Reviews of six study cafés near campus
If you’re looking to escape your Goodmans LLP Café routine but are not sure where to start, this is the article for you. I have taken on the task of trying a different coffee shop each week from my own carefully curated list—find me studying at an aesthetic café every Monday at 8:00am. There are lots of unique spots to explore around campus, each with their own distinctive flair and flavour. After all, you deserve more than those cups of Blue Dragon coffee.
Goldstruck Coffee
130 Cumberland St
This dark and cozy Yorkville café is down a half-flight of stairs from street level and feels almost cavernous. The café smells like chocolate, and they serve a killer cayenne latte–rich and spicy, with chocolatey dredges at the bottom of the cup. The baristas are nonchalant and probably too cool for me, but that’s fine, I don’t need small talk, I’m there to do readings.
Hart House Café
7 Hart House Circle
Located on the second floor of U of T’s own Hart House in the Gallery Grill, this spot is just steps from the law school. Hart House staff often drop by for cups of coffee to go, but I suggest getting yours to stay. They always have fresh flowers on the tabletops, and the high ceilings of the hundred-year-old building never cease to amaze. Pretty cappuccinos are served in small glass cups. Quality, not quantity, matters here. The café service ends at 11:30am, when the lunch service begins.
L’Espresso Bar Mercurio
321 Bloor St W
This café is popular with students and faculty alike. You never know who you’ll bump into there–the last time I was there, I saw former Premier of Ontario Bob Rae, who happens to be a U of T Law alum. But that’s not why I go to L’Espresso Bar Mercurio. Their eggshell-blue mugs and apricot-yellow cups are instant mood-boosters. They serve Sloane tea–the oolong créme is delightful. There are lots of tables both inside and outside, which makes this a great study spot.
5 Elements Espresso Bar
131 Avenue Rd
This busy café in Yorkville has two levels of seating, and a small patio outside. The lower level has round, well-lit marbled tables perfect for studying and Instagram photos alike, and there are outlets by said tables for charging your electronic devices. Opposite this side is a cozy seating area. The Wi-Fi is good, and they serve a decent matcha latte. What I like most is the location—on your way back to campus, make a healthy lunch at the Whole Foods salad bar, or grab an avocado smoothie at Good Karma in Yorkville Village.
Café Pamenar
307 Augusta Ave
This Kensington café is tucked away, its narrow storefront hidden from passing pedestrians. The front patio is a no-laptop zone, but patrons are free to type away inside the café and in the shaded back terrace. Pamenar also operates as a bar, which is great if you’re doing the type of studying that requires self-medication of the alcoholic kind. The Wi-Fi was down when I visited, and the barista admitted she was playing the same few songs on her playlist, but that was fine by me. The construction noise from the neighbouring business was a little distracting however–it seems like a major rebuilding project, so it’s likely to continue for a while.
First & Last Coffee Shop
346 Dupont St
You can easily find this cute café by spotting its iconic yellow bench out front. Although it’s near Dupont Station, three subway stops from campus, it’s worth the trip. The atmosphere is unpretentious, it’s furnished with mismatched tables and chairs, there’s a humble patio outside, and most importantly, there’s good Wi-Fi. Get there early for a quiet study session—it gets really busy around 10:30am on weekdays. If the weather is pleasant, take a study break and walk up the nearby Baldwin Steps by Casa Loma to enjoy a sweeping view of the city.
