The Only Cafe, Danforth
22 people recommend, 1 warns against itvia r/toronto, r/FoodToronto, r/askTO25 comments cited below
What people say, in short
The Only is repeatedly recommended as a Danforth cafe and bar. Commenters like the patio, coffee and ability to sit with a drink; one regular names an americano or drip as their usual order. Two commenters describe finding seating easily. Criticism includes overblown hype and middling food. One local reports that full food service ended apart from baked goods.
Address
The Only Cafe, 966 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON M4J 1M1, Canada
At a glance
- Signature dishes
- Americano, Drip coffee
- Best for
- Solo, Quiet
- Opinions divided
- Yes
Nearby on this map
Other places on this map closest to The Only Cafe, Danforth, as the crow flies.
The evidence
Every point below is paraphrased from a real public comment, ordered by how much the community engaged with it. Caveats and negatives are kept in — follow any link to read the original for yourself.
- Recommendsu/Elegant-Plantain-370 in r/toronto · May 2025
Names The Only when asked for chill places to sit alone, drink a beer and work.
- Recommendsu/MarkMarrkor in r/FoodToronto · Jul 2025
Named as the Danforth cafe answer to the request.
- Recommendsu/westendting in r/askTO · Apr 2024
Gives The Only as a direct answer to the favourite-cafe question.
- Recommendsu/Few-Turn-5471 in r/askTO · May 2026
Names The Only Cafe when asked for East York and Danforth Village recommendations.
- Caveatu/puffles69 in r/toronto · May 2025
Mocks it as overhyped, implying it's not that special.
- Recommendsu/sitdownrando-r in r/askTO · Apr 2024
Calls The Only a wildcard pick, also a strong stop for beer.
- Recommendsu/dscrawns in r/askTO · May 2026ambience
Calls The Only Cafe a good local hangout with a back patio.
- Recommendsu/BellamyRdExpat in r/askTO · Jul 2025ambience
Suggests this cafe for reading with coffee or a drink; highlights its back patio as a nice feature.
Show all 25 cited comments
- Recommendsu/rerek in r/FoodToronto · Jul 2025ambience
Agrees; says the attached bar and cafe have seating anywhere, stay uncrowded by day, and pour good drinks.
- Recommendsu/Empty-Walk-5440 in r/toronto · May 2025
Gives The Only as the pick for this request.
- Recommendsu/hellokrissi in r/askTO · Feb 2025
Another regular spot for an americano or large drip.
- Recommendsu/LookAtThisRhino in r/askTO · Apr 2024
Names The Only among favourite cafes east of the DVP.
- Recommendsu/justwrongadvice in r/askTO · Apr 2024
Agrees with the earlier pick of The Only.
- Mixedu/Stikeman in r/askTO · Apr 2024taste
Likes its coffee and atmosphere but finds the food middling.
- Recommendsu/theotherside555 in r/askTO · May 2026
Includes The Only Cafe in their list of favourite local happy spots.
- Recommendsu/ComeGetYourOzymans in r/FoodToronto · Jan 2026
Says the place is worth travelling to.
- Recommendsu/yoitsme666 in r/FoodToronto · Jan 2026
Names this cafe as an answer to the request.
- Recommendsu/No-Geologist-7167 in r/askTO · Aug 2025
Names this spot near Donlands as a suggestion with no details.
- Recommendsu/Ok_Presentation2421 in r/askTO · May 2026
Simply agrees with the earlier comment naming The Only Cafe.
- Recommendsu/bellsbliss in r/askTO · May 2026
Recommends The Only Cafe for its coffee and drinks.
- Mixedu/ReverendRocky in r/FoodToronto · Jan 2026
Says they serve pastries day and evening, but calls it unremarkable.
- Recommendsu/Bamres in r/FoodToronto · Jan 2026
Names this cafe as another answer to the request.
- Recommendsu/lookatmycharts in r/FoodToronto · Jan 2026
Suggests this cafe, located beside a station, as the answer.
- Recommendsu/rezzy333 in r/askTO · Aug 2025
Named along with Tango Palace as a quirky eastside option.
- Recommendsu/johnlukegoddard in r/toronto · May 2025
Says it looks great but is too far out on the east side for them.
Also on
The Only Cafe, Danforth is on another map too, with what people said about it there.
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Freshness
Details last checked 11 Nov 2026. Recommendations reflect what people said at the time; confirm current details before you go.