Where to Get Your Coffee Fix in Toronto
Morning brew.
Rooms Coffee 915 Dupont
Toronto’s loud, busy streets are home to some exciting coffee offerings, each one a haven from the outside bustle. It’s not just about the coffee, either—it’s about the feeling that each place creates.
Coffee tourism is on the rise, in fact, with a recent survey discovering that more than 60 per cent of Canadians are interested in going on a café crawl to find their new favourite haunts. From airy single-origin roasters to dark Japanese-inspired listening bars, here’s where to get your coffee fix in Canada’s biggest city.
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With 10 locations in Toronto (and a few others in the Greater Toronto Area), Dark Horse Espresso Bar is a staple. Expect interiors featuring plenty of exposed brick, warm wood, and natural light, which provide the ideal setting in which to sip one of the café’s two in-house blends—which, in keeping with the theme, were both named after Canadian racehorses.
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Taking its cues from Japan’s listening bars, Rooms Coffee has three locations in the city, each with its own personality. The café at 915 Dupont is a moody yet welcoming place, with vinyl playing on the crystal-clear sound system and incense discreetly burning in the corner. Expect to see people playing chess, working on their laptops, and lounging in the sunken living room, all the while sipping excellent matcha lattes and espresso drinks—even the decaf is great here.
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Tucked away on Dundas Street West near Trinity Bellwoods Park, Ella’s Uncle is a cozy café with plenty of personality. Seafoam-green walls and a retro black-and-white checkered floor give the space a charmingly retro feel, but the coffee is decidedly contemporary. There’s no better place to grab an iced Americano on a warm day.
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The Balzac’s journey actually began in Stratford, Ontario, but now with eight locations in Toronto, Balzac’s Coffee Roasters has been adopted as a local favourite. Inspired by Paris’s grand cafés, Balzac’s focuses on top-quality coffee, much of it certified organic. High ceilings, exposed brick, and vintage-inspired artworks make its Distillery District location particularly easy to spend the day in.
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In an industrial part of Toronto’s west side, Subtext sources beans from around the world and roasts them in-house. With a focus on single-origin sips, the roastery has become known as a gathering place for coffee aficionados. For those less versed but curious all the same, the bright, airy space hosts educational cupping workshops to learn more about coffee tasting notes and differentiators.
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College Street’s Gateau Ghost first made a name for itself thanks to its decadent madeleines, but it’s quickly becoming popular for its brunch (don’t skip the house-made bread) and its café drinks, as well. Grab a seat in the light-filled space and try a hojicha latte or a simple-yet-perfect espresso.
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French bistro Milou is the place to be on a sunny afternoon, with a brunch that is well worth the wait (and there will be a wait). For those who would rather not, though, Milou offers a selection of coffees and treats to go.
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When day transitions to night, turn to one of the financial district’s buzziest restaurants for an evening coffee fix. Black + Blue might be known for its high-end cuts of red meat, but the steakhouse has a dramatic square bar that greets guests upon entrance—and it’s here that coffee lovers should pull up a seat and indulge in the restaurant’s espresso martini. Made with Kahlúa, vanilla syrup, vanilla vodka, and a shot of espresso.
