n an act of neighbourhood charity, someone had the heart (or the money) to raise Esperanza Café from the ashes following its mysterious and unexpected shuttering back in December. A closure that was supposed to only last the Christmas holidays soon devolved into a period of months…until spring came along and three previous employees decided to revive the unique café. And voilà! The space has been rechristened Le Cagibi, but the old Esperanza spirit remains as vibrant as ever. Though a series of renovation improvements were recently completed to make the venue more live-music friendly, nothing needed to be changed on the home-style vegetarian menu. A coat of fresh paint and a beautiful ceiling where enough to re-open in style! Sometimes less is apparently more!

Whether you’re just stopping in for a caffeinated pick-me-up or enjoying a relaxing evening with a glass of wine and some appetizers, Le Cagibi is versatile to accommodate you. Unlike the cookie-cutter chains of moneymakers with their own radio stations and clean-cut décor aesthetic (i.e. Starbucks), Le Cagibi’s ambiance embraces casual diversity and originality; a sentiment that reflects the Mile-end neighbourhood as a whole.

Consisting of two rooms, Le Cagibi wraps the corner of Saint-Viateur and Saint-Laurent with giant bay windows. In the seventies, the building was a very popular pharmacy (not surprisingly, also the era of the birth control pill). The building still holds a medical clinic at the second floor above the café, and though it no longer fills prescriptions, the comforting environment does wonders for your mental health.

The large lounge room is mostly occupied by students and writers de tout genre, while the main room (with the order counter) is usually a place reserved for rencontre amongst lovers and friends. The inspiring yet unassertive décor suggests a remodeling done without the assistance of interior design firms, but adds to the charm of the place. Vintage tables and chairs randomly mismatched creates a fifties kitchen vibe (pearls not included), while a smattering of various antique treasures and a local writers library form Le Cagibi’s distinctive artsy atmosphere.

If a tofu scramble for breakfast doesn’t sound like your cup of tea, then how about an actual cup of tea? This place is perfect for a British-style five o’clock high tea, complete with baked goodies. Favourites include the spicy, decadent chocolate cake, the lemon and chocolate banana squares, or the yummy ginger cookies (which could be a great start to the morning, if not for the sugar rush). The variety of tea and tisane is also quite impressive, with many of the organic variety.