When you hear that Donna’s was started by three Momofuku alums, the food that they offer may surprise you, but the quality of said food will not. In the hip Junction triangle area, Donna’s is serving up everything from fresh-pressed juices made in-house, to sandwiches — like the shrimp salad, served with iceberg lettuce and

Il y a un world to discover at Douce France, the French café and small grocery destination on the Danforth. Be greeted in either language by the bilingual staff and peruse the curated selection of imported goods while the likes of Edith Piaf or Charles Aznavour plays in the back. Those who seek the absolute

Dufflet has always been a destination for divine and delectable pastries in Toronto. Dufflet Rosenberg began baking in the Cow Cafe and opened her first shop on Queen Street West in 1982. Since then, people have been coming from all over the country to indulge in some of her tasty treats. In 2002, the uptown

Take a trip throughout Latin America without leaving Queen West at El Almacen. This cafe specializes in mate, a earthy tasting drink made from the yerba mate, a species of holly. The drink, which at El Almacen is served in a gourd and drank through a filter-tipped metal straw called a bombilla, is ubiquitous in

North York bakery Electric Love Bakeshop specializes in delicious baked goods made with kosher ingredients. Helmed by owner and pastry chef Jesse Lash, a graduate of George Brown College’s Baking and Pastry Arts Management program, the bakery offers a variety of rustic cakes, pies and cookies. Cake and cupcake flavours range from traditional to playful

This coffee shop/bakery has been playing retro tunes and baking some of the city’s best oatmeal cookies for over 16 years. Ella’s Uncle oozes cool. When you walk into the vibrant café, the lime green walls and black and white tiles entrance you and make you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time. Wafts

At Ethica Coffee Roasters, every cup of coffee embodies four integral values that define the essence of the establishment. The first two values, ethics and quality, are interwoven, as Ethica takes great pride in sourcing only delicious, sustainable coffee that has been produced in verifiably safe ways. The coffee is skillfully served by a team

Forno Cultura, an authentic Italian bakery, has opened in First Canadian Place. Andrea Mastrandrea established the brand in April 2013 with a large production-and-retail space on King West near Portland.

Forno Cultura is a beautiful, Italian-style bakery on Queen between Dovercourt and Ossington. Each day, bakers whip up freshly made breads and pastries using Italian recipes that have been passed down through generations. Some of the most popular items are the pugliese bread (a rustic loaf similar to a ciabatta) and chocolate-hazelnut biscotti that have

Full Stop Cafe is a Junction favourite for many reasons. First, a massive back patio that has room for everyone, their friends and their friends’ mothers. Inside, there’s room for even more. But at Full Stop, they won’t mind if you come in on your commute to fuel up some more before you keep going.

Sitting pretty amidst the hustle and bustle of Chinatown East, Gerrard St. Bakery is a welcome reprieve from the street-side chaos. Owner Andrea Mut offers up a selection of fresh baked treats, sandwiches and coffee for the person dashing around town.

Since 1888, this Kosher bakery has been one of the most popular bakeries among Toronto’s Jewish community. Whether you are looking for sandwiches, loaves of bread, pastries or catering platters, Grodzinski’s has got you covered. The bakery has two brick and mortar locations in the GTA. Their second outpost is in Thornhill on Centre Street.

Hansen’s Danish Pastry Shop has been an East York staple since 1963. Torontonians have enjoyed Danish pastry recipes that have been in the Hansen family for generations. The founding baker learned how to make the shop’s recipes from his father back in Denmark before moving to Toronto. Here, patrons can enjoy usual bakery favourites like

The Harbord Bakery has been a Harbord and Spadina stalwart since 1945. The landmark bakery was opened by Goldie and Albert Kosower in the mid-1940s and was established as the Harbord Bakery and Calandria in 1955. This old-fashioned Jewish bakery brought traditional baked goods, bread and artisanal food products to Toronto before artisanal was a

Himalayan Java is a café straight out of Nepal — literally. Fashioned as the Asian nation’s first gourmet coffeehouse (think a more exotic, better, less ubiquitous version of Starbucks), it’s meant to promote socially responsible brews around the globe.

Toronto’s first gelato bar never disappoints. With its 22 original and handmade flavours, Hollywood Gelato remains the city’s premier place for a scoop of this sweet Italian dessert. At the corner of Bayview Avenue and Manor Road, this gelato shop has been serving Torontonians some of the best authentic, made-from-scratch gelato since 2001. This store

This no-frills Chinatown bakery offers an array of traditional baked goods, from sesame balls to egg tarts. Most pastries are displayed in a self-service area, where customers can pick their own items and then pay at the front counter. Hong Kong Island Bakery’s prices are rock-bottom, with many baked goods available for less than $1.

Torontonians can’t get enough of HotBlack Coffee, known for its bright red exterior and minimalist design. The coffee shop is innovative in using the latest high-tech water and espresso systems to ensure all water going into the coffee is as pure as possible. Made from coffee beans sourced directly from farmers and led by a

Once you check in, you’ll never want to check out. Hotel Gelato has been Forest Hill’s go-to destination for rich and delicious gelato for more than 10 years. Decorated to look like a boutique hotel in Europe, a trip to this gelato destination feels like being transported to another place and time. Regulars that come

Isle of Coffee is a bright and airy cafe serving specialty coffee and dessert in the Eglinton West neighbourhood of Toronto. With stone floors and plants hanging from the many shelves, this comforting and bright space is the perfect spot for an afternoon sip or a day spent catching up on emails. The menu here