Dineen Coffee Company is a cafe in Financial District, Toronto.
Dineen Coffee on Yonge at Temperance occupies the 1897 Dineen heritage building, the city's reference financial-district espresso bar with restored Edwardian.
Must order: A cappuccino at the marble counter with a kouign-amann.
Tip: Two entries, one on Yonge and one on Temperance. Weekday breakfast service heaviest 08:00-10:00.
Address: 140 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON M5C 1X6
Fahrenheit on Lombard is owner Vahe Tcheulian's tiny espresso counter in the financial district since 2010, a six-stool room with the Toronto-roasted Manic.
Signature drink: Macchiato, La Marzocco espresso
Order: A traditional macchiato pulled tight.
Tip: Closed weekends. The room seats six; most regulars order to go and stand on the sidewalk.
De Mello Coffee on Yonge near Lawrence is the award-winning Toronto roaster's flagship cafe, single-origin filters and a cold-brew tap on bar.
Signature drink: Single-origin filter, cold brew
Order: A nitro cold brew or a single-origin filter from the day's selection.
Tip: Multiple Toronto branches plus a Seoul outpost. The Yonge location has the most consistent crowd window for laptop work after 14:00.
Balzac's flagship in the Distillery District is the brand's heritage building cafe since 2002, a two-storey Victorian space named for Honore de Balzac.
Signature drink: Atwood Blend, latte
Order: The Atwood Blend latte at the mezzanine looking down on the espresso bar.
Tip: Eight Toronto locations; the Distillery building is the largest. Christmas Market season draws hour-long lines.
Fahrenheit on Lombard is owner Vahe Tcheulian's tiny espresso counter in the financial district since 2010, a six-stool room with the Toronto-roasted Manic.
Signature drink: Macchiato, La Marzocco espresso
Order: A traditional macchiato pulled tight.
Tip: Closed weekends. The room seats six; most regulars order to go and stand on the sidewalk.
Soluna in Kensington Market is chef Suzanne Barr's all-day bakery cafe on Augusta since 2022, sourdough focaccia, Caribbean-influenced pastries and Pilot.
Signature drink: Filter coffee, focaccia
Order: A focaccia sandwich at the counter with a cortado.
Tip: Closed Mondays. The pastry counter sells out by 14:00 on weekends.
White Squirrel on Queen West backs onto Trinity Bellwoods Park, the city's reference park-side patio cafe with Reunion Island beans and a baked-goods counter.
Signature drink: Espresso, baked goods
Order: A latte and a scone on the patio facing the park entrance.
Tip: The patio fills first on warm afternoons. Watch for the white squirrel that gives the cafe its name and lives in Trinity Bellwoods.
Lit Espresso Bar on Roncesvalles is one of three Toronto branches, third-wave coffee with Manic Coffee and Cup of Excellence single-origins.
Signature drink: Espresso, single-origin filter
Order: A flat white pulled with the single-origin espresso of the day.
Tip: Three locations across the west end. Sister Queen West and College locations carry the same menu.
