1. Rooster Coffee House

On the snowiest of winter days, there is no place I’d rather be than Rooster Coffee, curled up with a good book and a London Fog. The two-story cafe is designed with dark navy panelled walls, leather armchairs and a wooden ladder, hanging creative-type magazines from each rung. It oozes with coziness and seems like it could’ve been plucked straight out of London’s Piccadilly Circus. Not to mention the ‘Hello, Goodbye’ flooring is one of the most Instagrammed hotspots of Toronto’s coffee shops.  

Photos by: Rooster Coffee House and BlogTO.

2. Dark Horse Spadina

My first job working for a creative agency’s in-house magazine led to a summer spent at Spadina and Dundas, and the nearby Dark Horse Spadina. Each morning I would walk from Osgoode Station to work (I hadn’t quite figured out streetcars yet), stopping for breakfast at Dark Horse. It was there that I first fell in love with a morning coffee ritual as I sat at one of the communal tables by the window and woke up with a ham and cheese croissant and vanilla latte.

Photos by: BlogTO, Spice Diary, PURSUIT, and Torontoist.

3. Balzac's Distillery District

Balzac’s is a Toronto treasure. French bistro vibes with yellow and black checkered flooring, tall ceilings, Vaudeville chandeliers and vintage French art deco posters set the scene for a comforting and relaxed caffeinated experience. The Distillery was Balzac’s second location, after Stratford, but eleven other cafes dot the city providing lots of options for a café aficionado.

Photos by: Blue Colibri, Indie88 and BlogTO.

4. Le Gourmand

I firmly believe the sign of a good coffee shop is an overwhelming sense of ease and contentment when you walk out the doors. Le Gourmand never fails to lighten my mood and comfort my stresses. I like to think of it as caffeine therapy. My treatment of choice is the Spiced Chai Latte, Roasted Vegetable Panini and (TORONTO’S BEST - IF NOT THE WORLD’S BEST) Chocolate Chip Cookie.

Photos by: BlogTO

5. Maman

Is it weird to be a paper cups enthusiast? Not if they are the cutest things you will ever drink from. While Maman is stuck inside the First Canadian Place food court, walking into the cafe feels like you just stepped off the streets of Paris or Lyon. Amazing coffee makes for a great start to the day but if you are looking for multi-purpose functionality, a full service bar also operates for your happy hour desires.

Photos by: Maman, Montecristo Magazine, and BlogTO

6. Dineen Commerce Court

There’s something about the juxtaposition of Dineen’s sturdy marble coffee bar set against the bustling background of Toronto’s Commerce Court that I find peaceful. Dineen’s most recent outpost caters to the financiers of the 6ix on the go. However, I prefer to saddle up to the bar on one of the big plush stools and enjoy my coffee and morning paper at leisure. If you’re feeling hungry, the Greek yogurt with honey and granola is my pick.

Photos by: BlogTO

Cover photo by: On The Fourth Floor