Toronto Top Ten: Cold-Pressed Juiceries
The cold-pressed juice trend exploded in Toronto last summer, and now it seems everywhere I turn, there's a spot to grab some fresh fruits and veg in bottle form. After scaling the city for TO’s best cold-pressed juice, I’ve finally compiled a list of the city’s top ten juice bars:
1. Drink Juice Co.: This Leaside juicery exceeded all of my expectations. Its ethos is simple: make it quick and easy to maintain a balanced diet, and take in the recommended servings of fruits and vegetables on a daily basis. The staff here is so helpful, and each juice features a witty, clever title, like “A Dill You Can’t Refuse”, “When in Romaine”, and “Chia Later”. “Hot in the 6ix” and “Beets by D.J.C.” are my favourite options at Drink Juice Co.
2. Green House Juice Company: After spearheading Toronto’s cold-pressed juice craze beginning in 2014, Green House Juice Company now has six locations in the 6ix – very fitting, don’t you think? My first visit to Green House provided me with an education on cold-pressed juices, and revealed that this juice bar set the bar high from the beginning, with 100% raw, organic ingredients, glass bottles that can be returned to earn Green House Juice points and at-home-delivery via electronic Smart Cars. Everything about Greenhouse is sustainable, including customers’ addictions to its irresistible Rococo smoothie (available at the Rosedale and Forest Hill locations). Green House’s cleanses are also worth a try, if you’ve been overindulging and simply want to hit the reset button on your eating habits. The Standard Cleanse does wonders for my skin, every time.
3. Daily Press Juicery: This juicery was particularly good to me last summer, when I was working in the downtown core while recovering from dental surgery, and desperately needed nutritious lunches that didn’t require chewing. Daily Press offers a variety of high-protein nut milks (as do many of the juice bars on this list) amongst its nutrient-dense raw juices. Its “Fuel Up” is a great meal-replacement, if you’re ever trying to let your gums heal, and its “Bee Sting” and “Pink Warrior” are startlingly refreshing.
4. The Good Press: This Yorkville juice bar is the perfect place to refuel mid-shopping spree. Nestled near Pink Tartan and Free People is this gem of a juicery, ready to provide you with a boost of energy right as fitting room fatigue begins to set in. I’m a big fan of this spot’s “Beats, Limes and Life” juice, which you can grab in a glass bottle. If you feel like the star treatment though, The Good Press offers several made-to-order juices.
5. The Village Juicery: This juicery saved my digestive life the other day, when I stopped by on my way home from a particularly vegetable-free day at work, and grabbed a “Be Clean” juice. After a serving of kale, celery, Granny Smith apple, parsley, romaine lettuce, cucumber, dandelion greens and lemon, I felt an instant kick of energy, and although the juice wasn’t the best thing I’ve ever tasted, it was a delicious means of getting so many vegetables at once, and certainly a far cry from some of the other (horrid-tasting) green juices I’ve tried.
6. Pulp & Press: It was a while before I tried Pulp & Press after hearing friends rave about it, and to be honest, I wasn’t too keen to try the candidly named “Liver Rinse” juice, but once I did, I was hooked. Pulp & Press’ juices are delicious and packed with nutrients, with 3-4 pounds of fresh produce in every bottle. What’s cool about this juice bar is its monthly subscription program, which lets juice-lovers maintain a healthy supply of cold-pressed juice at all times. Unfortunately, the subscription program is only available in London, Ontario at the moment. Fingers crossed, these guys bring the program to their Toronto store soon.
7. Refuel: I find this juice bar to be a little more focused on its smoothies than other Toronto juice spots, but its cold-pressed juices are among the city’s best. Try the “Glow”, if you feel a cold coming on, or spot early signs of Crow’s Feet, and give the cashew drinks a try, if you’re in need of a little somethin somethin between lunch and your afternoon snack.
8. The Raw Chemist: This Junction juice bar offers fewer options than many of the above stores, but is considerably more health-focused. Each juice is geared towards aiding a specific ailment, or series of symptoms, and the ethos is much more about health and wellness, than sipping a trendy beverage. I love the “Radiant” and “Electro-fying” options at this adorable spot.
9. Evolution Food Co.: This health hub near the St. Lawrence Market is as much focused on food as it is on juice, but its cold-pressed juice offering is up there with TO’s finest. “Tropikale” is one of Evolution Food Co.’s more unique options, and the “Watermelon Wonder”, while not available year-round, is tantalizingly tasty.
10. Fresh on Bloor: Last but not least is the Fresh on Bloor Street West. This place’s juice is far superior to that of its neighbour, Union Juice, and quite well priced compared to some of the options on this list. Fresh has several locations throughout the city, but I especially love the vibe of its Bloor West location. Its vast cold-pressed juice selection offers some of my favourites in Toronto, including the “Vitamin C Elixir”, which I always aim to grab, when I feel a cold coming on.