I liked the cozy interior and relaxed atmosphere of this location. It's a great spot to enjoy your coffee or bring your laptop and get some work done. They have both high tables and regular seating, so you can choose what feels most comfortable depending on how long you plan to stay. The vibe is calm and welcoming, and the staff were friendly. We tried the "Honey Cardamom Latte" and the "Salted Caramel Latte". Both were tasty and nicely made, though a little on the sweeter side for my personal taste. Overall, it's a comfortable café with a relaxing environment making it suitable to sit, work, or catch up over coffee in Liberty Village. read more

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Whenever I'm in Liberty Village and need a place to chill, I come to Balzac's. The atmosphere is inviting. This store has a few tables for two and several single chairs by the window. There are also a couple of washrooms if you're staying here for an extended period of time. I've stayed here for an hour to a few hours and have never been bothered by the staff. They're often busy cleaning. There is free wifi, which is perfect for when I'm staying for hours and catching up on some leisure reading or writing Yelp reviews. And for the hot summer days, they have iced drinks and air conditioning. They also have pastries and non-caffeinated drinks available for purchase. There's even disposable cups next to a cold water dispenser. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Drink Quality: 3.0/5 Drink Selection: 4.1/5 Pastry Quality: N/A Pastry Selection: 4.0/5 Price: 3.3/5 Ambiance: 3.3/5 Service: 3.0/5 Cleanliness: 3.5/5 Location: 4.0/5 A 16oz iced caramel latte costs $7.40 (tax included, no tip), which is on the pricier side. Drink quality at this location is inconsistent and seems to depend heavily on the barista's skill. I've tried the iced vanilla latte four times here--two were excellent, and two were disappointing. The inconsistency appears to stem from differences in drink preparation. One barista mixed the vanilla syrup with the espresso before adding it to the iced milk, resulting in a well-balanced drink. The other added syrup directly to the iced milk, which prevented it from fully dissolving and led to a weak, unsweetened taste. Unfortunately, this location doesn't offer a patio, despite the outdoor space being well-suited for one. The interior is narrow, dimly lit, and awkwardly arranged. Seating consists of stools lined up against high-set windows, limiting both natural light and any real view outside. Service tends to be quick but impersonal--more of a transactional experience than a welcoming one read more

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Came by for coffee the other day and it was a decent experience. Parking was available with the Green P surface lot across the street. Staff was friendly and the interior of the coffee shop was hipster. Ordered an iced mocha and it was great. Smooth espresso and chocolate that wasn't too sweet. There was plenty of seating for enjoying coffee and/or working. ~$6 for an iced mocha. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Outside - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Great coffee! Really enjoyed the Frappe and the iced latte! I would really recommend to visit this place read more

Nice interior with an older/industrial feel with it's light brick walls. My friend stopped by for a drip coffee and we thought it was on the darker side and a bit burnt. I personally wasn't a fan, but my friend enjoyed it enough to finish it. Definitely wouldn't recommend the drip here if you are looking for quality coffee. read more

I think it is overpriced for a hot chocolate no wow factor, nice ambiance but the hot chocolate tasted okay, I wouldn't come back here a second time to be honest, read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This location is perfect and love the interior of this particular shop. Located right on the corner in one of the busiest parts of Liberty Village. This place is a great quick stop on your way to work or taking a nice weekend stroll. Wouldn't reccomend this place for doing long hours of work as the seating is quite limited and usually taken up by the later afternoon. Come early if you're looking to do some work or reading! My favourites here: Magic bar & BB Detox tea. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We always have good luck stopping by a Balzac's store for coffee and a treat. Great coffee and service and always something to look at from a decor point of view. (Each store has it's own personality.) This one is particularly handy if you are in Libertyville or at the CNE grounds and want to sit for a few minutes in a nice environment. (It's a short city block directly north from the Go station.) Would I return: Yes Would I recommend: Yes read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Perfect flat white - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I love the space the moment I stepped inside Balzac's Coffee Roastery's Liberty Village location. The high ceiling, that retro feel... and that huge smile from the staff. Great place to chill out on a hot day as the AC was working full blast. Sadly the cappuccino was just so so... the milk was not foam properly led to the fail attempt of making any latte art. read more

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This place has a very decent setup and a private entrance for the residents of the building adds a nice touch so Kudos for that. I stuck to the cappuccino and my friend ordered a latte Drink itself Espresso: Medium Crema': Good Milk: Frothed well Latte Art: Good After trying their other spot in the distillery district I was expecting the same run of the mill cappuccino but this one was quite decent . They do use all organic milk so if you are into that sorta lifestyle this place is just what the doctor ordered. As for chai tea latte, it didn't fare well as my friend commented it tasted like over sugared pre-made out of the box drink. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Cappuccino - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I'm a fan of Balzac's coffee, both the brews and espresso. Their baked goods are also very tasty! I find that this location is a particularly charming one and definitely has the quaint, Parisian bakery vibe they're going for. It's in a beautiful old building with exposed brick & huge windows. While there are always customers, the times I've been there it's been fairly quiet, making it a great place to relax with a coffee. Their prices are a little higher than other independent coffee shops but definitely worth it when you're looking for a treat. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

There is no wifi here. If you are looking for a cafe to do some work on your laptop, go elsewhere. I was upset that I spent $5 on a kombucha to sit at a cafe with no wifi - until I tried the kombucha - I really liked it. Space is nice and service was good. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Good coffee and service. I tried the Guatemalan Antigua blend which was delicious. Very clean, bright and modern yet homey looking spot. I'll be back! read more

Came here while waiting for our table at Mildred's. Got a blueberry muffin and a chai latte while my friend got a flat white. The chai was good but nothing spectacular. Muffin was moist and not too sweet. The space is bright and pretty. Would be good for a quick stop in the morning but definitely too noisy to sit and do work here. read more

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I'm down with Balzac. My family doctor is in Liberty Village, so whenever I'm there I grab my coffee for the day. I've often considered popping in here to do some remote-working, but the long window stools ideal for this, are often taken. Not surprising given how many condos tower over this lil' area of town. Lattes are decent, staff is kind. Don't hate, caffeinate. read more

Like all their Toronto locations, this Balzac's has a very rustic and cozy, yet clean feel to the space. The place gets busy (as almost everything else in Liberty Village), but service is kind and quick, and there is a fair amount of seating both inside and some outside. The desserts are all presented in beautiful glass cake stands, and they are DELICIOUS. I find myself craving the peanut butter, chocolate, rice krispy, marshmallow something or other that I had there ALL THE TIME! The price tag is really the only thing that keeps me away, but I'll definitely be back for the million calorie treat!! :D read more

I enjoyed the dark roasted coffee - black and the soft ginger cookie. Love the cafe ambience. Only peeve was that the hot apple cider was not hot, it was like luke warm read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Came here prior to our Toronto FC match. A well known barista for those in the city, this venue is in the heart of liberty village l, right across from The Local. She had the cappuccino and I had their Coronado. Both I have to say were delicious and prepared with lots of care. Truly a baristas....barista. Ambiance-wise is beautiful as if you've stepped into a rustic environment... Its definitely a popular joint for the locals and those who know their baristas! I'll be back when in the area! read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Cappuccino y cortado - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One of the smoothest americanos I've ever had. Staff were lovely, great quiet spot to get some work done.

This Balzac is right on my commute route to work, so I come here really often in the mornings for my caffeine fix. This cafe is actually super cute and although it's usually pretty busy when I'm there, it still has a kind of cosy feel to it. I don't drink coffee because unfortunately for me, I'm sensitive to caffeine. So I usually end up getting one of their teas or a chai tea latte, which is pretty good! The staff have always been lovely and they are always moving pretty quickly! The cafe itself is pretty cute! Lots of exposed brick and massive windows to bring in a lot of natural light. If hanging out in cafes was something I started to do- this is a primo spot! read more

I enjoy Balzac's coffee. It has a nice flavor and the light/dark blends have a nice kick of caffeine too. While the coffee is consistent and good, this location is spartan and cold feeling. There's no wifi, minimal seating, and ample empty space that feels like their waiting for furniture to arrive, but it hasn't yet (and they've been open for quite a while, so that's not it). I agree with Eric: good place to grab a cup and leave, not a cozy cafe to sit with a friend or a book and enjoy the cup in house. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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On a crisp, sunny Autumn day, Balzac's is the perfect spot to end up after a stroll around the neighbourhood. Its bright and airy room is accented by its large graphic floor tiles. Situated in a former toy factory, retro signage is hung along the brick lined walls. The line up went quickly and I ordered my usual latte. I didn't have to wait long before my drink was done. I took a seat on the stools, overlooking the trees on the street with the bright yellow and red leaves. The latte was smooth and creamy, and at a perfect temperature. There's a lot of seating in the space, but it never felt crowded. I spent a good thirty minutes there, just taking in the experience. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I've been to the Distillery District location numerous times and I love going there for coffee and for the elaborate decor - such as their beautiful antique chandelier. This location's decor is not so elaborate but you get the same Balzac's feel here. I came here with a larger group (7 people) and it was difficult to catch up with the limited seating (mainly bar seats and tables of 4). However, still stays true with great coffee and friendly staff. Although I would have loved a better looking glass for my iced Americano. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Best bean juice I've had in a long time. Definitely prefer them over Starbucks and I've been a die hard fan of them so for me to switch it's gotta be good and trust me it is. Service and fast and friendly . Only thing I wish they had was frappuccinos but I can live without that :) read more

Starbucks nitro cold brew was much better. Disappointed with that but i have had good coffee at other locations of Balzacs read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

People working here weren't the friendliest and the vanilla latte that I ordered was just meh. Nothing really stood out for me from this place except how hot it was inside because I was sweating upon ordering my latte. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Vanilla soy latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

We picked up 2 medium roast coffees as part of our morning walk. We were very disappointed - what we purchased didn't smell like coffee, they didn't taste like coffee. Please review your processes. read more

The worst flat white I've ever had. When I ordered one, they asked me what size I wanted (I should have left then) and then proceeded to charge me $5 for a scalding hot shitty latte. It's sweet that they hire baristas with little to no experience but maybe have prices reflect it? Never been before, NEVER going back. read more

Many a Yelp Toronto CM has sat in this very cafe before me and written a review. Previous CM's have made mention of disgruntled staff, poor-ish service or a total lack of free WiFi... did WiFi not exist back in 2011??? I'm happy to report that my recent Sunday afernoon visit to Balzac's Coffee was pleasant on all fronts. The WiFi was strong, I found outlets to plug into right away, the staff was friendly (and border line flirty.. yes I'm onto your flirtatious ways you golden haired minx), and for a Sunday, I never thought I would find such a relaxing chilled out place in all of the city, let alone the busy Liberty Village. Maybe it's their nondescript front entrance which he/she without a trusty Yelp app armed with the ever useful Monocle, might walk past, but this place was cozy and quiet. Set in the side of one of the re-purposed factories (now lofts) of Liberty Village the stone exterior and loft style interior are tres chic in my book and make me long for a transplant north of Steeles. While working at this late time in the day, I opted to avoid further caffeination and settled on a Hot Chocolate. Maybe it was because I got a small, but even though it was made with an unmarked chocolate syrup, the milk was frothed, thick and there was no heavy syrup at the bottom like so many disappointing Tim Hortons Hot Chocolates Side note: Timmies HC is like drinking chocolate flavoured water until the bottom where the syrup is so thick it's almost unbearable. I digress... looking for a place to do some work or reading in Liberty Village, I'd recommend paying this place a visit. Pro-tip: Ask for the WiFi password from the cashier when you pay. read more

Coffee is bitter and probably the most expensive I've had in TO. WIFI was 'down'. The macchiato had too much milk, and the cappuchino was served in a large glass; not sure whether in this pseudo-French locale cappuchino translates into cafe-au-lait. But that's what it looked like. The waitress behind the bar displayed a mixture of boredom and rudeness. No eye contact. Perhaps she is chronically constipated. read more

Not a bad spot on a Sunday afternoon. While not as overarchingly beautiful as it's Distillery District sister store, this Balzac's is definitely a lovely spot. Big windows, exposed brick, a charming antique tiled floor. No wifi or outlets, so this more of a place to read or chat or mull over your own existence. It was delightful on a Sunday afternoon when I first went, but on night's when it's crowded it can be unbearable. Choose wisely. I recommend their brews over their espresso, especially the Balzac's Blend. Liberty Villagers should consider themselves lucky. Obligatory Title Pun: ZAC'S a coffee maniac. Menu Readability: Yeah. Need to mention: There's a parking lot across the street. What this place teaches me about myself: No wifi makes me nutty/needlessly existential. read more

Perfect for a meeting with a client, studying, have a date or getting together with a friend or a family member. Staff are great, friendly, perfectionists with making wanted beverages and I am very happy with their friendly service. I always enjoy my favourite treat which is a euro lemon tart and chai latte. read more

Why's everyone hating on Balzac? Maybe it's not as "beautiful" as it's Distillery District sister location, but it's still much nicer than your average coffee shop. There are too many indie coffee shops going up that have absolutely no room or seating. Balzacs is quite spacious and since it's tucked away in a quieter area (than say, Queen st or King st) there's a good chance you can actually find a place to sit down and relax. My regular brewed coffee was quite good. Good selection of treats here No wifi? WTF. read more

Not even close in appearance or quality to its sister unit in Distillery District, I was quite disappointed when I asked for an espresso and it was just "meh". There was a guy eating noodles inside and I couldn't get it. Noodles inside a café? The service, the coffee, everything there is OK, and if you once had something at Balzac at the Distillery, you will be sooo frustrated, you'll rather walk a block and go to Starbucks, at least you know what you're getting. read more

Balzac's has made its way to the heart of Liberty Village; this location is a great alternative to the other coffee shops in the area. The coffee is great but unfortunately, the service is sub-par. I found the folks behind a counter have a bit of attitude and service does not pick up when there is a huge line up. They have wifi available, just ask them for the password. It is descent connection but does have a tendency to cut-out every now and then. They even have patio seating in the summer which is great for people watching in the Liberty Village area. read more

Setting: surprisingly large despite the small store front. Interior is a restrained art nouveau style with the usual period advertising and local newspapers and flyers by the door. Is themed on French playwright honor Balzac, but thankfully in a subtle way. Staff: polite and efficient Coffee: ordered Canadian coffee, good coffee no complaints. Ice tea was also refreshing and well priced read more

Absolutely loved my experience here!!! They have organic milk as their "milk" and made me a delicious cup of latte!!! Also, they carry Mariage Frères teas from Paris. They also have GF options for baked goods. Love the French bistro look of this place with super cool old school tiles and decor. Super high ceiling with loads of natural light coming true. The place is super clean and pleasant to sit in to enjoy your cup of java or tea. Cheers! read more

Friendly, fast and great coffee atmosphere - group seating is limited. Wicker seats, don't look overly comfortable. Although, I must say I did not sit in them. I would definitely bring a client to this location, for a coffee meeting, however, I would risk that we would not be able to get a table together. Parking is very limited and you are better to walk. If you find a spot you're lucky. I will definitely go back to this location. read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I drink my coffee black. It's good here. I found it to be smooth. Not over the top bitter, or requiring milk/cream sugar. My friend and I walked my dog over Saturday morning for a coffee, trying to avoid the long line up at Starbucks. The interior isn't mind-blowingly beautiful but it reminds me of a coffee house from an old school film. There is actually space to sit and enjoy coffee, unlike many places which have a measly 4 or 5 tables. ...I think many more mornings will be spent here, rather than other places. read more