Brianna HarrisonWhenever I feel like I deserve a little pick-me-up, I choose one of the cutest cafes in the 6ix, bring a book, and park myself there. I mean, if I’m going to drop a ton of money on an overpriced (albeit delicious) cup of joe, it might as well be in a charming spot.
I typically order a flat white or a cortado along with a pastry, then take a pic of both, using the cafe as a lovely background. After that, I either read my book or just watch people (in a non-stalkery kind of way).
Great coffee, beautiful ambiance—these really help me to instantly feel better. That’s why if anyone knows where the cutest cafes are, that would be moi.
So, here are the most Instagrammable cafes in Toronto—gorgeous spots where you can have your cake and eat it, too (with a heavenly cup of coffee).
Dineen Coffee Co.
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Website: https://www.dineencoffee.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dineencoffeeco
Address: 140 Yonge St
Hours: Mon – Fri: 7:30 AM – 5 PM
Sat – Sun: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Contact: (416) 900-0949
Must-Order: Cortado
For a stylish coffee escape right in the heart of Toronto, head over to Dineen Coffee Co. The outside looks like a fancy, old-timey department store, and the inside is so elegant that you’ll immediately understand why this spot is an Instagram darling.
I love its hand-painted tile, custom marble countertops, red leather banquettes, and huge chandelier (which used to be in the Royal York Hotel). It also has high ceilings and plenty of natural light—let’s just say I’ve had plenty of flattering selfies here.
The coffee itself is no afterthought; there’s a delicious rotation of drop coffee, with a medium-dark roast for bold coffee lovers. I always order the cortado here—they put in just the perfect amount of steamed milk.
When the weather is nice, I suggest bringing a nice book and grabbing a patio seat.
Pro Tip:
Make sure to pair your coffee with one of their delicious baked goods. I particularly enjoy their ham and Swiss pastry—it’s flaky, savory, and totally satisfying.
Nutbar
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Website: https://nutbar.co/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nutbar.co/
Address: 425 Adelaide St W Suite 101
Hours: Mon – Sat: 8 AM – 8 PM
Sunday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Contact: (647) 805-5008
Must-Order: Matcha Latte
As the city’s first superfood cafe, Nutbar is all about clean ingredients and seriously photogenic spaces. Everything here is 100% organic and made in-house.
They have several cute locations, but my favorite is the one at Adelaide St. I love the calming interior in soft light woods, warm grays, and subtle tile patterns from the floor to the walls. It looks more like an upscale spa than a cafe (which is a good thing).
Everyone knows Nutbar serves the best matcha latte in town. They use a custom nut milk blend of cashew, almond, and coconut, which gives it a silky texture.
As expected, they’ve also nailed the healthy-comfort-food combo. Expect hearty soups, toasts, salads, power bowls, and small-batch cookies and bars.
Pro Tip:
If you easily get cold, this might not be the best place to hole up during winter. Since it’s a small space, every open door brings a blast of cold air, so you might want to have that matcha latte to go.
Kitten and The Bear
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Website: https://www.kittenandthebear.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kittenandthebear
Address: 1414 Dundas St W
Hours: Tue – Sun: 10 AM – 5 PM
Contact: (647) 926-9711
Must-Order: Buttermilk Scones
The owners of Kitten and The Bear designed the space to resemble a charming English countryside cottage. They did it so well, with whimsical stained brick walls, light wood floors, and dainty vintage teacups and plates on open shelves.
I mainly go here for their cute buttermilk scones (freshly made in-house). They’re perfectly flaky, served with clotted cream and one of their delicious handmade jams.
For drinks, they offer carefully sourced coffee and premium teas from amazing brands like Nina’s (a legit Parisian tea house); feel free to explore their full tea menu of 33 blends. Plus, each order arrives with your very own silver-plated teapot—so fancy!
Don’t forget to browse their retail corner, where you’ll find yummy jams in adorable jars and even a little glass case of cheese.
Pro Tip:
If you can swing it, go for their weekend Jam and Tea service—a curated tasting with warm scones, clotted cream, assorted jams, and fine teas, served on little linens with silverware. Note that these slots are booked months in advance, so book early!
Fika Cafe
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Website: https://www.fika.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fikakensington/
Address: 28 Kensington Ave
Hours: Mon – Fri: 10:30 AM – 5 PM
Saturday: 10 AM – 6 PM
Sunday: 10:30 AM – 5 PM
Contact: https://www.fika.ca/contact-us
Must-Order: Cardamom Latte
Take your fika (Swedish for coffee break) at Fika Cafe, and I guarantee that you’ll be tempted to play hooky for the rest of the day. That’s because this incredibly adorable coffee shop is just so darn cuuute!
From its teal-brick exterior to its Scandi-inspired interior (calming mix of whites, greys, and blues), everything is just so charming. Don’t forget to take a pic of their iconic wall mounted with open books at the back.
My go-to drink order here is their earthy and creamy cardamom latte, but what they’re really low-key famous for is their Swedish cinnamon buns. You’d better snag one when you see them out since they typically sell out crazy fast.
Pro Tip:
Feeling uninspired? Bring your laptop to Fika Cafe. I’ve worked here plenty of times, and its lovely atmosphere and steady coffee supply are definitely a winning combo.
Boxcar Social
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Website: https://boxcarsocial.ca/pages/harbourfront
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boxcar_social/
Address: 235 Queens Quay W
Hours: Mon, Sun: 9 AM – 7 PM
Tue – Wed: 9 AM – 8 PM
Wednesday: 10 AM – 8 PM
Thursday: 9 AM – 5 PM
Fri – Sat: 9 AM – 10 PM
Contact: +1 844-726-9227
Must-Order: Café Latte
If I want my coffee with a side of gorgeous water views, Boxcar Social at Queen Quay is my go-to. In the summer, I always grab a patio seat so that I can look out at the Natrel Pond (and Lake Ontario) while nursing my cup of coffee.
During winter, you could enjoy their heated indoor space instead. It has a photogenic industrial chic appeal—a perfect mix of metal and wood (there are even light wood panels on the ceilings!), plus a succulent here and there for accent.
As for coffee, I love their café latte. They use roasted Brazilian beans, which add nutty and chocolate-y notes—complete with cute latte art on top!
You could easily transition to happy hour here, too, since their bar also serves beer (around 20 craft types like Burdock and Blood Brothers), whiskey, and wine.
Pro Tip:
Boxcar Social is also a popular lunch spot since it serves delicious soups and sandwiches. Avoid the lunch crowd by getting there at 11 AM or just after 1 PM.
Neo Coffee Bar
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Website: https://www.neocoffeebar.com/location/bay-x-college-neo-coffee-bar/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neocoffeebarto/
Address: 770 Bay St. Unit 3
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 7 AM – 9 PM
Friday: 7 AM – 10 PM
Sunday: 8 AM – 9 PM
Contact: (647) 345-0770
Must-Order: Matcha Latte
If you’re in the mood for Japanese baked goodies and coffee served in a clean, modern setting, visit Neo Coffee Bar.
I almost always visit their flagship cafe on Frederick St. since they already know my usual—a hot whisked-to-order matcha latte that uses Uji matcha from Kyoto.
Plus, their pastries are almost too pretty to eat! They’re famous for their Japanese roll cakes. The strawberry shortcake is the most popular—soft sponge, light cream, and juicy berries that cut through the sweetness perfectly.
And if that’s not enough, their cafe is seriously aesthetic. I super love its clean, minimalist lines, with raw woods, concrete beams, and industrial walls.
Pro Tip:
If you’re more of a cookie person, Neo has several unique Japanese flavors. Examples include matcha white chocolate, gluten-free ginger molasses, and even vegan sugar-free breakfast cookies!
Tsuchi Café
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Website: https://tsuchicafe.myshopify.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tsuchi.cafe/
Address: 688 College St
Hours: Mon – Sun: 9 AM – 6 PM
Contact: (416) 532-4748
Must-Order: Moku Moku Tiramisu
In the heart of Little Italy lies another cute Japanese cafe: Tsuchi Café. Tsuchi means “earth” in Japanese, which is fitting since they’re 100% plant-based—from the food to the drinks.
Yep, everything they serve is vegan, and some patrons don’t even believe them (since they’re that delicious). Their katsu sando, ‘beef’ curry, mochis, Japanese cakes, and more? All plant-based.
One drink you have to try is their moku moku tiramisu. It’s topped with their signature cream cheese whip, carefully placed so that it looks like a cloud on top of your drink!
The cafe design is just as thoughtful as the menu. In fact, I’m in love with their minimalist, wabi-sabi aesthetic (a Japanese philosophy that embraces simplicity). Imagine dark wood against white walls, soft lighting, and a few plants here and there.
Pro Tip:
One of the best-kept secrets in Little Italy is Tsuchi Café’s kare pan. This plant-based “beef” curry (made from scratch from dough to filling) is only available on weekends.
Coco’s Neighbourhood Coffee Shop
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Website: https://hellococo.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cocos.to
Address: 668 College St
Hours: Mon – Wed: 8 AM – 3 PM
Thurs – Sun: 8 AM – 5 PM
Contact: https://hellococo.ca/contact
Must-Order: Breakfast Sandwich
Little Italy’s Coco’s is a bakery cafe where everything—from their pastries to their decor—is amazingly extra (in a really good way).
For me, the cafe has the perfect amount of kitsch—not too much that it’s cloying. Their mismatched panelled wallpapers, wood-on-wood accents, antique lamps, plates-on-the-wall decor, and overgrown plants live rent-free in my mind.
When I’m craving a breakfast sandwich, this is the place I go—it has bacon, cheddar, egg, and hot honey sauce. Pair it with their vanilla malt latte, and you’re guaranteed to have a lovely morning.
If you can, hang out at their tiny but cute front patio. It’s a cozy place to people-watch while having coffee and breakfast.
Pro Tip:
Not surprisingly, their over-the-top birthday cakes are just as whimsical as their cafe! They offer flavors like milk and cookies, pink champagne, and lemon meringue—but make sure to order months in advance since they’re very popular.
Forget Me Not Cafe
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Website: https://www.forgetmenotcoffee.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/forgetmenotcoffee.to/
Address: 506 Adelaide St W
Hours: Mon – Thurs: 7:30 AM – 6 PM
Friday: 7:30 AM – 7 PM
Saturday: 9 AM – 7 PM
Contact: (416) 848-0057
Must-Order: Banana Bread Matcha
Forget Me Not Cafe is a teeny-tiny Korean-inspired cafe that’s low-key TikTok famous for serving some of the best matcha creations in the city.
My fave is their banana bread matcha, which amazingly tastes exactly like banana bread! You can customize your drink with your choice of milk and flavors, and their barista even takes latte art requests.
Aesthetically, their Adelaide location is very charming. It has small tables, a comfy couch at the back, and two tables on the sidewalk, plus that cute white and wood design combo that I adore.
Bonus: They sell jewelry and home goods, too, which is great if you’re looking for that perfect, kitschy-cute gift.
Pro Tip:
Planning to bring your laptop? I suggest going there very early—seating is limited, but there are plugs scattered around, making it a solid work spot if you’re lucky enough to snag a table.
Milky’s
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Website: https://milkys.ca/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/milkyscoffee/
Address: 760 Dundas St W
Hours: Mon – Fri: 8 AM – 5 PM
Sat – Sun: 9 AM – 5 PM
Contact: (647) 424-2069
Must-Order: Chinatown Fog
At the bustling corner of Dundas and Bathurst, Milky’s is a tiny (only 300 square feet) but stunning cafe—proof that you don’t need a ton of space to make a big impression.
I adore the cafe’s diamond-shaped oak panels wrapping around the space, creating a striking white and wood atmosphere. And while there’s no official seating, you can lean on their window counters or sit on one of their cute small benches.
Their Chinatown fog is my jam. It gives off a spicy mix of ginger, lemongrass, and lychee, topped with a sprinkle of Earl Grey tea leaves.
And if you want something to munch on, go for their almond croissant. I swear, it’s incredibly flaky, and it’s also generously stuffed with almond paste and slices.
Pro Tip:
Milky’s is known for seasonal drink creations, and their team often drops new items without warning. You should follow them on Instagram so you can be the first to try their next cult-favorite.
