Fact: serious study sessions in Toronto require coffee.
Luckily, many Toronto cafes are more than happy to help students get their fix.
Not to mention, these espresso bars are well equipped with other essentials of student life; I’m talking free WiFi, tables that can withstand a mountain of textbooks, budget-friendly baked goods, snacks and sometimes even beer.
Check out these especially student-friendly cafes in Toronto.
Balzac’s
Named for the 19th century novelist, Balzac’s is the perfect place to bury your nose in a book while sipping lattes. Espressos, baked goods and ample seating are common features at all of Balzac’s cafes, but outposts in the Toronto Reference Library and on Ryerson campus are positioned perfectly as allies for students.
Address: 789 Yonge Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-922-3700
Address: 122 Bond Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-597-1700
Instagram: @balzacscoffee
The Good Neighbour
This coffee house is well established in The Junction and now boasts a location in Koreatown too. At the new outpost they sling espressos crafted with Intelligentsia roasts along with an array of fresh baked snacks just like at the first, while a back room functions nicely as a makeshift study hall.
Address: 678 Bloor Street West, Toronto
Instagram: @thegoodneighbour
Goldstruck
The lower level cafe in Yorkville offers plenty of nooks and secluded areas where you can bunker down and cram for a test. A standard array of espresso-based bevies are available along with specialty drinks like the cayenne latte that should pep you right back up when you’re losing steam.
Address: 130 Cumberland Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-877-9546
Instagram: @goldstruckcoffee
Odin
The contemporary cafe at King and River is soaked in sunlight making it the perfect spot to absorb some much need vitamin D while simultaneously soaking in a semester’s worth of course material. Find yourself there long enough and you can make a seamless transition from coffee to beer.
Address: 514 King Street East, Toronto
Phone: 647-350-6346
Instagram: @odinhus
Rooster Coffee House
The parkside location on Broadview can be a little crowded when trying to get work done, but locations near George Brown College and another on Jarvis offer a mix of comfy armchairs and tables where WiFi and coffee are in no short supply.
Address: 568 Jarvis Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-995-1530
Address: 343 King Street East, Toronto
Phone: 416-995-1530
Instagram: @roostercoffee
Manic
NO Wi-Fi!? Sounds counter-intuitive doesn’t it? Hear me out though, as a top-level procrastinator, I can assure you the lack of free internet might be just what you need to get through those required readings sans distractions. Excellent coffee, house-baked goods and ample table space also offer good reason to settle in and never leave.
Address: 426 College Street Toronto
Phone: 416-966-3888
Instagram: @manicoffee
Simit & Chai
Strong Turkish coffees, ultra cheap sandwiches and the opportunity to take a break with a game of backgammon make this King West cafe a hub of student activity.
Address: 787 King Street West, Toronto
Phone: 647-352-4161
Instagram: @simitandchaicompany
Creeds Coffee Bar
This spacious cafe offers free WiFi and an abundance of table space. Take over the communal table for group projects or claim a comfy armchair for solo studying. Espresso brewed from Pilot beans and a selection of salads, sandwiches and snacks will keep you well fuelled.
Address: 390 Dupont Street, Toronto
Phone: 416-479-0277
Instagram: @creedscoffeebar
Field Trip Cafe
Because the best part of school was always the field trips! This cozy cafe has got coffee, beers, green juices, baked goods, cupcakes… all the essentials to get you through midterm season.
Address: 3 Westmoreland Avenue, Toronto
Phone: 416-623-7752
Instagram: @fieldtripcafe
Black Goat Cafe
In close proximity to Humber’s Lakeshore campus, this coffee house keeps students satiated with its selection of espresso, Hong Kong style teas, sandwiches, and salads. Seating is somewhat limited so once you’ve scored a table be prepared to stay a while.
Address: 3261 Lake Shore Boulevard West, Etobicoke
Phone: 416-792-7200
Instagram: @fieldtripcafe