Sprawl out at these comfy cafés in Toronto
Toronto’s streets are brewing with cafés – from the corner coffee shops at the end of your residential avenue to the retail coffee giants dotting the narrow downtown streets. You'll find these sweet spots serving up everything from your average latté to the more discerning Argentinian maté. Here are some of our favourite spacious cafés where you can settle in to pass a few comfy hours.
Dineen Coffee
140, Yonge St, Toronto, ON M5C 1X6With its regal, sprawling presence in the heart of Toronto’s bustling Financial District, this café is housed within its historic namesake building.Its earthy brick walls, red leather banquettes, floor-to-ceiling glass windows, and a chandelier reminiscent of Grand Central Station all invite a chic experience to languish over a vanilla latté and catch up on your people-watching. On the go? Rev up for a corporate meeting with Dineen’s oh-so-smotth $2.40 espresso. Plus, the well-lit, warm space is matched with friendly, smart service that will make a regular out of you.
El Almacen
1917 Weston Rd, York, ON M9N 1W7El Almacen sings out to every coffee snob out there. This is a repository of South American coffees served within a rustic ambiance of sacks of yerba maté, a copper Elektra espresso machine, a life-size painting of flamenco dancers, and yummy empanadas. The earthy and organic flavours of the maté are just the way coffee was meant to be. In fact, your cortado comes with a glass of house-made fizzy water to clear your palate before and after your sips of perfection. Its comfy digs are just the place for a quiet read, as you dream of Argentinian siestas.
Early Bird Espresso And Brew Bar
613 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 2B7This early bird will definitely attract the coffee worm in you, whether it’s your first or third cup of the day. You can find your usual Americanos and mochas here, but what’s different is the spacious comfort you’ll feel within the modern, bright, and greenery infused space – as you find a seat at the harvest table and plug in your laptop for a day’s work. Ample coffee cups served on wooden saucers complete the set-up, for all the elements of a perfect coffee-shop chill.
Snakes & Lattes
600 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6G 1K4If you’ve had the distinct pleasure of being a member of Generation B, aka Generation Board Game, this concept café might become your new home away from home. Surrounded by a library of board games, and board game nerds moonlighting as baristas, this roomy, fun, one-of-a-kind spot charges a $5 cover charge to play board games to your heart's content, not to mention the delicious drip coffee that keeps you company as you strategize your next Settlers move.
Bulldog Coffee
86 Gerrard St E, Toronto, ON M5B 2J1This spacious, two-storey, open concept café near Gerrard and Church is a gem of a coffee spot by award-winning barista Stuart Ross – whose custom-made, seven-blend coffees and home-made snacks will make a believer out of you. Forget the cappuccinos and lattes on a snow-soaked Toronto morning, and go for the Blanco Bull Dog (a white hot chocolate with dark chocolate designs and an optional shot of espresso). It might set you back a few extra dollars, but it’s worth it!
Manic Coffee
426 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1T3If you’re in the mood for some potent cold brew coffee, Manic Coffee offers one of the best in the city that will give you the buzz you’re seeking. Complete with a gelato bar and other classic coffee flavours with creative coffee art, this is definitely one for the list when you’re out there café crawling and looking for something new to try out. Their baked goods and snack treats cater to vegan sensibilities, and yes, you can actually have conversations with your friends in this joint as, praise the lord, there is no wifi to hide behind.
