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    Playground Cafe

    4.6 (26 reviews)
    Closed 9:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Playground Cafe Photos

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    PLAYGROUND CAFE ATMOSPHERE

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    Bella Rosa
    Jo-Anne L.

    A charming place, with an equally charming menu! This cafe is located in a basement area, with seating all around the sides surrounding a large centrepiece artwork (which I understand changes every so often). As soon as we entered, I was struck by the unique atmosphere - the decor is minimalistic and almost muted, dominated by white tables and walls, but at the same time gave off an intimate, harmonious feeling. The food items are all quite interesting, serving up a variety of fascinating drinks and desserts. I ordered the Bella Rosa, a beautiful blend of fragrant rose tea and lychee and lemon juice bringing sweet and sour notes - super refreshing and delicious! I would say that my friend's sweet potato latte unfortunately felt below par, as the sweet potato chunks were not mixed well with the espresso. Their specialty drinks are probably the way to go. An incredible spot to spend a lazy afternoon reading, working, or chatting with friends! I can't wait to see the next artwork they have in store.

    Sweet potato latte and peach ade
    Queenie L.

    I have no idea why all the sweet potato lattes I've had before were never caffeinated, they were always just milk. However this combo was perfect. I absolutely loved this drink and the sweetness level was perfect for me. The cafe is also very aesthetic. The only con is that there were a lot of flies inside the cafe and not a lot of seating.

    Honeydew Matcha (Left) Purple Kiss (Right)
    Cynthia W.

    A café, art gallery and clothing store all in one! NomNomNom is a stunning café situated off the corner of Parliament St. and Aberdeen Ave. At the center of the space, there is a dreamy installation of clouds. Creative quotes are scattered along the walls. (Bonus: it's dog-friendly! The owners have a pug that wanders around greeting guests) We ordered the Purple Kiss, Honeydew Matcha, and Cassava Custard. I thoroughly enjoyed the lychee flavours of the Purple Kiss, but it was a bit too sour at the bottom. The Honeydew Matcha was also a nice combination, but it had chunks of honeydew that didn't really fit through the straw, so a little hard to drink by the end. I don't think I'd ever tried a cassava dessert before but it was delicious. Great choice for a pastry. I believe the café opened just over a month ago, but throughout the hour we were there on a Sunday afternoon, business was very steady (seats were almost always full). As they have free wi-fi, I would definitely consider coming back if I want to get some work done in an aesthetic space.

    Strawberry Espresso, matcha taro latte, and mango croffle
    Trina P.

    I came here on a very hot summer weekday in Toronto. The cafe was fairly empty with a large art exhibit in the middle of it and seating around the perimeter. I thought the concept of the cafe was cool but not really my cup of tea. However, I thought the drinks and food were fantastic!!! My cousin and I ordered a mango croffle to share and the matcha taro latte and a strawberry espresso drink. Both drinks had what tasted like fresh, real fruit and vegetable puree. I was OBSESSED with the matcha taro latte. The croffle had real whipped cream (thank god no reddi whip), crushed graham crackers, and fresh chopped mango. It was buttery and delicious. I highly recommend Playground Cafe for their drinks and food (and tbh the prices were reasonable too!).

    Gabrielle W.

    Absolutely LOVE the vibe and ambience of this coffee shop. It's sleek, chill, and very opening. i love the unique types of coffee they have like march strawberry lattes and strawberry espresso! [ and so much more ] If in Toronto, give this shop a try. The coffee won't disappoint, nor will the aesthetic. Walk around, sit, read a bit of poetry or just soak in the art and words around. NomNomNom is definitely worth a visit. Thanks for the amazing time & Stellar coffee.

    Croffle and matcha + strawberry coconut drinks
    Samiha R.

    Very cute spot with incredible desserts and drinks! It's cozy but inviting. The desserts are a good balance of tasty and not overly sweet.

    Agnes W.

    Finding new cafes to try is one of my favorite things to do so when I came across this place, I knew I had to try! I have read and seen clips of coffee mixed with orange juice before but never lemonade, and Playground Cafe offered that on their menu. I was skeptic at first, but it surprisingly worked! This drink was served iced, and I found it quite refreshing. The space itself is very artsy but it is located underground so there's no source of natural light. They have multiple "photo corners" and you can tell it's an artsy place starting right from their entrance. At the time I went, it was in the late afternoon. There was only one other person there.

    Aisha F.

    This was my first time going to Playground Cafe, and it's safe to say that you shouldn't expect this cafe to be a standard cafe, like starbucks or second cup. Located in somewhat like an underground unit, this cafe always seems to have a new art piece- whether it's paintings, or an abstract figure, you always have something to catch your eye when you walk down those steps. One thing that I wish they improved on at this cafe- I tried ordering some pastries along with my drink (an ube cake and some kind of croissant meal)- and both were out of stock. I went in on a friday evening, and it wasn't extremely crowded, there were two or three more empty tables to sit from. I was just a little bummed out that they didn't have any other pastries/ foods to buy. I wouldn't recommend this cafe as a beneficial place to actually buy a meal- it is a cafe after all, and when it comes to a place like this (where it is more about visuals and aesthetics over food and drinks), I would suggest maybe eating before, or finding someplace else to eat. Would love to go back again when they have their pastries in stock :))

    Whitney Z.

    Cute cafe in Cabbagetown with monthly art instillations. Great place to get aesthetic drinks and desserts and catch up with friends. Lots of cute corners and photo ops to take pictures. However, this is not the kind of cafe for you if you're looking to study or get some work done. Seats are quite low and seating can be limited. Service is quick and friendly.

    Dessert
    Clarence C.

    The staff are so friendly. And the place is so hidden! Go check it out if you haven't :) Great menu btw.

    Sonia C.

    Very cute, artsy and aesthetic cafe! It's neat that They always feature different local artists' work. We tried the strawberry purée espresso and honeydew matcha. The honeydew matcha had shreds of honeydew in it . Very unexpected but enjoyable for me. The strawberry espresso was okay. Not sure if the flavours really went well together but definitely unique if you want to try something different! We also got the almond croissant and ube mini cake. The ube mini cake could've used more ube flavour as I couldn't really taste the ube, it was just a purple cake to me. Looking forward to coming back the next time I'm in the area and want a low key and quiet place to chill for a bit.

    Love this place! Had a soy latte that really hit the spot. It's a welcome alternative to the snarly hipness of the only other local option. Plus they take debit. It's just a little in from the corner of Aberdeen and Parliament

    Drinks:  Jeju Paradise   Purple Kiss    Desserts:   chocolate cake   ube cake
    Jessie M.

    Such a cute, minimalistic cafe with serene vibes. Highly recommend trying their " jeju paradise"and "ube cake" sweetness meter: 9/10

    Purple kiss

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    Cong Caphe

    Cong Caphe

    4.3
    (43 reviews)
    1.3 km
    $

    Still one of my favourite coffee shops in Toronto. They have a new matcha line so I got the matcha…read morecoconut smoothie and it did not disappoint. Matcha flavour and coconut were strong. Still one of my favourite places to do some computer work. Wifi can be a bit spotty at time, but I still like to work here offline for the vibes. Staff are all super friendly and the service has gotten faster over time.

    Here is my Rappoem™ review on Cong Caphe based on my first-time visit to the establishment (3 Elm…read moreSt) on May 30th, 2026: [ + ] Ordered an iced matcha latte [ ~ ] with an oat beverage substitution [ + ] Sort of a nice match for ya, (those [ ~ ] wanting a powdered substance to chew on)°¹ [ + ] Though this wouldn't be [ ~ ] my drink of preference [ + ] There are still neat things [ ~ ] I can think of to mention [ + ] From the window seat benches°² [ ~ ] to bookcase-filled desks;°²′¹ [ + ] For a place with limited space,°²′² [ ~ ] The decor still has some freshness°²′³ [ + ] On the upper level, [ ~ ] There is overhead venting;°³ [ + ] But down in the basement, [ ~ ] It's messy and distressing° [ + ] There's some interesting artwork along the wall°′¹ [ + ] But overall; it's like an underground dungeon [ ~ ] And the site is quite dingy°′² [ + ] I'd also be remiss not to mention [ ~ ] That the washroom was so stinky°′³ [ + ] Cong Caphe... Would I go back? [ + ] Well, despite the fact it smelled like crap, [ ~ ] And the MATCHA was so thick it could clog a sink [ + ] I'd still GO-BACK-TA try a different drink [ ~ ] But avoid the DISASTA downstairs with all that stink Symbols Legend: [ + ] / [ ~ ] Tempo cues (regular / syncopated continuation) ALL CAPS = phonetic emphasis Annotation Barcode: °¹ Matcha Powder: The matcha powder was excessive, resulting in an overly chalky texture, contrasting the otherwise refreshing aesthetic of the iced beverage. °²″ Spatial Observations: It's not a very spacious place but they've made efficient use of the seating arrangements. There are four glass-top tables (with vintage books displayed within them) that can accommodate 3-4 people. There are also a couple of benches against the wall in the order pick-up area. Opposite to that is the neat window seating / bench area where I was able to make myself comfortable by sitting cross-legged on the seating cushion. °³ Overhead Venting: Sitting directly under the ceiling vents provided a welcome, cooling AC breeze in the tight space. °″ Basement Contrast: The clean and delicate aesthetic of the upper level sharply contrasts with the dingy, dungeon-like basement and stinky washroom. The stairway separating the two levels functions as an "inter-resting" transition zone--literally residing between the two tiers--featuring an installation wall where a megaphone, briefcase satchel, and a canteen are mounted directly onto a wooden display board. *To be fair, the actual seating area in the basement was aesthetically furnished similar to the upstairs but felt quite cramped. 댄스고 ======== For more content, follow @daenseugo

    Photos
    Seating area
    Seating area
    Coconut Cocoa Smoothie ($7.85), Coconut Green Rice Smoothie ($8.10)
    Coconut Cocoa Smoothie ($7.85), Coconut Green Rice Smoothie ($8.10)
    Coconut Cocoa Smoothie ($7.85), Coconut Green Rice Smoothie ($8.10)

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    Coconut Cocoa Smoothie ($7.85), Coconut Green Rice Smoothie ($8.10)
    NEO COFFEE BAR BAY X COLLEGE

    NEO COFFEE BAR BAY X COLLEGE

    4.1
    (98 reviews)
    1.5 km

    Loved the ambiance of this Neo Coffee Bar location! My friend and I were looking for a spot to grab…read morea hot matcha latte on a chilly evening, and we happened to be in the area. Walking inside, the warm cosy lighting and long barista/display counter immediately caught our eye. While it was relatively busy, it was also fairly quiet - perfect for those who wanted a quieter space as well as those looking for soft, casual conversation. We were sucked in by the delectable looking strawberry roll cake in the display counter for an early dessert! The cake was light, fluffy, and not overly sweet, balanced with just the right amount of strawberry & whipped cream filling. We also shared a hot, unsweetened matcha latte. The bitterness of the matcha, creaminess of the frothed milk & whipped cream, and sweetness of the cake were a perfect culinary match :) Would definitely come back for another visit!

    This pains me to write but I have to. I love Neo coffee! It's one of the best ones in the city…read more However, I recently visited to try their ube latte and doesn't even begin to cover it. I know that the ube trend is taking over but PLEASE before you advertise your product as such, DO YOUR RESEARCH and make sure that you are actually serving the thing. I'm Filipino and not only did I feel so offended by how this tasted, I also felt like I should be refunded. First of, the ube mixture was RED. I don't know where you're getting your ube mixture from but ube is PURPLE. The powder was chunky and did not at all taste like ube. Please, I get it we all want to make money from whats popular but take time to educate yourself. Get it from the right source OR ask a person who knows the product if its being presented right or if tastes remotely close. I'm very disappointed and would no longer be advertising Neo to my friends & family

    Photos
    Matcha Latte  https://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/
    Matcha Latte https://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/
    Strawberry Cake Roll https://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/
    Strawberry Cake Roll https://www.instagram.com/the.wanderin.foodie/
    NEO COFFEE BAR BAY X COLLEGE

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    Playground Cafe - cafes - Updated June 2026

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