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    Balzac's

    4.0 (86 reviews)
    Open 7:30 am - 6:00 pm

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    BALZAC'S ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Good for working
    Good for kids
    Outdoor seating

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    Recommended Reviews - Balzac's

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    Nicole E.

    Time for a warm up. Grabbed an apple caramel latte with oat milk and a hot apple cider. C$14.01 It's the busiest roaster at the market. The apple cider is just barely warm, not hot. They have nice insulated to go cups for us. The Caramel latte was good.

    Left: Iced Matcha Latte Right: Cafe Frappe
    Rachel L.

    This may be a flawed review because I didn't really try what Balzac's is known for, coffee, but instead tried an iced matcha latte and cafe frappe. The matcha was so bland, watery, and unappetizing. Really had to force myself to drink as much as I can as to not put my money to waste. The cafe frappe was incredibly sweet, too sweet for me. My mom thought it was okay and it helped cool her down from the heat. Service was rude. Guy working the cash register was super impatient. My mom was having trouble paying with her card and he walked away before she could ask for help. When he returned and saw that we still hadn't paid, he sighed and told her what to do. The inside of the shop is pretty cramped with all the seats really close together. Overall, an unpleasant experience and I'm pretty disappointed.

    Christy Y.

    After grabbing food at St. Lawrence Market, I was craving some coffee and saw Balzac's right across the street. It's a super cozy spot and really convenient if you're already at the market. When I stepped in, the place was packed--pretty much all the seats were taken by people working or studying on their laptops. The vibe was really laid-back, and the staff at the counter were super friendly. I went for the iced maple latte, which was a nice switch-up from a regular sweetened latte. The maple gives it a different flavor--definitely sweeter than sugar--but it still felt like a healthier option. The drink was good! Not mind-blowing, but if you like a sweeter iced latte, it's worth trying. Overall, it's a great spot to grab a coffee and chill after walking around the market. Definitely worth checking out!

    Salted caramel latte
    Quinton B.

    The service, ambiance and coffee is amazing. Great location with great vibes. I can see myself starting every morning with a Balzac's coffee.

    Capucino and drip coffee $9
    Bojan P.

    I would come here to get a coffee and get away from the bust st Lawrence market. Atmosphere: 5 stars. A very cozy place. People are reading books. Having a conversation. There are a few large desks where people brought laptops and are doing work. There is enough space to sit down. Coffee: (3 stars) The coffee is ok, nothing special. Service: Friendly staff.

    Chocolate banana muffin, hobbit muffin, cheese and spinach pastry, raspberry pistachio danish
    Ali B.

    While walking in Toronto, my wife and I started craving something to eat -- something sweet and savoury while also feeling light. As we walked back home from St. Lawrence Market, we recalled seeing a coffee shop / café a few days prior, where there seemed to be a steady stream of people going inside to enjoy a cup of coffee and some pastries. When we saw that, we made plans to go visit when we were in the area the next time -- and today was that day. As we went inside, the light and dark contrasting décor and the fresh smell of brewing coffee indicated that we were definitely in the right spot. The counter was lined up with different foods, from pastries, to scones and muffins. We weren't exactly sure what we were craving so we ended up going slightly overboard and ordered a few different items. We ended up getting a chocolate banana muffin ($3.50), a hobbit muffin (because of the cute name -- $3.50), cheese and spinach pastry ($3.50) and a raspberry and pistachio Danish ($3.50). Again, we only went slightly overboard... Since we were in a hurry, we decided to take the treats to-go and warm them up to enjoy in the comforts of our home. The treats definitely hit the spot, and even though we didn't eat them right away at the café, they were still fresh when we had them. Hopefully next time we'll have a bit more time to enjoy the ambiance of the café.

    White chocolate hazelnut latte, oat cookie latte, and chocolate croissant.
    Raquel R.

    Cute coffee shop. Loved the outer layers of the croissant. We had the chocolate croissant.

    Amber J.

    Nice coffee shop with a lot of coffee and drink options to choose from! There are always a LOT of people here when we visit, but we seem to find a table despite the busy-ness. We ordered a mocha and rose tea, both "for here", but for some reason, they gave the tea in a paper cup but coffee in a glass cup. Even though we ordered a hot mocha, they gave it in a glass cup, which I thought was cool. The mocha tasted pretty good and the tea was just a regular tea bag tea (although they have unique flavors). We've tried their pastries before too, and they were pretty good. They have vegan and GF options too. They've expanded the coffee shop with the space next to the original place since we last visited, which I think was a good move.

    Kelly T.

    Great spot for coffee that's close to St. Lawrence Market! This coffee shop is a good place to sit down and chat or do some work. It was our first time here so we took some recommendations from the barista. I decided to get the Oat Milk Cookie Latte (iced). The drink was really sweet, but if you are not a fan of sweet drinks you can get it less sweet. My boyfriend got the Salted Caramel Machiatto. I took a sip of it and it was so much better than the one from Starbucks! There was a perfect amount of expresso in the drink without it being too bitter. I really enjoyed my experience at this coffee shop. I would recommend it to anyone who visits Toronto!

    View from my seat.
    Risa S.

    Wanted coffee and some place to kill some time. The staff was friendly and the place is spacey. I think it's a great place to get some work done. (There's WiFi). I can tell there were some regulars around so that's always nice to see. I got an americano and it was made so you can let the barista know how much water you want to add. Which was nice. Flavor was nice and more mellow than I expected which I think is a nice touch.

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    Great coffee and the Almond Croissant was maybe the best croissants I've ever had. Love stopping here before hopping on the UP

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    Page 1 of 3

    Balzac's Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Balzac's

    Lawrence Market next door is oversupplied with raw meats and undersupplied with delicious beverages, so I ventured outside to grab a cup here.

    Mentioned in 20 reviews

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    Storys Building - Food passed around - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Storys Building

    3.8(6 reviews)
    1.3 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core

    **Christmas Cheers with a Touch of Glam**…read more Celebrated a Christmas party at Storys Building, and the experience was a mix of luxury, fun, and high energy. The first two floors are dedicated to dinner seating, while the third floor hosts parties and gatherings. The space worked, but with the number of people invited, it felt a bit tight -- something to keep in mind for larger groups. The vibe was fantastic. Drinks were expertly crafted, the bartenders were attentive, and a DJ kept the energy flowing in the background. As the night progressed, everyone hit the dance floor, and the party truly came alive. Bathrooms were plentiful and well-maintained, and the thoughtful touch of wellness kits in the ladies' room added a hint of luxury. One minor hiccup was the coat check -- it was a bit congested and struggled to accommodate all the coats. But my biggest suggestion for improvement would be the addition of an elevator. Climbing three floors in heels and dresses proved challenging for many, and an elevator would make the space more accessible without taking away from its elegance. Overall, Storys Building delivers a lively, luxurious, and memorable party experience. The energy, drinks, and attention to detail make it a spot worth revisiting -- just come prepared for a little stair workout if you're headed to the third floor.

    I recently came here for a corporate cocktail hour as a guest and the top floor space is fantastic…read more Lovely rustic building set up with standing tables, well spaced out to include a 360 photo booth, taco station, bar and check in area. I put a pair of sunglasses in my backpack's front pocket, I fully expected it to be crushed during coat check. The staff voluntarily assured me that they would make sure it was protected. I've been to other events where the coat check staff had lost my jacket, so the extra care on my belongings added to the positive experience. The staff there were pleasant and even remembered my face when I checked out my coat on the way out. The hors d'oeuvres were great, I enjoyed everything I tried, like the mini sliders, fried chicken, and bruschetta. We also had a taco station that was good too. I didn't expect any less since they are under the same hospitality group as Byblos and Patria, which I've dined at before and enjoyed. The biggest plus is the location, at the heart of the Entertainment District. It's close to many offices and the Financial District. Our cocktail hour ended in 2hrs but there are plenty of bars nearby to extend the get together for another drink. For example, Grace O'Malley's is just across the street and not too busy to grab a seat on a weekday night.

    Photos
    Storys Building - Top floor space - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Top floor space - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Storys Building - Top floor space - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Top floor space - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Storys Building - Outside - Photo by Captured by Ivan

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    Outside - Photo by Captured by Ivan

    Malaparte

    Malaparte

    4.1(10 reviews)
    1.5 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core

    I hosted my wedding here. The venue is beautiful and the food is very good. However, the…read morefrustration dealing with the venue from an operations perspective was so immense that I will never host an event here again. As a few examples of mismanagement of our event: Not informing our guests of the silent vegetarian option despite providing allergy list, overcharging us on our final bill incorrectly but insisting it was correct, sending our event info (with our personal information visible) to another party without an apology, chasing us for payment on dates that did not align with our contract. The level of unprofessionalism is appalling for a venue of this scale, but what pushed things over the top was the dismissive attitude that Derek took towards our concerns. As an example, when raising concerns that our final invoice matching our estimate exactly was impossible, Derek disregarded it as a "happy coincidence" despite further investigation showing that the venue had just billed us wrong. This type of tone, and lack of accountability, was consistent in all our communications with him. Mistakes happen, but the flippant attitude that Derek spoke to us with incredibly insulting. Had I known management was like this, we would have picked a different venue.

    Had my brothers wedding here. Food was amazing and overall vibes of the venue were top notch…read more Although a bit pricy, very memorable moment and would love to host events here one day!

    Photos
    Malaparte
    Malaparte
    Malaparte - View of the balcony event space

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    View of the balcony event space

    Ontario Heritage Centre - From http://www.heritagetrust.on.ca

    Ontario Heritage Centre

    4.0(1 review)
    0.5 kmDowntown Core

    Built in 1909, this former financial building is now a pretty nifty event space. I came in here for…read morea "360 Screenings" Halloween event for the screening of the Exorcist, and 360 Screenings makes it a point to host their events in "heritage buildings" around Toronto and the Ontario Heritage Centre falls right in to that categoy. While the website states that they have one of the last manually operated elevators city, I was unfortunately not able to be able to check that out. But I did get a chance to check out their Oval Boardroom and the gallery downstairs where the movie was screened. unfortunaly the event was pretty low lit (you know being Halloween and all) so I wasn't able to really admire the venue, but it seemed great for a medium sized event (I'm not great at guessing numbers but I'd say 150-ish people). The Oval Boardroom amongst a few other smaller rooms was where we spent an hour or so with actors who would act out specific scenes from the movie. It is definitely a very interesting space, again, I didn't get a chance to really walk around to see what some of the items that were a part of the Heritage Centre's deco were like, but there seemed to be a few interesting looking frames around. I'm not sure who catered the food, so I can't really speak for any of the actual venues food, we didn't have hor d'oeuvre served which is usually the case for 360 screenings, so I'm not sure if that was due to the venue or our event hosts. I would like to come and check this space out during the day when I would have a better chance to check it out, but until that happens the Ontario Heritage Centre has a fan in me!

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    Ontario Heritage Centre

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    Lodge On Queen - Hollywood North, 2015 - Lodge Entrance

    Lodge On Queen

    4.7(3 reviews)
    1.4 kmQueen Street West, Entertainment District, Downtown Core

    Full disclosure I went here for an office event. I wasn't sure what to expect given that this bar…read moreis on the second and third floor of the building and only a doorway is there to acknowledge it's existence. If you decide to visit you will likely be on the second floor. I was able to sneak down and check it out but I didn't fully experience the main part of this establishment. However the decor inside is great and sets a nice vibe. Staff are friendly and there's a lot of selection and they do cater to vegans. Lots of great areas in this space for hanging out or even playing games. The third floor as I found out is for private events and is the top floor of the building. It's a fairly large space so if you are interested in having an event this place could fit the bill. Again some very interesting decor makes the space warm and welcoming. Special secret hint apparently you can also rent out the 3rd floor on Airbnb as well. We found a fully furnished bedroom and of course had to ask what was up with that. If you are looking for a great place to hang that maybe not everyone else has found out about yet this is a pretty good place although the popularity tells me it won't be that unknown for too long.

    Love it here! Had our TIFF Hollywood North Launch party here and Diane & Ron were amazing! Bravo!!read more

    Photos
    Lodge On Queen - Upstairs Floor - Private Event

    Upstairs Floor - Private Event

    Lodge On Queen - Upstairs Floor - Private Event

    Upstairs Floor - Private Event

    Lodge On Queen - Upstairs Floor - Private Event

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    Upstairs Floor - Private Event

    The Majestic Pearl Ballroom - Great Setup!!

    The Majestic Pearl Ballroom

    2.2(20 reviews)
    1.5 kmEntertainment District, Downtown Core

    We were desperately looking for a venue last minute for my Mothers One Year memorial. We originally…read moreset out to have it in our backyard but due to the heavy rain all week long, we had to find a place in less than 48 hours. As Urgent as this was, we received a response almost immediately from an inquiry request from Andrew. We set up a walk through tour of the facility for the next day. This Banquet Hall is within a "strip mall" like building. To my surprise, there are multiple Banquet rooms (4 rooms total) that they have to offer accordingly to your guest count. ALL of the rooms are absolutely BEAUTIFUL! Clean, spacious, and up to date renovations that surely will impress you and your guests. They offer a variety of packages & work with multiple vendors to make it your one stop shop. The Venue is located in a good area & the Pricing point is shockingly affordable. I say shockingly bc you would expect for the way this venue is set up to be far more costly than what it is. They have a good sized on site kitchen for use. Multiple small office rooms to use for party purposes (if available and upon request). Clean spacious bathrooms. Handicap accessible on the top floor. They do not have a ramp or elevator that leads to the downstair banquet rooms, only stairs. Plenty of parking on the backside of the building as well as street parking in front. Overall just an absolute gorgeous facility! We are so grateful to Marianne & Andrew for their phenomenal service. It felt like we were talking and dealing with family & Marianne made sure to take care of us in every way possible. She really was looking out for the well being of our family and took into consideration of our situation. She is the absolute Best! I am looking forward to our next big event so we can host it here. You will not regret booking Treasure Banquet Hall. Stop by and check it out for yourselves!

    Very pleased with Treasure Banquet Hall. 4 beautiful ballrooms to choose from. My two favorites…read morewere GOLD and DIAMOND. I originally booked the GOLD but the week of my daughter's party the DIAMOND became available so we luckily got it. Marianne was VERY helpful anything we asked she made it happen. From the moment of booking she made sure we were happy and if at any moment I felt worried she made sure to make it right. She knew what my daughter wanted and made it happen. Food was good, my decorations were stunning, servers were so helpful, bartender was on top of serving my guests with a smile and security guarded that door the entire night which made my guests and I feel at ease with the teenagers and younger kids at the party. I chose the emerald package so they set everything up for me and cleaned everything at the end of the night. Totally worth the price. Very happy with Treasure Banquet Hall. Family business who also treat you like family. I'll be booking again when my twins turn 16.

    Photos
    The Majestic Pearl Ballroom
    The Majestic Pearl Ballroom
    The Majestic Pearl Ballroom - Thank you Treasure Banquet Hall!

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    Thank you Treasure Banquet Hall!

    Soho House Toronto

    Soho House Toronto

    3.9(37 reviews)
    1.2 kmDowntown Core

    Kids love the word "aura" these days, and when my dad asked me what it means I told him "think Soho…read moreHouse 2010-2014." That confused him more but I like messing with my dad. Forreal though, the run Soho House had can only be rivaled by 2011-2015 Whole Foods. You really had to be there... but like any other prime, Father Time always catches up. I was set to do a full rise and fall piece on the Soho House right here on Yelp but in my research, I stumbled upon an article by Lydia Moynihan in the NY Post and she nailed it. I really didn't have much to add so go over and read that if you have a sec. Shoutout to Lydia. Instead, I'll just recap our experience here like any other boring Yelp Review. We came to this Toronto location before the Taylor Swift concert, and I was pleasantly surprised. It felt like prime Soho House. A beautiful, discrete brick building with an old school interior. Whoever designed this one needs a raise. I'm so tired of the cookie cutter half-assed modern architecture. The ones in LA and NY now feel like it is just a bunch of dorks trying to be seen by God knows who. There is no soul in those locations. We grabbed a drink in the lobby and went upstairs for our 5pm dinner. I domed a couple of negronis and we split a margherita pizza and a bottle of pinot noir before our mains arrived. I got the rigatoni, per the waitresses recommendation because she had a thick Italian accent. Big truss. She wasn't lying either, that rigatoni went crazy. I took like 30 pictures before a staff member came over and said no pictures, as I didn't know that was still a rule here... please don't beat me up. We closed dinner with a couple espresso martinis before setting off on foot to go see Big Tay put on a show. She really did her thing. Thank you Soho House Toronto, for giving me a taste of what the Soho House used to be in the states. IG @jnov_ Tiktok @jnov_reviews

    Come for the douche bags, stay for the salad. The interior…read moredesign here is actually nice. They have a eclectic and faux rustic vibe going on with seating and sight lines set up so that you can watch who is in the room. Truly designed for today's busy d-bag to allow them to half listen to their guest over cocktails while they scan the room to see if someone more important has walked in. The food is meh and it feels like this place simply exists for indie film and local television producers to feel like they are a part of some scene. There are 200 better places to eat a short walk from here.

    Photos
    Soho House Toronto
    Soho House Toronto
    Soho House Toronto

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    La Maquette

    La Maquette

    3.8(5 reviews)
    0.2 kmSt. Lawrence, Downtown Core

    My fiance and I attended an open house event whist considering the venue for our wedding reception…read morenext year. The venue itself was unique, easy to find on King Street, and had lots of space to move around in - there were two floors that we had access to. Loved the solarium area of the upstairs part of the space, which had lighted trees set up in it and overlooked a gorgeous little parkette with a water fall. They also had amazing pieces of art on the wall and had tables set up with various colour schemes for consideration. We were also treated to many passed appetizers they make in house while viewing the space. All were very good however my fave were the crispy wrapped shrimp, so delicious! The staff representing the venue were very friendly and polite, making sure we were attended to and answering any questions we had. A great venue to look into if you would like to throw a party in a unique space in Toronto with great food/drink options!

    Attended a wedding here. It was a nice venue, but definitely had some flaws…read more Venue: It definitely looks beautiful, and to be able to find a venue with a rustic feel right in the city is nice. There's affordable parking around the area. It was awkward to be told that the coat checks are at the back of the venue, because you had to walk down the aisle and basically walk all the way to where the groom is getting ready. The chairs were not the most comfortable, and they were wooden, so they were quite noisy. Also, there is not a lot of seating, so many people are standing in the front area, even thought it was probably a wedding of less than 75 guests. The upper dining areas is nice; the solarium was bright and beautiful. However, the shape of the dining area is a giant ring, which means there isn't really a central place for the wedding couple/family to sit. Staff: Friendly staff, however they need to work on their attentiveness. Half of the table I was seated at was served, coffee/tea and the other half didn't get served. And no one was checking in on us. When we finally got the attention of one of the people, he directed us to ask a server instead (guess he wasn't a server?!). Food: Very good food. Enjoyed the meal very much. Overall, it is more like a 3.5 out of 5.

    Photos
    La Maquette
    La Maquette
    La Maquette

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    Balzac's - coffeeroasteries - Updated May 2026

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