Toronto's Six Best Cups of Coffee

By Edith Hall Friedheim

This transplanted Torontonian would sell her soul for a perfect cup of coffee. Not surprisingly because Toronto is a place where quality still counts, that wonderful Canadian city recently served up some of the finest coffee in recent memory. Here, in no particular order, are my current favorites:

1.    SOHO METROPOLITAN HOTEL. Room Service coffee, like everything else at this relatively new boutique hotel, is a world-class amenity, just strong enough and delivered on time with smiling service and a morning newspaper. What a great way to start the day! 318 Wellington St.; tel. (416) 599-8800. www.sohometropolitan.com

2.    360 THE RESTAURANT AT THE CN TOWER is a major tourist attraction offering, along with the city's most dramatic views, surprisingly fine cuisine and coffee. My pot of darkest Columbian decaf proved the perfect coda to a memorable meal. 301 Front St. West; tel. (416) 362-5411. www.cntower.ca

3.    BALZAC'S COFFEE. This Distillery District hangout in a refurbished warehouse, is a must-visit.  Brick walls, high ceilings and wooden tables and chairs provide the ambience and recall the building's earlier days in the coziest of settings, while the completely up-to-date organic, fair trade and specialty coffees include my favorite mellow and mild Ethiopian Blend. 55 Mill St. (Distillery District); tel. (416) 207-1709. www.balzacscoffee.com

4.    LUBA'S COFFEE CLUB.  Luba's is as much about relationships as coffee. At the tiny shop just inside the Front Street entrance to the historic St. Lawrence Market, coffee is dispensed with a gentle lesson from Edith, the manager, on how growing conditions affect taste (the higher the elevation the milder the flavor). Hawaiian Kona and Jamaican Blue Mountain are two among dozens of hard-to-find coffees. St. Lawrence Market, street level. 91 Front St. East; tel. (416) 865-1793.

5.    MOONBEAN CAFÉ. If I'm splurging on a specialty coffee there's none better than Moonbean's decadent Iced Moccachino, a dessert in a glass, swirled below and above with heavenly chocolate syrup. The café's outdoor patios are ideal for a lazy Sunday morning break from exploring the Kensington Market, Canada's oldest outdoor market. 30 St. Andrew St., one block north of Dundas, west of Spadina; tel. (416) 595-0327. E-mail info@moonbeancoffee.com

6.    SECOND CUP. Canada's answer to Starbucks conujures up a guilt-free Skinny Vanilla Bean Iced Latte made with espresso, vanilla bean syrup and skim milk – no sugar - that isn't loaded with thousands of calories. Multiple locations.  www.secondcup.com