Recent social media posts
2026-09-03
People sometimes ask why I opened a coffee bar, and the honest answer has very little to do with coffee.
My grandfather could spot whoever’d gone quiet in a room and turn to them: “You’re too quiet… what do you think?” Then he’d wait for the answer.
My mother’s whole philosophy fit in one line: the foundation of hospitality is to be hospitable. No script, no grand gesture… just an open door.
My sister made sure the room was ready before the first person ever arrived.
I spent 25 years learning coffee behind other people’s counters. What I actually learned was theirs: how a room, run right, can turn a stranger into part of your life.
oliver is what happens when you try to build that for people who weren’t lucky enough to be born into it.
Thankful to be a CSB100 Storyteller Award Nominee. ☕️🍀
2026-08-19
Before there was a room, there were people who taught me how to hold one.
My grandfather never let anyone go quiet at the edge of a conversation. Mid-story, he’d stop and turn to whoever hadn’t spoken yet: “You’re too quiet. What do you think?” Then he’d wait for the answer.
My mother made the room work without ever seeming to try. I asked her the trick once. She said, “The foundation of hospitality is to be hospitable.” That was the whole answer.
And sure my sister was the one who turned an idea into an actual room full of people, chairs moving, nobody quite sure when it started.
And my best friend made space for me to be entirely myself, long before I understood how much that would matter.
25 years behind other people’s counters later, I built oliver around all of it… the craic, the noticing, the staying a little longer than you meant to.
852 Pape Ave, East York.
Honoured to be nominated for the Storyteller Award. The Canada Small Business 100
2026-08-19
There’s a particular kind of morning that doesn’t need improving.
‘Tis an espresso in a wee glass.
Sun [almost] through the window.
Someone reading and other one chatting…. And someone doing absolutely nothing.
Sure there’s no productivity hack and no five-step morning routine.
Just a few people sharing a room before the day properly begins…. And y’kno we could probably do with more of that.
2026-08-08
new hours at oliver.
a little more structure…. a little more time to reset… yet still plenty of time for coffee, conversation, and a bit of craic.
we’re now closed on mondays, then back behind the bar from tuesday morning.
tuesday — friday · 7:30–5
saturday · 9–5
sunday · 9–3
monday · closed
same wee coffee bar. same good espresso. same invitation to stay a little longer.
see ye at oliver.
2026-08-07
iced matcha….. a quieter kind of energy.
smooth, earthy, cold and just enough of a reset for the middle of the day.
keep it classic…. or add a wee bit of strawberry or mango when you’re feeling less quiet.
either way, stay a while.
2026-08-06
palermo.
still learning.
having a week off just now reminded me of this moment in palermo.
sitting on the other side of the counter. an espresso… nowhere i needed to be for a minute.
i’ve always been curious about what makes a coffee bar feel good. the coffee matters, obviously. but so does the welcome. the room. the people. the permission to sit a wee bit longer than you intended.
when you spend most of your days behind the counter, it’s easy to forget how important it is to occasionally step away from it.
to sit. to notice. to experience someone else’s coffee bar.
having some time away reminded me of that… and of how much inspiration you pick up when you give yourself the space to actually notice.
there’s always something to bring home with you. an idea. a feeling….a different way of looking at what you already do.
because even after years behind the counter, i’m still learning.
2026-08-06
we’re back…. ☕️
feeling well rested… and very thankful for a little time away to reset.
but sure, the machine is back on, the espresso is pulling, and it feels good to be behind the bar again.
come on round.
have something good.
stay for the craic.
see ye at oliver.
coffee • craic • community
2026-07-06
the first pour.
sure before the first hello and before the first laugh.
right before the room fills with conversation… it all starts here.
a few grams of coffee, a wee bit of patience, and the hope that what happens after the cup matters just as much as what’s inside it.
that’s what we’ve always been trying to build at oliver.
coffee. craic. community.
come stay a wee bit longer.
2026-06-09
Not every coffee needs a purpose. Some are for catching up…. some for slowing down…. or simply a wee excuse to stay a little longer.
The best conversations rarely begin with anything important. They begin with, “sure, have ye got time for one more?”
oliver.
coffee • craic • community.
2026-06-07
pride has always belonged in places where people can be themselves.
the conversations that start quietly… the friendships that grow over time. the courage it takes to show up as who you are, and the comfort of knowing you don’t have to explain yourself.
we’ve always believed coffee is only part of the story.
what matters are the people around the table; the laughter by the window, the ideas shared between strangers, and the feeling that for a wee while, you’ve found somewhere you belong.
this month, and every month, we’re proud to be a small part of a community built on authenticity, resilience, love, and connection.
a bit of craic and a whole lot of pride.
🏳️🌈
come as you are. stay as long as ye want.
coffeeandcraic
2026-06-06
If love is a spectrum and coffee is a spectrum, then baby… you’re exactly where you’re supposed to be.
At oliver, we’ve never been interested in creating a place where everyone is the same…. We’re interested in creating a place where everyone belongs.
The author writing a first draft.
The neighbour reading quietly by the window.
The couple on a first date.
The friends solving the world’s problems over a second coffee.
The person still figuring things out.
Especially that last one.
Pride is a celebration. It is also a reminder that not everyone is able to live openly, safely, or fully as themselves.
So whether you’re loud or quiet, out or not yet out, questioning, certain, celebrating, grieving, or simply looking for a place to sit for a while…
you’re welcome here.
take up space.
sip slowly.
you’re safe here. 🌈☕
oliver.
coffee • craic • community.
Address
3-852 Pape Avenue
Toronto, ON
M4K3T6
To get to the coffee shop at Pape Avenue in Toronto by public transport, take the subway to Pape station and then walk north on Pape Avenue for a few blocks. Alternatively, take the 25 bus and get off at Pape Avenue and Danforth Avenue.
If you're driving, take the Don Valley Parkway (DVP) and exit at Don Mills Road. Follow Don Mills Road southbound until it becomes Pape Avenue. There is street parking available near the coffee shop or you can park at the nearby municipal lot on Lipton Avenue.
Opening Hours
| Monday |
7:30am - 5pm |
| Tuesday |
7:30am - 5pm |
| Wednesday |
7:30am - 5pm |
| Thursday |
7:30am - 5pm |
| Friday |
7:30am - 5pm |
| Saturday |
8am - 5pm |
| Sunday |
8am - 5pm |
Alerts
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What people say
Oliver Coffee Bar, located on Pape Avenue in Toronto, is a micro cafe that offers the perfect spot for those looking to enjoy a quick coffee break. The cafe's social media presence is engaging and fun, with posts that encourage customers to share their experiences and connect with each other. Despite occasional closures for essential maintenance or long weekends, Oliver Coffee Bar always bounces back with its doors open early in the morning. The cafe's commitment to micro moments is evident in every aspect of its operations, from the quality of its coffee beans to the cozy atmosphere inside. Whether you're a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community or an ally, Oliver Coffee Bar welcomes everyone with open arms and a hot cup of coffee. So if you're looking for a great spot to grab a quick coffee and connect with others, be sure to check out Oliver Coffee Bar on Pape Avenue!
