Toronto’s Best Study Spots: A GY’s Best Recommendations

Over my years at Branksome, I’ve learned a lot: how to cram two meetings into one lunch period, how to write three IAs in three days, and where the city’s best study spots are. As a GY who will be graduating soon (I can’t believe I’m writing this), I wanted to pass down my favourite study spots to the next generation. So, I’ve put together a list of spots that will hopefully maximize your productivity!

Rooster’s – 568 Jarvis Street

Just a ten-minute walk from Branksome, Rooster’s is a cafe with incredible croissants and an even better atmosphere. The cafe is split into two levels – while the bottom includes barstool-style spots, a cozy reading nook under the stairs, and booth-like seating, the upper level acts almost like a loft, with seating for a group of six. Aside from their croissants, I’d recommend their scones and matcha lattes, which pair perfectly with an essay writing or intense reading session. I fondly remember writing almost the entirety of my TOK essay in the cafe’s reading nook (shoutout to Ms. Gupta) and reading a several hundred-page book on German history at their booth-style tables (shoutout to Ms. Nolan). Needless to say, it’s a super convenient spot for study sessions or exam debriefs.

Pape Public Library – 701 Pape Avenue

Although this is quite a recent addition to my study spot rotation, the Pape Public Library has earned a spot in my favourite, coziest Toronto study spots. Its Tudor-style architecture and nice interior make it a really nice spot for a productive work session if you live, or find yourself in the Danforth. It’s also really convenient to get to, being right at Pape Station along Line 2. Though the seating can get limited at times, the view of the Holy Name Parish makes up for it (see the photo on the right for reference!).

Circles and Squares – 1909 Yonge Street

Located at Yonge and Davisville, Circles and Squares Bakery is the perfect spot for your next study session. This bakery has been serving up sandwiches, cookies, croissants, coffees, and take-home grocery goods like pies and soup since 2005. The second floor is complete with big tables, booths, and blankets and has become a favourite spot of mine. The variety in food choices allows for longer study sessions – something I have definitely taken advantage of, especially during midterm season. Their upper level can get louder on the weekends, but on weekdays, the upper level is pretty quiet, making it a convenient and yummy place to get some work done.

Toronto Reference Library – 789 Yonge Street

I couldn’t write a study spot article without mentioning the famous (or infamous) Toronto Reference Library. In addition to being an architecturally iconic building, the Ref’s five floors provide a huge seating variety. Depending on the kind of work you want to do, certain areas are better than others. For example, the Jack Rabinovitch Reading Room is for those really intense essay writing sessions where you need silence and few distractions. In fact, the Reading Room is where I wrote most of my EE, so to all the Grade 11 readers out there: go there, I promise you’ll be productive! On the other hand, the second floor caters to more collaborative work like projects or verbalization. Definitely check it out at some point in your BH career.

Balzacs Cafe – 789 Yonge Street

While the Ref is great, their weekend hours can sometimes limit my productivity. Conveniently, though, the first floor of the Ref connects to a Balzacs, which is an independent cafe that serves up seasonal drinks and baked goods along with some classics. They have tons of seating, which comes especially in handy during Sunday morning study sessions when the Ref is closed. It’s also the perfect place to get a mid-study-sesh snack or drink.

Nabulu Coffee – 6 St Joseph Street

In addition to their incredible drinks, Nabulu’s atmosphere is unmatched. Serving coffee, tea, and baked goods out of a Victorian-style building, Nabulu has limited seating but is incredibly comfortable. As a GY, I find myself there during post-school study periods when I need to settle into a spot and just get things done. I definitely recommend this spot for independent work periods and for studying more thought-driven subjects like history, english, geography, and TOK. And trust me, open until 11 pm, Nabulu is a game changer when school becomes exceptionally demanding.

Brewing Brokers – 3153 Yonge Street

Located at Yonge and Lawrence, this cafe is a side gig of a real estate company but serves super high-quality drinks and baked goods. My personal favourite is their chai latte and bacon egg sandwich, but honestly, all of their foods are amazing. Aside from their super friendly and kind staff, the cafe has super comfy barstool-style seating as well as bigger lounge chair-esque and table seating. It’s also really spacious and has huge windows which help wake you up an d get you in the study mood. Whether for a solo work period or a group project, this cafe is an amazing choice. Plus, who knows, you might run into some beloved members of the BH community!