Best Coffee Shops and Cafes in Toronto

"23 It just wouldn’t be summer without spending an hour in line for a treat at Bang Bang, Ossington’s perennially popular (but even more so in the warmer months) ice cream shop. The staff stays busy stuffing scoops in flavours like banana pudding, matcha-jasmine-soba and lychee rosewater, between and inside all kinds of cone substitutes: chewy cookies, sticky cinnamon buns, choux pastry puffs and our favourite, Hong Kong egg waffles. The bubbly vessel is just as much fun to eat as it is tasty."

"When The Pilot opened its doors in 1944, it was originally dedicated to Canadian WWII pilots fighting overseas. Today, The Pilot continues to embody this spirit, with its large rooftop terrace dubbed the “Flight Deck.” The laid-back atmosphere is indicative of Yorkville and is a great option for some much-needed reprieve from the bustling downtown core. On Saturdays, you’ll be able to catch live jazz from some of Canada’s finest musicians, adding to the historic charm of the establishment."

"Location: Ossington ave., Richmond St., Queen St. E, Bay + Bloor, Wagstaff Dr,. 100 King St.W., Union station ,Toronto St. Credit@pilotcoffee. What makes them special: The chain of Pilot Coffee Bars has left a trail of delicious coffee all over the city."

"A post shared by The Pilot (@thepilot_to) on Sep 21, 2019 at 12:30pm PDT. Climb on up to the flight deck to enjoy this rooftop in Yorkville. The retractable awning makes it practically all-weather, so here, patio season extends to December."

"Dineen Coffee Co. is a stylish, retrofitted, cozy coffee shop just south of the Eaton Centre in a super cool old heritage building that was once a hat and fur manufacturing company. Stay in and check out the renaissance revival decor, or get a cup to go and stroll through Cloud Gardens Conservatory just ½ a block west on Temperance Street."

"Dineen Coffee is one of the best coffee shops in Toronto with three locations. I visited the original location in the historic Dineen Building (140 Yonge St). This one really make you feel like you’ve stepped into a movie."

"Hot or cold, however you like it, Dineen Coffee Co. has got you covered. Pair it with a puff pastry or delicious snack for your day. There are three locations across Toronto, ready for you to stop by and enjoy."

"Nadège Patisserie is offering four ice cream bars as part of its special ice cream shop. Priced at $6.50 each, flavours include strawberry vanilla (dipped in strawberry chocolate), vanilla and caramel (double dipped in a milk chocolate coating and crunchy almond pieces), vanilla and chocolate and Yuzu cheesecake, which features Nadège’s famous cheesecake ice cream dipped in Yuzu chocolate. All ice cream bars can be picked up from the shop’s Rosedale, Queen West and Oxford Kitchen HQ locations."

"Find it: Yorkdale Mall at 3401 Dufferin Street, The PATH Richmond Adelaide Centre Food Court at 121 Adelaide Street West, 1099 Yonge St, and 780 Queen Street West; @nadegetoronto; nadege-patisserie.com. The lowdown: If you can’t get to Paris to satisfy your macaron craving, get thee to Nadège. The legendarily pretty confections at this bright, contemporary bakery are arguably the best in the city."

"A post shared by NADÈGE (@nadegetoronto) on May 20, 2020 at 2:03pm PDT. Want a fancy French twist for your birthday treat?. Serving gourmet bites that’ll make you feel like you’re visiting Europe, this spot leans into every special occasion with cute menu themed items that just ooze deliciousness."

"Coffee, comfy chairs and clean lines – The Black Canary on Sherbourne at Adelaide is a great place to sit and catch up with your people or just take a break from downtown T.O."

"Toronto’s Jewish community may have migrated from Kensington Market to North York and beyond decades ago, but Free Times owner Judy Perly has been preparing authentic Jewish Sunday brunches here for almost 20 years. And they keep on getting better. The menu now includes more than 50 items, from smoked salmon and potato latkes to blintzes and challah French toast – all accompanied by live music!"

"A post shared by Free Times Cafe (@freetimescafetoronto) on Apr 2, 2018 at 3:36pm PDT. Free Times Cafe is a Jewish restaurant serving up a hot buffet brunch every Sunday that features over 50 different items to choose from. Not only can you get your favourite Jewish foods for only $24.95 per person, but they even play some live tunes during brunch for an experience you won’t want to miss."

"Free Times Cafe is a long standing veg-friendly establishment in the city. Since 1980, Free Times Cafe has served authentic Jewish, Middle Eastern, and Canadian cuisine. Some of the vegan options on the menu include a vegan burger, vegan wrap, falafel plate, and a hummus plate."

"By far the cutest macarons in the city, this small patisserie in Kensington Market should not be missed for fans of the traditionally French dessert. In a variety of adorable shapes, these macarons delight the eyes as much as they delight the tongue. All of the shapes take inspiration from the animal kingdom (panda, corgi, etc…) or pop culture (the limited edition Toronto Raptors macaron) and anime (No-Face from Spirited Away, Tiger from Winnie the Pooh, and Doraemon, etc…)."

"Daan Go is the brainchild of Christopher Siu, who was on season 2 of Masterchef Canada Season 2!. They’re famous for their adorable character macarons, but they also have beautiful cakes and other pastries. They have 1 downtown location in Kensington Market and 2 locations in Scarborough."

"The Midland Avenue outpost of Daan Go specializing in cakes always has incredible new designs ready to go. Seasonal creations vary but there are mind-boggling signatures like a durian-shaped Gold Thorn or cake topped with Chef Siu’s must-try macarons. View this post on Instagram"

"Watching a show at the Princess of Wales Theatre is one of the cool things to do in Toronto at night. Photo: Tourism Toronto. Toronto’s theatre district packs in the night owls and matinee lovers."

"an apt Celine-inspired tagline for this super quirky queer gem!. Buddies is a queer theatre space by day and on weekends transforms into one of Toronto's best gay nightclubs. And greatly needed, we might add!"

"By day, they are a cafe serving coffee, loose-leaf tea, and vegan toasts. In the evening, they’ve got cocktails, craft beer, and vegan snacks. The establishment is entirely vegetarian with lots of vegan options."

"Located in a grungy warehouse in the Junction, 3030 Dundas West is a throwback to the 1990s. In a space characterized by exposed brick and excellent acoustics, diners can play board games, pinball machines, or sit back with a couple of share plates and watch VHS tapes on old school TV sets. Known for having one of the best trivia nights in Toronto, the restaurant regularly hosts special events, movie nights, live music, and is frequently rented out as an event space."

"Restaurant 3030 Dundas West is a hotbed of culture in the ever-more-happening Junction. The cavernous space is a bit of everything: a bar, restaurant, art gallery and concert hall rolled into one. Paintings from local artists —  like cool cat Nick Sweetman — oversee patrons downing local brews and tucking into eats before heading to"

"There is even a small amount of customization for your dish in the form of choosing your noodle thickness. Apart from noodles, they also carry small appetizer snacks, like savoury pancakes, potato pastries, meat skewers, and Asian-inspired burgers."

"Find it: 2190 McNicoll Ave., 93 Harbord St., 5453 Yonge St., 1383 16th Ave. Unit D, 7700 Markham Rd. Unit 3A; magicnoodle.ca; @magic.noodle"

"Southeast Sandwiches is a real gem from Asia, which is located in the heart of Canada, near Aloft Vaughan Mills. If you’re a big fan of South Asian food, come to this place and let them bring you something special. Their tacos are what makes everyone love this restaurant."