Cafe X Bica Is the Coffee Shop for Design Lovers
A solarium-style coffee hub in Designers Walk elevates the customer experience
There is something in the air at furniture showroom Atriani‘s indoor coffee bar, Cafe x Bica— and it’s not just the rich aroma of freshly brewed coffee. Originally built to serve the luxury furniture showroom, the cafe—designed by in-house expert Sha Developments Inc.—fosters a heightened experience with its textured and delicious design.
A sensorial explosion, the coffee shop pairs textural surfaces like the fluffy mohair benches and soft, off-white micro-cement walls with a dynamic green motif that extends through the furniture to the jade countertops and even into the glaze of the shop’s ceramic mugs. Both the showroom and café also boast a signature scent, which is soon to hit the market as a standalone perfume and pairs delightfully with the aroma of specialty coffee. With warm brass touches and antique mirrors, Cafe X Bica brings a Parisian sensibility to the Toronto’s Designers Walk. The glass solarium-style space holds 35 people and offers a clear view for walk-ins to window-shop the showroom’s collection.
Cafe X Bica is located at 160 Pears Ave. Unit 100. Photography courtesy of Cafe X Bica.
“Building this whole kind of bird cage in the middle of the showroom was a challenge, because this did not exist. This was a flat space,” recounts Atriani Sales Director Ida Saber.
After a two-year construction period, Cafe X Bica finally opened its doors this past December. Since then, it has become a local hotspot for both clients and coffee-lovers alike—thanks to the expertise of world champion latte-art barista Daniel Acosta. Known for its Instagrammable qualities, the Atriani team notes that coffees commonly go cold as customers snap the perfect shot. And while the showroom is appointment-only, the coffee shop is open to the public six days a week.
Photography courtesy of Cafe X Bica.
Photography courtesy of Cafe X Bica.
Photography courtesy of Cafe X Bica.
Photography courtesy of Cafe X Bica.
“The first week we opened, we saw two ladies here crying and hugging each other. They said they met 20 years ago at the fabric store that was there before, and hadn’t seen each other since. They were really emotional. And now they can meet here every week and enjoy the same space.”
Both Atriani and its new coffee bar have high hopes for revitalizing the once-powerful design hub, which has seen its customer base sprawl to other design districts in the city. “A lot of designers and architects used to be in these buildings. And by bringing a furniture brand here, everybody that’s still in the building is very excited to take it back to where it was 10 years ago, to be a design hub for people.” And if you’re looking for a cozy cafe for the colder months, not to mention a dose of quality-customer service, Cafe X Bica is not to be missed.
Check out our previous feature on on Toronto’s best coffee shops for design enthusiasts!