All great study sessions require good coffee, and let’s face it, studying at the library can get pretty boring. As a university student living in Toronto, there are boundless cafes to choose from with free WiFi, numerous outlets, tables strong enough to withstand the weight of your textbooks, and of course, top-tier coffee and snacks. Here is a list of four study-friendly coffee shops in Toronto to get you through the school year!
- Versus Coffee
Versus Coffee is located on Adelaide Street and has made an appearance in an episode of The Amazing Race Canada where teams on the show had to transform a simple latte into a work of art. If you’re a fan of the show, this is a spot you certainly want to check out! As for the interior, the place serves minimalist vibes. The cafe has a big patio, but limited indoor seating; it’s best to get there as soon as you can to secure a spot. The place is cozy and casual with excellent coffee and fresh-baked, sweet and savoury pastries. If you end up coming here, the iced mocha and avocado toast are two options you can never go wrong with!
- Page One Cafe
Located near the Ryerson campus, Page One Cafe is the perfect spot to study at. With lots of table space to set-up your workspace, the perfectly-dimmed lighting and the cool artwork on the walls, Page One is bound to give you a unique studying experience. In the evening, the cafe turns into a bar and doubles as the best place to unwind after a long day of hitting the books. The iced Nutella latte and pizza are two menu items you must try; my personal favourite is a classic margarita pizza, but the options are endless.
- Jimmy’s Coffee
A Toronto classic coffee chain with several locations throughout the city, Jimmy’s Coffee will never disappoint you. Jimmy’s is a great spot for days where you need a solo caffeine-fuelled cram session. They only have a few outlet spots, so it’s best to get there early in the day or come with your laptop already charged. Jimmy’s is a Toronto classic; they have several cafes in the city. My personal favourite is by King and Portland. They have an outdoor patio that is in a quiet location and will make you feel more isolated from the hustle and bustle of the city. Their vegan banana bread and iced mocha are two items you’ll want to remember. Fun fact: the owner of Jimmy’s Coffee is an X (Ryerson) University alumni who graduated from the Business Management program.
- Dark Espresso Horse Bar
Lastly, Dark Espresso Horse Bar is one of my favourites. This cafe gives you a change of scenery from your regular study spot. They have many locations throughout the city, including Yorkville, John Street and Spadina. You can pick which part of town you want to explore every time! My favourite is the Queen East location; I find this side of town to be more quiet and away from the downtown core. I also enjoy the Front St East location as it is close to the harbourfront. Whenever you need to take a break or go for a walk, you’ll have an amazing view, an instant serotonin boost. The staff are also lovely there and they make the best vegan chocolate mocha and home-made chocolate chip cookies.