Cafe Moi

Cafe Moi is a nifty pocket spot at Bay and Bloor. Run by the gang at Hale Coffee, this high-traffic stop-and-go location is their third coffee shop, next to Clockwork Coffee and Crosstown Coffee Bar

Manager Luke Hobson brings an Australian charm to the place, encouraging customers to order 8oz "Aussie standard size" instead of larger drinks. "I want customers to taste and really enjoy the flavour of our coffee. Drowning espresso in milk isn't the way to drink it," he explains.

With Starbucks only a block away, curious commuters are opting for quality over quantity at Cafe Moi.

Forget about Oprah's chai latte, for instance. It's a mix of sugar, more sugar, and questionable spice. Cafe Moi, on the other hand, uses one of the city's best local chai makers. Chai Wala Chai is an Australian-inspired chai blend that's 100% natural.

One thing is for certain, a coffee shop ain't nothing without a decent croissant. Delysees delivers fresh French croissants to Cafe Moi every morning. "Everyone loves the ham and cheese croissant ($6.50)... it's a specialty in Australia," says Hobson.

Hate gluten? Lucky for you, there's a fresh-to-death selection of gluten-free muffins, scones and cookies from The Red Bench. Majorelle keeps things light-hearted with seedy snack bars and energy balls.

Cafe Moi aims to serve a bit of everything, including breakfast sandwiches, grab-and-go-salads, and smaller snacks. As a bonus, most of the offerings are locally sourced.

Coffee-wise, if you know what the company's about, you'll recognize the taste immediately. Serving Hale Espresso, a light blend with a dark chocolate aftertaste, it's the kick-in-the-ass you need to wake up and feel alive.

On to my third cup of coffee before lunch, I order an Americano and waited for the caffeine to hit. Two-handing that and a heated chocolate croissant ($3.75) with chocolate oozing everywhere, I feel it kick in. It's safe to say I'll be back for more croissants and Australian-style coffee in the near future.

Page One Cafe

Page One is a cafe and cocktail bar with a choosy selection of craft beers, cocktails and coffee. Behind the scenes, owners and partners Firas Arafat and Jennifer Reynolds were eager to open a hybrid coffee shop catering to academics looking for a moody atmosphere, reliable WiFi and a menu that rewards overstaying.

"We want people to feel at home, and designed it for customers who want to drink coffee and stay for cocktails." Says Reynolds. The space is bigger than you might expect, with library style seating and typewriters on every shelf, courtesy of Toronto Typewriters.

"Ryerson faculty love it here," says Reynolds. That must be a good sign, but I bet you the students come to as well.

Replacing the former Sears warehouse, Page One is located in The Merchandise Building on Mutual Street, a loft converted warehouse dating back to 1910. Firas shows me the before-and-after onInstagram - once a sterile-cold storage unit, now a trendy workplace oasis. It's like a teaser for an HGTV dream renovation.

Behind the bar, Page One prides itself with staff who are beyond capable. I order a latte ($4.10) which arrives equipped with a flying swan, emerging from a sunset. No surprise here, Barista Anskar Shin regularly competes in competitions. No big deal.

Serving coffee from Propeller Coffee Roasters with a flashy red La Marzocco espresso machine, Page One uses a seasonal Ace Blend, a high acidity roast with extra sweetness. Customers can choose between an organic selection of teas from Vancouver's Tea Guy, one of which is an Organic Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla ($2.86) - It smells like the good type of trouble on a Tuesday night.

Then there's Nino Shaoshvili, the mixologist and cocktail specialist. On top of a classic menu with a Mojito ($13), Dark and Stormy ($13) and an Old Fashioned ($14), she hands me an ice cold cocktail - they call it, Catching Fire ($12), a cool mix made with crushed ice, gin, soda water, cinnamon syrup and topped with a lime that's literally on fire.

It's as if they thought of everything. There's even a bountiful selection of organic snacks fromFoodbenders and Circles + Squares.

From Almond Thai Chickpea salad ($7.99), Spicy Goat Cheese & Roasted Yam ($9.99) and smaller treats like Ginger Cookies, Zucchini Walnut Muffins ($5), customers won't leave without eating something.

Typewriters, plug outlets, jazz vibes, wheelchair accessibility, organic stuff, local craft beer, tasty cocktails, comfortable seating and coffee with flying swans. Yup, Page One thought of everything.

10 artists you should know about

There's a new roster of wildly talented Toronto artists catching the attention of gallery owners and art admirers in this city. I asked Clint Roenisch, art consultant Deanne Moser, and Alexia Bréard-Anderson of LEXIQUETTE to nominate their brightest lights from the Toronto arts scene.

Here are 10 up and coming Toronto artists you should know.

Izaak Sacrebleu
His work is hung in galleries, hotels and buildings you've probably visited. Izaak Sacrebleu has a style, no BS attitude and depth of inquiry that pokes fun of art in a way that's sophisticated and charming. Using backyard materials, there's an unfiltered and rough appeal to his work that's beautifully honest.

Maggie Groat
She remixes raw materials like a DJ in the contemporary art world. Using salvaged goods, collage, sculpture, books and field studies, Maggie Groat shows both sophistication and organized chaos in her impressive mix of work.

Justin Broadbent
He's worked with Metric and The Art Gallery of Ontario as part of his rapidly growing roster of clients. Justin Broadbent's multidisciplinary art is clever, insightful and full of cats. Coated with humour, Broadbent blends the kitschy and beautiful to produce art with high subliminal quality. You can't help but lean in to look at it closer.

Bijan Ramezani
Playing with identity in the digital realm, Bijan Ramezani is deliberately snarky with his mixed media of daily newspapers, screen grabs, and photo collages, which appeared in his last installation at Xpace titled "Window Space - The Elusivity of Identity (2015)."

Kotama Boubane
With an impressive resume full of work that's hit the walls of galleries in Montreal, New York and Toronto, Kotama Boubane is a photographer well-known for his experimental approach to constructing and deconstructing images. In his upcoming exhibition "We'll get there fast and then we'll take it slow" at Gallery 44 in April, Boubane uses coconuts to investigate exoticism in travel media.

Katheryn Macnaughton
It's easy to spot Katheryn Macnaughton's work from a mile away. It pops on first glance and is loud in all the right places. It's no wonder that brands like Kit & Ace have been attracted by her eye for buzzy colour and bold brush strokes. She's got a knack for acrylic and knows how to make it jump off the wall.

Jen Mann
Figurative painter Jen Mann focuses on themes of identity and representation in her large-scale portraits and acrylic paintings. Bringing photographs to life, Mann adds a dreamy sparkle to photo-realistic paintings that deal with larger topics like existentialism, language history and the double-standards of beauty.

Sarah Letovsky
Sarah Letovsjy is an OCAD grad with a keen interest in female narratives and portraits. Blending gorgeous patterns and a loose hand stroke, you can't take your eyes off of her painted gaze. This is a skillful artist who showcases a diverse range of artistic techniques that bring her female portraits to life.

Greg McCarthy
McCarthy is a multidisciplinary artist who uses photographic archives to bring the past to the present. In his most recent work, he examines historical depictions of the national identity of Canada and forgotten stories of the past. Like graffiti, McCarthy leaves his mark on history with playful interventions.

Marvin Luvualu Antonio
Marvin Luvalu Antonio is a visual artist focusing on identity and politics. Originally born in St. Petersburg, Russia, this OCAD grad captures unrest and dissatisfaction using mixed media, acrylic on glass mirrors, cardboard, stone and street materials. His first solo exhibit is set to open March 24th, 2016.

Gloria Cafe

Gloria is a go-lucky cafe near Roncesvalles and Dundas. The spot is named after Cafe Neon alumnus Bryan Sherry's grandmother, which explains the black and white photograph of Gloria on Sauble Beach in 1963 that's affectionately placed on a wall nearby the barista bar. 

What makes Gloria stand out in this family-centric neighbourhood is Sherry's eagerness to serve whatever patrons request, like organic milk or other in-demand ingredients. Lucky for him, his close ties with STASIS, the grocery store next door, guarantees a go-to selection of assorted ingredients. 

"I don't want customers to leave empty handed or hungry," Sherry explains. 

Case in point: his larger-than-life Turkey and Havarti Sandwich ($7.50), which is the most satisfyingly pickle-perfect sandwich I've devoured since Thanksgiving. It's a beauty.

There's also free WiFi and plenty of seating for freelancers. One doesn't get the sense that there's any concern regarding the Starbucks competition across the way; Dundas West business owners and neighbourhood folks no doubt prefer local to corporate. 

Replacing Autumn Toronto, a multi-faceted art gallery, Sherry has redesigned the space with the help of leading designer Sarah Townson from Brick Row. Throw in a beautiful rustic logo from Julia Deakin and you have a gorgeous space that's quaint and charming. 

It's been a team effort to bring Gloria to life, and it's painfully adorable with its old-school record player (that still works) and glossy antique sewing table, now covered in sugar bowls and milk containers.

On the menu, Gloria's coffee is a sweet South American blend from Ezra's Pound. The flavour profile is smooth and full bodied, and makes for comforting lattes ($3.50) and cappuccinos ($3.25). 

If you're in the mood for tea, they've got 20 flavours from B.C.'s Murchie's Tea. 

With weekly specials pairing coffee and baked treats like sandwiches, bagels, raw bars and brownies, there's no shortage of delicious pairings. 

Craving something hearty? Good news, Gloria serves fresh baked Montreal-style bagels from St. Urbain Bagels, alongside other yummy treats like Earl Grey oat bars, chocolate peanut butter swirl brownies, and gluten-free oatmeal raisin bars from Cafe Neon. It's an easy but satisfying menu with plenty to choose from. 

Catering to Roncesvalles wanderers, commuters and neighbourhood families, Gloria has a special touch that's full of good intentions and possibility. Suffice to say, this little coffee shop is impressively authentic and full of sweet surprises.

Tealish

Tealish first opened near Trinity Bellwoods but has since settled into a location on Roncesvalles. Offering a dazzling selection of over 100 teas, the shop boasts a colossal collection of flavours to surprise even the shamans of tea drinking society. Tea isn't just a drink in Tealish; it's a religion around here.

Inside, the decor feels like a Mother's Day card in Hallmark; adorable, glossy and full of frill. I meander past the dessert collection to the "Orthodox" teas, an entire shelf dedicated to all-natural and whole leaf blends. 

Behind the front counter, bright tins of tea shine proudly in rows of green, black, herbal, oolong, and rooibos. It's no surprise that Tealish is also sold at Indigo, Whole Foods and Hallmark.

Tea is flooding Roncesvalles with nearby David's Tea brewing up competition down the street. With so much to offer, it's no wonder the one other customer in the store, a woman on her way home from a yoga class, spent more than half-an-hour asking questions to the associate on duty.

Ensuring "the highest quality" tea flavour, Tealish offers aromatically potent combinations of nuts, fragrances, whole fruit pieces, flowers petals and ingredients like Jasmine Dragon Pearls that blossom while steeping. There's also plenty of brewing accessories to turn a tea party into a full-body ayahuasca ceremony. This tea store isn't joking around.

"We also sell Beehouse, a brand of ceramic teapots made in Japan. You can't find them anywhere else, and they're made for tea rituals," explains store manager Angel Riccio.

The cherry red 26oz mug is pricey at $54.95 next to other brewing accessories like stainless steel mesh infusers ($7.95), Matcha whisks ($22.95), and Urban Outfitters style cups ($10.95) and travel mugs ($39.95). 

On the menu, must-try teas ($3.41) include the Toasty Almond, a herbal dessert tea that smells like a vanilla cupcake with a pinch of cinnamon spice. Next up, there's the Electric Earl Grey, a gourmet black tea with double the bergamot. 

For those looking for a whole-leaf hangover cure, The Hangover Helper is an easy herbal blend that's fancier than water and soothing! 

Oh, and let's not forget about the iced teas ($3.94). Let your spirit free with Lavender Mint or feel weightless with Fairy Dust. I could keep on writing and tell you more flavours, but hopefully by now you get the point: there's a lot.

Blending ritual with high potency concoctions, Tealish is a sanctuary for anyone looking to spend 45 minutes searching for the "perfect" tea. Take off your jacket and get comfortable; it might take a while.

The Birchcliff

The Birchcliff is a rustic coffee shop near the Scarborough Bluffs. The only third-wave coffee shop for miles, this neighbourhood gem stands out in a desolate area that's slowly developing from its suburban roots.

Eager to own a coffee shop, bright-eyed owner Olivia Peters left school as a full-time business student at U of T to open a café of her own in a neighbourhood stuck in a dry spell without coffee. 

The daughter of neighbourhood House and Garden Florist Irene Makeeff Peters, Peters renovated the vacant space into a cozy coffee shop with beaming natural light, exposed brick and warm, woodsy colours that look and feel like a homely cottage in Prince Edward County.

Proudly born and raised in Birch Cliff, Peters brings a ray of hope for a neighbourhood lacking coffee in a hot spot of chatty locals eager to share stories and hourly updates.

"I know everyone in the neighbourhood. Birch Cliff is so full of rich history; I really wanted to create a beautiful space for friends and family to enjoy coffee." Peters explains. "All the pictures on the wall are from the Scarborough archives; it's a place to celebrate the history of our community."

Serving Brothers Coffee, a small batch roaster based in Oakville, it's a full body blend that's rich and full of flavour. Peters recommends I try their latte ($3.50), a customer favourite that hits the spot. 

With a snack menu that includes Nutella Chocolate cookies ($1.75), banana bread ($2) and other treats from Circles + Squares, there's also a handful of gluten-free snack options and pastries to pick from.

In addition to a classic coffee menu with single ($2.50) and double shot espresso ($3.50), there's also a loose leaf tea selection from Metropolitan Tea ($2.50) featuring seasonal flavours like Apple and Maple.

While Olivia jumps behind the barista bar, a friendly gentleman eavesdropping on our conversation pipes in, "You know, this is the best coffee shop for miles. The neighbourhood is changing for the better with places like this around." 

He tells me about a roaster that folded a few months ago, around the same time that The Birchcliff opened and quickly become a neighbourhood stable. 

And he's right. Olivia Peters is only 20 years-old, and she's already changing Birch Cliff with a steady flow of caffeine and ambitious dreams. Lining the walls with historic pictures of the neighbourhood dating back to the 1920s, Peters knows this area like a Toronto historian, and she's proud to make this coffee shop a part of its history.

Bringing gourmet coffee, upscale design and yummy pastries to the heart of Birch Cliff, there's an irresistible smell of good things in the air, all thanks to a woman who left school to run a business herself. It's nice to see a fresh young face making big changes in a community well-deserving of new opportunity.

5 Elements Espresso

5 Elements Espresso has replaced Seven Grams on Avenue Road in Yorkville. True to its name, this Italian-inspired cafe focuses on the five elements of espresso (more on that in a second) as well as a variety of matcha and grab-and-go snacks.

Owners Rose Lamanna and Carmelina Luke have rebranded the space with a fresh look, complete with three levels of seating, plenty of snacks and lunch items to keep Yorkville patrons coming back for more caffeinated beverages.

"The name is rooted in the five elements of espresso," Lamanna explains. "It's written in Italian, and the elements translate to blend, grinder, machine, barista skill and the maintenance of equipment". It's a cute story, and compliments a space that's vibrant, warm and smells like the bakery at Whole Foods. 

For those looking for healthy snack alternatives, 5 Elements searched far and wide to curate a menu that's health-focused with gluten-free and other varieties for customers with food sensitivities. The gluten-free Matcha Almond Cookie ($3) stands out off the menu and is a must-have with 5 Element's featured Organic Matcha Latte ($4.25).

Brewing Pilot Roasters, 5 Elements Espresso boasts an Academy brew that's a Central American and East African blend with hints of caramel, citrus, and chocolate. There's the standard espresso-based mix of double shot espresso ($3), Americano ($3.25), Macchiato ($3.30), and extras like Chai Tea Latte ($4.25). It's still early days of the menu, and the owners plan to expand the menu with more seasonal drinks.

With a handful of in-house items baked every morning, including snacks like Protein Balls ($2.50), Energy Cookies ($3.50) and house-made Panini with bocconcini and tomato basil ($8.75), it's a little pricey for a coffee shop but smells intoxicating.

Adding to a health-centric menu of house made specialties, 5 Elements Espresso brings a wide-ranging selection of Sloan Teas, organic and gluten-free baked goods from Circles + Squares, and fresh snacks from La Bamboche. Keep in mind, there are plenty of snack pairings to choose from if you're hungry and looking for a quick blast of energy.

With matcha as the centerpiece of the menu, spillover traffic from neighbouring Whole Foods will rejoice in the health-centric green theme in this menu. Matcha! Matcha! Matcha!

Thobors (Eglinton West)

Thobors' second Parisian-style bakery on Eglinton West offers plenty of seating for an afternoon filled with baked delicacies. Lucky for locals of Eglinton West, this menu features some of the freshest variety of handmade baked treats for miles.

If you're familiar with the original Thobors on Mt. Pleasant, you'll already know that everything here is made from scratch. 

Bustling behind the scenes of the Parisian Boulangerie, Marc and Sylvie Thobor keep busy baking fresh bread and preparing delicious chocolates. 

They work tirelessly to meet the demand for their acclaimed baguettes ($2.45), chocolates ($2) cakes ($9) and macarons ($2.60). 

During a recent visit, the bakery is buzzing with mid-week crowds stopping by for conversation and mid-morning pick-me-ups. 

I lock eyes with the coconut and banana croissant ($3.35), and then the apricot danish ($2.90). There's too much to choose from at Thobors. I can't decide.

In addition to an extensive French-focused menu, customers can treat themselves to one-of-a-kind Thobor's specialties like their homemade jams: an empire of artisanal-style jams ($5.25) that come in flavours like the raspberry lavender, peach rosemary and cherry vanilla honey. 

Similar to its original location, Thobors serves up its signature lunch items like baguette sandwiches, French onion soup, salads and heartier meals like beef lasagna. 

There are no vegan items here, but there is a gluten-free Moulleus, a dark chocolate cake that's $4.20 per hefty slice. 

There's Italian-style coffee, a medium chocolate roast served in the form of espresso, Americanos, lattes and cappuccinos, to compliment the overwhelming selection of handmade baked goods. 

I recommend trying a calming Sahara tea ($1.55), a relaxing coconut tea to match an Earl Grey macaron.

If you're looking for a place to study, however, you'll have to go somewhere else to get WiFi; there isn't any at Thobors...

Volta Espresso

Volta Espresso is a pocket cafe specializing in strong coffee. Since leaving Jet Fuel Coffee, 23-year-old owners Omar Makhlouf and Raf Wehbe opened their first coffee shop with the intent to bring a reliable offerings of coffee and small-batched baked goods to Seaton Village.

Replacing former jewellery store My Petite Boutique, this endearing coffee shop is a quick-stop for Bathurst station commuters and hurrying locals looking for Italian-style coffee and homemade treats. With seating for three, it's a modern mini-diner that's easy to miss if you're not looking for it.

With coffee beans from Gourmet Espresso, Volta's coffee is a robust multi-region roast that's powerful. "We named it Volta because we wanted to express energy, our coffee is very strong!" says Omar. And it really is. 

The Italian-style cappuccino ($3) comes with a generous spoonful of froth and there's a rich flavour profile that's cheerful and reassuring. Unlike Starbucks-style cappuccinos loaded with gallons of milk, this light java drink jolts right to the bone. Put simply, it's electric.

What sets Volta apart from other coffee shops in the neighbourhood, is its uncomplicated coffee. It's rare to find an unpretentious menu in the city, and Volta prides itself on it. 

The menu, a six-line selection of Espresso ($2), Americano ($3), Cappuccino ($3), Latte ($3), Tea ($2), and Pop ($2) showcases the basics. Don't worry, Volta has Cortados, Flat Whites, and every other espresso and milk pairing - just ask for it.

Omar bakes up a warm batch of muffins and cookies every morning. And with a regular rotation of fresh baked goods like chocolate walnut biscotti ($1), cookies ($1) and muffins ($2), there's a sweet aroma in the air that's inviting. 

With a snazzy red design and DIY décor, it's easy to fall head over heels with this little love child. "Everything is motivated by the coffee, and this baby (the espresso machine) is our pedestal. The design is inspired by sharp angles, and flow from entrance to exit." Omar explains. The colour stands out like the flashy red Raleigh bicycle. 

Motivated to fly solo and serve Italian-style coffee, owners Omar and Raif prove that age isn't a barrier when opening a coffee shop. Bright eyed and full of spark, Volta is humble and good-natured.

Zavida Coffee

Zavida Coffee occupies a large space on the ground floor of Aura, the city's tallest condo. The first location in Toronto, it's Second Cup 2.0 with a menu that's full-of-itself, indulgent and smug like a first-year student travelling abroad with his/her parent's money.

With its proximity to Yonge and Gerrard and the suffocating chaos of Y&D tourists, nu-bros, yuccies and anxious-looking Ryerson students scouring the streets for a safe space to complain about group projects, you can rest assured this will be a busy place.

The roasters behind Zavida are a Canadian family business, boasting 35 years of (combined) experience. This is underscored by shelves of signature collection coffee, single origins from Brazil, Columbia, Costa Rica and Sumatra. There's also premium flavours like Hazelnut Vanilla, Crème Brulee and propriety blends of beans in Charlie's Private Stock. Like I said, Second Cup, but fancy.

Around the corner from the anarchy of downtown shoppers and Yonge Street turtle walkers, Zavida is a sanctuary for those looking for a coffee refill, tasty sandwich and a guaranteed sugar high. Customers go crazy for the Belgian drinks like Belgian Hot Chocolate ($3.65), and the White Belgian Mocha ($4.15). It's like a candy store for over-caffeinated grown-ups, with swanky Belgian chocolate.

I order the Belgian Mocha. One sip in, I was hooked on it like a toddler with an outgrown soother. Made with organic milk and melted Belgian chocolate, a rosy warmth slid down my throat like a thick custard waterfall. Frank Ocean's "Crack Rock" anthem came to mind. 

Fearing the pounding headache ahead of me, I cautiously sipped waiting for a sugar rush to take me to the promised land. Fortunately, if you need to get some work done, there's plenty of power sockets and desk space; a luxury in the Ryerson district. 

There's also sweet treats for late night exam cramming. Soft and crumbly stuff like deluxe cookies ($2.45), pecan tarts ($3.75), and S'mores bars ($2.75).

Those starving of hunger between classes can feast from morning to afternoon with breakfast sandwiches, pastries and lunch items.

The Artisan Quiche ($5.95), the Sundried Tomato Basil Turkey Sandwich ($7.95) and House-Made Chicken Soup ($3.95) are more substantial for those in need of a full meal. 

If you don't cook at home, you'll love it here if you're tired of eating Tim Horton's bagels or over-spending on super-sized Peppermint Mocha Frappuccinos at Starbucks. 

Say hello to Ryerson's next group project cafe: superficially cozy, full of Belgian chocolate coffee with a plentiful seating area for 15-person study sessions.

Fool Coffee

Fool Coffee is an easygoing coffee shop and bakery in Little Italy. Replacing Slow Room, owner Cam Zalewski opened the cafe near his secondhand bike store, My Little Bike Shop. With in-store baked goods and heartwarming coffee, Fool Coffee smells like my grandmother's kitchen on Sunday afternoon: nostalgic and tenderly sweet. 

A heavy aroma of fresh-made scones and banana muffins draws the attention of locals wandering by on College Street. 

Brittney Adams, the bake maven and coffee geek, is the welcoming face of the shop. She's cool as a cucumber with a smile that makes you feel like you're sitting around a campfire. 

"We use Sam James Cut Coffee. It's the best," Adams tells me while pulling an espresso from a La Marzocco machine. She's right. It's heavenly.

Fool Coffee serves a standard selection of caffeinated drinks, from cappuccinos ($3.50) and lattes ($3.75) to double-shot espressos ($2.50), and uses rich Hewitt's Dairy milk. There's also Pluck Teas available ($2.00), which boasts a variety of tea flavours for customers craving something soothing. 

Adams offers me a fresh-baked scone with a creamy glaze topping ($2.00). It's soft and still hot from the oven.

The charming décor resembles a little boy's bedroom with model sailboats, automobile toys, a teddy bear and a globe of the world. A peculiar purple crystal is equal parts impressive and random. 

Encyclopedias and travel guides add a worldly allure to the boyish space. There's an innocence in here that's wistful and homesick. Maybe even a little lost.

It's a little community here, and everyone loves the cafe's homey feel. Rest assured, loyal Sam James patrons can now enjoy Cut Coffee on the west end without wandering too far south. An added plus given the looming fate of SJCB's Ossington location.

The Strong One

The Strong One is the little sister cafe to Empire Espresso on College Street. Design-savvy owner Lisa Young-Kutsukake brings her stand-out decor and scratch baking to Kensington Market with a new focus on wholesome sandwiches, pies and baked treats. The cafe is a bit off the beaten path in the space formerly home to Café Unwind near the Toronto Western Hospital.

Inside the cozy countrified cafe, I find Manager Shanley Maguire serving fresh Tuna Cheddar Melt Sandwiches ($5.50) from behind-the-counter kitchen. 

Hungry homesick crowds from the hospital will be pleased to find fresh lunch items as well as many baked treats. 

"Our menu is never the same. We have a regular rotation of sandwiches like our Tuna Melt Sandwich and assorted breakfast sandwiches; right now we're serving Toad In The Hole, a German sausage in a Yorkshire pudding! Alongside a few recipes doubled over from Empire, there's plenty of new stuff to try." Maguire tells me.

With floral wallpaper set to trend on Instagram, hand-painted leafy trees and dainty vintage mirrors, The Strong One is a little slice of the picturesque countryside in the big city, with a pioneering coffee menu featuring Empire Espresso stables. 

If there's one thing that everyone loves at both locations, it's the Lavender Honey Latte ($5.50); made with steamed milk and lavender honey, then poured on top of double-shot espresso. The taste is smooth, with a bright Lavender aftertaste that kicks in like a warm shot of whiskey. Sweet Jesus, it's beautiful.

Shipped from Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, The Strong One roasts single-origin coffee from Anchored Coffee; a medium roast profile (Nectarine, almonds, cola) you probably won't find in Toronto. Sam James' Cut Coffee is also on tap for those banking on a loyal neighborhood roast. 

Beyond go-to coffee drinks, there's a handful of specialty lattes like the Nutella Latte ($5.50), Actual Pumpkin Pie latte ($5.50), The Matador (a sweet and spicy latte) ($4.50) that make this café a sweet paradise. Other drinks like the Pure Lemon Ginger ($5), Ginger hot chocolate ($4.80) and cozy apple cider ($4.80) comfort like a long hug. 

Keen to try a little bit of everything, Maguire prepares a special feast for me with Mulled Apple Cider and Chai Cake with Maple Walnut Icing and Rosebud ($8), The Shan-Wow (invented by Shanley herself) ($4.50), Two Hand Savory Pies ($6) and Seasonal Sweet Hand Pies ($6). I'll admit, I'm drooling.

With homegrown charm and a baked small batch empire, The Strong One is a farmer's wet dream; a Kensington speakeasy for small batch baked goods, Nutella lattes and old-fashioned good times.

Toronto coffee trends to watch out for in 2016

Rebelling against cookie-cutter outposts like Starbucks, Tim Horton's (God bless Canada) and Coffee Time, locally-owned coffee shops are elevating the stakes with homemade baked goods, hybrid offerings and baristas doubling as mad scientists.

Here are some trends coming to a Toronto cafe near you in 2016.

Coffee shops go beyond coffee
Goodbye drink-only coffee shops. There's a new wave of hybrid cafes offering everything from hand-crafted wood pieces, cannabis paraphernalia, clothing, comics, board games, video games, painting workshops and cocktail bars.

Independent cafes will go mainstream
Open one coffee shop, and then two, three, four and five; build an empire! With cafes multiplying by the year, local coffee owners are finding new neighbourhoods to infiltrate with coffee and one-of-a-kind concepts. Just last year, Café Neon opened its third location on Queen, Jimmy's opened its fourth on Ossington, and Pilot opened its fourth at Union Station.

Brunch will be served
"We serve brunch now!" says every coffee shop in 2016. Not surprisingly, coffee shops will roll out brunch menus to cater to the hungover late-morning crowds craving coffee and gourmet whatever. Eat brunch, stay for the coffee, spend more money. Everybody is winning, I think?

Pet-friendly cafes (and cat themes) will flourish
With Toronto's latest TOT The Cat Café, there's new hope for pet owners looking to grab a quick coffee with furry friends. Safe to say, Toronto's weird obsession with cat-themed décor will never die; special shout out to Grey Tiger's cat-themed bathroom wallpaper. 

Roasters outside of Toronto will try to steal the spotlight
With locals brands like Pilot, Propeller, Cut and Social becoming ubiquitous at Toronto coffee shops, cafes will continue to try to differentiate their offerings by featuring beans from roasters like Calgary's Phil & Sebastian and Nova Scotia's Anchored Coffee.

Pour-over stations will become standard
Last year, Quantum Coffee purchased Canada's first-ever automatic Pour Steady machine, a $12,000 pour-over station serving 5 cups of coffee simultaneously. Other cafes like Clockwork Coffee focus exclusively on pour-over to serve customers who don't mind waiting a few minutes for the bolder flavour. 

Carbonated cold brew will take over
Station Cold Brew leads the way for cold brew coffee with a wholesale distribution model that's landed them in every shelf in the city. Now with the lead up to summer, coffee shop owners are brewing signature cold-brew blends (watch out for Tucana Coffee), many of which will be carbonated to give cold-brew a creamy flavour like a Guinness Stout. 

Everything will be made from scratch
Many Toronto cafes will return to old-school baking with a whole new menu of savoury and sweet pastries, muffins, croissants, pies, sandwiches and more, all made from scratch. Taste the magic of homemade baked goods at Fool Coffee, Empire Espresso, Manic Coffee and Neo Coffee Bar.

Nugateau

Nugateau is a the first éclair-only patisserie in Toronto. Former Jelly Modern Doughnuts pastry chef Atul Palghadmal spent months crafting a choux pastry menu that reflects the multicultural flavours of the city with a menu boasting Japanese Matcha, Brazillian Coconut, Madagascar Vanilla and Maple Bacon.

The open-concept patisserie is pristine with sparkling white walls in a pastry boutique that's like a jewellery store. From the entrance, you can see into the kitchen, a three-person operation mixing cream fillings and topping éclairs with mouth-watering glazes.

Inside a deluxe glass display, rows of éclairs are elegantly lined with vibrant hand piped toppings. The Lemon Meringue ($5.50) is extravagant, a cream-filled pastry fit for a king. Each flavour is available in single servings ($4.50-$5.50) or packs of six ($25-$30) for an indulgent one-sitting dessert.

"Our Looks Collection includes our Eggnog Santa, Red Raspberry, Persian Pistachio and Salted Caramel. These are limited-time flavours that rotate monthly" explains owner Abm Khadir.

Fusing traditional French patisserie practices with contemporary taste, Nugateau is forefronting Toronto's dessert trends with savory 2016 flavours like Foie gras and lobster.

Feeling fancy, I order a Persian Pistachio ($5.50) made with white chocolate pistachio cream and topped with candied pistachio. An oblong green dream, the three-bite pastry is surprisingly light with a thick blanket of rich cream.

Like a gateway drug, one éclair could have easily turned into six in a matter of minutes. Dangerous, if you have a sweet tooth like me.

Meandering Queen West crowds can order éclairs to-go, with a specialty carrying box designed to protect éclairs like precious artifacts overseas. The boxes are compact, cute and practically bullet-proof.

Nugateau also serves gourmet hot chocolate ($5), Palais De Thes teas ($3), standard hot and cold espresso-based drinks ($3-$4.75) from Alfa Cappuccino Imports. Drinks have a heavy European influence; dark, thick with rich flavour.

Nugateau is a darling blend of everything Toronto stands for: A little pricey, full of itself, and totally worth visiting.

Top New Bookstores + Comic Shops in Toronto

New bookstores and comic shops continue to open in Toronto, if not at the pace that the city once witnessed. These days it takes gusto to open a new store dedicated to the printed word given the disparaging fate of city landmarks like the World's Biggest Bookstore and the ubiquitous presence of e-readers and online shopping.

Here are five bookstores and comic shops that opened in Toronto this year.

TCAF Shop (Page & Panel)
The Toronto Comic Arts festival opened a permanent outpost for comic enthusiasts near Yonge and Bloor. This sprawling store has an extensive selection of indie comics, graphic novels, action figures, t-shirts and various swag, all on offer from inside the Reference Library.

Flying Books
This is a store within a store. Found Inside the Weekend Variety near the Drake Hotel on West Queen West, Flying Books offers a small, contemporary selection of fiction. Owner Martha Sharp rotates memoirs, graphic novels, science and award-winning Canadian authors. 

The Sidekick
The Sidekick in Leslieville transformed an old antique store into a spacious hub for comics and caffeine. This energetic store offers everything you need to unwind, escape and get lost in the world of superheroes and/or idiosyncratic routines. 

PRESS Books
A vibrant cluster of old and new, PRESS is a library of classic literature alongside contemporary fiction and old-world titles. Stay for the Reunion Island Coffee and browse through novels and old-school rock records in this East Danforth dwelling. 

Ella Minnow Children's Bookstore
The beloved children's bookstore in the Beaches packed up shop this summer and moved to new digs on Kingston Road in the Upper Beaches. With a fond collection of books from children to teen, Ella has a trusted selection of fiction to choose from.

NYX Cosmetics

NYX Cosmetics is a beauty store offering high-end makeup at drugstore prices. Replacing the MAC store on Queen West, the city's inaugural outpost of the LA-based makeup brand brings with it gaggles of beauty gurus and vloggers constantly uttering "OMG!" NYX has officially opened in Toronto, and customers are like, freaking out.

Underneath pro studio lights and flashy signage, the store is bursting at the seams with glitter and gloss. Makeup artists with fussy eye shadow and picture-perfect lipstick guide rush hour traffic like bouncers at a club. A photographer snaps pictures of the grand opening crowd; frantic and wide-eyed. It's a parallel universe of glitter in here.

Awestruck in sparkle-covered madness, I gesture for help to a nearby staff member with bright purple locks and animated eyes. Her name is Bailey Van Der Veen, and she's a YouTube vlogger, makeup artist and hairstylist with over 69,000 subscribers. 

She's just one of the handful of professionals helping customers find products with iPads. Promptly, she guides me to the MUST-HAVE beauty products: the fan favourites, they call them.

"People have been going nuts over these. Anybody can buy a product and be a makeup artist at home," Van Der Veen assures. In a matter of seconds, she's telling me insider tricks about the holy grail of NYX Cosmetics: the Wonder Stick. It's a universal contour stick that works on every skin tone. I tremble in awe, taking a blurry picture to tweet later.

Every in-store beauty product is shadowed by an army of hues, mattes, glosses and shines. A beauty bar invites customers to try makeup with stand-by makeup artists. A live Instagram feed projects customer selfies with the #NYXInTheSix hashtag. There's even a full studio downstairs available to rent for makeup tutorials, parties and photo shoots.

"People go crazy for it because it's the first time NYX is accessible in Canada. Our products were available at Rexall before, but there wasn't a huge selection," Van Der Veen explains.

She walks me through a centre showcase of matte finish setting sprays ($10), Pore Filler Minimizers ($16), Super Skinny Eye Markers ($12), and Jumbo Eye Pencils ($6). I suddenly want to buy, like everything. And I'm converted.

God bless NYX Cosmetics.

Northwood General

Northwood General is the clever offspring of Northwood, a general store bringing local designers and artists, heritage makers and cherished Canadian-made brands to Christie Pits. 

Replacing Life Acupuncture Bodywork, the store is a worthy outpost for coffee, cocktail, and lifestyle items that are genuinely hard to find north of Dundas. 

Inside the partially-exposed brick sanctuary on Bloor Street, a maple syrup candle burns a legacy scent that smells earnest and wholehearted.

Northwood owner Richard Pope searched long and hard to collect Canadian-wide gems into a one-stop shop; including everything from Monocle travel guides, Wood Turnco Goods, Chemex coffee makers, homemade gin kits, Tuck Shop Trading items, Smitten Kitten and Leuchtturm1917 notebooks plus jewellery, handbags, hats, watches, apothecary and more.

It's easy to get distracted by the heartwarming display of greeting cards in the center of the shop, painted by visual artist Jamie Ashforth.

These are one of the handfuls of unique gift items under $10 alongside other household knick-knacks and curiosities.

Between barrel aged spirits kits and Chemex coffee makers, there's a subtle sophistication with goods that are progressive and built in traditions.

It's the small details that stand alone; the hand-stitched label, stand-out style, and neat presentation. The atmosphere is one of ease, and I found myself getting lost in a paradise of Canadian-made treasure.

"Pope found things that he knew people were looking for." Stacy Flynn, Manager of Northwood General tells me. This includes a notable selection of sought-after brands like City of Neighbourhoods, Stay Home Club, Detroit Hustles Harder, Brooklyn Tailors, Penfield and Naked & Famous (to name a few).

Hats for sale gleam under a glass display case of Komono watches. A Jean-Michel Basquiat X Komono watch ($119) feels one-of-a-kind next to Dean Davidson jewelry, Matt & Nat bags, and warm Muttonhead blankets ($110).

In an afternoon bliss of Patsy Cline lullabies and the burning aroma of Pure Maple Syrup candles (100% soy wax obviously), Northwood General is a flattering extension to the beloved café and date night bar across the street.

Rainhard Brewery

Rainhard Brewing is a dynamic brewery and event space in The Stockyards. Bringing small batch brews to the neighbourhoods that surround the former meat packing district, founder Jordan Rainhard and his wife are quietly expanding as glowing word-of-mouth reviews spread about the brewery.

Occupying the 3,200 sq ft. space next to The Monkey Vault at Keele and St. Clair West, the brewery is buzzing with conversation amidst office workers and beer connoisseurs. It's easy to feed-off the energy of returning patrons, thrilled to see that the brewery is almost doubling its output from last month with the arrival of new equipment.

Disheveled from rush-hour streetcar traffic, Duchak offered me a flight of Rainhard's finest brews to take the edge off; a generous 4 beer flight for $10. This includes Rainhard's signature handmade and one-off brews including Kapow!*, Armed N' Citrus, True Grit and Bock That! Many of these are brewed through Jordan Rainhard's "Labour of Love" small batch brewing process.

Rainhard Brewing differs from some craft breweries in terms of flavour profile. Jordan, a pro brewmaster, prefers clean, palatable beers with a dry finish. "It's a balance between malt and hop," he explains. Supporting local products, Rainhard uses a Canadian base malt with a German influence. The resulting beers resemble west-coast style ales, a refreshing taste Jordan stands by.

Beer is available in 6oz, 12oz and bottles. Prices range from $2.95 for 6oz True Grit to a 12oz Heart's Collide IBU for $5.75.

Growlers are sold for $15, $17, and $19 with a deposit of $5. West Coast IPA, American Pale Ale, Imperial Stout, Black IPA and Farmhouse Ale are listed proudly on the chalkboard menu behind the bar.

And that's not all this brewery has to offer. Rainhard is one of the local heroes in the West End Brew Project: a band of breweries in the hood (Junction Craft Brewing, Bandit Brewery and Lansdowne Brewery) promoting one-off collaborations. With an extended menu of craft beers, Rainhard caters comfortably to a variety of crowds for multi-purpose events and group sizes.

With a dynamic event space, passionate staff, retail shop and labour-of-love beer, Rainhard Brewery delivers. I left, a little tipsy and thoughtfully impressed.

Cygnet Coffee

Cygnet Coffee is an elegant little coffee shop in Brockton Village that's replaced Someone, a turn-of-the-century letterpress shop on Dundas West. First-time cafe owner Stephanie Hinton and her partner have revived the cozy space with fresh white tiles, retro décor, top notch coffee, and heartwarming snacks.

Looking out toward St. Helen's Roman Catholic Church, Cygnet is a nostalgic cafe in the thick of European sports bars, art galleries and cute bars. Named after "Young Swan," it brings a whimsical charm to an inviting and minimalist space.

Glass swans add a graceful first impression, while vintage maps of Ontario and pots of Mother-In-Law's Tongue that line the street-facing window add to the charm. It's as quirky as it is quaint.

The cafe has already attracted a loyal following, even as the devoted patrons of Brazil Bakery and Pastry still flock through its doors for a caffeine fix at the expense of the newcomer. Still, I notice lots of neighbourhood conversations as customers come and go. Clearly this place is on the way to becoming a community hub.

Cygnet serves beans from Hale Coffee Company - the first west side outpost for Hale in addition to Crosstown Coffee and other locations eastbound. Limited seating and plug outlets attract in-and-out coffee-goers looking for quick caffeinating between meetings, errands or Dundas West wanderings.

Served fresh from La Bambouche, Red Bench and Majorelle, a sweet selection of $4 scones (mango cardamom, raspberry white chocolate), $2 cookies (brookie, ginger molasses & s'more) and $2.75 muffins (morning glory and banana chocolate chip) are your snacking options. Some are gluten free.

There's also a healthy selection of granola bars ($4), energy balls ($4) and puffed millet bars ($3.50).

Adult Colouring Classes Are Taking Over the City

In the latest pastime helping city dwellers unwind, Torontonians are turning to pencil crayons for quick-fix stress relief. Forget splurging on cocktails or take-out, adult colouring classes are combating stress with a box of pencil crayons and a sketchbook to fill between the lines. Better yet, classes reward creativity with boozy drinks and prizes.

Kalpna Patel, an associate at Type Books on West Queen West, describes the trend that's taken over an entire bookshelf by the store entrance, "It's amazing how popular it has become. I think it's nice to see people doing things that require them to step away from computers and phones to zone out for a while."

With growing popularity, local illustrators are finding clever ways to get creative with adult-friendly designs. Canadian artist Steve McDonald published Fantastic Cities of the World featuring an aerial view colouring sheet of Toronto's skyscrapers. 

Iris Glaser and Katrin Leblond are already on their second print run for their popular Colour Her bookwhich allows adults to colour women in more than 2000 combinations.

Canadian painter Samara Shuter released a limited edition colouring book of her menswear painting series. There's even a colouring book with all 100 of Toronto's public libraries and United Colours of Kensington Market if you want to colour familiar territory.

Oh, and there's plenty of wellness benefits too. Adult colouring aids with motor function, Zen levels and general happiness. Not to mention, classes are considerably less expensive than drop-in yoga (usually free) and a convenient date night for couples looking to break away from the weekday routine of dinner and drinks.

If you're looking for an upcoming class you can find adults quietly colouring on tables of colouring sheets and art supplies at the Gladstone Hotel's Melody Bar every Thursday afternoon. 

Toronto and Montreal-based artists Iris Glaser and Katrin Leblond will be hosting a Mermaids and Medusas colouring party on December 9th. You also can drop-in for a wellness colouring workshop at City Hall on December 14th.

These are some of the handfuls of adult colouring classes emerging in the city, welcoming anyone looking for an excuse to be a kid again. Take it or leave it, adult colouring classes are a light-hearted escape for those stressed out, over-worked and exhausted.