Columbus Cafe brings bright signage, freshly-brewed coffee, and the scent of warm baked goods to the corner of Adelaide and John. It's the first Ontario location of the popular French chain.

With its cuddly mascot, Columbus, pops of colour, and in-house muffinerie, it's the type of coffee shop everyone would love to have steps from their front door.

Crisp and modern, the space is finished in the brand's signature style. Whether you want to plug in or mellow out, you'll find an ideal spot between the blonde wood tables and vivid, pillow-festooned benches.

Founded in 1994, Columbus Cafe is France's first coffee shop chain. Today, it operates 250 locations in France and abroad, from Belgium to Bahrain.

An e-shop also connects die-hard fans with a range of can't-live-without Columbus Cafe products, including coffee beans, hot chocolate, and Nespresso coffee pods.

In 2020, the brand entered the North American market with a shop in Montreal, Quebec. Its success led to further expansion, with a flagship Toronto store.

The company also recently announced a partnership with Indigo and plans to bring the Parisian cafe experience to 11 more locations in Quebec and Ontario over the next year.

Stop by first thing, and you'll chalk up the brand's popularity to its substantial selection of just-baked pastries, muffins, and breads. A signature product, muffins are baked by baristas throughout the day at the in-house muffinerie.

Both regular and "heart" muffins (the latter concealing a core of creamy filling) are sweet and satisfying.

Though there's always a selection of flavours, Biscoff and Brownie are two of the cafe's top sellers. With a chocolate base, Nutella heart, and walnuts, the brownie option is for serious chocoholics who like to greet the day with a rush of sugar.

Savoury cravings are equally well met with breakfast sandwiches — on a bagel, butter croissant, English muffin, or sliced bread.

Each holds a number of toppings, including egg, spinach, bacon and Monterey Jack cheese, and benefits from a brief stint in a hot oven.

Waiting for your order to be warmed might make you two minutes late for work, but every toasty, gooey, crunchy and layered bite will make it well worth the side-eye from the boss.

With hours that extend from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., the menu is suited to all mealtimes. Assorted wraps and sandwiches beckon alongside generous house salads, meaning there's something for big and small appetites alike (as well as those with specific dietary needs).

A top pick, the Chicken Curry Club Sandwich is a solid double-decker offering you'll want to grip with both hands. Built on thick slices of cereal bread, the sandwich holds chicken and mango curry, tomatoes, and spinach.

The best companions to the cafe's menu offerings, beverages range from indulgent to refreshing, with versions of standby favourites also on offer.

Bold and strong, the chain's organic house-roasted coffee is offered in three diverse blends from Ethiopia, Peru, and Costa Rica.

Fans of froth can have their latte as usual or branch out with the cafe's matcha, chai, turmeric, or bear (yes, bear) versions. With regular milk or an alternative (including oat, soy, almond and coconut), each option is a pleasant departure from the norm.

Matcha and Chai Lattes are thick, frothy, and fragrant, with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, ginger, and black pepper lending the chai option seriously stimulating qualities.

Available warm or chilled, the cafe's Turmeric Latte is a caffeine-free blast of spice that's as appealing as its golden yellow hue.

As for the Bear Latte, it has speculoos-flavoured coffee dressed up with whipped cream, crushed cookies, and honey. A drink that's as dessert-like as any on the menu, it's a sweetened sipper sure to become a top seller once temps plunge.

Sparkling water spiked with raspberry syrup and a hint of mint, the Raspberry Pink Elixir easily lives up to its name.

Find Columbus Cafe at 283 Adelaide Street West.