Free Times Cafe

{{short description|Live music venue and restaurant}} {{Use Canadian English|date=January 2026}} {{Infobox venue | name = Free Times Cafe | image = | image_caption = | nickname = | location = 320 College Street<br />Toronto, Ontario, Canada | coordinates = {{Coord|43.657683|-79.402482|type:landmark_region:CA-ON|display=inline,title}} | type = Restaurant, Café, Bar, Nightclub | event = Folk, Jazz, Indie rock | built = | opened = 1980 | renovated = | expanded = | closed = | demolished = | owner = Judy Perly | construction_cost = | former_names = | seating_type = restaurant | seating_capacity = 50 (back room), 110 (full) | website = {{URL|http://www.freetimescafe.com/|Free Times Cafe}} }} The '''Free Times Cafe''' is a live music venue and restaurant in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

The cafe was purchased by Judy Perly in 1980. The restaurant serves a menu of Jewish, Middle Eastern and Canadian food as well as all-day breakfast.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freetimescafe.com/menu|title=Free Times Cafe|website=Free Times Cafe|language=en|access-date=2018-02-14}}</ref> The restaurant also has live music nightly and has featured singer-songwriters and performers such as Kosha Dillz Ron Sexsmith, Emm Gryner, Sarah Slean, Jack Carty, Keith Jolie, Esthero, The Lemon Bucket Orkestra, Lorne Ryder, Rehan Dalal, Erik Bleich, Jory Nash, Glen Hornblast, Laura Fernandez, Kat Goldman, Jason Fowler and Liam Titcomb. There is an open stage on Tuesday nights.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.freetimescafe.com/#!entertainment/c5lx|title = Free Times Cafe}}</ref> Bob Snider's ''Live at the Free Times Cafe'' was recorded at the venue.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bob-Snider-Live-At-The-Free-Times-Cafe/release/9882462|title=Bob Snider - Live At The Free Times Cafe|website=Discogs|date=1989 |language=en|access-date=2018-02-14}}</ref>

Since 1995 the restaurant has offered a buffet styled Jewish brunch known as ''"Bella! Did Ya Eat?"'' on Sundays, accompanied by live Klezmer music. The event is named after an amusing incident involving Perly's grandmother. In 2018 a documentary film about Perly and the cafe also titled ''"Bella! Did Ya Eat?"'' premiered at the Toronto Jewish Film Festival.<ref>{{cite news | last=Kaminer | first=Michael | date=September 10, 2015 | title=Quirky Cafe Owner ‘Invented’ Toronto’s Jewish Revival | publisher=The Forward | url=https://forward.com/food/320422/quirky-toronto-cafe-offers-jewish-comfort-food-and-fun/ | access-date=July 28, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Silverstein |first=Barbara |date=September 3, 2018 |title=It’s a busy time ahead for Free Times Cafe’s owner |url=https://thecjn.ca/opinion/busy-time-ahead-for-free-times-cafe-owner/ |access-date=July 28, 2025 |publisher=The Canadian Jewish News}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Restaurants in Toronto Category:Tourist attractions in Toronto Category:Restaurants established in 1980 Category:Music venues in Toronto Category:Nightclubs in Toronto