Written by Menswear Style in Travel on the 10th April 2020

Toronto in Canada has a population of 2.9 million and boasts 301 days of measurable sunshine per year. In 2020 Toronto was ranked among the top 25 cities in the world too. There’s a huge selection of activities, shopping, restaurants and nightlife to choose from, not to mention some superb menswear brands residing here. However, in this blog post we’re concentrating on all the best coffee shops this city has to offer. But before we jump into it, here’s a cool fact we thought was worth sharing: The city of Toronto started off known as York, the capital of Upper Canada in 1793. York was incorporated and renamed Toronto in 1834.

Fix Coffee + Bikes 

Fix is a Coffee Bar, Bike Shop, and Bike Gallery all under one roof. Nestled between Little Portugal, Queen West and Parkdale, they’re a community hub for everyone. Check out some beautiful bikes or an innovative accessory, stop in to get your bike repaired, or sip a delicious coffee and indulge in a tasty bite. Fix Coffee supports a lifestyle that impacts the Earth as little as possible. They love riding bikes, love to look good doing it, and most of all, they love that riding a bike is good for our planet. Their exceptional quality coffee comes from a partnership with De Mello Palheta coffee roasters, and they offer a rotating variety of blended, single origin and decaf espresso, as well as other varieties for drip coffee and slow brew.  

Location: 80 Gladstone Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 3K7 | fixcb.ca

Propeller Coffee Co.  

Tucked away just around the corner from Lansdowne Station, this cafe at 50 Wade Avenue in Toronto's west-end is the perfect place to start your day with a great cup of coffee. Be it business or pleasure, you'll find the Propeller Coffee Co. converted factory space inviting and always bustling with life. The free Wi-Fi has made this space a favourite among the co-working community and will be handy for tourists planning their trip. There’s an assortment of hand-made baked goods, thoughtfully crafted sandwiches and snacks which are a treat while you relax and unwind. There’s also customer car parking as well as bike parking available to use. 

Location: 50 Wade Ave, Toronto, ON M6H 2Z3 | propellercoffee.com

Dineen Coffee Co. 

The Dineen Coffee Co. opened its doors almost a decade ago at the corner of famous Yonge Street and Temperance Street, in downtown Toronto. Dineen Coffee Co’s first cafe was built in the historic Dineen Building, once home to W. and F. Dineen Co., who originally made fur clothing. The building is one of the oldest structures in Toronto and is listed as a Toronto Heritage Property. Since then, they’ve opened two additional locations in Toronto. One in the atrium of the venerable Commerce Court West office tower, whilst the other is located at the corner of Gerrard Street East and Galt Avenue in Leslieville. They pride themselves on making great cups of coffee, whilst also offering herbal and non-herbal steeped teas. 

Location: 140 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M5C 1X6 | dineencoffee.com

HotBlack Coffee  

Located in the heart of Toronto’s trendy Fashion and Entertainment District, HotBlack balances the elements of your neighbourhood coffee shop with Eurocentric minimalist design and state of the art equipment. They also have a private sunny back patio with a firepit for cooler nights to warm up and toast marshmallows. The interior skylights and high ceilings maintain an airy ambience, providing lots of natural light all year round. Led by Momi, HotBlack’s national competition barista, their mission is to provide consistently world-class coffee and innovative drinks. Their house blend uses primarily South American beans that are complemented by beans from around the world. The exact mix varies depending upon the seasonal availability of the fresh green beans, and they strive to have a consistent flavour profile for a balanced, smooth and clean finish. 

Location: 245 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1Z4 | hotblack-coffee.com

Neo Coffee Bar 

Neo Coffee Bar opened in August of 2015 and is located in the St. Lawrence Market neighbourhood on Frederick Street. This coffee bar is the perfect spot to sit and catch up on the day’s news while enjoying your caffeine fix. They are neighbours with schools and big offices alike, and they make everyone feel like they have a community space to share. Neo Coffee Bar want to serve you a serene coffee experience within their tastefully designed aesthetic. Enhanced by curvilinear concrete walls, warm wood accents and modern furniture, their refreshingly minimalist, light-filled coffee bar is beautifully furnished with bench seating, pedestal tables and spacious booths. The space provides a unique, out of the mould, look and feel, and provides a coffee oasis away from the hustle of downtown Toronto. 

Location: 770 Bay St, Unit 3, Toronto, ON. M5G 0A6 | neocoffeebar.com

Visa or eTA 

Before you pack your bags and head off to Canada, you’ll need to do a little admin first. It’s always best to avoid stress by spending a little time on this now rather than last minute whilst on the way to the airport. An eTA Canada permit is something you’ll need if you’re looking to travel to Canada without a visa. Getting your hands on an eTA is simple and will take no more than 6 minutes, costing £19.95. We recommend the eTA over a Visa because it costs less, is easier and much faster to obtain e.g. you won’t need to visit the Canadian Embassy in your country. Also, people from most European countries don’t actually need a visa, so instead of the Canada visa, the eTA Canada is a solid choice.

Advise on eTA Canada permit and a look at 5 of the Best Coffee Shops in Toronto, such as Fix Coffee + Bikes, Propeller Coffee Co., Dineen Coffee Co., HotBlack Coffee, and Neo Coffee Bar.