Strawbella is a cozy, cottagecore-inspired cafe in Toronto, populated by a cast of colourful characters.
Located at the corner of Rosemount and Greenlaw, just south of Corso Italia, the cafe first opened in early 2023 and has been a hub of activity ever since.
Though originally intended as a side project, owner Maddie Kilci explains that the business developed in a rather unexpected way.
While studying medicine at a local university, Maddie sold chocolate-covered strawberries in her spare time. After receiving positive feedback from her customers, Maddie decided to branch out with a brick-and-mortar storefront. Thus, Strawbella was born.
Originally, Strawbella was only going to sell desserts. However, Maddie’s landlord convinced her to expand the menu, reasoning that she would attract more customers if she offered salads and sandwiches.
It didn’t take long for the cafe to attract the attention of the neighbourhood kids. Drawn in by the sweet smells and soothing atmosphere, Strawbella quickly became a popular after-school hangout spot.
This convinced Maddie to alter her concept yet again. In order to appeal to a younger audience, she began to host birthday parties and workshops, where children could decorate cookies or do arts and crafts.
The cafe also collaborates with Ever a Surprise Productions, a team of actors who portray storybook characters, such as Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, for parties and events.
Though Maddie is grateful that her brand is growing, she admits that Strawbella’s current incarnation is very different from her original vision.
Maddie tells us that she had hoped to use her products to tell a story. “Strawbella” was supposed to be the protagonist, while her friends were intended to play supporting roles. She even incorporated her own pet rabbit — affectionately known as “Bunnybella” — into the lore.
While still determined to introduce these characters to the public, Maddie acknowledges that she probably won’t get the chance to do so for a few more months.
Despite this, she remains confident that her ideas will be well-received. 
Strawbella’s menu is divided into two main sections: sweet and savoury. Sweet dishes are typically fruit-themed pastries, decorated with intricate designs. Savoury dishes are mostly inspired by Italian cuisine, though many have been given a slight makeover to suit the cafe’s aesthetic.
The strawberry salad ($11) is a refreshing mix of fresh greens, sliced strawberries and chopped walnuts, topped with goat cheese and house dressing.
The strawberry risotto ($23) is a creamy rice dish with a distinctive red hue. Strawberries, carrots, tomatoes, celery and basil can be found throughout.
Named for a region in Southern Italy, which is known for its flavourful cuisine, the Calabria pizza ($19) is a satisfyingly spicy dish, made with tomato sauce, mushrooms, spinach, capicola, red onions and chili peppers.
One of my personal favourite dishes was the linguine pollo pesto ($22), which consists of sauteed chicken breast, mushrooms and spinach in a pesto and cheese sauce.
Focaccia sandwiches ($9) are made with freshly baked focaccia, mixed greens and your choice of cold cut. We went with a slice of prosciutto, which was then topped with cheese, tomatoes and balsamic dressing.
Cookies ($3.95 each) come in a variety of different flavours, including chocolate chip, pistachio and, of course, strawberry.
The selection of cheesecakes ($45) is equally diverse, though these are generally much larger. The cake that we tried was roughly eight inches across and covered with fresh strawberries and graham cracker crumble.
Chocolate-covered strawberries are sold in boxes of six or twelve and can be customized with icing, pearls or floral patterns. Prices vary depending on the complexity of the designs.
Strawbella also sells an assortment of clothes and fashion accessories, including earrings, bracelets and handmade scrunchies. Maddie claims that the collection will grow as the business continues to expand.
Strawbella is located at 95 Greenlaw Avenue.
Dining and Cooking