Sugar Rush: 12 Doughnut Shops in Toronto You Need to Try

Welcome to the sticky-fingered, glaze-dripping underworld of Toronto’s mind-blowing doughnut scene. A sugar rush you’ll want to chase.

From hole-in-the-wall bakeries to gourmet patisseries slinging crullers with saffron glaze, this city’s donut game is bold, wild, and well worth the calories. 

No matter if you’re a tourist plotting your next snack stop or a local looking to level up from Tim Hortons, this guide will take you deep into the world of Toronto’s artisan, vegan, and straight-up ridiculous donuts.

Bookmark this list. Doughnut cravings don’t wait.

Why Doughnuts Are Having a Moment in Toronto

Move over cupcakes, Toronto’s doughnut scene has exploded. What used to be a Canadian workplace staple has become a full-blown culinary statement. Blame (or thank) the wave of pandemic pop-ups that went from Instagram-only drops to full-on brick-and-mortar cult favourites. Small-batch operations started experimenting with wild flavours, collaborating with local chefs, and showcasing aesthetics worthy of a Vogue spread.

Now, doughnuts in this city are a canvas. You’ll find Persian rosewater glaze just up the street from a vegan matcha-pistachio ring. There’s Indian chai custard-filled brioche, donuts piped with Filipino ube halaya, and cereal milk toppings that scream nostalgia.

Toronto’s diversity fuels flavour innovation, and its obsession with food culture keeps demand high. Some people are lining up for some of these donuts at midnight. You’re as likely to find a donut at a cocktail bar as you are at a bakery.

Follow your nose and this list.

The 12 Best Doughnut Destinations in Toronto: Where to Find Them and What to Order

1. Bloomer’s – Queen West

Vibe: Bright, bustling, and unmistakably Queen Westa. A hangout for vegans, creatives, and brunch crowd regulars.

What to order: The maple walnut fritter. Sticky, crunchy, and unapologetically massive.

What makes them special: Bloomer’s has built a cult following for their plant-based doughnuts that taste anything but “healthy.” Made fresh daily with inventive flavours like raspberry hibiscus and cookie dough, they’ve become the gold standard for vegan donuts in Toronto.

Location: 715 Queen St W

2. Harry and Heels Donuts – Multiple Locations

Vibe: A little retro, a little punk. Just like the Market itself. Think alley-side finds, vintage dishware, and an always-changing chalkboard menu.

What to order: Malted milk chocolate sourdough. Rich, tangy, and unexpected.

What makes them special: These are artisan donuts that Toronto locals chase. Built on a slow-fermented sourdough base, the texture is chewy with a crisp edge. Flavours lean funky, with tamarind spice, roasted peach, and black sesame miso all making appearances.

Locations: 

• 832 Dundas St W,Unit Bb
• 821 The Queensway B

3. Better Days – Christie Pits

Vibe: Retro, no-pretense, and built for doughnut lovers who miss the good ol’ days. Think ’90s Tim Hortons with more interesting filled varieties. Here you will find nostalgic flavours such as cherry sticks and their hugely popular apple fritters along with great tasting coffee from Detour Coffee Roasters.

What to order: The apple fritters are legendary. Also, grab a Boston cream or classic honey cruller if you want a nostalgic hit.

What makes them special: Better Days nails the balance between old-school execution and small-batch quality. They do both yeasted and cake donuts, all made fresh daily in a tight little shop just north of Bloor. The vibe is welcoming, the branding is charming, and the product? So good that even donut skeptics admit defeat.

Fans compare them to vintage Tim Hortons in the best way possible. No gimmicks, no fluff, just perfectly fried dough and dream-worthy fritters. This is the place for people who don’t care about Instagrammability. They just want a damn good donut.

Location: 963 Dovercourt Rd

4. Dipped Donuts – Kensington Market

Vibe: Minimalist, clean, and tucked behind bustling streets. It’s the doughnut shop equivalent of an indie film.

What to order: Wash down your decadent doughnut with a London fog (Earl Grey + vanilla) or blueberry cardamom. Both subtle and intensely flavourful.

What makes them special: Small-batch and scratch-made daily, Dipped Donuts focuses on premium ingredients and inventive glazes without going overboard. Their takes on old-school doughnuts are elevated, not overcomplicated—the definition of gourmet doughnuts in Toronto. You have to try these!

Location: 161 Baldwin St

5. Isabelle’s Donuts – Multiple Locations

Vibe: Chic, almost Parisian, with hints of speakeasy( a popular Toronto theme these days). More date-night treat than morning run.

What to order: The crème brûlée donut, torched to order for that caramelized top crunch.

What makes them special: Isabelle’s blends high-end patisserie techniques with the comfort of a donut shop. Think cardamom custard fillings, torched meringue toppings, and delicate rose glazes. It’s unique doughnuts in Toronto done right.

Locations:

• The Beaches – 2066 Queen St E
• St Patrick – 4 St Patrick St
• Bloor St. – 607 Bloor St W
• The Well – 486 Front St W Lower Ground Level

6. Machino Donuts – Bloor Street

Vibe: MA minimalist storefront with a cult-like vegan following. An understated but packed with flavour.

What to order: Earl Grey glaze or black forest cake doughnut.  Rich, not too sweet, and shockingly dairy-free.

What makes them special: 100% plant-based and proud of it. Machino is the quiet powerhouse in the city’s vegan doughnuts scene. Their brioche-style dough is soft, pillowy, and holds up to bold glazes and seasonal creations.

Location: 1556 Bloor St W

7. The Rolling Pin – Avenue Road

Vibe: A dessert boutique that doubles as a sugar fantasy. Pink, playful, and Instagram-ready. 

What to order: Unicorn doughnut, birthday cake donut, or their outrageous weekly specials.

What makes them special: A bakery that treats donuts like art. The Rolling Pin is where flavour and flair meet. If you’re after gourmet doughnuts in Toronto that double as photo ops, this is the spot.

Location: 1970 Avenue Rd

8. Unholy Donuts – Multiple Locations

Vibe: Gritty meets glam. A rock ‘n roll bakeshop where gothic fonts meet pastel icing.
What to order: The strawberry shortcake donut. It’s glazed, stuffed, and topped like a dessert tray exploded.
What makes them special: Their creations are unapologetically over-the-top—stuffed, torched, layered, and glittered. The dough is pillowy, the fillings are rich, and the vibe is unforgettable.
Locations:

• 1446 Dundas St W
• 95 Maitland St
• 234 Browns Line
• 596 Bay St

9. COPS Doughnuts – King West / Fashion District

Vibe: Understated and nostalgic. It’s all about the dough, not the drama.
What to order: A dozen of the mini donuts — classic glaze or weekly special like brown butter.
What makes them special: Simplicity at its finest. These bite-sized treats are warm, crisp, and made to order. Add one of their house-made dips and a solid coffee, and you’re golden.
Location: 445 Adelaide St W

10. SanRemo Bakery – Etobicoke

Vibe: A busy Italian bakery with deep neighbourhood roots and a no-nonsense pastry counter.
What to order: Apple fritter or Boston cream.
What makes them special: Classic doughnuts done extremely well. The apple fritter, in particular, is a fan favourite for its crispy edges and soft centre.
Location: 374 Royal York Rd

11. Café Serano – East York

Vibe: Family-owned Greek bakery with deep pastry traditions—and a doughnut game to match.
What to order: Any seasonal yeast donut or their vanilla cream-filled classic.
What makes them special: While better known for their baklava and bougatsa, their donuts fly under the radar with rich dough and creamy fillings.
Location: 830 Pape Ave

12. Glory Hole Doughnuts – Parkdale (Go before they close as of August 1, 2025)

Vibe: Bold, raw, and proudly irreverent.
What to order: Buttered Toast donut or anything with brûléed sugar on top.
What makes them special: A Toronto icon for nearly 14 years. With inventive flavours and a deeply loyal following, they’ve helped define the city’s donut culture. Get there before they close for good.
Location: 1596 Queen St W

The Best Vegan Doughnuts in Toronto

Gone are the days when “vegan donut” meant dense, dry, and flavourless. Toronto’s plant-based pastry scene is thriving, and these bakeries prove you don’t need dairy or eggs to make a damn good donut.

Bloomer’s is the undisputed heavyweight. Their maple walnut fritter and raspberry hibiscus rings have all the indulgence of a classic bakery without a hint of compromise. Expect long lines on weekends and zero regrets.

Machino Doughnut in Bloordale serves up minimalist, brioche-style donuts that just happen to be vegan. Their Earl Grey glaze and black forest cake donuts are rich, pillowy, and completely dairy-free. Not that you’d ever guess.

These aren’t “good for vegan.” They’re just good, period.

Yes, vegans can have it all—especially donuts.

Where to Find Gourmet and Artisan Doughnuts

Looking for gourmet doughnuts in Toronto that go beyond the usual sprinkles and glaze? You’re in the proper city. Toronto is packed with artisan doughnut shops crafting small-batch, hand-rolled, chef-level pastries that are round and fried.

At Dipped Donuts and Harry and Heels, each donut is made with care — slow-fermented doughs, house-made fillings, and glazes you’ll want to lick off the paper bag. Isabelle’s turns donuts into plated desserts.

Many of these places sell out by noon, and that’s a good thing. It means what you’re eating was made fresh, likely hours before you got your hands on it.

These aren’t just donuts. They’re edible art.

Get them early. Or risk getting nothing.

FAQ: Toronto Doughnut Questions Answered

Where can I find the best doughnuts in Toronto?
Start with Bloomer’s for vegan indulgence, Dipped for clean gourmet classics, and Harry and Heels for funky sourdough creations. The rest? Scroll back up. They’re all listed.

Are there vegan doughnut shops in Toronto?
Absolutely. Bloomer’s and Machino Donuts are all fully plant-based and wildly flavourful. Vegan or not, you won’t miss a thing.

What’s the best doughnut shop for Instagram?
Isabelle’s. Their crème brûlée donut alone could get you likes for days. They’re almost too pretty to eat. Almost.

Do any Toronto doughnutshops offer delivery?
Many do, primarily through Uber Eats, Ritual, and local delivery platforms.

What time should I go to avoid sellouts?
Before noon. On weekends, maybe even earlier. Toronto’s sweet tooth is relentless, and the best spots sell out fast.

Got a spot we missed? DM us @toronto_times

Your Ultimate Doughnut Mission, If You Choose to Accept It

This isn’t just about doughnuts. It’s about joy, sugar-coated and deep-fried. It’s about stumbling into a side street bakery and discovering a crème brûlée ring that changes your whole weekend. It’s about licking glaze off your fingers in the car and smiling like nobody’s watching.

So go. Chase the crumb trail. Eat like someone who knows where the good stuff is. Unless you are allergic or diabetic of course!

Doughnut lovers also read:

Best Coffee Shops in Downtown Toronto
Best Brunch in Toronto
The Foodie’s Dream Guide To Toronto

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