Located in High Park, Cafe Novo is a popular place for locals to hang out or do their work. When I was there from 10 AM until 4 PM on a Saturday in order to catch up on my school work, I realized there was no shortage of customers coming in and out at every hour. A lot of cafes tend to die down at certain times of the day, but this one was busy throughout, which I found most impressive. There was also a front patio, great for those summer days to enjoy the scenery of the park.
The cafe sells local art as well. They generally sell art pieces from a couple of different artists, having them on display for a couple of months before switching them up. When I was visiting, they were selling inked art by Matt Smart (which I was unable to find a website or link to) and handmade art from Butterfly Tree (www.butterfly-tree.com).
So what is my take on the cafe? I'm not a huge fan of the decor past the counter since I am a keener for aesthetically pleasing interior. However, I do like the seating area at the very front because it gives a nice view of High Park. I think it's cute that one of their walls has a blackboard for customers to doodle and write on. There are also some board games and books in the corner at the back for people to enjoy.
I happened to get a latte au miel for this visit. The difference between a latte and a latte au miel is the espresso is poured over the honey in order to change the taste. It definitely gave a hint of sweetness, which I liked. And the one thing that always stood out to me about the cafe is the fact they have a jug of mint water, haha.