The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2012

The best new cafes in Toronto in 2012 are evidence that we haven't reached our espresso quota just yet. While there are, indeed, plenty of places to get a cup of something caffeinated around the city, these new cafes have emerged to try to deliver a pull that presents just a little bit better. Meanwhile, some existing mini-cafe empires chose 2012 to open some new spots, not the least of which include the new Balzac's at Ryerson, Sam James on the PATH, Dark Horse on John, The Common in Bloorcourt and the rebranded Black Canary. But this list focuses on the new cafes that are all on their own.

Here is the list of the best new cafes in Toronto in 2012.

See also:

The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2011
The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2010
The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2009
The Best New Cafes in Toronto, 2008

Voodoo Child

With an emphasis on classic, superior espresso drinks, Voodoo Child landed on College in October of 2012. Backed by some of the team behind the former Liberty Belle Bistro, Voodoo Child started with a chalkboard menu of basic coffees, and grew to incorporate weekend brunch, ramen pop-ups, weekly cocktail nights, and daily lunch. Too bad the song gets stuck in your head every time you read the sign. More »

The Arrow

How can you not love a café that also happens to serve buffalo milk ice cream? Just ignore that pesky minus-five-degree weather. The Arrow landed on Dundas West right in the middle of summer, offering its small selection of Mapleton’s Organics and Monforte Dairy ice creams, along with coffee made from Hockley Valley roasted beans. The café now has sandwiches, too, to help see you through winter. More »

Academy Cafe

Small but mighty, Academy Café offers espresso pulled by pros. A model café for students of the adjacent Canadian Barista Academy (albeit, only on weekends), this café lets its instructors call (pull?) the shots, featuring different daily roasts and a small assortment of snacks. A few seats for lingerers, but this place is mostly grab-and-go. More »

CSI Coffee Pub

The Centre for Social Innovation in the Annex unveiled its own (independent) creation at the end of spring 2012. Brewing, blending, and cooking up snacks for both members and the community alike, CSI Coffee Pub arrived to save workers from the same old drip sitting on the counter. Fuel also became available in the form of hot sandwiches and soups. More »

Rise Espresso

Speaking of remedy, Rise Espresso cropped up just in time for the new 2012 Ryerson crowd to grab a cup between classes. Whereas Tim Hortons was once the only on or right-by-campus option, Rise arrived to offer Dark City espresso drinks and a couple of light bites to keep students going through classes. There are a few spots for people-watching, but Rise really caters to the student on the move. More »

Cafe Con Leche

Dupont and where? Okay, so, it may have seemed a little funny for the owners of CocoaLatte to open a new café on the underwhelming stretch of Dupont west of Lansdowne, but Café Con Leche has certainly made it its home. Immediately winning over area locals after opening, Café Con Leche arrived in October and set to work pulling espressos and serving hot café con leche. An area catalyst, perhaps? We’ll see. More »

Le Neuf Cafe

Le Neuf Café brought a little bit of Paris to the busy downtown neighbourhood of King West, of all places. Cozy and quaint in a little townhome on Clarence Square, this petite café and patisserie graced guests with croissants, tartelettes, crepes, and more as they sipped their latte and enjoyed the (relative) quiet. Something tells me this patio will be a big hit come spring. More »

The Sovereign

From Liberal MP office to some mighty fine cappuccino. When the NDP won the riding for this area by Dufferin and Davenport, the landlord handed the space over to the men behind this café. John and Ross transformed the space with a little Rufino espresso and homemade torrone. You can still talk politics here if you like, but the apple caramel crumble muffin is a much better talking point. More »

Intergalactic Travel Authority

If there was an award for best nerdy sci-fi space, Intergalactic Travel Authority would win. This café and space-themed store is the storefront space for Story Planet, a social enterprise geared toward helping kids develop writing and communication skills. The menu here includes Mars Americanos and Black Hole drip, with “matter mixers” available for blending in milk and sugar. More »