10 Best Cafes to Hold Your Coffee Chats at in the GTA

Written By Insider Media Group

So you’ve perfected your resume, mastered the interview, done your research, and reached out to that cool industry professional you’re dying to learn from, but now you need to schedule a coffee chat and don't know where to go. Well, IMG has got you covered; from locations in Toronto and North York to Vaughan and Markham further north, we’ll guide you through Toronto’s cafe scene and find the most suitable environment for your coffee chat.

What is a coffee chat, and why should you schedule a coffee chat?

If you’re in your first year, the term coffee chat has likely been ringing in your ears for weeks. Some of you have already held coffee chats with senior students, while others have heard from students and professors about the importance of your network. A coffee chat is an informal networking meeting arranged with an individual who you would like to learn from or establish a relationship with.  

By hosting a meeting outside of the interviewee's workplace, you can take their focus away from work and onto you, taking advantage of an isolated and relaxed atmosphere to encourage communication. Coffee breaks are also essential to a professional's busy schedule, so squeezing your meeting into a coffee break is much easier than navigating through an otherwise busy schedule.

Where can you host a coffee chat?

When COVID-19 hit, the world shut down, and all meetings moved online over Zoom, which has since partially replaced in-person meetings. However, meeting in person is still preferred by many industry professionals and benefits from improved communication due to non-verbal queues, limited distractions, and increased engagement. 

Toronto has 9,378 Restaurants, not to mention the rest of the GTA, so you’ll have many choices, but not every restaurant and cafe is suitable for a coffee chat. Here are some locations you can use:

Cafes in Downtown Toronto & North York:

  1. Bevy Cafe at The Combine

Bevy Cafe is a unique open-planned cafe that blends a clean work aesthetic with a modern design. This location offers ample work space including private meeting rooms and abundant seating. 

  • 225 Wellington St W Second Floor, Toronto

2. Mofer Coffee (St. Clair + Queen St W)

Mofer Coffee is an Ethiopian cafe with a rustic, homey interior complimented by wooden accents that make the location feel like a cozy cabin. Mofer Coffee offers a large selection of seating and an even larger selection of beverages.

  • 1040 St Clair Ave W, Toronto

  • 1025 Queen St W unit 7, Toronto

3. Larry's Folly

Larry's Folly is a smaller cafe with an eccentric design, moody lighting and a homely atmosphere. The location offers good wifi and beverages at a reasonable price. At night and on weekends, Larry’s Folly turns into a live pub for frequenting locals.

  • 1462 Queen St W, Toronto

4. Pamenar

Pamenar is a buzzing hotspot located in Kensington, a well-known gem of Toronto. The cafe offers trendy coffee drinks and an Instagramable patio perfect for the spring and fall.

5. Boxcar Social (Queens Quay W + Yonge St)

With five locations in Toronto, Boxcar Social is a popular multi-roaster cafe that offers a social environment. The Harbourfront location combines views, food, and a quaint atmosphere, one of Toronto's best socializing experiences. In contrast, their Yonge St. location is a rustic-chic coffee house with a snug feel. It offers a large backyard patio that is perfect for creating a relaxing environment for your coffee chat.

  • 235 Queens Quay W, Toronto

  • 1210 Yonge St, Toronto

Cafes in Vaughan, Richmond Hill, Markham & Scarborough:

6. Covernotes Coffee House

Covernotes Coffee House is a popular space among locals in the Richmond Hill area, so come early and grab a spot. This location offers a cozy and comfortable atmosphere with a small library and ample teas.

  • 10268 Yonge St, Richmond Hill

7. Platform Espresso Bar

Platform Espresso Bar specializes in outstanding cuisine. This location also has several booths that are fit for two people to converse, making it a great place to schedule a coffee.

  • 4450 Hwy 7, Unionville

8. Miss Lin Cafe

Miss Lin Cafe is a chic cafe with a whimsical design, serving a wide assortment of hot and cold teas and quality food. This location can be busy at times, so be mindful when planning. 

  • 3601 Hwy 7 #119, Markham

Bready Cafe

Bready Cafe is a newly opened cafe in the Vaughan area off Highway 7. This cafe offers ample seating, great service, quality food and, most importantly, a space fit for talking.

  • 15 Connie Crescent Unit 27, Concord, ON L4K 1L3

Edils Coffee House

Edils Coffee House is a 100% halal cafe that offers lots of seating in an open-planned cafe with a chic aesthetic. You’ll find many other students and professionals enjoying this cafe’s coffee while getting work done.

  • 1412 Kennedy Rd #1A, Scarborough

Conclusion

A coffee chat can be the opportunity that leads you to your dream job, but it can also become a stain on your networking experience. With that said, don’t be nervous, if you’re uncomfortable you’ll only serve to off-put the interviewee, don't be afraid to relax a little and let the conversation flow outside the norms of the corporate world. And if you can’t find someone to coffee chat with, take your laptop and notebooks with you to study, these cafes double as great locations to get some work done while fueling the brain with fast-acting energy.

Insider Media Group
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