Inspired by the coffee houses in Budapest and Vienna, I’m writing about my five "go to" coffee shops in Toronto where I’ll take my visiting family or friends to share a cup of coffee or tea, and maybe some pastries.
Although we have many Starbucks and McCafe’s in Toronto, these five are Canadian or Toronto-specific. They all have good coffee at reasonable price and something unique to offer beyond coffee.
Here’s my favourite five local coffee shops by alpha order:
1. Boxcar Social for a nice ambiance, and the open lake view from the patio of this coffee shop at Harbourfront location will make you linger longer than you think.
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| Boxcar Social |
2. Cafe Balzac’s for its European feel, and their Market Street location is right by the iconic St Lawrence Market district, great for people watching, strolling, and shopping.
3. Dineen Coffee Company for its floor to ceiling windows in a Toronto Heritage building, facing famous Yonge Street, right in the heart of the city.
4. Second Cup, a Canadian coffee franchise, for its nice interior decor, and several downtown locations like this one in the Entertainment district:
5. Tim Hortons, a Canadian coffee franchise started by the famous Canadian hockey player in 1964, for its casual settings, availability almost everywhere, donuts and timbits.
Your turn...What unique coffee or tea place in your home town would you take your visiting family or friend?
What a variety of cafes in your favourite 5!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite is a local cafe down the road from where I live. I was just there today and caught up with some new friends.
Good coffee and conversation, what's not to like?
SSG xxx
Good coffee and good conversation are life pleasures. Thanks,SSG, for stopping by.
DeleteThank you for sharing these, Natalie. I am so glad that you included Second Cup -- I LOVE their coffee!
ReplyDeleteWe have something in common, Donna. Thank you for stopping by.
DeleteOh wow, I love the look of Cafe Balzac. It looks nothing like the shops we have here (or maybe Melbourne or some of the other larger and older cities) but it's gorgeous!
ReplyDeleteI'm actually not a coffee drinker and rely on (Vanilla) Diet Coke for my caffeine hit! #teamlovinlife
I should look to see if we have vanilla diet Coke in Toronto. Thanks, Deborah, for stopping by.
DeleteHi Natalie! I don't know!!!!! I had better start checking out some of our coffee shops in Brisbane - just in case you visit LOL:) Enjoyed exploring your favourite 5.
ReplyDeleteSue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond
I'm sure Brisbane has some cool coffee shops, Sue. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI have literally hundreds of coffee shops in my town. Coffee is a really big thing here in Australia and trendy little cafes have cropped absolutely everywhere. I like the organic coffee the best. There are many places nearby that I can get a really great cup of coffee. #TeamLovinLife
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic, Kathy. Thanks for stopping by.
DeleteI love coffee shops, even though I can't drink coffee anymore. I like independent or small chains. Too many around us are large, national, chains. You know what you are getting but there is no personality - shame. x
ReplyDeleteI like the small, unique coffee shops, too. Thanks, Emma, for stopping by.
DeleteAs a fellow Canadian, and one who has done a lot of travelling in our country, Tim Hortons was the place that was always available, always reliable - the perfect spot for my peppermint tea and something sweet to eat. It broke my heart when they sold out to the Burger King empire in the United States. I know they're still here in abundance and they still promote the Canadian identity, but now it feels more like a way for them to sell coffee than a true reflection of Canadian values. Sorry, Natalie - my rant for the day. As you can tell, it really did/does bother me.
ReplyDeleteYour independent shops all look great. I'll keep them in mind for the next time I'm visiting TO.
I hear you, Karen. Hope you'll check out the other coffee shops when you visit Toronto. Thanks for stopping by.
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