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    Cafe Belem

    3.6 (20 reviews)

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    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.

    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!

    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.

    Croissants

    Beautiful Portuguese cafe! The food and drinks are yummy. Seating is limited so be mindful that you may have to wait if you want to stay for a while. The service is also really great. Will definitely be back.

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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.

    Mentioned in 5 reviews

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    The Brick Room - Hazelwood latte

    The Brick Room

    4.6(18 reviews)
    2.7 kmDowntown Core

    Finally tried The Brick Room on Temperance! I've been a frequent customer at the Brookfield…read morelocation, so I wanted to make an extra effort to try the "newer" location. To be honest, the store and decor are so much better than the original store. Maybe because there's usually more traffic in the PATH, so it takes more time for them to keep up? Anyways, the store was cozy and clean and I felt extra welcomed as soon as I stepped in. I got my usual flat white and of course it came with latte art :) They sell more beans and merchandise than the original store, so definitely check it out if you have a chance!

    Excited that Brick Room opened a second location that is NOT in the path and open on weekends!…read more I've had the drinks at Brick Room before and they're always very innovative with their creations. Checking out this location it's all vibe and super adorable inside. They even have a little back outdoor patio space for you to enjoy your drinks. The only reason that this isn't a 5 star is that their drinks are definitely on the sweet side and this is throughout their locations - think they can scale back on the sugar for sure! Opted for their new seasonal mango sticky rice matcha latte which was really good and loved the bits of sticky rice in my drink. But it was on the sweeter side of things. Would've been perfect if they scaled back on the sugar content. Overall, delicious drinks with a rotating seasonal menu. Worth checking out, especially their new space is great for enjoying your cup of caffeine.

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    The Brick Room
    The Brick Room - Pastries

    Pastries

    The Brick Room - Temperance Street location.

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    Temperance Street location.

    The Abbott

    The Abbott

    4.0(41 reviews)
    2.5 kmParkdale
    $

    This is a small coffee shop towards the back of a building, so you might easily drive or walk by it…read morewithout noticing it. Inside, its on the rustic side with naturally decaying walls and patina of wear on the tables and chairs. My latte was good. My scone would have been better if it was less cold. Due to amount of butter and cheese in the dough, with it being really quite cold, it felt vey congealed - but it had great flavour. I would order it again, but I'd perhaps see if they could heat it, or I'd take it home and heat it. The staff was friendly. Would I return: Yes - but I think there are other options in the area that I might head to first. Would I recommend: This is a great place for people who live nearby to get their morning fix.

    This place is awesome. I've been living in the neighbourhoods for a while but started getting my…read morecoffee there about a year ago after the nearby Starbucks closed. Staff is really friendly and the coffee is great, much much better than Starbucks. They are a true small neighbourhoods coffee shop. I believe they source their baked goods from several places, one of which delivers the most amazing chocolate nana bread that I have ever tried. I really hope they'll be able to bring more of that soon. Their coffee is great. You have a costumer y of kills and non- worry options to choose from, as well as syrups of your want to flavour your coffee or tea. They always have great new suggestions as well. And there is no better way than supporting a local business than getting your coffee there.

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    The Abbott - Window seats for two

    Window seats for two

    The Abbott
    The Abbott

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    Ground Level Cafe

    Ground Level Cafe

    2.9(19 reviews)
    2.7 kmParkdale
    $

    Ground Level Cafe's barista is the nicest barista I encountered using my Indie Coffee Passport. If…read morejust for him, I would have give them a 5 star... On a cold winter afternoon, the shop was half empty.. so I can sit where ever I like... either at those nice comfy sofas/armchairs at the back or in the wicker chairs in the front overlooking Queen street under the sunshine... I was surprise when my cappuccino was served in a paper cup?!! I asked the nice guy why not in a mug? I cannot drink from a paper cup that is hot to touch (I have history of spilling hot drinks all over myself or my friends)..I need a mug!!!! Sorry.. they don't have MUGS!! The cappuccino itself is quite good... the roast was a little weak to my liking but the froth was dense and milky... Note to Management: " Please have some mugs!!" and I don't care how environmentally your paper cups are!!!

    Yet another oversized café with only a smattering of tables and chairs. Is this a new trend in…read moreToronto? I swear you could play European handball in here, yet you'll only find two easy chairs, two kitchen-sized tables and several rattan seats near the front. That's not to say the atmosphere isn't swell. I'm sick of saying "exposed brick" so I won't. The Queen St façade is all windows, and the natural light just pours into this high-ceilinged space. And as a graphic design enthusiast, believe me, I love negative space -- but more seating wouldn't hurt. My latte was served at approximately 451 degrees Fahrenheit and took some time to produce, but it was tasty and only $2.75. There is art on the walls (for sale) and a few bookshelves laden with reading material (also for sale). I would certainly spend time in this place (free wifi) but be warned: the music is horrible. I heard two Police tracks while in here, need I say more? Obligatory Title Pun: This place is on the LEVEL. Menu Readability: A big old chalkboard with (gasp) really poor handwriting. Need to mention: They also serve paninis, grilled cheese, bagels and soup. Cash only. What this place teaches me about myself: Don't stand/Don't stand/Don't stand so close to me.

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    Ground Level Cafe
    Ground Level Cafe
    Ground Level Cafe

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    Cafe Belem - bakeries - Updated May 2026

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