Canada’s First Exotic Animal Café Lands in Kensington Market
Toronto has a new spot that’s getting people talking. Mystik Café, promoted as Canada’s first exotic animal café, just opened in Kensington Market. The team rolled out a soft launch in mid-November 2025, and the mix of coffee and reptiles instantly grabbed attention.
Coffee Up Front, Creatures in the Back
Mystik runs as two connected spaces. Up front, the Ocean Café serves lattes, iced drinks, pastries, and desserts from local bakeries. You can sit, work, or grab something to go. Because this area works like a regular café, no ticket or booking is required.
Once you move past the front section, the vibe changes. The Reptile Jungle sits behind a separate door, and staff control the flow of visitors through timed entries. This setup keeps food and animals apart, and it also gives guests a clear choice: coffee only, or coffee plus creatures.
60+ Animals, Dozens of Species, One Wild Experience
The exhibit features more than 60 animals across nearly 40 species. Chameleons cling to branches, geckos crawl through their terrariums, and turtles drift in small aquatic setups. You’ll also spot frogs, snakes, and fan-favourite axolotls. Staff work directly with the animals and guide each interaction, which helps the environment stay calm.
To explore the jungle, you can choose between two options:
- Quick Visit (~15 minutes, about $15.99) A short walkthrough that gives you a fast look at the reptiles.
- Interactive Experience (~60 minutes, about $35.99) A full session with guided handling, a drink, dessert, and a Polaroid photo.
Because only certain animals enjoy handling, staff direct all interactions. They also limit each session to around 16 people, which keeps things smooth and safe. Mystik also plans to introduce terrarium-building workshops and reptile-care classes once the café settles into regular hours.
Hours, Rules, and What to Know Before Going
Mystik Café is located at 56 Kensington Ave. and operates 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. The Reptile Jungle runs on time-slot entries, with the last one happening roughly 30 minutes before closing.
A few age rules are in place: kids under 3 can’t participate in handling, and younger visitors need supervision. Staff guide all interactions, and guests are expected to follow the handling rules—especially around more sensitive species.
A New Kensington Market Attraction for 2025
Kensington Market is already known for its indie businesses and quirky energy, so Mystik fits right in. Whether you’re stopping in for a latte or signing up for the full reptile encounter, the café brings something genuinely different to the neighbourhood. It’s too early to know how it’ll evolve, but for now, Mystik Café is one of Toronto’s standout openings of late 2025—and definitely not your average coffee shop.
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