Coffee was alright, but the customer service left a bad taste. They don't have coffee sleeves and claimed their double-insulated cups should be enough. I told them the cup was still too hot, but got an "it's your problem" attitude instead of any solution. They then charged me 25¢ for an extra cup and gave us another attitude when we paid with a $20 bill cause we didn't have smaller bills. read more

Great food! and matcha was delish!! Lots of sitting area and a warm cute place to study in the winter! Service was really good too, very nice people! would highly recommend! The only thing is that the bathroom i used was really dirty, but that's the only downside! read more

Good coffee right next to Toronto library Limited options but good quality. Walking distance from TTC. read more

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

This location is definitely the perfect place for students. Brightly lit as well as all around windows. Went in early for a warm beverage. Wanted to try something different. Spoke with the site staff and the recommended the Toasted Almond Latte from their Winter menu. This was absolutely horrible. Certainly did not enjoy that beverage at all. The flavour just tasted artificial. read more

convenient place to get coffee near TMU. the quality is pretty good and I enjoy the variety of unique drinks- I like the caramel latte as my go-to. it's usually really busy during school time so service can be a little slow. the sizes are also a little on the small side, but I enjoy the coffee shop vibe here. read more

I met my friends here for a morning coffee, and the restaurant is a nice place to sit and chat. There is ample seating if you get here early enough. My friends ordered some pastries, an almond croissant, and another puff pastry, which they enjoyed. I ordered a large Americano, with an extra shot of espresso, and paid $9.35, which I thought was a little excessive for a shot of espresso. So I'm really unhappy that my drink was not appropriately charged, and this left a little sour taste in my mouth, so I won't be going back anytime soon. read more

Lots of students here studying on a very cold day (one was slouched over a chair dead asleep lol). We wanted a nice coffee to wake us up after a long day and my partner wanted a nice flat white as apparently it's more of a thing here than in the US. Unfortunately, warning signs popped up when he asked if it was possible to make a large flat white and the girl said it'd be a latte. I don't know much about this stuff, but my partner found his love of flat whites back when he lived in Australia and apparently it's nowhere near the same as a latte. Needless to say, he watched the barista make his "flat white" and said he did not make it correctly. I believe him; It tasted like cheap coffee with cream and sugar; not even like a latte. My Americano also tasted like coffee so I don't know--maybe we should've just ordered coffee with cream? read more

Sloppy customer service from a bunch of ditzy TMU students who are more interested in talking amongst themselves than serving clients. Overpriced as well read more

A good latte always depends on a combination of factors The coffee/ the coffee machine / the barista We come here occasionally. Busy but usually can find a seat. The food is average but we come for the coffee. Nice cafe atmosphere- a little noisy- usually filled with university students, many busy on their laptops. Today my 'latte' was a glorified cup of coffee to which I had to keep adding steamed milk. The coffee had no flavour despite an added stevia. At $6 plus, I really expect better. Maybe it's because it's the holidays and the regular latte makers are not here. Having lived in South America , I have high expectations which I try to satisfy. I only frequent small chains , never Starbucks. I'll give it one more try here and maybe I have to move on... read more

Really smooth coffee at a price point thats on par with other coffee chains and independants alike. A lot of seating around, but also a lot of space taken up by Ryerson students studying. It looks like you stepped in Paris when you walk in, everything is beautiful. The coffee is strong but that's what I like about it. The iced americano was so smooth I barely needed to add sugar, and had no milk in it either. The Iced cappucino was also very smooth and delicious. One of the things I dislike about coffee is the lingering aftertaste, which was non existent with the coffee here. I will come back and give the nitro cold brew a try as well. read more

For being a campus cafe, this is honestly better than anything I could have hoped for. Decent selection, students passing by. Take me on a study date here ;) read more

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

My favorite balzac's location, hands down. Why? Location, location, location. It has a patio during good weather, spacious, lots of reasonable amount of outlets to charge your laptop, phone etc. Service is prompt, decent. I usually come here in the afternoon and I find this place is a hit or miss in terms of traffic. What I recommend is to charge your laptop prior so it's full battery, in case you visit and it's an absolute full house. I usually order just regular coffee like balzac's blend. I don't really order anything specific. Call me a boring coffee girl. Although, a friend once recommended me the cafe nordique (sp?) and this one is seasonal but sooo tasty! I can't remember what was inside...I do believe there was cardamom, honey? Feel free to autocorrect me, but all I know most definitely about this specific coffee is that it's served winter time, hence seasonal. Can't go wrong with Balzac's, they are a decent cafe! Highly recommend if you are in the Yonge and Dundas square area! read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Yay! Iced latte! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Adorable, romantic décore (think: what France and French cafés look like in the movies), amazing hot (and cold) drinks, and a cozy studious atmosphere makes this one of my favorite coffee hotspots in the city! Service: Impeccable. There's a younger guy who makes my Parisian Mist, and he makes it to perfection. The staff here are knowledgeable about their offerings, surprisingly not pretentious considering the hipster Ryerson campus Balzac's is housed in, and also friendly and enthusiastic. They know their stuff here, and it shows! Quality ingredients and beans that are sourced locally and which the staff are happy to tell you about. Drinks: Amazing. I'm not a huge coffee drinker but my boyfriend is, and he adores Balzac's. My personal favorite is the Parisian Mist, which is Balzac's spin on the London Fog (and probably inspired by the French author himself, Honoré de Balzac.). The Parisian Mist contains milk (I get mine with soy milk which they didn't charge extra for,) and is infused with their Peterborough tea that has notes of floral, along with a bit of vanilla syrup. It's hot, light, frothy, and sweet but not too sweet and tastes like love on a rainy day in France. Yum. 110% recommend. Atmosphere: It gets a little crowded because of it's location on Ryerson campus, but Is perfect for a study session, a catch up with friends, or a date. The decoration and smaller tables for two, as well as communal tables in the centre make it ideal to chat or get down to business, and give Balzac's a very romantic, Euro feel. J'adore! Overall: Go here. Get a Parisian mist. Come on a rainy day. Write a novel. Get inspired. Just try it out :) I love it! read more

Balzac's Coffee Roasters - Parisian Mist in the signature Balzac's cup. Love in a cup! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Pumpkin spice latte is made of real pumpkin. Considering that Balzac is one of the first cafes to use real pumpkin in pumpkin latter (*ahem* Starbucks), it is definitely one of the best place to get this specialty drink. Their baked goods on the other hand, are not as great as their drinks. It's likely sourced at a great place, however, I felt the croissant and scone can be fresher. My companion and I both agreed it may have sat there for more than a day. Regardless, it was a positive experience. The rustic decor, multiple charger and large tables make it a great spot to recharge your phone, work and meet up with a friend. read more

Located in the campus of Ryerson University, just a couple minute walk from the Dundas station. They offer some delicious baked goods and coffees but it is on a little pricey side. There are number of outlets and seating's available so it makes a great spot to catch up with friends or study. It does get busy and ideal tables are usually taken but I like that it's more or less spacious. The cute interior and aesthetic tiles are a bonus. I also believe you can earn rewards through their mobile app. read more

Great place to meet a friend and/or study. They have chairs and tables out front when it's good weather outside so you can bring your dog :) It's a cute cafe with a large selection of coffees and other specialty drinks and it's literally always busy when I walk by. Good luck finding a seat, but check it out anyways! read more

Good, but unremarkable. It's unfortunate that such a prime campus location is occupied by a mediocre coffee chain. I've given this place a few chances because I wanted it to work out between us, but the drinks and the vegan baked goods are too disappointing for it to be recommended. Good size space if you like to sit and study in a loud public place though. read more

I really love the feel of this place.. Even better then the last time, apparently. It's very spacious and comfortable and I love the large communal tables. Everything is clean and well laid out. There are many coffee options and food options as well. Today's was popping in for a quick jolt of caffeine and so o ordered the noisette... Basically a flat white. It is nice and hot and just enough coffee and milk. Recommend and would return. read more

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

I never went to Balzac's when I was a student at Ryerson. It was always busy and packed with students and non-students. I'd rather go to other cafes where I had more space. Recently I caught up with a friend at the cafe who was still a Ryerson student and worked by Yonge and Dundas, making it a convenient meeting place. I arrived sometime at 2 PM and as expected, it was crowded. I was lucky enough to grab a seat when a table freed up just in time. I decided to try the Parisian Mist because it sounded interesting. I liked the drink because it was sweet on its own if I recalled correctly. Balzac's is a lovely cafe and each location has its own vintage designed poster (which you can check out here). However, expect the Ryerson location to be constantly busy for most of the time. I don't recommend trying to meet up here during peak hours. read more

I think that would be my go to spot for the weekends if I want a good coffee and to get away from the crowds downtown. I like the environment. It has a certain...style. It's not perfect, but it's not bad either. They have a decent selection, but their espresso is fresh, and way better than most other places I go to. I also love the fact you can sit outside without cars passing by. It reminds me of Europe in that aspect. Their staff is friendly, too! Like I said, it might not be the best overall, but it's certainly a hidden gem in the heart of downtown. read more

Good coffee right across from Ryerson university. Lots of college crowds studying and hanging out. The americano and ice latte was nice with a rich coffee taste. Staff is very friendly. read more

Amazing smalls and delicious drinks! I have the harvest spice latte which was absolutely the best autumn themed latte ever! And I had it during winter, muhahaha!! It's super cozy in here and a great place to grab something to go or to sit and even study with friends. :) it does get busy so don't expect it to be quiet! read more

Great location, bright and cozy environment. Nice people. Just the flat white is a little bitter for me. read more

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

Super super busy. Staff is friendly and service is quick. If you want a table...hover awkwardly? Personally more of a Starbucks junkie, so if I'm going to spend the money on something else, if like it to be magical, which this was not. It was nice to have lactose free options, and latte art is always SO AWESOME, but my latte wasn't super hot nor particularly memorable. read more

I ordered the dark roast and the coffee was watery. I'm having a sip right now and it tastes like Tim Horton's regular coffee. My friend and I only came because the Starbucks on campus was closed and I am very disappointed. The coffee shop seemed so promising but the prices and quality don't deliver. The other negative point is that there are close to no electrical outlets. For their door to advertise "charging available" and then have close to no accessible plugs is unacceptable. The environment is nice with decor, furniture and music. I will not be back. read more

Great coffee, cute 1930s decor. Also, a huge plus with Ryerson University being nearby which means, yay! no cars! sitting outside! There isn't any A/C but I'm sure in the winter this makes for a great place to sit, even though it'll probably be packed with students studying. I recommend the massive ginger molasses cookie. Might be a little pricey for students, but I don't mind paying this price for their iced coffee. read more

I can't really pinpoint one thing that I LOVE here. It's kind of a go-to in the winter months if I am out getting groceries and want something hot. The service is never great here. Always lacklustre. read more

As a Ryerson student I don't see how this expensive coffee shop is targeting students. After all, school is expensive and there is a Tim Hortons around the corner. I ordered a hot chocolate and an iced coffee on two seperate occansions and the price for both items was about the same. The hot chocolate was amazing after I stirred it. The iced coffee was really good as well. Maybe in the spring/summer time I will try this place again but otherwise, I will stick to my Starbucks and Tim Hortons. read more

Nice Parisien / Art Deco ambiance in the heart of Ryerson campus My friend and I checked out Balzac a couple of days ago for tea & cider. The venue is brand new, I don't even recall seeing a sign. It has a Parisien bistro / Art Deco feel with the tile and decor. There is a large seating area inside, with small tables for intimate catch ups over coffee. We sat out on the mini patio outside, it was nice to sit back and people watch as people walked through the campus area. My tea was served in a tea pot, nothing unique but hit the spot. My friend enjoyed her hot cider. Nice service as the barista actually brought the cider out to us, just as we were ready to go in to pick it up. The prices seemed in line with other high-end coffee shops. They had a bunch of sweets & I'm sure salty items; we only stuck to the beverages. Looking forward to going back. read more

First time at Balzac's Coffee! I like that it's not overly crowded, very spacious. My boyfriend and I tried the organic hot chocolate, it was delicious! We're fans when it comes to organic beverages. I wish their bakery selection were better, which is why I'm giving them 4 stars instead of 5. read more

Bought a $3 blueberry muffin and asked for it to be warmed up. The incompetent baristas put it in the toaster oven and didn't turn it on. 5 minutes later they gave me the muffin, cold. Will not be back. read more

I came here recently for a job interview and the place is just SO CUTE. It's very 1920's/30's, almost felt like I should be ordering an ice-cream float instead. Smells really good. I ordered an Americano and the top came out to be so, so, so creamy. Loved it! It's a great atmosphere with the big long tables. It feels almost communal. The prices are average for any higher-end coffee. read more

I've been a regular customer of Balzac's since they opened their doors some 12-odd months ago. They offer up a nice selection of drip coffees, including organic and fairtrade options (note: fair trade is widely acknowledged as nothing more than a feel-good scam), and best of all they provide good quality organic milk for their self-serve jugs. Their prices are reasonable, and they give a discount for reusable mugs. Their staff are friendly and they also have a wide selection of hipstery-brand foods (I have not tried any, so I can't comment on that). Unfortunately they make terrible espresso-based coffee. Everytime I've bought a cappucino from here it's been horrible; they don't appear to train their staff in how to use the espresso machine. But, since it's impossible to get a good cappucinno from any chain store in Canada, I can't really hold that against them. You come here for the drip coffee. read more

I had high hopes for this place but a bit dissapointed after today. Pros) love that they have almond milk. So great for those with dietary restrictions, like myself 2-love the decor. Super cute throwback vibe long tables and plenty of seating 3-great coffee 4- great music Cons 1- why is it that literally EVERY time i'm here there is 1 barista and one cashier on. Takes way too long 2- - i have walked out of here based on my observation of the line 10-12 ppl deep. 3- i asked for beverage extra hot.. It was lukewarm.... Sigh 4- pricey. Moral of story. PLEASE get more staff and i'll come here more often vs Starbucks! read more

Some of the reviews for this place are totally uncalled for. So who cares that this is located on a student campus? If you prefer watered down coffee and long line-ups that will surely stress you out before class--be my guest and go to the nearest Tim Hortons, or the campus Starbucks station. They surely don't change their prices based on location. Balzac's Coffee Roastery is a beautiful coffee shop, with plenty of seating and plugs for your computer/phone charger. It feels very parisian and I love the atmosphere. The lattes are not my no. 1 in the city, but they are good. I love the bourbon vanilla red tea and the gluten free almond cookies. Beats studying at the library any day, and if you've been to the Ryerson Library--you know exactly what I mean. read more

I love this cafe. The staff are friendly, the Parissiene Fog is delicious (and they're happy to make it with almond milk which wins extra points for me), and the big tables are perfect for meeting/studying/people watching. I'm so happy I work nearby and can take a little stroll down to Balzac's for a late afternoon pick-me-up. read more

Is this place aimed at the student crowd ? Why is it so expensive !? At those prices you'd expect something a little special , and it's just average. read more

Came here today - absolutely loved my Americano. Definitely one of the best I've had in the city. The staff were just lovely and it was fantastic how they offered to pour the hot water for my Americano in for me as I watched, so I could direct them about how strong or weak I wanted it. There was a great selection of drinks and baked goods, and prices were good. I already can't wait to try another of their Americanos - I'm devastated that there's no Balzac's location close to where I live or work :( read more

The worst lemonade I ever had. Also my friends got coffee and the barista added water front of us. That's just ridiculous. Also very expensive for such a place. read more

The coffee here is fantastic. I especially love the maple latte, but anything is a great pick-me-up. Obviously, considering the location, it is frequented by Ryerson students, so keep that in mind. But there is plenty of seating, with a lot of natural light, and staff is super friendly. Very easy environment conducive to doing work. The only downfall, in my opinion, is that the snacks and baked goods are not great. I find them too greasy/they make me feel like I need to go to the gym immediately. read more