We all know someone who’s a sucker for pretty places and good food. In my case, that’s me. And as someone who follows Toronto Instagrammers religiously and takes screenshots of the most aesthetic places, I have a pretty long list of the most Instagram-worthy cafés of Toronto. Whether you’re looking for a place to catch up with friends or a place to hunker down and get some work done, there are plenty of cafes in Toronto to choose from. Here are my top 20:
1. Simit & Chai Co. – 787 King St W
Exposed brick walls, marbled table tops, cute plants and cuter cups, I can’t think of anything better. Well, their food makes it better. Simit > bagels any day. And their Turkish coffee is so good! Go for the aesthetic, stay for the food.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTnJ3bKFXy-/?taken-at=1029067443
2. Sorry Coffee Co. – 102 Bloor St W
It’s a little hard to find: go through the alleyway beside the Kit and Ace on Bloor. But once you get there, you’ll see that it has the classic Instagram café look: marbled counters, brassy coffee machines, geometric furniture, pretty lattes. Unapologetically aesthetic.
3. Maman – 100 King St W
They’re known for their beautifully printed coffee cups (choose from four patterns to suit your daily mood!) The owner, Laure de la Moussaye, knows what she’s doing – Maman was featured in this Globe and Mail article about how eateries are catering to the social media culture. Oh, and they have ceramic bunnies on the tables!
4. Light Cafe – 23 Baldwin St
And did you know they have gorgeous black waffles served with ice cream? The coffee comes with cotton candy tufts instead of boring packets of sugar? And pretty sandwiches? And a green wall? What more do you need?
5. Baddies – 679 Lansdowne Ave
What more do you need than a wall that says “you beauty” for the perfect Insta pic? Pair your outfit with a cup of coffee and a wall for the perfect on-brand Insta-blogger look.
6. Reunion Island Coffee Bar – 385 Roncesvalles Ave
Satisfying our love of pretty tile floors! Be sure to wear your prettiest shoes, and remind your friends to do so too.
7. The Coffee Lab – 333 Bloor St W
Supposedly the smallest coffee shop around, it’s located in a used-book store near U of T’s St. George campus. It’s easy to pass by and not notice it, but if you venture off the sidewalk you’ll notice a cool concrete bench outside the store – the perfect place for a coffee lover’s photo! The inside has an unexpected charm, and you can be sure to get a great cup of coffee.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BQtV9tdj1k3/?taken-at=1021782688
8. Beiruti Grand Café – 155 Consumers Rd #101
Who’s up for some Mediterranean fusion food? And beautiful furniture? And sleek bathrooms?
9. FIKA Cafe – 28 Kensington Ave
Named after the Swedish and Finnish afternoon coffee break tradition, Fika can be found in Kensington Market. Spend the afternoon taking photos in and around Graffiti Alley and shopping for unique treasures, and take a well-deserved break at Fika!
https://www.instagram.com/p/BUeskKVl8Z5/?taken-at=227246992
10. Himalayan Coffee House – 2552 Yonge St
This one isn’t in a trendy part of town, but that doesn’t make it any less deserving of a spot on this list. Because it has the best and cutest latte art ever. And it has a relaxed vibe, and you won’t see carbon copy Insta-influencers here!
11. Safehouse Coffee Co. – 1615 Dundas St W
The floor says hi. Another example of black-and-white tiles done right! If you want to get your whole outfit in the photo, don’t be afraid to sit on the floor! The barista might even wipe down the tiles for the perfect Insta-worthy shine.
12. ODIN – 514 King St E
The clean sharp lines and geometric detail. The simple colour palette. There are photos waiting to be taken. It’s conveniently located near the Distillery District too – make it a fun afternoon trip and have an adventure around that area!
13. Balzac’s Coffee – multiple locations
This one’s actually in the Distillery District – and has a distinctly different look from all the modern aesthetic cafes. It’s a lot cozier here at 1 Trinity St! And apparently coffee in a cone is a thing now!?!?!
14. Dark Horse Espresso Bar – multiple locations
This location at 215 Spadina Ave is located a short walk away from shopping on Queen West, generic shopping at the Eaton Centre, or if cute kitsch is more your thing, Kensington Market isn’t very far.
15. Dineen – 140 Yonge St
Pretty outside, and prettier inside! An Instagrammer’s dream, with pretty floral tiles and bright yellow espresso machines. Oh, and did I mention there are marbled tabletops?
16. Hailed Coffee – 801 Gerrard St
It’s a little out of the way, but really close to Saturday Dinette, so if you’re on a brunch quest (and waiting for that perfectly lit marble-top table on a busy weekend morning), pop on over to Hailed Coffee for a pre-brunch bite and a pre-brunch Instagram post. It’s a simple, almost bare-bones café, but what more do you need?
https://www.instagram.com/p/BTjcHWcF4lZ/?taken-at=1034124104
17. De Mello Palheta – 2489 Yonge St
You need to disregard whoever said it’s bad luck to open umbrellas indoors – because De Mello Palheta does it so well. Patchy walls and tables decorated with business cards make up a unique aesthetic, so go to experience it.
18. Dessert Trends Bistro Patisserie – 154 Harbord St
They have gigantic floral arrangements and pretty desserts. Enough said.
19. Chabrol – 90 Yorkville Ave
Technically a restaurant, but their apple tart is gorgeous. And it’s located in Yorkville, so what better place to do some window shopping, or real shopping!
20. Boxcar Social – multiple locations
Their Harbourfront location is absolutely stunning – the interior is nice, but there’s a patio! Patio! And what’s better is that it overlooks Lake Ontario – so go for a coffee or a drink, take in the view, and maybe pretend you’re somewhere else. 235 Queen’s Quay W is where you should be headed this weekend. They have food too.
This has been a list of some of the most Insta-worthy cafes in Toronto – while this is by no means a comprehensive list, it’s a good starting point! Where are you going next for your café aesthetic fix?
Do you have any other Insta-worthy cafes in Toronto? Let us know in the comments below!
Featured image source: pinterest.com
