The Daily Grind: Toronto’s Cake Town Cafe

The Daily Grind is an ongoing mini-feature that highlights the best cafés in Toronto for freelance editors looking for a caffeine fix and a temporary office away from home.

By Jennifer D. Foster

Cake Town Cafe on Danforth Avenue (just west of Woodbine Avenue) is a little slice of homemade heaven for those looking to surf or work via free Wi-Fi (just make sure your battery’s fully charged; there are no plugs!). Here, you can savour a delish cuppa and delight your tastebuds with beyond-fab scones, muffins, cookies, tarts, or brownies ($2.25–$2.40). If toffee-chocolate-Kahlúa or Niagara pears and candied ginger scones don’t tempt you, maybe the from-scratch alfajores or chocolate chip flax cookies will. The café’s fresh, bright vibe offers lots of seating, including a rustic wooden counter with plenty of stools. Montreal-style bagels ($1.50–$2.50), vegan, turkey, or roast beef paninis ($5), and tasty soups ($3.75) are standard menu fare. And lattes, coffees, cappuccinos, (herbal) teas, and juices ($1.50–$4) will wet your whistle. A popular spot (freelancers escaping the home office, new moms chatting, neighbourhood shoppers unwinding), the cozy space also functions as an art gallery, showcasing photography and paintings for sale by local artists. Bet you a Cortland apple scone with Mennonite apple butter you’ll be a devoted “Caketonian” after just one visit!

Wifi name: Cake Town Cafe
Number of tables: 6, plus 2 couches and an eight-seater counter
2039 Danforth Ave., open Mon.–Fri. 8 AM–6 PM, Sat.–Sun. 9 AM–5 PM

Jennifer D. Foster is a Toronto-based freelance writer and editor, specializing in fiction/non-fiction, custom publishing, magazines, and marketing and communications.