Toronto is a city on-the-go, and things move quickly (or as fast as the TTC allows). In a place where everyone is always rushing everywhere, the best cafés in Toronto are oases, languorous venues where time doesn’t seem to matter.
In these quaint cafés, filled with a peaceful ambiance and the rich aromas of freshly brewed cups of joe, every kind of traveller is welcome to sit and stay a while. Maybe you’ll scroll on Instagram as you snack on a flaky croissant that rivals the goods pumped out of the best bakeries in Toronto; or perhaps you’ll nibble an affordable sandwich, some of the best cheap eats in Toronto, as you pore over the last few pages of your novel. The best cafés in Toronto have something for everyone, and welcome you to linger as long as you’d like.
While some of the best cafés in Toronto and the best coffee shops in the city close soon after noon, many shape-shift into cozy Toronto bars as the sun begins its daily game of peekaboo through the Financial District’s skyscrapers. The vibe in these humble haunts gets a little more convivial — conversations get more lively, and baristas become bartenders mixing cocktails and pouring beer and great wine that could rival the best wine bars in Toronto. Typically more casual, Toronto cafés are great for when you feel like imbibing without getting dressed to the nines.
Whether you’re putting the finishing touches on your screenplay, catching up with a friend, warming up as the temps drop or just looking to escape the hustle and bustle of the city for a while, the best cafés in Toronto will welcome you with open arms.
19 cute cafés in Toronto
1. Dineen Coffee Co.
Multiple Locations
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This coffee shop franchise might be as famous for its tiled floors and shoe pics on Instagram as it is for its signature coffee blends. Dineen Coffee Co. has three locations, but the original is the most iconic: The Yonge Street and Temperance Street outpost, located inside the heritage Dineen Building, is full of architectural magic and its red leather banquettes pop.
Grab a cappuccino and a flaky almond croissant, watch the world go by through the floor-to-ceiling windows and pretend you’re in your very own arthouse movie.
2. Cafe Pamenar
307 Augusta Ave.
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More than just a cute spot to grab a latte and a homemade cookie, Kensington Market’s Pamenar is a hipster hangout and community gathering place. You’ll find everything from live jazz, DJ sets and dance parties to stand-up comedy, poetry nights and protests within the whitewashed walls or out on the beautiful back garden patio.
The greenery from outside continues inside where plenty of dark wood and exposed lightbulbs add to the Toronto café-stroke-bar’s rustic charm. Starting in the evenings during the week and the afternoon on weekends, a laptop policy encourages guests to put the work away and socialize over drinks and snacks late into the night.
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Read more3. Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Multiple Locations
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The spacious Chinatown location of this Toronto café chain reliably delivers one of the most delicious caffeine doses in the city. Sip on a rich espresso as you finally finish up the last few pages of your screenplay, and snack on sandwiches, sweet treats and buttery croissants. The in-café marketplace is a hub of local love, stocked with Toronto’s favourite foodie products.
4. Maha’s Café
978 Queen St. E. (entrance from Carlaw Ave.)
One of Toronto’s most beloved brunch spots has joined forces with a local clothing store for a unique and delicious partnership in Leslieville. Earlier this year, Maha’s Egyptian Brunch opened its second outpost (the original is located at Greenwood Avenue) in the back of retail store, Kotn.
The connection may seem like a head-scratcher, but the store’s use of sustainably sourced Egyptian materials makes it a perfect pairing for Maha’s, known for Egyptian comfort food like falafel and fava bean foole. Snuggle up in the cozy-cute aesthetic and dig into Egyptian sandwiches, sweet treats and specialty coffees.
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Read more5. Coco's neighbourhood coffee shop
668 College St.
Cozy reading nooks with tons of plants, decorative plates hung on the walls, mismatched floral wallpaper and the most delicious homemade treats — Coco’s could easily be mistaken for our grandmother’s house, and we love it. The gorgeously decorated cakes (some with adorably kitschy icing) can be ordered in advance, or pop in and see what they’ve got glistening behind the glass. Pastries and baked goods tantalize, and the coffee, made with locally roasted beans from Java Roasters, is pretty great too.
6. Cộng Càphê
424 Bloor St. W.
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Founded in 2007 by a former artist in Hanoi, Cộng Cà Phê is attributed with pioneering the vintage café trend that’s known for embodying Vietnam’s cultural heritage. More than 80 locations later, and the adorable retro café has landed on our shores at Bathurst and Bloor, bringing a range of Vietnamese coffees, teas, fruit drinks and banh mi.
7. Cafe23
728 Queen St. W.
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It’s a rare occasion when something is as good in real life as it looks on Instagram — and that’s what makes Cafe23 so special. Aside from the massive lineup not pictured online, this West Queen West café is as cute as the photos. Teeming with plants, piles of books and mismatched vintage furniture, the space has something interesting to catch your eye in every corner. Dotted around the Toronto café, candles overflow with drips of burned wax that have formed into ever-evolving sculptures.
But, even with all its charm, inside pales in comparison to the gorgeous back patio that’s straight out of a fairytale. Tree branches covered in green and red leaves create a canopy overhead, decorated with large rattan lanterns and string lights. Every inch seems to be shrouded in greenery from the lush vines climbing the brick enclosure to the potted plants lining the walls.
While it’s not the most wallet-friendly place to have lunch, the delicious sandwiches, pastries and espresso drinks, paired with the gorgeous atmosphere are well worth the price of admission.
8. Tsuchi Cafe
688 College St.
Pass College Street’s used bookstores and fruit markets to stumble upon Toronto’s only vegan Japanese café. Using some clever key substitutions and a generous sprinkling of creativity, everything from creamy lattes to Japanese milk bread and eggy breakfast sandwiches are prepared completely plant-based, with excellent results. This quaint, serene oasis doesn’t offer much seating, so take their mouthwatering katsu sandos, onigiri, tiramisu jars and creamy pistachio tarts to-go and scoff them down at the nearby Grace Avenue Parkette.
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Read more9. Piccolo Caffe E Vino
111 John St.
Slink below John Street to find Piccolo Caffe E Vino, a moody day-to-night spot for affordable Italian bites, cocktails, great wine and classic coffee drinks. The impressive vino list has nearly 20 by-the-glass options and a European-centric bottle list.
There’s an almost-speakeasy vibe to this spot; it’s equally a great place for a flirty first date, or getting rowdy with co-workers after 5. Devour share plates like burrata with peach, mint, honey and pistachio, or pizza mozzarella sticks, or dig into larger Mediterranean plates like shrimp crudo and mussels.
10. Lano
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, 181 Wellington St. W.
This September, gorgeous new café and wine bar Lano opened its doors. A contraction of Milano, the Toronto café brings northern Italy to the lobby of The Ritz Carlton, Toronto. Decked out in marble, light wood and gold, the cream-coated café is part of a refresh that will see the dated hotel lobby infused with a beautiful, modern aesthetic. The menu transforms from grab-and-go pastries and espresso in the morning to salads and antipasti for lunch, paired with a selection of 30 Italian wines and Italian cocktails.
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Read more11. Madras Kaapi
870 College St.
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This South Indian coffee shop on College Street serves authentic kaapi, or Indian filter coffee. Poured from dramatic heights and served in a small cup bubbling with foam, the bold-flavoured drink is traditionally made with steamed milk and sugar. At Madras Kaapi, they use coffee beans from India that are roasted locally. The shop sells their beans and traditional filters, too.
12. Bevy
Multiple Locations
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This quirky Toronto café brand, with its trademark graffiti walls, has now racked up three locations across the city (738 Dundas Street East is the most recent addition). However, there’s more to Bevy Cafe than coffee: the spaces are a blend of café, event venue, art gallery and community hub. There’s even a retail area where guests can peruse skateboard decks. Enjoy a steaming bowl of soup or a fruit-topped pastry from a local maker to go with your cup of joe. With relaxed vibes and plenty of outlets, it’s a great place to send some emails if you’re looking for a change of scenery.
13. Voodoo Child Espresso & Cocktail Bar
388 College St.
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A café, cocktail bar and provisions shop all rolled into one, Voodoo Child is a day-to-night destination on the outskirts of Kensington Market. Espresso drinks here are expertly made with your choice of beans from local roasters like De Mello — there’s usually a fruity option alongside the classic toffee and chocolate note coffees. There are sandwiches, bagels and wine bar snacks, too.
When the weather is nice, you’ll catch folks milling around outside vying for a bench to sit on. If you’re lucky enough to snag a seat in the divey, diminutive space, you can sip signature cocktails, rare wine, craft beer and cider late into the evening. Pick up Rosewood honeycomb and canned fish for your charcuterie boards and a bottle of wine before heading home.
14. Drake Cafe
1150 Queen St. W.
Recently having undergone a refresh, The Drake Hotel’s corner café is a cozier space to tuck into the hotel’s offerings. It’s still art-filled with funky décor fitting of its West Queen West locale, but with a more relaxed vibe. Start with coffee, pastries and incredibly fluffy Glory Hole Doughnuts in the morning, then dive into drinks and snacks during the daily 4–9 p.m. happy hour — it’s one of the best in the city.
Whether or not to order the Drake Burger is a challenge we face every time we visit the hotel, or its outposts, but that’s now been solved with the addition of a mini version of the famous handheld. Other bites like shishito peppers and fries with pecorino and truffle are very shareable, and the cocktail list is stacked with easy-drinking classics. Of course, there’s the regular Drake dinner menu and their signature cocktails, too.
15. Cafe X Bica
160 Pears Ave., Unit 100
Bathed in different shades of green, with cozy sherpa chairs, and gold fixture, Cafe X Bica has an upscale atmosphere. Pick one of seven different roasts, sourced from Columbia, Ecuador and Brazil for your cup of joe; indulge in delicate French pastries, including some heavenly madeleines, or a cheesy croissant; or sign up for one of their guided coffee tasting experiences. If you order a latte, ready your camera for some of most the impressively intricate coffee art you’ve ever seen.
16. 10 Dean
484 Spadina Ave.
Inspired by their parent company's London, U.K. roots, 10 Dean is a gorgeous chain of Toronto cafés within Fitzrovia’s luxurious real estate properties. We love the vibe of the Spadina location the most, though. The airy, modern space features a staircase leading up to a cozy mezzanine that’s open for imbibing cocktails when 10 Dean transforms into a bar in the evening.
Lattes and iced coffee are infused with nitro for the creamiest texture; the brown sugar nitro oat milk latte, with black tea, is practically life-changing. The ube iced latte with a double shot of single-origin espresso is a sweet treat that you don't have to feel guilty about starting your day with. Snack on croissants, baked by The Junction’s Noctua Bakery, or Gaucha Pie Co.’s empanadas for a zesty, savoury option.
17. Moonbean Coffee Company
30 St. Andrew St.
Kensington is loaded with excellent Toronto coffee shops and cafés, and few are as iconic as Moonbean. For nearly three decades, they’ve supplied the Market’s Sunday shoppers and everyday clientele with coffee that they’ve roasted and brewed themselves. While their speciality bevvies, like caramel or matcha lattes, are fun and delicious, we recommend trying the coffee of the day to discover your new favourite roast. Javaphiles will also love the selection of unique beans they can purchase to grind at home; casual visitors can catch up with friends on the bright and breezy back patio. Plus, here’s music to plant-based ears — dairy-free milk is no extra charge.
18. Snakes + Lattes
489 College St.
The first, and largest board game café in Canada, Snakes & Lattes has a soft spot in the city’s heart. You know the drill by now — pay a flat fee, grab a table, and enjoy unlimited access to thousands of board games that range from nostalgic favourites to challenging group games. This is the place to bring your biggest group of friends. We love ordering nachos, topped with their house chorizo, for the whole table (and requesting extra napkins to clean our fingers before handling any game pieces — they’re pretty cheesy). Pro tip: If you order any alcoholic beverage, they’ll knock $10 off your admission fee.
19. Neverland
371 Queen St. W.
It’s not pretentious to bring something to read at the bar if that bar is Neverland. Grab a house-ground coffee, or tea, and pluck a good book, curated by local bookstore Flying Books, off the shelves at this Queen West café-bar hybrid. Cozy up with it for as long as you’d like, and if you love the read, they’re all available to purchase. Visit in the evening, from Wednesday to Saturday, for French-inspired small plates, and any day of the week for house cocktails and by-the-glass wine.
