The idea of a third place – a physical space to spend time in that isn’t your home or workplace – has long been popular in Europe and other places in the world and the concept is gaining traction in North America, especially with so many of us working at home. When Rana Allam and Bishoy Beshara moved to Canada from Cairo several years ago, they noticed there weren’t a lot of public places for people to just hang out without the expectation for them to continue to spend money on food or drinks to earn the right to stay. Allam, who edited a newspaper in Egypt, leaving once her home country became unsafe for journalists, was particularly taken with the idea of creating a social hub where guests and staff could co-exist as equals, people could stay as long as they like, building a community along the way.
The result is the Heliopolis Social Café, a beautiful and calming lounge in the Grain Exchange Building. Heliopolis – named after the ancient Egyptian city – is in the unit best described as “the original Divino” (though it’s been plenty of places since then). The room has been completely transformed, with the retro wood making way for calming neutral hues, a cozy fireplace, and plush seating.
It doesn’t look like a restaurant and presents more like an unusually chic living room, with photographs from around the world adorning the walls and books, mainly English translations of international classics, scattered throughout. On any given afternoon you’re li.