The Best Coffee Shops in Toronto
Toronto has one of the highest densities of coffee shops in the world. Which are most worth your time?
1. Ratelier
9 Trinity Park Lane (Trinity Bellwoods Park)
Open, airy white space with superb counter area, in particular the peerless cabinetry. A real home in a cafe.
The coffee is the best in Toronto. The beans are unique and interesting but without the trendy excess of extreme divergent flavours. The milk drinks are smooth and balanced and interesting.
The choice of cups suits each drink perfectly. Like the cups, the furniture also is both purposeful and beautiful. No “design” briefs here, just the best for the situation.
The music and sound sucks but can be overlooked because it is distant enough.
2. Contra
1028 Shaw St. (Dupont/Ossington)
Most consistent coffee in Toronto
Most delicious and varied pastries in Toronto
Quiet and relaxing atmosphere
Superb design and operations
3. Subtext
130 Cawthra Ave Unit 104 (Keele/St. Clair)
Advanced coffee flavours
The cutting edge of coffee tastes in Toronto
Out of the way warehouse vibe is an adventure
4. Augusta Coffee Bar
229 Augusta Ave. (Kensington)
Central location
Superb bean selection and roast style, consistent
Large open area with lots of seating options.
Pastries were better before and music can sometimes be much too loud for working. Occasionally annoying laptop people.
5. The Brick Room (一期一会)
9 Temperance St (Yonge & Richmond)
Convenient central location
Excellent light roast taste with small servings as per Japanese style
Warm seating area and delightful back garden patio
Service could be a little warmer.
6. Heval
393 Spadina Ave.. (at Cecil)
Very good coffee
Croissants and sandwiches are among the best in Toronto
Friendly staff and genuine vibe.
No seating. Hopefully they will put some micro tables on the wall near the very long counter, or at least a bench outside. Could be a real meeting spot.
7. Vereda
40 King St. W. Lobby (Scotiabank Tower)
Colombian bean specialist
Roasted on-site
Superbly balanced flavours and roasts, especially light
Handy saviour in the financial district
8. Carbonic
37 Baldwin St. (Baldwin/Beverly)
High traffic youthful vibe
Often interesting/challenging electronic music
Designed interior
Inventive tea drinks
9. Goldstruck
130 Cumberland St. (Bloor/Avenue)
Central location
Good people watching
Consistently good coffee
10. Hiya Scone & Coffee
1389 Dundas St W. (at Beaconsfield)
The best scones in Toronto
Limited seating but the front terrarium is nice.
Coffee is average but consistent.
11. Everyday Coffee Roasters
95 Front St. E. (St. Lawrence Market)
Consistently balanced taste
Slightly more affordable than other places
Wide range of beans to purchase
No seating but a great complement to walking around the market
12. Ideal
162 Ossington Ave. (Ossington/Dundas)
The best coffee machine in Toronto
Good sandwiches and pastries
Above average coffee
Nice patio
13. NILE
1485 Dundas St. W. (at Brock)
One of the best designed cafes in town. The handmade chairs and tables are especially good as is the funky coloured and DIY lighting. Geometric and minimal yet rich and practical.
The coffee and pastries are unremarkable but adequate.
It’s very bustling. Don’t expect to work or read. But if you’re an extrovert you’ll love it.
The sound is horrifically bad and trendy with no knowledge at all. It’s a shame because they probably spent a huge amount on it.
14. Fix Coffee & Bikes
486 Front St W Unit UG28 (at The Well)
The best tasting coffee in the Entertainment district
Not much seating but kind of has that cool drop in on your bike vibe
Good cookies and pastries
Not corporate like everything else in the area
15. Mast
68 Shuter St. (Shuter/Jarvis)
Another oasis location if you find yourself here
Excellent balanced taste
Approachable interior seating
16. Hailed
44 Gerrard St. W. (Gerrard/Bay)
Solidly above average and approachable taste
Grab-and-go location
17. Cherry Bomb
79 Roncesvalles Ave.
Very smooth and consistent coffee
Convenient location near High Park
Pastries are ok but not nearly as good as a few years ago
Only a few seats, staff can be oddly standoffish
18. Coffee Boutique
2285 Bloor St. W. (Bloor/Runnymede)
Old-school European taste
Excellent bean selection
When you need aggressive caffeine
19. L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
321 Bloor St. W. (Bloor/St. George)
Large cafe vibe when you want to work or blend in
Consistent approachable taste
One of the best cortados in Toronto
20. Dark Horse Discovery
416 Front St. East (Front/Cherry)
The best tasting dark horse location
Consistent
Wide range of food and pantry items
21. Mallo
785 Bathurst St. (Bathurst/Bloor)
Good croissants
Opens very early
Music is generally above average
Unfortunately the coffee has really gone downhill. If they got better beans and barista training it could be in the top 3.
Your donation helps keep the reviews coming!