Top 5 Toronto Coffee Shops in the Entertainment District

Toronto’s bustling Entertainment District may be well-known for it’s bars and clubs, but it’s café and coffee scene is nothing at which to scoff. The following coffee shops are the places that give me my caffeine fix either before or after a night out.

All of these spots are also just a stone’s throw away from The Fashion District or the TIFF Bell Lightbox theatre. This makes them great choices if you’re planning on getting your caffeine fix before a shopping escapade or show. Read on to discover my top 5 picks in the area!

1. Strange Love Coffee

It’s not strange to grab a coffee downtown, so why not try out Strange Love Coffee for your fix?

The brand claims to “obsess” over coffee much in the same way a sommelier might obsess over wine. I must say, their coffees do show off that dedication to the craft of brewing! Whether you want something more traditional (latte, cappuccino, espresso, etc…), or you’re feeling more adventurous (blue latte, anyone?), Strange Love has plenty of drink options from which to choose.

They also have an impressive stock of snacks that are appropriate for multiple diets. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free individuals will find something for them to nibble on. Do be warned: their treats tend to sell out quickly, so you may not get something if you go later on in the day! On top of muffins, croissants, and cookies, I have also seen Mary’s Brigadeiro’s sold here. If you’ve never had one, I highly recommend trying one as they are delicious!

The café doesn’t have many places to sit. It also has fairly small tables, and limited outlets. It’s not the place to go to if you want to study or get some work done, but it is great for take-out, or a good chat.

If you’re in the Entertainment District, give this coffee shop a try. And who knows? You might just find yourself strangely loving Strange Love!

Location:
101 Spadina Avenue

Noteworthy Feature:
The café has a fabulous “Toronto” mural outside that would light up any Instagram feed! Grab a photo with it after grabbing a coffee and a snack.

2. Hotblack Coffee

HotBlack Coffee is a hot coffee shop downtown near the Sony Centre for the Arts. The shop - a mix of red, black, and wood furnishings - is immensely cool. HotBlack boldly proclaims they are a #NoWifi café, and besides the communal table or the picnic benches on their patio, the small counter spaces make it virtually impossible to put a laptop down.

This is not a place you visit to work or study; it’s a café you bring either a date or a friend for a great chat, or yourself to ponder your existence for a moment, or look up some memes on your phone.

Hot Black does have some of their own “speciality” drinks, but I personally don’t enjoy them as much as their regular caffeinated offerings. The only one I may recommend is the “Green Eye Latte” which is a mint-based coffee concoction.

One huge draw for me is their food selection - there is always a lot cakes and cookies which cater to a lot of different diets. They’ve chosen to source their food from some very great places, and most of the options are quite flavourful.

My favourite (a gluten-intolerant individual) include the walnut butter square, and the date square. Joel (as a non gluten-intolerant individual) tends to favour their brownies and the date square.

Overall, a great café with a cool vibe and yummy treats.

Location:
245 Queen Street West

Noteworthy Feature:
There is a great patio in the back! In the colder months, they provide blankets so you can still curl up with your coffee on the benches outside.

3. Dark Horse Espresso Bar

Dark Horse Espresso Bar really lights up my day when I need a place to work.

The spacious coffee shop has great industrial architecture that makes you feel, quite frankly, cool as heck.

Dark Horse Espresso Bar has more than one location downtown, but the one in the Entertainment District is an excellent choice if you like spacious cafés. (Click here to a review of their other location downtown).

If you’re a student or a professional who needs to work like a horse, rest assured that you’ll find a sweet haven in which to work with the free Wifi (no password) and lot’s of table space.

If you’re as hungry as a horse, there’s a number of little tidbits from which to choose. Vegan, Vegetarian, and Gluten-Free bites are also available.

Ok, enough horse puns. I’m feeling a bit unstable writing this…

Check this one out!

Location:
215 Spadina Avenue

Noteworthy Feature:
There are two seatings areas; one in the front which is more open, and one in the back which is more secluded (better for work!)

4. Quantum Coffee

Studying quantum physics or just working away is easy as π at Quantum Coffee.

Although the King Street West coffee shop has a more hip and cool main room, the back of the café has a lot of spacious tables.

There is even a patio with plenty of seating, allowing anyone to work outside with their coffee if they wish!

Those who are Vegan, Vegetarian, or Gluten-Free can still indulge their sweet tooth with the array of treats available at the front. My personal favourite? The carrot cake! Trust me, even if you aren’t gluten intolerant, it’s a real treat!

Press this link for more work-friendly coffee shops in the 6ix!

Location:
460 King Street West

Noteworthy Feature:
There is a great outdoor area that allows you to people watch along King Street West!

5. Little Nicky’s Coffee

Little Nicky’s Coffee offers a nice repose for caffeine-seekers from the Toronto’s bustling downtown core (Proof: The day I went, there was some guy dressed up as Spiderman sitting atop a TTC bus stand telling people how good they looked. Typical Tuesday).

A little establishment right off the corner of a busy Queen Street West intersection, it’s a bit easy to miss the entrance as you need to go inside a building in order to reach the main door of the café. Keep your eyes peeled for the sign if you’re trying to find it.

The café has a nice interior, with some vintage additions. The lighting mimics the retro feel, and the entire café seems basked in a warm glow. Laptops are not allowed if you sit at the barstools, but they are welcome if you sit at one of the tables.

I ordered a cappuccino, and enjoyed the taste. It was quite smooth.

Although the barista was a tad bit moody when I ordered, they promptly delivered my coffee and were very polite, so I have no real issue with that.

While I sat at the bar reading, six people came in asking for a dozen sugary mini-donuts. However, they were sold out that day! The fact they’re that popular is still quite encouraging as to the quality of the dessert.

If you’re looking for a calm coffee shop just off of Queen Street West, give Little Nicky’s Coffee a go!

Location:
375 Queen Street West