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    Cafe Belem

    3.6 (22 reviews)

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    Cherry M.

    I think I just found the best pastel de nata in town! Very cute spot, loving the interior!

    Zi C.

    Came here after seeing all the reviews about how good their natas are. We been to Portugal previously and have been trying to find natas that tastes similar to the ones we had in Portugal . This place didn't disappoint with the natas. It was still warm, the middle being a bit running, and the shells being very crispy. It's the closest nata experience we have in comparison to Portugal. But the only downside is it is quite expensive for 1 nata, $3/each. The expresso that we tried in Portugal was very smooth and good. But the ones that we had here were very bitter. Definitely don't recommend on its own. The service was like a fast food service. You get your food and then have to wait for your drink. Which takes some time as only 1 employee operates the machine. The place itself is really nicely decorated. Definitely reassembles Portugal. We even found some can seafood that we bought from Portugal here. The seating area seems large, but it's a self service. You pretty much have to wait until someone leaves, and wait in line for a spot. That's really one of the bigger downfall.

    Geraldine G.

    A respite from the winter inside this Portuguese forward space. The space is beautiful. Seating like any popular cafe is not easy . First come, first serve. That's probably the issue I could see with patrons. I see quite a few of those MacBooks camped here. But the fresh pastel de nata with a sprinkling of cinnamon was delicious. Cappuccino was solid. The focaccia sandwich I had although well toasted not my favourite. Would I go here again? Absolutely. Customer service was friendly and easily answered any questions I had

    Andrew B.

    Having recently returned from an unforgettable trip to Portugal, the flavors of its cuisine, the beauty of its landscapes, and the warmth of its people are still fresh in my mind. Eager to recapture a taste of that experience here in Toronto, I visited Café Belém--a name that immediately stood out, evoking the birthplace of the iconic Pastel de Belém (commonly known elsewhere as pastel de nata). The café's charming interior, complete with traditional tilework, initially raised my hopes. In Portugal, my mornings followed a simple, comforting ritual: a tosta mista, a pastel de nata, and an espresso. I ordered the same trio here, hoping for a nostalgic reprise. Unfortunately, what followed was a deeply disappointing experience that fell far short of expectations. The pastel de nata, which should have been the highlight, was structurally poor--its custard overly sweet and lacking the signature silky-yet-set texture. The pastry shell, instead of being crisp and delicately flaky, was dense and unevenly baked. These are not minor quibbles; they speak to a fundamental misunderstanding of what makes this pastry so beloved. Rather than an homage, this felt like an amateur imitation. The tosta mista also missed the mark. Traditionally a balance of crusty bread, salty ham, and mild cheese, this version featured bread that was too thick and dry, overwhelming the filling and throwing off the delicate ratio. The ham and cheese lacked contrast--neither salty nor creamy enough to create that satisfying interplay of flavors. As for the espresso, it was bitter and lacked body, likely due to over-extraction--possibly the result of a busy single-machine setup. While operational strain is understandable, espresso is central to the Portuguese café experience, and this one felt like an afterthought. Though the staff were friendly, the only Portuguese I heard spoken was Brazilian Portuguese. While this isn't inherently negative, it did underscore the broader issue: a disconnect between the café's branding and its cultural execution. It's disheartening to see more "Portuguese" establishments opening in Toronto without doing justice to the food traditions they reference--especially as Portugal becomes increasingly trendy. Even the least memorable pastel de nata I had in Lisbon was miles ahead of what I tasted here. The only redeeming quality was the thoughtfully designed interior. Overall, Café Belém may appeal to the uninitiated, but for anyone familiar with the genuine article -- Café Belém may know how to decorate like Lisbon, but it forgot how to taste like it. 2.5/5

    Elvis A.

    Despite the hype I didn't quite enjoy my visit here (it was the middle of a snowstorm had nothing to do with it). The setup is nice though it does get slammed. I did a grab and go option but did have my cappuccino there along with a nata and a pastry. Nata is good other hmmm very average. Same goes for the takeaway items they are mediocre IMO. All this won't effect their popularity though as we live in insta worthy or not world so whether it's the wait time or the setup that gets the tiktok likes they will get enough business.

    Becky C.

    Stopped by this weekend and it was super busy!!! There were lots of employees working behind the counter so service was quick. We ordered a few things to share and took them home because there was no space to dine in. The pastries were all very good. I would love to come back and try more. They're very popular right now so I think it will be a while before it's easy to get a seat. One of the staff members was really nice and knowledgeable. I think he might be the owner. I liked the branding on everything and the overall vibe.

    Eileen L.

    Pretty Portuguese cafe with a seating area. I love the decor here, it reminds me of cafes when I visited Portugal. We got some cappuccinos and pastel de nata on a Sunday morning. It was quite busy inside, but the line moved quickly. It did take about 10 mins for us to get our coffee though, there was only one barista. There's quite a few tables but since it was so busy we got takeout. Prices are very reasonable! The pastel de nata was good (8/10), texture was perfect but I prefer stronger vanilla flavor. It was pretty small. Service was quick and polite. I would def come back, especially when the hype dies down.

    Oat Latte
    Susan L.

    Very nice cafe to go hang out and catch up with friends. Great vibes and the latte was very smooth. They are also known for their Portuguese pastries, specifically their tarts. I was there chatting with a friend over coffee but next time I plan on trying their tarts (everyone else was ordering it) Staff were friendly and it was a very cozy cafe. Note they have signs on the table that say no laptop so not a place to do work.

    Ada L.

    Cafe Belem located along College St near Euclid is European style bakery and cafe specializing in Portuguese goods. It is actually opened by Mercado restaurant and has taken over the old Kalendar space. The bakery is open early (at 8am!) where you can grab coffee and tea of your choice and sweet/savoury baked goods. They have pastel de natas baked fresh as well. The cafe has both take out and plenty of seating if you'd like to have your drink/goodies at the store. They also sell a ton of canned seafood, teas, and wines as well. I stopped by Cafe Belem on a Thursday morning right when they opened at 8am. The many pastries and baked goods on display looked delicious and I had a hard time choosing. Staff mentioned that everything was just baked fresh so I likely can't go wrong with anything I choose. I opted for a ham and cheese croissant and a cappuccino with oat milk. I also got a pastel de nata before I left as I saw them on display where they were freshly made. Space wise, the place is beautifully decorated - transports you to Portugal with the tiles on the walls, the patterned tiles on the floor, as well as the exposed brick walls + several plants scattered throughout the cafe. The cabinet displaying the many beautiful plates was eye catching as well The space gives off a relaxed atmosphere where you can take your time enjoying your food/drink. In terms of my cappuccino, it was made well. The ham and cheese croissant I had was delicious. I think I've found my new favourite place to get pastel de natas because these Portuguese custard tarts were so yummy. I regret just getting one as I could have eaten more. Overall, great new bakery and cafe in the Little Italy neighbourhood. No doubt that it will become a new favourite for the locals and for the city.

    Iced latte & iced mocha, Portuguese tart
    Alexa J.

    I've been here twice and really enjoyed their coffee and treats! Obviously had to get their Portuguese tarts and I thought they were delicious. I've had them in Portugal as well and would say they are pretty comparable in my opinion. I also enjoyed their coffee, and I will say that their prices are pretty fair. Would definitely recommend checking out this cute cafe!

    Ash P.

    Finally got to check out this cute little bakery and was not disappointed. The decor, the staff, the friendliness, I felt like I was transported back to Portugal. A friend and I attended around 1pm, I knew there would be a high chance a table wouldn't have been available as it gets busy, there is limited seating and there's no time limit on how long you can stay; which I appreciate. Do note this is not a place to do work - although it says no laptops there was one person who was dining solo with their laptop and nothing was said. Not sure if this is something they actually enforce aside from the little sign on the table. Nonetheless, I ordered a cappuccino and Pao De Deus. My friend ordered a cappuccino and cookie. The coffee and pao de deus were fantastic. Her cookie wasn't the greatest. A weird combination of flavours. I was a tad disappointed as their selection of food was limited. A couple beside our table had ordered tosta mistas and it was only then I remembered they had them. Otherwise I wouldn't have seen anything at the front to imply they offered them. The set up is a little awkward. You secure a table, go place your order and then can return to your table but must keep an ear out for them to call your name. Otherwise, a great little place to catch up with a friend. I wish there was more seating as when we arrived there was a table of four taking up two tables. But I did notice that between 1:30pm and 2:30pm it quieted down a bit. Definitely don't pass up the opportunity to check this pl

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    1 year ago

    Overall the space is very beautiful but the staff is extremely rude and condescending. Would not go back.

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    Review Highlights - Cafe Belem

    I think I've found my new favourite place to get pastel de natas because these Portuguese custard tarts were so yummy.

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    Le Conciliabule Lab

    Le Conciliabule Lab

    4.8
    (11 reviews)
    3.5 km

    My wife wanted to go there so we went on 2023-01-31 mid-morning when there would more selection…read more They definitely have quite a selection of pastries and savoury food. My wife always judges a French Cafe by their Butter Croissant ($3.00) and she liked it! She also noticed all the  staff speak French sp it gives it even more legitimacy.  She also ordered a Flat White ($4.50) which was also good. I ordered a Plum Almond Tart ($7.25) because it was the prettiest. It was super delicious so it was definitely a good choice! Service was courteous and friendly. You place your order at the counter and bring it to your table. Someone will come around to clear the dishes when you are done It is a great place to have a nice casual time eating and socializing. They make all their food in-house in the basement. There are products for sale such as coffee beans, fruit syrup, maple syrup, smoked sauces, olive oil, scented soap, wine glassware, etc. I will definitely come back again to try other items. There is free WiFi. The neo-bisto is not wheelchair accessible since there are stairs leading up to the entrance. There are two gender-neutral washrooms. There is free street parking on their one-way south-bound street. Review 2023-017

    Amazing place! I…read morecalled ahead to find out if they had this plum tart I purchased the first time I was there. Yet no one answered the phone. No problem. Hopped on my bike and a half hour later I was there. The friendly staff helped me by answering my question regarding eggs and which items did not have any in the recipes. This place was also super poppin' when I got there. It was earlish in the day around 10:30am and it seemed all the tables were pretty much taken. They are adding a dinner menu which is very exciting. Their pastries are phenomenal!!! Picked up a plum and pistachio tart, a chocolate mousse cake and an apple Danish for my mom. Plus a chocolate caramelized croissant. So much butter, and yet so good. Brought my container, which they happily used. The last time I visited this spot back in 2022, I vowed I would come back and take up space in that beautiful bay window seat. Yet I haven't followed through with that yet. One day. They also changed the name, since I was there last it was called Le Conciliabule Lab. Le Conciliabule means, "speak easy", as their website says. It was used back in the day to describe a place where people would come together and talk about everything and nothing. I can definitely say that happens here. What a beautiful concept, "everything and nothing". Now named Bisou, which means kiss. That's actually really simple and sweet. Since every pastry and any food item or beverage enjoyed here is a kiss for your tastebuds. Love it. Keep going team. You are amazing!

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    Cafe Belem - bakeries - Updated July 2026

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