Staying caffeinated with Kingston cafés

By Visit Kingston

How do you take your coffee? You’ll never run out of new flavours to explore with Kingston’s variety of coffee shops. Whether you prefer to sip on a unique seasonal drink or a tried-and-true favourite, Kingston has several cafés waiting to welcome you.

 

SENS CAFE

136 Ontario St.

Tuesday – Friday (7:30 am – 4 pm), Saturday (9 am – 5 pm), Sunday (9 am – 4 pm)

The owners of Sens Café opened their first café in France in 2014 and they’ve brought the French flavour, quality, and atmosphere to Kingston. Enjoy Quietly Coffee and their selection of salads, savoury snacks, and French pastries crafted daily by their in-house chef.

Must-try: an Ethiopian pour-over coffee with a chocolate chip cookie

 

CRAVE COFFEE HOUSE & BAKERY

166 Princess St.

Every day (7:30 am – 8 pm)

Crave is Kingston’s largest independently owned and operated coffee house and scratch bakery. You’ll be amazed at the mouthwatering selection of sweet and savoury snacks they have to offer. You can bask in the Princess Street sunshine on their patio in the summer or snuggle up by their cozy fireplace in the winter.

Must-try: Any of their seasonal lattes and their cinnamon buns made each morning

 

BALZAC’S

251 Princess St.

Monday – Friday (7 am – 6 pm), Sunday (8 am – 6 pm)

Balzac’s Coffee Roasters is inspired by Parisian culture and this location is the Canadian brand’s 12th café in Ontario. Balzac’s is dedicated to connecting the design of each of their cafés to their specific location. This historic Kingston venue has its own unique personality that’s been enticing loyal coffee drinkers for years.

Must-try: Seasonal winter blend coffee (marble roast with sweet plum and dark chocolate notes) and a butter tart

 

COFFEE AND COMPANY

53 Princess St.

Sunday – Thursday (7 am – 6 pm), Friday and Saturday (7 am – 7 pm)

Established in 1995, Coffee and Company is a well-loved corner of downtown Kingston. They serve fair-trade specialty coffee and tea, along with several other handcrafted drinks, salads, classic sandwiches, and baked goods.

Must-try: Raspberry truffle mocha and muffin

 

NORTHSIDE ESPRESSO + KITCHEN

281 Princess St.

Wednesday – Sunday (8 am – 3 pm)

NORTHSIDE is inspired by the Australian coffee scene where coffee is more than a rushed affair: it’s a daily ritual. Not only can you grab some great coffee, but they also serve breakfast, sweet treats, and alcohol. They offer online takeaway and boast one of the cutest patios around too!

Must-try: Iced coffee and a reubenesque bagel

 

KINGSTON COFFEE HOUSE

Kingston Coffee House (Market Square) – 322 King St E.

Kingston Coffee House (Kingston Centre) – 1046 Princess St.

Sunday – Thursday (8 am – 6 pm), Friday and Saturday (8 am – 7 pm)

Known as “Kingston’s home for latte art,” this café provides a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for a variety of coffee lovers – and beyond! Enjoy a variety of drinks and baked goods made in-house or by a local baker. You’re sure to find vegan options here too. Directly across from Springer Market Square, this café has an iconic Kingston view.

Must-try: Iced hazelnut latte and in-house chocolate chip cookie

 

PAN CHANCHO BAKERY

44 Princess St.

Monday – Saturday (8 am – 5 pm), Sunday (8 am – 3 pm)

Pan Chancho is a retail store with gourmet food to go as well as a full-service café and patio that serves breakfast. While you can easily sip and stroll the shops with a stop here, their patio invites you to sit back and relax.

Must-try: Chai latte and croissant

 

THE JUNIPER CAFE

370 King St. W.

Wednesday – Saturday (8 am – 7pm), Sunday (9 am – 5 pm)

Embedded at the back of the Tett Centre – and facing the water as one of Kingston’s few waterfront patios – is an idyllic café where you can indulge in some yummy treats. Their menu changes seasonally with local ingredients, but you’ll love any sandwich made with their fresh focaccia. Follow them on Instagram and stay updated on their second location on the corner of Cataraqui Woods & Centennial set to open early February 2023.

Must-try: Cortado and brownie

 

COMMON GROUND COFFEEHOUSE

284 Earl St. (Queen’s University ARC 2nd floor)

Monday – Friday (8 am – 10 pm), Saturday and Sunday (10 am – 10 pm)

Common Ground Coffeehouse – lovingly referred to as CoGro by students – is a coffee shop on campus that is run entirely by students. They have a wide variety of food and beverages options that make sense for a student budget. Located on the top floor of the ARC, this sunny haven welcomes all coffee enthusiasts.

Must-try: House coffee and top-secret bagel (cheddar bagel with their top-secret cream cheese)

 

 

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THE ELM CAFÉ

303 Montreal St.

Daily (7:30 am – 1: 30 pm)

Step into a family-run café nestled in the Inner Harbour neighborhood. The owners are dedicated to serving simple – but delicious – seasonal food and beverages. They also have a cozy patio so you can enjoy your coffee al fresco in the warmer months. Stop by for some direct trade coffee and you might just stumble upon a community event too, like a musical coffee house or poetry open mic night.

Must-try: Flat white and a vegan coconut square

 

Nora’s Coffee + Sandwiches

500 Canatara Ct.

Wed – Fri (7 am – 3 pm), Sat – Sun (9 am – 4 pm)

This west-end gem was named after the owner’s daughter, Nora. They offer multiple food and drink options, including coffee by the cup, baked goods, sandwiches, and bags of coffee to-go. You can also find bagels from Nosh (a downtown Kingston bakery). While you’re lounging with your coffee and treats take a look around and enjoy the beautiful art pieces by Vanessa Jane Martin.

Must-try: Croissant French toast (stuffed with cream, topped with maple syrup, strawberries, cinnamon whipped cream, and pecans)

 

Patriam

731 Development Dr.

Mon – Fri (8 am – 3 pm), Sat (9 am – 3 pm)

Tucked away in the Home Hardware parking lot in the west – end, you will find the Patriam Coffee Bar. This coffee bar makes hot and cold drinks to go, including lattes, espressos, sparkling Americanos, and iced mochas. They also offer sweet and savoury goods including scones, cookies, biscuits, and sandwiches. They partner with different local makers, such as The Coffee Plant and Jean + Dean, to bring in additional items for their menu.

Must-try: Cappuccino and biscotti (almonds, cranberry, apricot, and kiwi)

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