Monarch Espresso Bar

I give it a 3 ½, really. We arrived at 10:30 am, taking the advice that the Monarch would be quieter early in the day.
The young lady behind the counter greeted us as soon as we walked in, making us feel comfortable in what was definitely a bar setting. She was very generous in suggesting that, even with our Indie Coffee Passports, we could order whatever we liked from their espresso menu. I’m a big fan of soy lattes but was gently steered toward the ‘regular’ milk version [I was offered 1% or 2% — a nice touch]. My latte was presented in a large cup, the foam poured to create a swirled heart. It proved to be smooth and mild, foamy and thick, easy to drink.
My Passport companion found a comfy looking upholstered sofa, perhaps a bit too comfy, almost touching the ground when sat upon; so we settled in at a table and pulled up a few chairs for our coats and such. Since there was only one other patron at the time, we didn’t think anyone would mind.
The crystal chandeliers hanging over the counter were a nice counterpoint to the dark wood benches, tables and chairs, with a big screen centred at the back of the room and eclectic art on the walls.
We stayed long enough for the lunch crowd to start filling up the space, groups of two and more at tables, a few people at the bar.
Since we’d spent an hour and a half sipping our lattes and basically having the place to ourselves, we bundled up our gear and headed out.
All in all it was an unexpectedly mellow experience and I enjoyed it.

Walking through a residential neighbourhood, I was a bit confused with the location of Monarch Espresso Bar. This café was surrounded by homes, while most cafes I was used to were at least at the corner of the street. What got me even more confused was when I arrived to a pub called The Monarch Tavern, not Monarch Espresso Bar. Upon entry, I was glad to find myself in the right place.
I spoke to Sarah, who told me that the «café» opened only recently in the past year within the pub. The Monarch Tavern itself is one of the oldest pubs in Toronto, opened since 1928. It is a community centre where there are ongoing events everyday for people to come in and enjoy themselves. With two floors, they have enough space to accompany the people that are attending events and those who want to drop by for a good grub and some beer (over 30 types of bourbon anyone?). They have many reoccurring events such as Choir! Choir! Choir! (on Wednesdays), Karoke Thursdays, and Vinyl Nights. For Vinyl Nights (which happens every Tuesday at 8 PM), anyone can bring in a vinyl for the pub to play and you get a free shot and drink! Yes, free alcohol, seriously. They also have a new event, which is a dance party that happens every Wednesday night along side with Choir! Choir! Choir!
I wouldn’t really recommend for people to come here if they would want to study or do work. I say yes for study appropriate because it is possible, but I suggest for you to do it earlier in the day. I came around 11 AM and it was pretty dead at the time, so I had some work done for sure. However, I’m pretty sure if I came late noon, I could imagine it getting pretty busy and loud.
For Indie Coffee Passport holders, you aren’t restricted to the 6 drink menu. If you come in, you are free to order whatever you wish on Monarch Espresso Bar’s menu! As well, if you pick up their stamp card, the first drink is free!

2^nd stop on the Indie Passport though it helped a UYE was being held close by.
The place is actually a sports bar/​pub
Setup is nice for Sport Bar as there is a big screen projector and plenty of comfy space.
Here is the verdict
Espresso: Mild
Crema’: Medium
Milk: Frothed well with a nice sweet finish
Latte Art: Average
Now for the drink its more like a latte.
Very mellow taste 2.5 stars if put against other cafes, for a pub surprisingly good.