I was looking for a spot to sit and study on a Friday when I came across Metropolis. The photos…read moreshowcased a beautiful, aesthetic space, and the reviews suggested it was a great place to work thanks to its ample designated laptop seating, plentiful outlets, free Wi-Fi, and lack of time limits.
Upon arrival, I was pleasantly surprised by the abundance of free parking behind the café, with direct access to the entrance. Even at 10 a.m. on a Friday, it was busy. The café has clearly designated laptop seating, while other tables are marked as laptop-free zones. I thought this was a fair system as it creates space for everyone, whether you're studying or working like I was, or simply meeting friends for a casual catch-up. I also noticed that groups of three or more are welcome to sit anywhere, which is a nice touch. Between 4 and 6 p.m., laptops are also permitted throughout the café.
Thankfully, despite the crowd, my sister and I managed to find two neighboring seats in the laptop section. These areas consist of large communal tables with plenty of outlets. While everyone sits together, people generally keep to themselves, making it a productive environment. That said, the café can get quite loud due to the constant flow of customers, conversations, and the occasional work call.
I couldn't resist ordering quite a bit of food to fuel my study session. First was the pesto sandwich (which contains walnuts). It was incredibly flavorful and cheesy, and I was pleasantly surprised by how hot it was served and it even had a satisfying cheese pull. For my drink, I ordered an iced caramel latte. It wasn't quite bold enough for my taste, but it was still enjoyable. I simply prefer a stronger coffee flavor.
For dessert, I tried the pistachio cookie. Aside from the centre, which contained plenty of crushed pistachios, I didn't find it particularly pistachio-forward. It tasted more like a chocolate chip cookie with white and milk chocolate pieces. I also sampled some of my sister's order, including the chicken Caesar wrap, which I would absolutely order next time. The iced strawberry matcha, however, was also lacking in flavor. The standout dessert was definitely the cinnamon bun. It was massive, perfectly made, and something I'd recommend over the cookie any day. Oh, and both the sandwich and wrap came with Lay's chips, which turned out to be a surprisingly enjoyable pairing.
I also want to mention how clean the café was despite the heavy foot traffic. During my several-hour stay, I constantly saw staff wiping down tables, clearing dishes, and tucking chairs back in. The washrooms were also clean, had a good number of stalls, and were well maintained. I especially appreciated that they provided paper towels instead of air dryers.
Overall, Metropolis is an excellent place to spend a few hours studying or working. The thoughtful laptop-friendly setup, abundant outlets, free parking, and welcoming atmosphere make it easy to settle in. While a couple of the drinks and desserts fell a bit short on flavor, the sandwiches, wraps, and cinnamon bun more than made up for it. I'd definitely return, both for another productive work session and to grab that chicken Caesar wrap again.
