The secret has been out for a while now. That’s why there is usually a lineup out the door.
It isn’t just Leslieville locals racing to get their morning pick-me-up anymore, the rest of Toronto has caught on.
If you arrive at Mercury Espresso Bar during java rush hour, you should expect to wait five to 10 minutes for a sensuous $3.95 cappuccino.
Staff will usually draw godlike designs on your beverage, making it difficult to take the first sip. But once you do you’ll pass through the gates of coffee heaven.
If you manage to get a seat, good luck getting up.
The walls are lined with local art (Toronto artist Doug Stone’s paintings and mixed media will be on display for the next several months) and you can enjoy pastries, scones or their famous ginger cookies (freshly baked at Morning Glory Cafe — 457 King St. E.), while reading the paper or surfing the net.
Business partners Deb Tiller and Matt Taylor opened this java gem three-and-a-half years ago, at the corner of Queen Street East and Morse Street. They brew Intelligentsia coffee, an American fair trade variety sold exclusively in specialty coffee shops across North America.
A latte goes for about $4, a single americano is $2. Most of the pastries and sweets come from Altitude Baking (1346 Queen St. E.).
Mercury is fit with a patio for mild days, and it’s the perfect place to stop and rest on your way to the beach or Queen East’s eclectic medley of shops and galleries.
915 Queen St. E. 647-435-4779