Reviews from a self-proclaimed cafe connoisseur
Is the fishbowl feeling particularly oppressive these days? Spice up your study sessions by visiting any of these cafes:
- 10 DEAN (484 Spadina Avenue)
Located near Chinatown and U of T’s John H. Daniels Faculty of Architecture, Landscape, and Design, 10 DEAN is a gorgeous cafe with a great atmosphere. The cafe has a solid number of couches, cushioned seats, tables, and outlets, making for a comfortable study space. 10 DEAN can also feel quite fancy. If you’re sitting in, after you place your order, employees will hand you a numbered card, and then bring your drink directly to your table when it’s ready. The cafe can get busy at times, so it’s best to arrive early if you plan on staying for a while.
- De Mello Coffee (8 Spadina Avenue)
If you haven’t yet visited The Well, downtown’s newest outdoor mall, De Mello Coffee can serve as the perfect excuse to check it out. Situated in the lobby of The Well’s office tower, De Mello offers an open space with a small spread of tables. There is also more seating available if you take the office tower’s glass staircase up a few levels. One surprising perk I noticed while studying was the sheer number of cute dogs that owners bring around. What’s more, if you get bored of doing readings, you can always stroll around The Well’s various shops or their new Wellington Market Food Hall. As for drinks, De Mello’s blueberry latte or orange vienna make for interesting (and tasty) detours from your typical drip coffee or americano.
- Butter & Blue (7 Baldwin Street)
If you’re ever looking to take a stroll in Baldwin Village, make sure to check out Butter & Blue. This cafe has an inviting pale yellow exterior with blue accent furniture and signage. Step inside, and you’ll instantly be greeted with subtle yet charming cat-themed decor. Despite the limited seating indoors, Butter & Blue has a spacious patio to compensate. The cafe can get crowded at times, so if you want to lock in and have a good study session, it’s worth arriving early. Alongside drinks, Butter & Blue also features a wide selection of baked goods and pastries. Having visited (and sampled treats) on more than one occasion, I would recommend the matcha mochi cake when you’re in a sweet mood and the Spam and egg bun if you’re craving something savoury.
- Rooms Coffee (17 Baldwin Street)
Have you always wanted to tell someone that you “know a spot?” Well, wait no longer! Rooms Coffee’s newest location in Baldwin Village has an aesthetic interior, great music, and is sure not to disappoint. Despite appearing quite small from the outside, this cafe is quite roomy and has several tables and chairs available. In spite of its charm, however, Rooms Coffee loses some points for study-ability. The cafe lacks air conditioning, which has resulted in more than one slightly sweaty study session in the summer. Their chairs can also be on the tinier side, so if you enjoy having back support, you may need to migrate after a few hours. Overall, while Rooms Coffee may make a better location for a chill hangout rather than an intense study session, it is still definitely worth visiting.
- Icha Tea (235 Spadina Avenue)
Calling all tea lovers, this one’s for you! Icha Tea is a peaceful cafe located in Chinatown, with a wide variety of (you guessed it) tea available on their menu. Icha is quite spacious, with small and large tables for your solo or group study needs. There does tend to be seating available, so you can put your pitchforks down and take a much-needed break from fighting to the death for spots. Otherwise, in terms of study-ability, the cafe can be on the dimmer side with its lighting. Icha’s strawberry matcha is a must-try for anyone who likes matcha. On the other hand, if you’re partial to a little treat, I would also sample Icha’s roll cakes (the strawberry and chestnut flavours are my personal favourites).
- Reply (637B Bay Street)
Reply is a cozy, quiet cafe located near the Eaton Centre. The staff are friendly and their menu offers many different drinks, baked goods, and sandwiches. The cafe also features seasonal drinks which are always a pleasant surprise. Being on the smaller side, Reply does have somewhat limited seating. However, it is possible to grab a table, even during busier hours—one of my crowning accomplishments was snagging a seat (with an outlet, no less) on a weekend around noon. Another perk of this cafe is its peaceful atmosphere and soft music, making it ideal for a relaxing escape from the library.