Cathy MerrittAll of us have our own ways of dealing with stress, sadness, and other big feelings, and for me, it’s treating myself to a dessert. Sweet delights always pick me up in no time. No doubt, it’s all the sugar that’s triggering my brain to release the feel-good hormones.
Fortunately for me, there are many dessert shops in Toronto—from classic ice creams to unique cakes and pastries. That’s why I never stay in a bad mood for too long!
Here are my favorites so far.
Eva’s Original Chimneys
Address: 454 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14165192840
If you’ve never tried chimney cakes and cones before, you’re definitely missing out!
A chimney cake is a pastry with a hollow, cylindrical shape that’s dusted with cinnamon sugar and other things. Meanwhile, a chimney cone is the same thing but this time, it’s filled with ice cream!
Sounds intriguing? Then, you should head to Eva’s Original Chimneys!
This shop has so many flavors that you might feel overwhelmed. Personally, my favorite so far is the Peanut Butter and Chocolate Chimney Cone because I’ve always loved that flavor combo. The Oreo Chocolate One is also incredibly decadent!
| Pro Tip: Inside Eva’s Original Chimneys, there’s another restaurant called Guerrilla Burger that serves vegan food. Check it out if you want something savory to counteract all the sugar you’ve consumed. |
Aux Merveilleux de Fred
Address: 224 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—8 am to 7:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—8:30 am to 7:30 pm
Contact Number: +16478125982
Indulge in the decadence of French-style desserts at Aux Merveilleux de Fred, a dessert shop with locations all over the world!
Of course, merveilleux is the signature dish here. It’s a small cake made of two light meringues that are welded with whipped cream. My favorite flavor here is L’Incroyable, which has speculoos biscuits and shaved white chocolate. So sweet and crunchy!
Aside from merveilleux, this bakery also serves other classic French pastries. I love getting their croissant first thing in the morning because it’s just so flaky and buttery. The pain au lait with ganache is another pastry that just hits the sweet spot for me.
| Pro Tip: This shop always attracts a lot of people, so prepare to wait in line for some time. If you want to avoid a long queue, I recommend coming here even before the shop is about to open. |
Nadège Patisserie
Address: 780 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Wednesday—8 am to 8 pm
- Thursday to Saturday—8 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14162032009
Nadège Patisserie is another great shop you should visit if you’re into French patisserie. This is helmed by a well-renowned French pastry chef, so you know you can find only the best here.
I love coming here during summer because their strawberry products are top-tier. I especially love the Individual Flamingo, which is a cake designed to look like a flamingo. Inside, it has the sweet and tart flavors from the rhubarb and strawberry compote.
You should try the Fraisier as well. It’s a traditional cake with strawberry coulis, light vanilla, and fresh strawberries as toppings.
| Pro Tips: Planning an event? You can book this patisserie’s catering services. Do you want to learn how to bake French pastries, especially macarons? Then, you should attend any of their classes. |
Kream Dessert
Address: 526 Yonge St
Operating Hours:
- Monday—11 am to 7:30 pm
- Tuesday to Sunday—11 am to 8:30 pm
Have you ever seen a cube-shaped croissant before? Well, now you can by visiting Kream Dessert!
What’s great about this dessert shop is that the croissant cubes are generously stuffed with irresistible cream and custard. The filling isn’t overly sweet, so you can definitely devour one cube (or more if you’re really hungry) without any problem.
My favorite flavor is the Crème Brûlée Bomb because the filling is thick and creamy, and it has a nice crispy, sugary crust on top. The Tiramisu Bomb is also a wonderful choice, especially if you love the flavor of coffee.
| Pro Tip: Pair your pastry with the shop’s signature drink, the Kream Spanner. It’s their interpretation of the Viennese drink Einspänner. It’s coffee with whipped cream, but they also add toppings for extra sweetness. |
Mizzica Gelateria and Cafe
Address: 307 Queen St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—8 am to 11 pm
- Friday—8 am to 12 am
- Saturday—9 am to 12 am
- Sunday—9 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14162252271
In my opinion, ice cream is a perfect dessert no matter the weather. Yes, even if it’s the dead of winter! Whenever I’m craving it, one of my go-to shops is Mizzica Gelateria and Cafe.
Every flavor here is inspired by Italian flavors and cities, so I always feel like I’m in Italy myself. My go-to flavor is Sicilia, which is made with sheep’s milk ricotta, pistachio cream, and chocolate curls. It’s thick and nutty with a subtle sweetness.
Aside from gelato, you should try any of their cannolis. I love the Nutella flavor. It’s so sugary and chocolatey, and the cannoli is perfectly crispy!
| Pro Tip: This shop tends to be the busiest at night. I recommend coming here sometime in the day instead, preferably as soon as the shop opens. |
Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery
– From: tastetoronto
Address: 93A Ossington Ave
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—12 to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14165311900
Another great ice cream spot in Toronto is Bang Bang Ice Cream and Bakery. What I love about this shop is that not only do they sell ice cream in cups or cones, but they also have ice cream cookie sandwiches and other desserts paired with ice cream!
If you just like ice cream, one flavor I recommend is Campfire Marshmallow, which reminds me of s’mores I always eat during camping trips. Another great one is Mango Puddin’ Custard, which is sweet, fruity, and tangy.
You should try the cookie sandwiches as well. I personally love GINGERrrr because it reminds me of Christmas cookies. It also has a bit of spice, which complements well with the sweetness.
| Pro Tip: Give a fellow ice cream lover a gift card from Bang Bang. |
Dutch Dreams
Address: 36 Vaughan Rd
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—12 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14166566959
A family-owned-and-operated shop, Dutch Dreams is all about colorful ice cream. Of course, the flavors are wonderful and varied, too, so you’ll be tempted to order several scoops just to try them all.
I really love the Unicorn flavor because it looks pretty and tastes like my favorite sugary candies. I’m also a big fan of Moose Droppings, which I know is not the best name, but it’s basically the fudgy chocolate-and-vanilla ice cream of my dreams.
Another dessert you might like to try is the Royal Dutch Banana Split. It’s a waffle boat with three scoops of your favorite ice cream and banana slices, then topped with a chocolate or butterscotch sauce. What a filling snack!
| Pro Tip: Try the sugar cones or cones dipped in chocolate and toppings. The sugar rush is sure to put a smile on your face! |
Bakerbots Baking
Address: 1242 Bloor St W
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—10 am to 8:30 pm
Contact Number: +14169013500
Bakerbots Baking is a bakery that also serves ice cream. Since I love both baked goods and ice cream, of course, this is one of my favorite dessert spots!
I love getting the lemon cream tart because it has the right balance of sweet and sour or the cream puff because I can’t get enough of the crispy exterior and the rich and creamy filling.
I also recommend the Full Ice Cream Sandwich. The cookie “buns” are crunchy and fudgy at the same time, and the ice cream is thick, creamy, and sweet.
| Pro Tip: If you have a friend who loves ice cream as much as you do, you should give them a gift card from Bakerbots Baking. |
Ruru Baked
Address: 659 Lansdowne Ave
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday and Wednesday—12 to 9 pm
- Thursday to Saturday—12 to 10 pm
- Sunday—12 to 8 pm
I love coming to Ruru Baked not only because the ice cream and baked goods are absolutely scrumptious here, but also because the space just has a calming effect on me. I truly forget about my worries as I munch on my treats here.
The menu here is extensive, and it changes often, so I never know what to expect. So far, I’m blown away by Vegan Tofu Fa. Yes, it’s made with tofu, and surprisingly enough, it works well. It’s thick and creamy, and the brown sugar ginger syrup is strong.
I like to pair my ice cream with baked goods, and my go-to is usually cookies so I can create my own ice cream sandwich.
| Pro Tips: If you like a certain flavor, you can purchase a pint of it here.You can book an event at this bakery if you’re interested. |
Castle and Coal
Address: 108 Dovercourt Rd
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday to Friday—9 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—9 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +14378808410
Tucked away in a corner of two streets, Castle and Coal is easy to overlook. In fact, I used to just pass this by without a second thought before. But one day, I went in because I was hungry, and now I’m always coming back.
The Basque cheesecake is amazing here. It’s thick and dense and not overly sweet, and I love that the compote is served with changes depending on the season.
Another great dessert to try is the Fun Cake, which looks so pretty with its pinkish-purple and white icing. It consists of fluffy sponge cake, tangy blackcurrant buttercream, and lemon cream.
| Pro Tip: If you can afford to splurge, try out the shop’s dessert-tasting experience, which treats you to five dessert courses! |
Millie Patisserie
Address: 12 Oxley St #101
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 to 8 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14165960063
The first time I heard about Millie Patisserie, I was intrigued because my friend described it as “Japanese flavors with French technique.” True enough, this shop sells typical French desserts with the delicate sweetness of Japanese treats.
I love the crepe cakes here, and my favorite flavor is the chocolate salted caramel because it tastes rich and has a nice crunchy texture as well, thanks to the crushed salted caramel and chocolate swirls.
This place also sells gelato, and I like getting a few scoops to pair with my crepe cake. They don’t have a lot of flavor options, but I recommend the mango one because it’s tangy and refreshing.
| Pro Tip: You can order custom pastries here for your event or if you just want a special gift for yourself. |
D Spot Dessert Cafe Toronto
Address: 828 Bay St.
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—1 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14165469656
D Spot Dessert Cafe Toronto is a fun, quirky spot with a vibrant interior and over-the-top (in a good way) desserts. I love coming here with my family because I know my little cousins love the atmosphere and the food.
You should get Heaven on Earth, which is a waffle or crepe dessert topped with chocolate brownie ice cream, brownies, and Oreo pieces. It’s so rich and sweet—heaven on earth, indeed!
If it’s hot outside, you should get any of the signature sundaes. I personally love the PB and Chocolate because I love the peanut butter-and-chocolate flavor combination.
| Pro Tip: This shop also sells savory items like hot dogs, pizzas, and poutines. You might order a few of them to balance out all the sugar. |
Demetres
Address: 3250 Dufferin St, North York
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—2 pm to 12 am
Contact Number: +14167832777
Demetres is a quaint little shop with a whimsical interior, which is why I love coming here. Of course, the desserts are top-notch as well.
Waffles are a must-try. My ultimate recommendation is the Blue My Mind Waffle (A+ for the name) because the waffles are fluffy and crunchy at the same time, and the blueberries add a nice fruity sweetness. It’s also served with blueberry ice cream.
If you love cakes, you should try Bananakin Skywalker (another perfect name). It’s dense, rich, and slightly nutty; you’ll feel full after finishing a slice!
| Pro Tip: This store sells ice cream pints, so stock up on your favorite flavors! |
Daan Go Cake Lab
Address: 3380 Midland Ave Unit 11, Scarborough
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—11 am to 7 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +16478000559
For people who are crazy about cakes, Daan Go Cake Lab is a must-visit. The cakes here are a work of art because they’re all designed to look like fruits, animals, and other themes!
One of the cakes that stuck with me is the Celebration Pig. As you can guess from the name, it’s a cake made to look like a roasted pig! Inside, it’s a chiffon roll cake with raspberry chocolate mousse and raspberry Sakura chantilly. So decadent!
I also recommend their macarons. My favorite has to be the Sushi Set, which features six macarons inspired by different sushi flavors!
| Pro Tips: You can order your own custom macarons for a special event.Sometimes, this bakery holds exciting workshops like baking and decorating for beginners. Join one if you’re able! |
Poop Cafe
Address: 678 Bloor St W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—12 to 10 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—11 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14165357667
Yep, you read that right: its name truly is Poop Cafe. And yes, this dessert shop is themed around poop—the food, the interior, and even your seats (they’re toilet-shaped).
Honestly, I only came here because I was shocked and intrigued by the concept, and I became even more shocked to discover that their offerings are pretty good. The desserts are from Asian cuisines, and the bestseller is the bingsu.
I really love the Mango Cheesecake Bingsu because it has that tangy and rich flavor that I like from a real cheesecake. The Sesame Bingsu is wonderful as well; the sweetness is subtle, and it has nutty undertones.
| Pro Tip: If you’re looking for non-sweet things to pair with your desserts, this cafe also sells poke bowls and Vietnamese sandwiches. You can even build your own poke bowls. |
