Headspace
Headspace is a coffee shop that moonlights as a wine and snack bar in the former RGLR Coffee (The Regular) space.
When RGLR Coffee shuttered its doors in 2022, many locals were left without a neighbourhood spot, but new owner Jakub Lipinski quickly re-opened the space — with a few changes.
One of the biggest shifts was the move towards wine, a natural one considering Lipinski's family owns Big Head Winery in the Niagara region. You can expect to find a solid selection of bottles in the back of the long room.
Lipinski tells blogTO he wants to honour what the community has come to love over the years.
"We tried our best to not be disruptive to the community with the change. I've always wanted to have a coffee shop and I want to exist here by giving the people what they want: great coffee and a welcome space."
In fact, members of RGLR's team have joined Lipinski to lead the coffee and food program ensuring an even smoother transition.
Beans are rotating here on a weekly basis and feature a mix of domestic and international types. The house bean was from Subtext and the pour-over bean came from Hatch during our visit .Pour-overs range from $6-7 depending on the bean, while a drip will run you $3. It's a safe bet to expect an excellent cup of coffee here with team member Andrew Elvio Febrian being a self-described "coffee geek."
Lattes ($5.50) are made with Sheldon Creek milk for a full fat, sweet flavour. Minor Figures is also available as a dairy-free option.The baked goods are stocked by Issho Bakery. Cookies ($3.25), muffins ($3.50), and scones ($3.50) are delivered every morning. I personally thought the Matcha Choco cookie was a standout — the deep and bitter green tea plays well with the sweet chocolate.
Devon Spence has created a no frills snack menu that pairs perfectly with most of the drinks on the alcohol menu.
The Breakfast Sandwich, inspired by the one at Gold Standard, is a customer favourite. Bacon, egg, and secret sauce are pressed between an English muffin, with dill offering a nice acidity to each salty rich bite.
Fried Chicken ($14) in the style of Japanese karaage is served with a squeeze of Kewpie mayo and sharp scallion curls.
Seasonal refreshing Pickles ($7) offer a quick palate cleanse in between plates.
Mushroom Pâté ($14), an interesting granular take on the traditional spread, is a good vegan option.Wine tasting flights ($14-18) led by Lipinski happen on a pop-up basis and have been a hit with the local parents in the area.
If wine isn't your speed, there's also a small menu of cocktails.
The Espresso Martini ($17) is made from Subtext espresso, coffee liqueur, vodka, and egg whites, resulting in a very good martini due to the quality of coffee used.
The Green Ocean ($18) has a fun aqua colour thanks to blue curaçao. The combination of that with rooibos simple syrup, pineapple, and rum make this a refreshing glass.
The Tequila Sour ($16) is reminiscent of sweaty summer nights. Tequila, lime, and egg whites are enveloped by a Tajín rim.
Headspace is located at 548 Annette St.
Fareen Karim