WORDS & PHOTOS BY CHRIS TIESSEN
These days a great coffee shop doesn’t depend on beans alone. Atmosphere, aesthetics, and a certain ineffable charm matter just as much as a flawless flat white. Across Morriston, Guelph, and Kitchener-Waterloo, a trio of newcomers is proving the point with spaces that feel as thoughtfully devised as the coffee itself: moody, atmospheric, and confidently unique. Think of these cafés as design statements as much as caffeine stops – places worth taking a load off and lingering in: gorgeous destinations that are setting the tone for a region whose coffee culture is, quite clearly, having a moment.
OLD COYOTE & CO 38 Queen St, Morriston
@oldcoyotecoffee
Step inside Old Coyote & Co and you’re instantly seduced into a different rhythm: mornings unhurried, music leaning country, and shop dogs stretched out on wide-plank wooden floors. Housed in Morriston’s original nineteenth-century mercantile building (which also saw use as a bank, a butcher shop, and other hubs of activity over the years), the historic space is now equal parts espresso bar, barbershop, and living archive.
Mounted antlers, vintage golf clubs, framed pin-ups, and the odd surfboard punctuate the walls. An impressively tall ceiling with original moulding and medallions defines the space above your head. Three vintage barber chairs anchor the back of the room, while at the front – next to century-old gothic lattice windows – a long concrete bar and communal tables delineate the café’s heart.
What began as Folklore, a barbershop, has since evolved into Old Coyote: a hybrid space that relaunched in January with a clear rhythm. Coffee flows from 8am to 3pm; barbering runs 10am to 6pm; and the space remains open Tuesday through Saturday. The espresso is pulled from proprietary beans, with a tight menu of drinks served without fuss. The emphasis here is on integrity, not frills – a place where a cortado (crafted with care by co-owner Britt Shields) feels as natural as conversation.
The name of the joint carries weight. The coyote, says co-owner and barber (and Britt’s husband) Nate Shields, is a symbol of resilience: clever, adaptive, and quietly defiant. It makes do with little, thrives in harsh conditions, and refuses to follow the herd. Old Coyote channels the same spirit – sharp but unpretentious, traditional yet irreverent, with grit beneath the polish.
More than a caffeine and barbering stop, Old Coyote feels like a social anchor at the village crossroads. This is a space where barbershop banter interplays with coffeeshop conversation, where city worries dissolve into the slow rhythm of village life. It’s a destination rescued and reimagined, where coffee and craft converge – honest, resilient, and just a touch untamed.
Design & Feel: raw, robust, retro-barber vibes Offerings: focused espresso bar & classic gentleman-styled haircuts What Sets It Apart: café-barber hybrid with unapologetic authenticity
KANOO COFFEE 82 Yarmouth St, Guelph
@kanoocoffee
Step into Woolwich Village on the edge of downtown Guelph and you’ll find Kanoo Coffee, a café where understated elegance and sleek simplicity lead the way. The space is bright and airy, defined by pale woods, clean lines, and an uncluttered palette that gives breathing room to both conversation and contemplation. A sculptural installation by artist Beth Puttkemery, crafted from foraged dogwood and sumac and meant to shift with the seasons, adds an organic, ever-changing centrepiece. Métis floral beadwork – reflected in the café’s logo – speaks to co-owner Steve Neville’s heritage. And custom pottery by local maker Iris Dorton of Blue Iris Studios (another business located in Woolwich Village) makes every cup feel tactile, crafted, and personal. The effect is layered and welcoming: an exercise in natural materials, cultural reference points, and community.
Opened in February 2024 by hospitality veterans and partners Amanda Tully and Steve Neville, Kanoo was born from the pair’s long habit of seeking out cafés wherever they travelled. ‘Finding coffee shops was our way of connecting,’ Amanda recalls. ‘When we settled here,’ she adds, ‘it felt like time to create something of our own for the community.’ This sense of purpose is stitched into the name itself: kanoo, a Métis word for ‘canoe’ that evokes journey, connection, and shared experience.
The coffee here is serious but never intimidating. Kanoo operates as a multi-roaster café, showcasing a rotation of top-tier Canadian roasters such as Toronto’s Subtext and Calgary’s Phil & Sebastian. Traditionalists can find comfort in chocolatey brews with depth, while adventurous drinkers are encouraged to discover fruit-forward, wine-like profiles that challenge expectations. A house signature bridges the two: the ‘Birch Kanoo Latte’, made with organic vanilla bean and Canadian birch syrup, and dusted with cinnamon. The flavour is surprising yet familiar – reminiscent of waffles on a quiet autumnal weekend morning.
Kanoo’s pastry counter adds another dimension to the business, with baking done in-house and ingredients sourced locally whenever possible. Highlights include the cheddar-zucchini scone and blueberry-orange muffin, both of which tend to disappear before the day is long. Friday and Saturday evenings see Kanoo shift into its Dry Bar mode, serving non-alcoholic cocktails and snacks. It’s a convivial, alternative nightspot that attracts those who want atmosphere without the after-effects – and a clever extension of the café’s ethos of inclusion and connection.
Kanoo is more than just a coffee stop. It’s a thoughtfully designed refuge, a cultural touchstone, and a space that balances neighbourhood familiarity with global ambition. Order a ‘Birch Kanoo’, settle into the calm interior, and let time slow. This is the sort of café that stays with you, long after the cup is empty.
Design & Feel: warm, minimal, cultural Offerings: rotating roasters, pour-overs, in-house baked goods What Sets It Apart: Métis-rooted aesthetic, carefully curated selection
HOLLY’S NEIGHBOURHOOD CAFÉ 27 Roy St, Kitchener
@hollysneighbourhoodcafe
Step inside Holly’s near downtown Kitchener and the first impression is unmistakable: a riot of colour, form, and play. The interior design nods knowingly to the Memphis Milano Group, that 1980s collective of architects and designers who championed bold geometry, clashing hues, and playful irreverence. Think Fisher-Price meets modernism – zigzag lines, punchy accents, floating space dividers, and a wink of nostalgia layered onto clean, contemporary pastel-ish bones. It’s a confident aesthetic, delightfully unexpected on a quiet residential street just a block or two from Kitchener’s public library.
The café’s name, borrowed from Breakfast at Tiffany’s heroine Holly Golightly, captures a similar spirit: approachable yet classic, stylish without trying too hard. Holly’s doesn’t just serve coffee, though. Balancing the whimsy of its décor with the easy sophistication of a neighbourhood café-cum-cocktail bar, it sets a mood.
Housed in a lovingly-restored heritage home purchased by Kitchener developer Ronnie Brohman just before the pandemic, the building was rezoned from residential to mixed-use under the city’s EDGE growth strategy. This makes Holly’s one of the first cafés in Kitchener legally permitted on a residential street – a meaningful milestone in reimagining civic space and activating the edge of the downtown civic district.
To be sure, for some, Holly’s is a coffeehouse with delicious beans from Gennaro’s in Windsor and delectable food crafted by Ronnie’s mom, Judi. (The turkey-apple-brie with cranberry mayo on a croissant is a local legend.) For others, it’s a gallery (Studio 27, run by Ronnie, Erin Weevers and Brent Murphy) supporting local makers through a commission-based model. Indeed, what began as a launch pad for artists has grown into a hybrid hub that is wholly invested in the neighbourhood’s creative and communal life. By night, Holly’s transforms into a wine and cocktail bar with craft beer on tap, dinner menu, and doors that stay open until 10pm seven days a week. For everyone, Holly’s is a cultural anchor that bridges morning espresso and evening drinks without skipping a beat.
In sum, Holly’s is much more than a coffee stop. It’s a neighbourhood salon where design, art, caffeine, and cocktails converge in a space as clever as it is charming. Here you’ll find not just a drink but a dose of optimism – a reminder that thoughtful design really can transform a street and spark a scene.
Design & Feel: gallery aesthetic, community-focused Offerings: coffee, cocktails, bites & art What Sets It Apart: blends café culture with local creativity
