If you’re anything like me, you need coffee to help you get through the morning AND afternoon crash. When I first started at Ryerson, I spent my days standing in long lines at Starbucks in the SLC to the point where I was late to class. I also could never find a place to do my work between classes. These are my secrets to navigate Ryerson if you are a bit of a caffeine addict and also find some amazing local businesses to support during the pandemic. Trust me— you will want these spaces once in-person school begins again.
- Balzac’s (but not at lunch) – 122 Bond St.
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Balzac’s is a Ryerson essential, located at the heart of our campus. Some of our meal plans even work there. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light, which is beautiful, especially around sunset. As you type away on your laptop gazing at the beautiful tiled floor, marble countertop and art pieces, you feel like you’re the main character in some artsy young adult novel located in Europe. They offer a variety of coffee blends, iced drinks, baked goods, and the staff are really fast. Their seasonal menus are also really fun as they always offer a new drink that matches the seasonal vibe perfectly. While it’s on the pricey side and often difficult to get a seat, its location makes it the perfect place to quickly grab a drink before class.
Would Recommend:
– The coconut blondie bars and brownies
– Ginger molasses cookie
– Iced chai latte with almond milk
– Guatemalan Blend (if you like a lighter roast that still packs a punch)
– Not expecting to find a seat (unless it’s early morning)
- Oakham Cafe – 35 Gould St.
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Oakham Cafe has fantastic food, especially if you are vegan or gluten-free. Their coffee and food is some of the cheapest on-campus. You can order breakfast with eggs, sausage, home fries, toast and bottomless coffee for under nine dollars, which is hard to get in Toronto. There is a nice sitting area and some larger tables if you want to bring friends. There are also many plugs, so if you plan to sit down with your coffee and do work, you absolutely can. It’s open until 9 p.m. during the week, and it’s often quiet after 7.
Would Recommend:
– Vegan Curry
– Student loan special
– Mac and Cheese
– Muffins (any flavour)
- Page One – 106 Mutual St., Unit #8
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This is a great gem many first-years don’t know about. The place is decked out with typewriters and cool artwork. There’s a ton of table space to sit and do work. They have some interesting lattes, gluten-free and vegan options, and the baristas are always so friendly. Their coffee is a little bit bitter though, so if that’s not your style, I would suggest getting their lattes. The place turns into a bar at night, so it can become a little loud, but the mornings are the perfect calm space to get work done or finish that novel of yours.
Would Recommend:
– Nutella and Matcha latte
– Herbal teas
– Chia pudding
- Hailed Coffee – 44 Gerard St. W
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Hailed Coffee spices up your typical roast by drawing from Middle Eastern and Scandanavian coffee culture. They serve Arabic coffee in a handless small glass and then “hail” it with cardamom. They also offer specialty chocolates and baked goods. A lot of their baked goods include cardamom, which is a secret for many Finnish recipes. The interior also draws on Scandanavian culture, as everything is modern and white, so if that’s your style, you will love doing your work there.
Would Recommend:
– Edible Latte
– Orange Cardamom Tart
– Cardamella chocolate
– Hailed coffee
- Starbucks – 347 Yonge St.
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While it’s important to support our locals, some people are just die-hard Starbucks goers. And that’s okay! There’s something for everyone. However, stop going to the one in the SLC. It’s crowded and loud, plus the tables are all wonky (if you can even get a seat). The one on Yonge is your best shot at finding a quiet workspace. I also find their ice ratio really good for their iced drinks.
Would Recommend:
– Iced Peach Green Tea Lemonade
– Nitro Cold Brew with Sweet Cream
– Smoked Butterscotch Latte
This pandemic’s been really difficult for small businesses, and once school is back in session, we want to have these spaces to go to. So if you can, make an effort and stop into one of these locals after your daily walk or make a donation to their pages. Even following them on social media and sharing their content can help them grow their business.