Here’s our guide to Toronto’s best cafes and coffee shops with the best atmosphere and most stunning interiors. Cozy up this winter and choose between a hot chocolate, matcha latte, earl grey tea, or indulge in some of the finest pastries in the city. Feed your caffeine addiction at one of these unique and Instagramable cafes. Side Note: These are in no particular order since they’re all too beautiful to choose from – you’ll see exactly what I mean after reading this list.
20. Forget Me Not Cafe
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This extremely cute cafe is basically straight out of Pinterest and has a great, relaxing atmosphere – what more could you really ask for?
19. Boxcar Social
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Boxcar Social became so popular, it has expanded to multiple locations around the city. They offer a curated, rotating list of coffees from the best roasters in the world. The interior is NOT bad either.
18. Hale Coffee Company
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Located in the Junction, Hale Coffee has the freshest coffee; a funky interior, and bright feel. Plus, we love the whole industrial vibe it has going on.
17. FIKA Cafe
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FIKA Cafe is a Kensington classic but how can you not be obsessed with the book-filled wall? If that doesn’t motivate you to buckle down and get to work, then I don’t know what will.
16. Rooster Coffee House
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All three Toronto locations have their own unique aesthetic but modern meets vintage is a major concept in all three. It’s the perfect place to catch up with friends in their comfy leather chairs
15. Bobbette & Belle
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Filled with beautiful decor to create a charming, rustic feel with a touch of sophistication. Don’t leave without trying their cupcakes – you don’t want to miss out.
14. Run And Gun Coffee
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This tiny cafe is also a succulent and cactus shop which means it’s pretty a blogger’s heaven. Spend your afternoon sipping coffee and maybe purchase a succulent or cactus while you’re there.
13. Hula Girl Espresso
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The Hula Girl Espresso Bar is the ultimate place for design junkies or even just people watching. Overall, the vibe is very Hawaiian meets flapper and we love it.
12. Dineen Coffee Co.
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A boutique coffee hour located downtown which serves sandwiches & bakery fare in a historic space. The tiles are the definition of #ihavethisthingwithfloors.
11. Grey Tiger
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A cozy, old-fashioned neighbourhood cafe with REALLY cool wallpaper designed themselves. It’s a brightly lit cafe with white walls and neon furniture for contrast.
10. Tori’s Bakeshop Canary District
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Tori’s Bakeshop specializes in natural and organic vegan baking – it doesn’t hurt that its interior is all glass and wood. They have two locations but this one is our favourite.
9. Balzac’s Coffee
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Balzac’s Powerhouse location might be the most stunning in the city. This picturesque cafe is beautifully decorated with small and intricate details – You’ll find something new every time you go. It’s an ideal place to get some work done or study.
8. Field Trip Cafe
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Feel all the tropical vibes at this lovely, feel-good cafe in Bloorcourt Village. This hidden gem is the to-go if you’re looking for somewhere quiet and serene.
7. Versus Coffee
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Versus Coffee serves the most unique lattes in the city. The colour will cost you $0.50 extra but it’s totally worth it to upgrade your regular matcha or espresso lattes to something more colourful. Try the campfire latte, it’s as good as it sounds (yes, the marshmallows are torched).
6. Major Treat Coffee
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If you’re looking for a haircut, this spot doubles as a barbershop and coffee shop – Start your day off right and treat yourself to an excellent espresso or drip coffee at this aesthetically pleasing spot.
5. The Walton
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The Walton is a classy cafe with a cool vibe and a sprinkle of a European feel – It’s an ideal hang out spot for studying or working (**Wi-Fi available**).
4. ODIN
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This Nordic-inspired cafe with a white, angular bar has a hybrid space that slings out espresso, cocktails, snacks, and more.
3. Sorelle & Co
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This bake shop and cafe is located in Yorkville serving the best gluten-free, soy-free, sesame-
2. Colette Grand Cafe
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This chic Parisian-style cafe is next to the Thompson Hotel and serves upscale classic brunch with tasty desserts.
1. The Kitten and the Bear
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The most quaint and cozy spot for hot beverages and scones. Make sure you check out their artisan jams, jellies & marmalades.
Afternoon high tea may be a British tradition, but Toronto has it down to-a-t (see what I did there?). High tea is one of the best ways to escape the busy city life and treat yourself to a luxurious experience. Perfect for you and a group of friends, a special event like a bridal shower, or mother-daughter date, afternoon high tea is an ideal way to enjoy each other’s company. If you’ve been looking for the perfect place to indulge in afternoon high tea, here are 6 places to enjoy it around Toronto.
1. Old Mill Inn
Afternoon tea is an old tradition at the Old Mill Inn. They’ve been serving cyclists, pedestrians, canoeists, and motorists for over 100 years. Your afternoon tea will be accompanied by finger sandwiches including smoked salmon, mini egg salad, and cucumber and baby watercress; house-made tea pastries like Scottish shortbread and lemon meringue tartlets; and current and lemon scones. Choose from their delicious tea selection that ranges from earl grey to masala chai, and stop by Monday through Thursday for complimentary bottomless mimosas.
Image: Instagram/ @tzuzan
Located in Parkdale on Queen Street West, this charming spot is the perfect place to enjoy your afternoon tea with friends. Their Jam and Tea service offers a tasting of seasonal preserves, buttermilk scones, clotted cream and your choice of Sloane fine tea. At $17.50 per person, this pairing is quite the steal.
Image: Instagram/ @kittenandthebear
3. T-Buds
There are a number of tea services to choose from at T-Buds, a second-floor lounge located in North York. Choose from the classic afternoon tea or the chocolate afternoon tea if you have a hearty appetite, or if you’re not as hungry, opt for the savoury cream tea or cream tea services. Each service includes a pot of tea per person and depending on the one you choose, you can enjoy treats such as smoked salmon and dill cream cheese sandwiches, mini quesadillas with savoury chocolate, freshly baked scones and a warm quiche.
Image: Instagram/ @beauty_phd
4. Bampot Bohemian House of Tea
Offering a vegetarian-friendly high tea experience, Bampot tea house not only serves world class tea and delicious vegetarian eats, they also have board games to be enjoyed. Pair your tea with options like the baked falafel with pita bread, posh cheese and crackers served with spicy raspberry jam or their best-ever chocolate fudge cake. Sweet or savory, there’s something for you.
Image: Instagram/ @mynikonandme_
5. Windsor Arms
At the Windsor Arms, you can enjoy a traditional afternoon tea in their plush, comfy seating area. Start off by sipping a glass of sparkling wine or sherry while you indulge in dainty sandwiches and delicacies. The sandwiches range from gougere chicken to guacamole, and the delicacies include goat cheese and caramelized shallot tart. Finish off with a selection of handmade pastries and sweets while you enjoy your loose-leaf tea.
Image: Instagram/ @seuyuiq
It doesn’t get much more luxe than high tea at the Shangri-La. Located in the hotel’s Lobby Lounge, you can spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying live music, while indulging in delicious treats and sipping on one of their 75 premium teas (there’s a certified tea sommelier on site). The menu includes sandwiches, tartlets, scones and luxurious creations by head pastry chef Jolan Thiry. You can also enjoy a glass of prosecco or an elderflower fizz mocktail, all for $65 per person.
Image: Instagram/ @shangrilato
Did we miss any of the best places to get afternoon high tea in Toronto? Share with us in the comments section.
Featured image: Instagram/ @kittenandthebear
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This incredible new cocktail lounge just opened in downtown Toronto, specializing in tea-infused beverages that are alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Their signature drink menu is comprised of original cocktails curated using top of the line teas.
Infuse Café Bar combines organic, fair trade ingredients with industry-leading technology to tantalize your taste buds. Located at 354 Yonge Street, the space that once occupied the popular Infuse Café has been revamped to offer both tea and cocktail enthusiasts an elevated experience. The bar can seat forty-two people and provides a comfortable and relaxing ambience.
“My late grandfather used to work in The Tea Estates back in Sri Lanka, where I’m from, so you could say that tea is in my blood,” said Co-Founder Glen De Mel. “We saw a gap in the marketplace and knew we had something we could offer that’s unlike anything else in the city. Marrying the science and creativity of an excellent cup of tea with high-quality spirits just seemed to make perfect sense.”
Guests are greeted by a mixologist who will provide some recommendations after asking for their flavour and spirit preferences. Guests are also shown the tea leaf concoctions to see, touch and smell before making their selection. All tea infusions are done in-house. For proper and full tea flavour, each batch takes between 20 and 40 minutes steep time (pre-batched, of course – no one is waiting that long for their cocktail order!).
The cocktails are (from left to right):
Peach Riot
Infuse Peach Blossom White Tea, Tanqueray Gin, Tio Pepe Fino Sherry, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, Orange Bitters, Grapefruit Zest.
$12
$12
Jumanji Sour
Tropical banana whiskey sour, wrapped in a banana leaf. Sorry if this gets more likes than your last selfie. Infuse Banana Berry Tea, Forty Creek Whiskey, Egg White, Demerara Syrup, Fresh Lemon Juice, Chocolate Bitters, Hibiscus Powdered Sugar, Banana Leaf.
$12.75
$12.75
Taro Pisco Sour
This bright purple cocktail turns heads and is simply fabulous. El Gobernader Pisco, Egg White, Simple Syrup, Fresh Lime Juice, Taro.
$12.75
Here are some of their other cocktails:
If you’re looking for a bite, the lounge offers the most delicious and perfectly cooked sous vide steaks with a choice of side, along with bar snacks and for dessert these Japanese cheesecakes are insanely good.
Find out more about them on their website or on their Instagram.
Have you tried tea-infused cocktails before? Let us know in the comments!
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Whether you’re a coffee addict, tea enthusiast or both, the Toronto Tea and Coffee Expo is the event you won’t want to miss this Spring. Come to the Evergreen Brick Works On April 14-15 and share the love of your favourite drink with other Torontonians at this fun and tasty event.
The Toronto Coffee & Tea Expo brings together the top local talents, tea and coffee enthusiasts and celebrates the vibrant and unique tea and coffee culture in the city.
At the expo, you will have the opportunity to experience a wide variety of tea, coffee, and complementary goods, as well as taste unique and exotic flavours from around the world. If that’s not enough, you will also learn from the experts how to read the tea leaves, how to make the perfect espresso and even a coffee scrub.
To buy tickets and learn more about the event, click here.
Are you a tea person or a coffee person? Let us know in the comments!
Featured image: Instagram/ @torontocoffeeandtea
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