11:59 Bar Cafe is a cafe that transforms into a bar with an all-day food menu. Located on Temperance Street, it's a perfect spot for a coffee meeting, lunch with friends, or a post-work catch-up. 

Housed in the space that used to be a Boxcar Social outpost, it's been transformed into a refined green oasis. There are no traditional sit-down tables here, but bar-height seating and low stool seats keep the vibe casual and transient.

Owner Jessica Chan tells blogTO it was intentional to "create a place people could talk to each other and promote a communal energy."

The concept behind the name refers to the excitement one feels a minute before midnight, as well as reflects the long operating hours that offer city dwellers a place to escape to.  

You can find all the usual espresso-based drinks here, with coffee being served during the day. However, they also have a solid alcohol menu worth checking out during your visit. You can find mocktails, beer, and wines, plus a few fun cocktails. 

The Amethyst ($17) is a very pretty purple twist on a French 75, using butterfly pea flower-infused gin, prosecco, sapin fir liqueur, and lemon juice.

The glass is coated in dried Juliet rose petals that add an aroma to the sipping experience, making it a refreshing drink that would pair well with salads.

My personal favourite was the signature 11:59 ($18) that tasted a lot like a Jolly Rancher candy. Rye whisky is layered with blueberry and peach liqueur, homemade mint syrup, and a thick layer of basil foam. 

The Caribbean Sour ($20) uses rum, sweet Huana soursop liqueur, pineapple, and egg white to create a tropical sip. 

There are three non-alcoholic wines and the Garden Elixir ($12) mocktail under the cheeky "temperance" menu. Juniper alcohol-free "gin" is mixed with lime juice and elderflower, all hugged by a long cucumber slice.

Chan was heavily influenced by her travels when developing the menu, so you'll see dishes from both the Caribbean and Mediterranean here.

The plates are labelled as small and shareable, but I think some of them are large enough to stand alone for a single person. 

The fresh field salad ($16) with flank steak ($9) is a simple spring mix with cherry tomatoes, whipped feta, candied pecans, and a balsamic vinaigrette. 

Moroccan lamb meatballs ($23) sit in a tomato sauce and come with sourdough and Parmesan tuile crisps for an extra level of crunch and saltiness. 
A small wheel of baked brie ($23) is topped with rosemary, honeycomb, and served with crostini. The shrimp toast ($15) has a crispy cheese crust, with a moist shrimp filling made of ginger, green onion, and sesame oil. Truffle Parmesan fries ($12) are true to their name, with a generous shaving of cheese and truffle mayo (you can also add this as a side for sandwiches).The tropical platter ($50) is a great way to try a variety of items from the menu and is available in three sizes to accommodate groups. 

On it, you'll find Cajun corn ribs, creamy lime dip, chicken and pork gyro skewers, pineapple salsa, tzatziki, pita, and veggies to share. 

11:59 Bar Cafe is located in Unit 1, 70 Temperance St.