Toronto has some serious bubble tea game. It seems you can’t turn a street corner without running right into a bubble tea shop-but we definitely don’t mind! We love an afternoon pick-me-up of creamy tea and fresh fruit juices, filled to the brim with chewy tapioca.
From small local shops to international chains, there are a ton of spots in the city that any bubble tea enthusiast can appreciate. With so many places to choose from, it’s hard to decide where to go. To help you out, here are some of our favourite bubble tea spots in Toronto.
5 St. Joseph St
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This inviting tea shop has a relaxed vibe with its exposed brick and wood accents and is the kind of place that takes pride in the drinks its baristas create. With a wide range of flavours and its signature house-made “deerioca,” you can’t go wrong with The Alley.
717 Bay St
Labothery is a “make your own” style bubble tea shop and the first of its kind in Toronto. With its step-by-step process, bubble tea fanatics get to choose from fresh tea and milk bases, colourful fruit flavours and a wide variety of jellies to make their own perfect bubble tea.
Multiple locations
This international brand (they have 800 stores worldwide!) has become synonymous with bubble tea in Toronto and is a go-to for many. Chatime offers a great selection of bubble teas that are all made from 100 per cent real tea.
Multiple Locations
Commonly known as Taiwan’s tea specialists, Presotea brews their teas by using an espresso-type machine that keeps the flavor and sweetness of the tea, making their bubble tea a standout for bubble tea fans.
Multiple locations
This bubble tea joint specializes in milk-based drinks, but they also have a wide range of other beverages to choose from. Happy Lemon is also a place that pays attention to its presentation, making every drink perfect for an Insta story.
500 Dundas St W
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If you’ve seen those bubble tea lightbulb drinks, you can thank these guys for that. Seen as Toronto’s trendsetters of bubble tea, Royaltea also serves their drinks in blood bags, teddy bear shaped glasses and more!
Multiple Locations
It’s the high-quality ingredients of this bubble chain tea that really makes its drinks stand out. With locations across the downtown core, it’s perfect for those who are looking for a quick grab-and-go of bubble tea.
Gong Cha
Multiple Locations
This Taiwanese chain is well known internationally and it’s gaining even more attention in Toronto. The shop is famous for its “milk foam” drinks where teas or coffees are topped with a salty cream to contrast the sweetness of the beverages.
Charidise
27 Baldwin St
Found right in the middle of downtown, Charidise offers casual dining with a chic, Asian-inspired menu and a drink list devoted to slushies, milkshakes, sparkling drinks and 20 types of hot, milk, bubble and iced tea. The spot also has an inviting ambiance that’s great for social outings.
Latea Era Tea Room
3300 Midland Ave
Located in Scarborough, this chain offers freshly brewed teas straight from China and matcha sourced from Japan. The spot is worth a trip for their signature “crown” topping – a cheese-like textured salted foam that sits on top of most of their beverages.
Sharetea
Multiple locations
Sharetea – another chain with Taiwanese roots – has over 50 flavours of black, oolong, green, milk and fruit teas to choose from. All of this spot’s ingredients are shipped directly from Taiwan, making it an authentic experience.
Do you know any other great bubble tea spots in the city?
Featured image: Instagram/ @chatimecanada
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