10 DEAN

200 Redpath Avenue, Toronto, ON M4P 0E6

10 DEAN is a wonderfully sleek café located at the corner of Redpath & Broadway. While it may be about a 10-minute walk from Yonge Street, this off-the-beaten-path establishment is worth the visit. The staff is welcoming, accommodating and happy to assist if you have any questions or queries.

Offering delicious coffees, hot chocolates, cocktails, pastries and juices, 10 DEAN boasts a truly impressive repertoire of treats, all of which can be enjoyed in a fully accessible location. There are several patio options organized around the outside of the café, each with removable chairs and space to manoeuvre. However, if it's rainy, cold, or too hot, you can also enter through 2 accessible doors, each over 3 feet wide with automatic door buttons.

Once inside, you have several seating options to choose from. A bar is nestled into the corner of the café. It's about 42 inches from the ground and any of the chairs can be moved to make space for a stroller, wheelchair or mobility scooter. While the tables are a standard 29 inches off the ground, none of the chairs have arm rests. But there’s a wide-open space in the middle of the café, to the left of the main entrance, with padded bench-style seating.

Nothing should get in your way, not even the small, flat carpet that’s tucked underneath the bar stools. As far as washrooms go, there are 2. You'll have to go around the corner, past the offices which are used for the attached condominium located above the café.

While only 1 of the washrooms is accessible, it does offer ample space. There’s an automatic door button, and the space inside is 7 by 8 feet. It also features, along with the whole café, automatic trash cans that open with the wave of a hand. The width of the washroom door is over 3 feet, and there’s sufficient turning radius inside as well. In addition to these accessible features, the bathroom has an automatic sink at 35 inches from the ground and a hand dryer station. Near the toilet are 2 safety bars, at 32 inches and 38 inches from the tiled floor.

Overall, 10 DEAN displays great care in its attempt to create a modern and accessible café that everyone can enjoy. With lots of lighting, quiet and inoffensive music, and a relaxed ambience, the vibe definitely doesn't feel forced. While it’s a shame that there’s no public transit or street parking nearby, it’s worth the adventure. Patrons are made to feel welcome, and with many drink and seating options, it seems like the perfect place to escape the hustle and bustle of daily Toronto life.