ann y.k. choi
Toronto-based author and educator
Favourite Places To Write
Posted on July 28, 2023
With blistering hot temperatures and a finicky air conditioner at home, my daughter and I looked for cool spaces to work. Here are our top picks, from cozy cafes to public libraries, in the north end of Toronto and the Greater Toronto Area (GTA).
Covernotes Coffee House (Richmond Hill, Ontario)
Books and coffee! We both appreciated the wide variety of coffees and teas, as well as the gluten-free and dairy-free food options. The collection of used books ranged from fiction to textbooks. A whole bookcase was devoted to children’s books. When I can’t write or get stuck, I read to get inspired, so this café was perfect!
Cozy and used-bookstore vibe (which I love!) Friendly and knowledgeable staff.
Heads up: There’s a mix of people working and socializing. Noise cancellation headphones are a must if background noise bothers you. There’s very few outlets to recharge your devices. Free parking is available behind the café.
Richmond Hill Public Library – Central Branch
I live in Toronto but because I work in York Region, I was able to get a library card. This branch has a café! The main floor can get noisy – the children’s area is nearby and people seem to meet to chat or hold tutoring sessions. However, it’s quiet upstairs with lots of natural lighting.
Heads up: Wear a long-sleeve shirt; it gets very cold inside. Wi-Fi is open to all visitors; no library card needed. Wonderful outdoor work spaces! Lots of free parking. My novel, Kay’s Lucky Coin Variety, is there if you’d like to check it out.
Papa Cafe & Pastry (North York, Ontario)
This is one of the few places where I’ll have tea instead of coffee. This Persian café serves wonderful saffron tea and their delicious pistachio cookies and almond cake are gluten-free.
Warm and traditional vibe. Service was friendly and quick.
Heads up: The parking lot in front of the café is busy! Small outdoor patio. Check hours as they vary throughout the week.
Soul Cafe (North York, Ontario)
This Korean café is one of my daughter’s favourites. The best time to work here is when it opens at 12:30 p.m. as it’s quiet then. If you like grapefruit drinks, you must check out their signature grapefruit tea.
Café has a modern and airy vibe. Service was friendly and attentive.
Heads up: Parking lot is small and tight. There’s a few books tucked away in a corner.
Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso (Markham, Ontario)
Starving Artist Waffles & Espresso, Markham, Ontario
The Starving Artist is a franchise. The walls are lined with artwork by local artists! The best time to work here is when it opens at 9:00 a.m. as it’s quiet and relaxing. They serve all day brunch and everything comes with waffles!
Contemporary and creative vibe. Service was friendly and attentive.
Heads up: Lots of free parking! Small but pretty outdoor patio. Gluten-free options.
Aaniin Library (Markham, Ontario)
This Markham Library branch is inside the Aaniin Community Centre. “Aaniin,” pronounced “ah-nee”, means “hello” or “welcome” in Ojibwe. Seven stunning wood sculptures, inspired by the Seven Grandfather Teachings and the Indigenous Ways of Learning, stand outside. Also outside is a sheltered spot to work and eat. The library has plenty of places to work with lots of natural lighting, places to plug your laptops, as well as state-of-the-art 3D printers and laser cutters!
Heads up: The café seems closed. The library is open seven days a week but hours vary. Lots of free parking. The library is part of a community centre so there’s plenty else to do. For example, there’s even swimming pools across the hall from the library!
Stae Cafe (East Markham, Ontario)
Stae Cafe, East Markham, Ontario
When we arrived at 10:00 AM, the place was busy but quickly found that most people took their coffees to go. We were able to work peacefully, while cooling down with some delicious iced lattes. We also enjoyed a light lunch. Soft music played in the background.
The café has a modern and cozy vibe. Service was courteous and efficient.
Heads up: The café is small; noise cancellation headphones is a must if background noise bothers you. Lots of natural light. Roadside parallel parking in front of café. Closed Mondays.
Some thoughts
While cafés are often convenient and fun places to work, it’s important to keep a few things in mind.
They are places of business. We always made sure to have something to eat or drink at our table. We typically spent between 1.5 – 2 hours in one place. This meant we usually got a coffee/tea along with something to eat (usually a light lunch).
To respect the space we occupied, we avoided spreading our things (books, laptops, etc.) over multiple spaces, even if the place was empty.
We fully charged our devices at home to avoid the stresses of looking for outlets to plug into. While free Wi-Fi was available in the cafes, we were careful about the potential security risks with using them, and worked offline most of the time.
Check the café’s website and reviews for helpful hints about working there. Information, such as shop hours, can change over time. Don’t forget your headphones!
Final tips
As much as possible, don’t ask a stranger to watch your valuables. It’s often awkward for the person being asked (what if they were planning to leave?) and disrupts their work flow. Someone once asked me to watch over their laptop. They were gone for 20 minutes before returning with food from a nearby restaurant!
Cafés are not our personal workspaces. Avoid long phone calls or online meetings; voices project, including laughter. (Although as a writer, eavesdropping in public spaces certainly fosters great dialogue and better fiction!)
ann y.k. choi 