Larry's Folly
Larry's Folly is a quirky neighbourhood watering hole for coffee during the day and libations at night.
On a weekday, the bar is a bustling work space serving locals looking for a place with decent wifi and a reasonably-priced lattes.
The weekend arrives and Larry's Folly becomes a hot spot for late night live music and fresh pours of craft beer, cider, and wine.
Owner Stephen Schweighardt knows the cafe-and-bar combo well, running Mallo Coffee & Bar at Bloor and Bathurst before this.
He's built up Larry's Folly from scratch, stripping the building down to the bare bones from its previous life as a vape shop.
This building dates back to 1891. Old brick layering covers the walls inside that have framed rows of retro photos and oddball art.
Moody lighting and warm wooden floors make it cozy inside. Schweighardt says he wanted the bar to feel like your grandparents' house.
I'm not sure if you'd be sipping back craft beers at Grandma's, but you definitely can at Larry's Folly, which was named after the owner's grandfather.
This Lemonade Beer by Beki ($9.00) makes for a good start to the night. It's pungent with a fruity flavour and if you're a sour beer person, something I'd definitely recommend.
Odi-X Zweigelt 2021 by Therianthropy is a cherry-red wine with flavour notes like rhubarb, strawberry and vanilla bean. A glass of this goes for $14.00.
There's a few simple bar snacks available at Larry's Folly, including their famous butter tart, which is to die for. Its creamy caramel filling will have you coming back the next morning for more.
The Coffee Old-Fashioned ($12.00) is a good representation of what Larry Folly's is all about: coffee and alcohol. Kahlua and Wild Turkey Bourbon is combined with Arabica bean and Angostura bitters.
On the weekends, live cover bands take over the small stage area in the back playing a mix of indie and soft rock music. Get here for 9 p.m. and enjoy the tunes until 11 p.m.
Look for the mountainous mural that cascades across the exterior of Larry's Folly right at Queen Street West and Lansdowne Avenue.
Fareen Karim