 2017.
Today, they’re located right at the corner of Montreal and Princess Street (ironically on the south side of Princess after moving from the north side of the street just last year when their lease was up and they were forced to relocate).
Once inside, it is surprisingly larger than you expect, and brighter too, with windows along the front and side walls that allow sunlight to bounce off the walls and mid-century modern laid-back décor. Plus, they also have a patio in the summer, if you’d like to watch all the hustle and bustle commonly found in the heart of the city.
Northside’s talented chefs create seasonally inspired menus and serve a phenomenal brunch, better known as “brekkie” Down Under. They choose fresh over simple every time. That’s why their menu isn’t listed on their website. However, they do have some fairly consistent staples, and the Eggs Benny at Northside is next level!
The Avocado Smash followed by the latest muffin du jour is also a great go-to for sure; and the peach-cream-centred muffin is perhaps the best muffin ever invented! Maybe you’ll be lucky and the peach muffin will be available on the day you pop by. In a hurry? They also have a daily “takeaway” menu too!
If you’re looking for an event space, Jess and Cade are more than happy to welcome your group and curate an experience everyone remembers forever.
Is a home purchase in your future? The posts below can help streamline your transition:
- Why Buy a House With Caldwell & Co.
- The Complete Home Buying Checklist
- 5 Questions to Ask Before Hiring a REALTOR®
Pedal Works Café and Studios
Pedal Works is a place you might not notice even if your car is stopped at the lights right in front of it. Located in a midtown midsize strip mall on Princess Street just west of Portsmouth Avenue, it’s easy to miss. But once you know its location, you’ll never forget.
What makes Pedal Works so special is that it’s not your typical café, and you’ll notice that as soon as you walk through the door and see the spin and restorative studios at the back of the room. You may also notice the raised centre platform with comfy chairs and coffee tables, which can be transformed into a stage at a moment’s notice.
There are also several talented artists’ creations for sale lining the walls and shelves as well. In fact, one artist in particular paints such fun animal caricatures that you’ll feel like you’re being watched by the most curious donkey since Shrek.
Pedal Works is more than a café…it’s a community. Their humble goal is to provide a “hub for wellness and connection”. It’s a place where you can make new friends quickly if that’s your jam (you can even join a club or become a member).
You can also literally burn a bunch of calories, and then enjoy plenty of camaraderie while cooling down with your favourite beverage of choice. They also serve breakfast, lunch, and a variety of scrumptious snacks to help replenish your energy and soothe your soul.
Of course, they serve coffee and lattes, but a special shout-out must go to their Matcha Lattes and Iced Matcha Lattes that are made with Japanese Ceremonial-Grade Matcha from Cha-Cha Tea and their very own house-made Vanilla Syrup. Their Berry Infused Smoothies are delightful too, and we think they are just what the doctor ordered after an inspiring and perhaps sweat-inducing bike workout in the backroom!
Are you thirsty and hungry yet? Now you just need to decide which café is calling your name first.
Are you ready to start your house hunt? Give our Kingston real estate agents a call at 613.449.6588 or email caldwellco@royallepage.ca today! We are happy to answer any and all questions.
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