Isle of Coffee on Queen St. East in Riverside is the second location of the popular Eglinton outpost.

From the outside, this stylish little coffee shop resembles a white box covered in black cloth. A small gap in the "fabric" allows visitors to enter the main dining room, which looks like something out of Star Trek.

The cream-coloured walls curve up towards a row of bright lights, which illuminate the round tables and inset seating. Every surface is smooth and sleek, giving the space an almost futuristic feel.

The building owes its unusual aesthetic to its previous occupant, an avant-garde cannabis dispensary which closed in early 2024.Fresh pastries are kept in a glass case near the front of the store, while boxes of coffee and tea are displayed on a set of pill-shaped shelves.The cafe also sports a small back patio, furnished with metal tables and folding chairs. Though only open during the warmer months, sitting outside toward the end of the season comes with the benefit of seeing the beautiful fall colours.

Isle of Coffee's menu takes inspiration from East Asian and French cuisine, with a wide selection of drinks and pastries made from imported ingredients. Both the Queen Street location and the Eglinton location offer the same items.

The one exception is the pourover ($8), an eight ounce drink that is exclusive to the Queen Street location.

This handmade brew is made by pouring hot water over finely ground coffee beans. As a result, it has a rich flavour that sets it apart from the other hot drinks on offer.

Tea lattes ($5.60 / 12 oz, $6.70 / 16 oz) come in several different varieties, including matcha, hojicha and lemon ginger.

We opted for the matcha flavour, which is not only made with high grade Japanese matcha, but also comes with an adorable heart pattern on top.

Cappuccinos ($4.60 / 8 oz, $5.70 / 12 oz) are a staple of coffee shops throughout the city and Isle of Coffee's take on the drink does not disappoint.

Though not as colourful as the matcha latte or as unique as the pourover, this iconic drink is just as tasty, thanks to a winning combination of espresso and steamed milk.

The vanilla cookie choux ($4.50) is a cream-filled pastry topped with powdered sugar.

Though its crumbly coating looks heavy at first glance, this pastry is actually quite light and is incredibly satisfying to break open.The basque cheesecake ($8.75) comes wrapped in a thin sheet of parchment paper. Unfurl it, and you'll find layers of cardamom and apple butter mixed in with the creamy cake batter.Blueberry toast ($12) is an open-faced sandwich, made with toasted sourdough bread, almond butter, blueberry compote and maple syrup.

Fresh blueberries and sliced almonds are sprinkled on top, enhancing the already intense flavours of the fruity and nutty spreads.

Madeleines ($2.95 each) can be bought individually or in a pack of seven ($24.50). We tried the truffle honey, matcha and lemon flavours.All three types are soft and spongy, but my personal favourite was the lemon flavour, which is molded into the shape of an adorable teddy bear.Isle of Coffee Riverside is located at 745 Queen Street East.