Cozy spots on the St. George campus

U of T’s winter hideaways include charming cafés, an indoor forest and a lounge with sky-high views.

Looking out at front campus from behind three stone pillars on a snowy day. It's sunny and the CN tower is distantly visible in the background. — A sunny winter day on the St. George campus. (photo by Johnny Guatto)

This winter, discover the art of staying cozy on snowy days. The University of Toronto’s St. George campus is home to a range of warm and welcoming indoor spaces, ideal for studying, socializing or just taking a much-needed break.

Here are six of our favourite cozy spots to check out on snowy days:

1. The Arbor Room

Location: Hart House, 7 Hart House Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 3H3
Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 7 p.m. (Monday to Friday), 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Saturday & Sunday)

The Arbor Room is tucked away on the lower level of the historic Hart House. Bright and spacious, the café is popular with staff, students and faculty alike, especially since being renovated for enhanced accessibility in 2018. Along with house coffee, the café has a full menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.

Beyond the Arbor Room, Hart House offers many comfortable nooks for study or relaxation, including the Reading Room and Map Room. Settle down in an armchair by the majestic neo-gothic windows for an atmospheric afternoon.

A person sits on the edge-most seat of a booth table in the Arbor Room. He is on his phone with a coffee on the table in front of him. — There is lots of seating available at the Arbor Room! (photo by Hart House)

2. Bamboo Forest

Location: 1/F, Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, 160 College St, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1

This indoor Bamboo Forest provides a serene escape from campus life. The Japanese-inspired garden sits in the atrium of the Terrence Donnelly Centre, where it enjoys natural lighting through the high open ceiling. Bamboo trees and tropical shrubs grow along the main staircase, against a backdrop of the adjacent Rosebrugh Building.

Two patios among the bamboos provide green havens for quiet repose, catching up with a friend or enjoying a treat from the nearby MSB food hall.

A photo of the indoor bamboo forest garden. Wooden platforms host wooden benches with tall indoor, glowing streetlights visible nearby. — The benches are a great spot to relax in the bamboo garden at the Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research. (photo by Donglin Que)

3. Nexus Lounge

Location: Ontario Institute for Studies in Education, 12/F, 252 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1V6

High up on the 12th floor of OISE is a lounge with brilliant panoramic views. The Nexus Lounge windows face Toronto’s iconic skyline, including the CN Tower.

The Nexus Lounge is accessible via OISE’s central elevator system. It is open for public use, unless booked for a private event. Food and drinks are allowed.

The exterior of the OISE building, from below looking up. The base of the building is a brutalist block with four large seams running up the side and big copper letters spelling "OISE" at the bottom left hand corner of the block. Above, a many story tower soars. — The OISE Building. (photo by Polina Teif)

4. Gerstein Reading Room

Location: Gerstein Science Information Centre, 1/F, 9 King’s College Cir, Toronto, ON M5S 1A5

For years, the heritage wing of the Gerstein Science Information Centre held a century-old secret. The main ceiling was constructed in 1892, covered up in the 1900s and then forgotten until 2008, when it was rediscovered during a round of renovations.

Now restored to its former glory, this neo-gothic ceiling sits above the Gerstein Reading Room. Sporting carved wooden trusses and a glass skylight, the ceiling brings natural lighting to the oval-shaped study space.

A TCard is required to enter the Gerstein Science Information Centre.

The interior of the Gerstein reading room. A vaulted wooden ceiling hangs above long tables with chairs and people sitting at them in various positions. — A historic gem in the heart of campus. (photo by Zoe Kelsey)

5. UC Books

Location: University College, Room A102, 15 King’s College Circle, Toronto, ON M5S 3H7
Opening hours: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Monday to Thursday), 12 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Friday)

UC Books is a haven for book lovers and vintage lovers alike. What started as an annual fall book sale in 1979 has since become a year-round bookshop, with over 100,000 books collected and assessed each year.

Located in the Clark Quadrangle of the University College building, the bookshop is lined with shelves of second-hand and out-of-print books, with topics including art, literature, history, science, religion and travel.

The inside of a bookstore. The walls are lined with wooden bookshelves and a fireplace sits below one bookshelf. It's all brightly lit, with white walls and a low-pile red wall to wall carpet. A sign that says "$2 each" sits on top of one of the shelves. — Pop by and maybe you’ll get to meet one of the bookshop’s beloved booksellers: Louise, a friendly ten-year-old golden-doodle. (photo by Zoe Kelsey)

6. Acacia Café

Location: U of T Student Commons, 2/F, 230 College St, Toronto, ON M5T 1R2
Café opening hours: 8 a.m. – 3 p.m. (Monday to Friday)

Acacia Café is a budget-friendly café run by U of T students. Alongside its standard coffee, breakfast and lunch menu, the café offers a selection of comfort foods, such as matcha lattes, chocolate croissants and banana bread.

The highlight of Acacia Café is a set of low, very cushy sofas beside the counter, where visitors can take a break or even a nap during downtime. For dining and studying, there is also a well-lit lounge space that stays open after the café closes.

A cafe with many low gray couches on the ground by the counter. A vase of flowers is on the counter, and a glass shelf of pastries is illuminated. — A perfect place to visit at lunchtime for a quick bite or a full meal. (photo by Zoe Kelsey)

F&S teammates are the proud custodians of the St. George campus. Got another recommendation of a cozy spot here? Share with us at communications.fs@utoronto.ca.

January 07, 2026
Lorraine Lau