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Vivek "yelping a brother out" S.'s Profile
Top Coffee Shops
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1. Redline Coffee and Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M5A 1T2
Canada
(647) 344-3865
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Corktown
I almost missed this spot biking by on Queen St East. This charming and urbane coffee and espresso house is a welcome entry into the emerging neighbourhood. Rich hardwood floors accentuate the shop's long and narrow shape, and the walls are covered…More »
2. Bisogno Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M5A 2P8
Canada
(416) 301-7633
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Corktown
Bisogno Espresso Bar is a blink-and-you'll-miss-it café on the southeast corner of Sherbourne and Adelaide. It's a diminutive spot, with low ceilings, a sprawling dining table and furniture that looks like it was plucked from a Leslieville garage…More »
3. The Green Grind
Toronto, ON M6G 1A9
Canada
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Palmerston, Bickford Park
Once upon a time there was a douche-bar called the Sensual Lounge where you could go overpay for rail drinks, and watch 905ers make out in pleather chairs and ruin an otherwise decent Saturday night. That place is gone.
Rising like a glorious phoenix…More »
4. Sense Appeal Coffee Roasters
Toronto, ON M5V 2J6
Canada
(416) 907-8524
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
Wowie, what a beautiful little alcove on Spads. Tucked into the base of an office building, if it weren't for the mega-high ceiling you'd immediately notice how small it is. The espresso bar and cash counter are one and the same, and there is another…More »
5. Mascot
Toronto, ON M6K 1L5
Canada
(416) 533-2888
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Parkdale
Just to set the record straight, an inventory of the Mascot's seating situation shows: three wooden tables for two, two tall stools at the ornate antique bar, a low chesterfield (that I wouldn't dare sit on), and a rocking horse (that I would). While…More »
6. Coffee Culture Cafe & Eatery
Toronto, ON M5T
Canada
(416) 868-9078
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
I really appreciate that this place is open until 1am. As I write this, this place is filled with like-minded nerds bathed in the glow of their laptop screens. Like the intermittent Internet connection in this place, the coffee is mediocre at best,…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
1/18/2010
I walked into this coffeeshop on a weekday afternoon to enjoy some reading. Instead, I spent most… Read more »
7. Dark Horse Espresso
Toronto, ON M5T 2C7
Canada
(416) 979-1200
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Alexandra Park, Chinatown, Downtown Core
It be-HOOVES you to try the 2nd floor mezzanine at Dark Horse. There is various seatings up there to accomodate the myriad moods of hip Torontonians. Kitchen style chairs, leather seats at coffee tables, easy chairs, and tables in both circle and…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
8/9/2010
Dark Horse on Spadina is an excellent spot to grab a coffee and bask in a cool and inviting… Read more »
8. Jimmy's Coffee
It was a diminutive sandwich board on King Street that pointed me in the direction of Jimmy's. It's a wee squeeze of a place that at 10 am was busier than a one-legged man in an ass-kicking contest. A dim room in the back is more chill, which some…More »
9. Javamama
Toronto, ON M5R 3G8
Canada
(416) 588-5282
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: The Annex, Seaton Village
Charming cafe in Seaton Village. I'd call it the anti-Starbucks; you'll feel like you're in your aunt's living room. The decor is sprawling and confusing and for a moment I was unsure just where I was. I ended up spending almost THREE hours here…More »
10. Little Nicky's Coffee
Toronto, ON M5V 2A5
Canada
(416) 260-0500
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Entertainment District, Queen Street West, Downtown Core
I'm now officially a regular of this coffee spot (the Yelp app told me so) and a devotee too. It occurs to me that I need to update my review on two fronts.
The first: forget what I said about the music here. It rocks. My first experience must have…More »
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
9/18/2010
You'll want to know that this isn't exactly on Queen St. A kindly sandwich board pointed me down… Read more »
11. Green Beanery
Toronto, ON M5S 1Y6
Canada
(416) 964-9223
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: The Annex, Palmerston, Seaton Village
There's nothing quite like enjoying a coffee with Sarah L while basking in the sun-filled windows of the Green Beanery on the "Best Saturday of 2010." With a privleged position at the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst, the Grean Beanery is a…More »
12. T.A.N. Coffee
Toronto, ON M6J 1H1
Canada
(416) 532-9949
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Cafes
Neighbourhoods: Ossington Strip, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
If I had to guess, I'd assume that T.A.N. stands for Tarry and Natter, but that would be cloyingly British. I stopped in for a quick americano and ended up chatting with the friendly barista, Nicki*, for over an hour. Our conversation, ranging from…More »
13. The Bean
Toronto, ON M5T 1S7
Canada
(416) 964-9900
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Kensington Market
As the 731st coffeeshop on this stretch, The Bean features stiff competition from established cafés like Manic and Coffee Culture nearby. This sometimes works in its favour, when you are looking for calm and relaxing place to sit that's not rammed…More »
14. Aroma Espresso Bar
I always brace myself when places ask for my name, as my double-vee'd handle frequently reduces (white) people to incoherent mutters and near-epileptic spasms. So it was a pleasant surprise when Aroma only moderately butchered my name when taking my…More »
15. Balzac's Coffee Roastery
Toronto, ON M5A 3C4
Canada
(416) 207-1709
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Venues & Event Spaces
Neighbourhoods: Distillery District, West Don Lands
Blah, blah, Balzac's coffee is divine, it's life-changing, it's the ejaculate of the Gods, I've heard it all. This place could serve liquid hate in a cup, and frankly, I'd still pay good money just to sit here. As cafés go, this space is stunning and…More »
16. The Tampered Press
Toronto, ON M6J 2V8
Canada
(416) 534-9739
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Cafes
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods
Don't be fooled by the Crawford street address; the entrance is on Dundas Street. After jimmying with my iPhone, stopping three passers by for directions, an attempt at navigating by the sun, and finally, looking at the building, I figured it out.
The…More »
17. Crafted by Te Aro
Toronto, ON M6J 2Z6
Canada
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Ossington Strip, Trinity Bellwoods
OMG this Ossington spot is beautiful. Hardwood floors, large reclaimed wood planks on the walls and lots of sunlight in an airy enjoyable café. This spartan space is beautifully laid out. There is a communal table flanked by folding chairs, a few…More »
18. Green Bean Roasting Co
This spot transports me back to my halcyon days in Oakville, when I drove a Dodge Caravan and sported animal print T-shirts and didn't wash my hair. It was simpler times then; a night out would consist of nursing a hot chocolate at the Green Bean and…More »
19. Lit Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M6G 1C9
Canada
(416) 519-1884
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Bickford Park
Not sure how I have escaped writing a review of Lit Espresso all this time. That stops now. How do I love Lit? Let me count the ways: fantastic drip, solid espressos, a beautiful space with exquisite fixtures, and a communal table where people…More »
20. Cloud Free Agent Espresso Bar - CLOSED
Toronto, ON M6J 1G9
Canada
(416) 792-6831
Categories:
Juice Bars & Smoothies,
Coffee & Tea,
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhoods: West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
Popped in here early on a weekday morning. It's a fairly monochrome spot, loaded with stools and a Queen Street facing counter. As the only one there, I was able to score the café's sole booth, an L-shaped deal with room for four (maybe even five).…More »
21. Cafe Novo
Toronto, ON M6P 3K9
Canada
(647) 350-3538
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Cafes
Neighbourhood: High Park
I knew this place was near the High Park TTC station but I didn't realise how close. As I exited the subway station, I barely had time to fish out my smartphone to map this place, before I spotted it. Great location!
When you enter, you are…More »
22. Ezra's Pound
Toronto, ON M6J
Canada
(647) 346-8448
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods
Ezra's pound is about a stone's throw from the Black Hoof and Trinity Bellwoods park and situated at the corner of Dundas West and Bellwoods. And they mean business.
After getting my Americano, I grabbed a postcard-sized pamphlet/manifesto, and…More »
23. The Communal Mule - CLOSED
Toronto, ON M6J
Canada
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods
The Communal Mule completes a triad of very-close-together coffeeshops along Dundas West, viz., Ezra's Pound and the Tampered Press. It's a tiny spot on the North side of the street that's kind of hard to find; on my visit the windows were fogged…More »
24. Capital Espresso
Gorgeous space at the corner of Queen West and Dunn Ave. You don't know where that is? Let's just say it's in that pseudo-not-quite-that-sketchy lane of Parkdale smackdab in the centre of Blondie's and Mother India.
Capital Espresso how do I describe…More »
25. Full of Beans Coffee House & Roastery
Toronto, ON M6J 1Y3
Canada
(647) 347-4161
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Dufferin Grove, Little Portugal, Beaconsfield Village
I would argue that this café has the greatest diversity of furniture I have ever encounted in a store that isn't Ikea. There were green club chairs, pink easy chairs, wood tables, a glass topped table, cast iron bistro-style tables, an old wood table…More »
26. Mercury Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M4M 1J4
Canada
(647) 435-4779
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Leslieville
This Leslieville local is a big ol' room that smells like sweet, sweet coffee. It's like a cube of caffeine. Their brewed coffee (pressed actually) is in their own words, "not terrible" so I'd suggest an espresso instead. It's in their name after all…More »
27. Merchants of Green Coffee
Toronto, ON M4M 1L9
Canada
(416) 778-6600
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Riverdale
Compared to other cafés in the city, Merchants of Green Coffee is virtually hidden. It's beyond the reach of transit, just North of Queen Street and East of the DVP. You could probably enlist the help of a sherpa to find it, but the Yelp map should…More »
28. T.A.N. Coffee
Toronto, ON M5T 1L3
Canada
(647) 352-8550
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Downtown Core
All is well in the T.A.N. world.
The espresso quality here soars beyond any nearby competitors, not that there are that many. I was definitely too hasty in demanding perfection in their first month, but my first visit set an impossibly high standard.…More »
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
-
4/5/2011
Now that the harmonious repetitive structures of Philip Glass's melodies have faded (I'm sitting… Read more »
29. Thor Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M5V 2P2
Canada
(416) 351-8736
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Bakeries
Neighbourhood: Niagara
Like the branches of glorious Yggdrasil bathed in shining loam, Thor Espresso Bar is a breathtaking sight. When you visit this Bathurst St spot (just south of King St) you will notice their epic (finally an apt use of that term) mural of their…More »
30. Linuxcaffe
Toronto, ON M6G 1H1
Canada
(416) 534-2116
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Bickford Park
This place is A-OK. Like many of the java-swilling laptop-loving yelpers who've visited here, I wanted more out of this tiny shop. Their aesthetic is geek chic: every surface is covered with lacquered OSB, there are penguins everywhere (a tribute to…More »
31. Balzac's Coffee Roastery
Toronto, ON M6K 1X1
Canada
(416) 534-7372
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Liberty Village
Not a bad spot on a Sunday afternoon. While not as overarchingly beautiful as it's Distillery District sister store, this Balzac's is definitely a lovely spot. Big windows, exposed brick, a charming antique tiled floor.
No wifi or outlets, so this…More »
32. Holy Oak Cafe
Toronto, ON M6H 1N6
Canada
(647) 345-2803
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Brockton Village, Bloordale Village, Wallace Emerson
You've heard of dive bars? This is is a dive cafe. Just about everything at the Holy Oak has a rustic and mismatched air about it -- and the faintest hint of grime. When I walked up to the bar tucked at the back of this diminutive shop, I almost…More »
33. White Squirrel Coffee Shop
Toronto, ON M6J 1G5
Canada
(647) 428-4478
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Niagara, West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
Have you seen the white squirrel? This Queen West coffeeshop is named for the albino rodent celebrity of Trinity Bellwoods park. Like a rodent, the café is pretty small and feisty, but unlike a rodent the staff won't gnaw on your belongings or infect…More »
34. Wunderland Gallery and Espresso Bar
Toronto, ON M4L 1H3
Canada
(416) 698-4634
Categories:
Cafes,
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: The Beach
Way down the rabbit hole -- that is, near the corner of Queen East and Woodbine -- is a charming café and art gallery called Wunderland. It's tucked inside an unmissable house painted brown and yellow. There is a small patio out front and inside is a…More »
35. Niche Coffee & Tea Company
Toronto, ON M6J 1E4
Canada
(416) 203-0458
Categories:
Coffee & Tea,
Breakfast & Brunch
Neighbourhoods: West Queen West, Trinity Bellwoods
Did you know about Niche's incredible back patio? It almost (almost) gets me to unhate wicker furniture, which is saying a lot. The terrace is interlocked brick and the furniture is a healthy mix of metal and weaved seating. There are lots of…More »
36. Toronto Coffee Company
Toronto, ON M6H 3Y9
Canada
(416) 538-2888
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhoods: Bloordale Village, Wallace Emerson
It's not much to look at from the outside, but be not fooled. The Toronto Coffee Company is a cozy little shop. I was actually on my way to Holy Oak, but I was tempted by the Coconut Latte on the sandwich board outside. (It's made with real coconut…More »
37. Rooster Coffee House
Toronto, ON M4K 2N4
Canada
(416) 995-1530
Category:
Coffee & Tea
Neighbourhood: Riverdale
This is a very calm and inviting space. A few two-tops near the back, and a large communal table. Music is very chill and the service is top-drawer. And one can't say enough about Rooster's glorious front patio and location across from Riverdale…More »
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3769 Useful, 4241 Funny, and 3014 Cool
San Francisco, CA
Yelping SinceMarch 2009
Things I Lovelive music, Beck, words, picnics, Queens Of The Stone Age, Radiohead, typography, graphic design, spreadsheets, webcomics, The Simpsons, bowling, espresso, The Mighty Boosh, Stars of the Lid, trivia, pluots, nudity
Find Me InA bowl of chili
My HometownOakville, ON
My Blog Or Website When I'm Not Yelping...When I'm not Yelping...?
Why You Should Read My ReviewsI write them just for you.
My Second Favourite Website The Last Great Book I ReadDiving Bell and the Butterfly
My First ConcertI honestly can't remember. It might have been AC/DC.
My Favourite MovieBeing John Malkovich
My Last Meal On EarthFried Chicken and Ribs at Hadley's
Don't Tell Anyone Else But...I'm about to make things really awkward
Most Recent DiscoveryRacer 5 IPA
Current CrushCold brew coffee