Innovative café leaves Annex orbit too soon

By Rose Haberer

Our Gleaner writer experienced Flymood Café before it’s abrupt closure. 

Previously located at 533 Bloor St. W., FlyMood Cafe & Lounge, which opened in mid-February 2026, captured the essence of a first-class flight and brought it to the ground, allowing guests to experience the fantasy of travel without the inconveniences that so often accompany it. While travel is often overly complicated and expensive, FlyMood offered a local escape, an indulgent dining experience that rebelled against the mediocrity of cabin cuisine. 

FlyMood was distinctly cosmopolitan, with offerings that ranged from smashburgers and fries to matcha lattes, Turkish baklava, burrata pasta, and kebabs, allowing guests to explore the world on their plate. Artificial aircraft windows, a convex ceiling, a captain’s uniform hanging in the corner, and other aviation details evoked the feeling of travel without veering into gimmickry. However, the illusion faltered when it came to the service. Basic elements were overlooked, including pre-set cutlery and water filled without request, and the QR code menu was not readily available at the table. Such lapses would be unheard of on a first-class flight to France or the United Arab Emirates.

That said, their Turkish coffee, elegantly presented on a golden plate, arrived with a dense, nutty aroma, as though opulence itself had been distilled into the cup. Alongside it, the Beirut labneh, drizzled with honey and served with fresh, steaming pita, set a high standard for the rest of the meal, compensating for every spartan can of Pringles and bowl of instant ramen consumed 30,000 feet above ground. 

The meal began to lose altitude, however, with the truffle fettuccine pasta. Although glazed with a promising creaminess, the overcooked chicken took “airline-inspired” in a turbulent direction. The course redeemed itself with the kebab maghdour, a dish of seasoned minced meat wrapped in flatbread, which was cooked to perfection and plated beautifully with hummus and tomato sauce, offering a flavourful take on a classic. 

Dessert at FlyMood did not falter. The menu offered a wide range of options, from a novel teddy bear-shaped chocolate mousse to a pistachio croissant or a rich Dubai chocolate cheesecake. The Karak Chai Tea served as a great palate cleanser. 

In a city always in motion, FlyMood offerred a simpler escape, inviting you to slow down and enjoy the experience, and it’s sad to see it has shuttered.