Hands down, my favourite coffee shop in Toronto. I'm not a coffee drinker, but they make great tea drinks (the london fog is the best), and an excellent beer selection, from cheap-but-still-good to pricey-and-worth-it! The food is also delicious, with a good selection of salads and sandwiches. The staff are a great bunch of people, and I generally find that if the service is slow, it's because half the neighbourhood has already placed their orders. The atmosphere is as good as the drinks, somehow strangely just as perfect for getting work done as it is for having a drink with a good friend. One important note: it's cash only. They have an ATM in the basement. read more

I went on a weird date here once and thought "this is a great place to go on a weird date", partially because it is somewhat fishbowly, partially because you are probably sharing a long table with someone, partially because you *Will* wait 20 minutes for your avacado sandwich and Oh God There is Nothing To Talk About. They play records here (great), nice tables (great), coffee is totally fine, and while I used to try being really friendly with the servers I've moved into a happy state of whateverism with them. I also often get confused about who is working and who is just a friend of the staff trying to get out of the path to the bathroom (which is rape-sceney but servicable). read more

I've passed by this place numerous times without entering. I suppose I have other places I frequent in the area for just coffee and there are plenty of other restaurants close by that I enjoy and frequent. One day whilst in the neighbourhood being undecided as to whether I wanted a coffee and snack or a full on breakfast I decided to head into Saving Gigi. I'm glad I did. I ordered a coffee and perused the menu. The more I looked at the menu the hungrier I got. So many tasty offerings I didn't know where to begin. Finally I succumbed to a decision by the prompt of a growling stomach and decided on the "old white cheddar" sandwich. As my sandwich was prepared I enjoyed my coffee which was good (organic & fair trade by the way) and took in the atmosphere. It's about average size for an independent cafe, or otherwise what could be considered a small restaurant. It has a warm comfy rustic appeal to the decor. Free wifi so you have the laptop crowd but for the most part it seemed occupied by groups of friends and couples. Sandwich arrived and I immediately started to devour it. My god that's a tasty sandwich! There's just something about a well made sandwich of complimentary fresh ingredients that really hits the spot. Seriously, one of the best I've ever eaten. I almost ordered a second. As for the service it was good, friendly and despite limited kitchen staff I was served in a decent amount of time. Prices are reasonable enough though I wouldn't consider it a most bang for your buck if you are looking for a substantial quantity of food. All in all I enjoyed my time there and am looking forward to exploring more of their menu. Note they have a patio too! read more

I recently had an amazing oat milk cappuccino and pumpkin loaf which was so homemade, moist and delicious. It is my number one place for bake goods and an afternoon cappuccino. read more

Who says a sequel can't live up to an original idea? Everyone's loves a comeback. Enter Saving Gigi. Combine the brains behind the much-loved now defunct cafe nook, Caffe 163, and the ever-popular brunch hotspot, Saving Grace, and you'll get a cozy cafe that serves more than a regular cup of Joe. It's a welcoming addition to the Bloorcourt Village. Saving Gigi carries a variety of fair-trade coffees from around the world that will appease your caffeine fix. Amongst the lattes and espressos, try a unique beverage: the Espressado. An odd mix of ingredients such as condensed milk, espresso, sugar and avocado, its taste is unlike anything else. Wash down the homemade sandwiches and salads with a tall juice made from the juice bar. You'll notice a warm and inviting atmosphere upon entering. Little art clutters the stark white walls except for a large mirror and a few framed prints, contrasting nicely with the dark stained wooden floors. The look is modern, very Soho chic. Wrapped along the front window is the banquet seating, a perfect spot for people watching. The large communal table in the centre of the room is a great opportunity to get to know your neighbours. Since its opening in May of 2008, Saving Gigi's has quickly become a popular homebase for many who live and work in the area. With free wireless available, it's a nice setting to get some work done, fuelled by a few cups of the cafe's signature beverage, the Americano. read more

The vibe: A place stacked with miscellaneous antique furniture, a record player playing a variety of genres from classical to rockabilly, and the friendliest staff under the sun. It's a great place to do some work, there's wifi and sandwiches and great coffee. The food: The sandwiches. It's all about the sandwiches. I've had a bacon and cheddar melt and the chicken club. Both awesome. My go-to meal: Bacon and cheddar melt with apple. mmmmm Secret: There's free wifi, and if it matters to you (like it does to me) their eggs are free range and their meat is locally sourced. Also! Cash only! read more

Service is slightly better when the owner around, and the cute blond who always looks like she's just been painting puts in a great effort. but it's still pretty bad. Doesn't matter because it's such a great spot. Things I've consumed here in the last two weeks include: CEASAR - Best Ceasar I've ever had. SMOOTHIE - Called the "Won't fall for the ol' banana in the tail pipe." Best smoothie I've ever had. Banana, espresso, cinnamon, coconut, maple. Sounds weird, but each second of your sip tastes like a new and exciting story. It would be weird, except the espresso makes it work somehow. ICED LATTE - Better than excellent. BACON/APPLE/CHEDDAR/DIJON ON CIABATTA - One of the best sandwiches I've ever had. BRIE PEARS WALNUTS AND HONEY ON BAGUETTE - Very good BACON/AVACADO/LETTUCE/TOMATO ON RAISIN BREAD - Pretty good Never had anything there that was bad. Most things I've had there are the best I've ever tried. Their patio is the shiz. The restaurant is so cute and so cool. The music is so good. They will forget your water. You will wait ridiculous amounts of time for everything. I am a huge fan. read more

Gigi's has been THE neighborhood coffee shop for as long as I have been in the area ( 4+ years) and has been responsible for bringing the neighbors together day in and out. It's the best place in the city to cozy up with other work-from-coffeeshopers and take part in this awesome community vibe. Oh yeah, coffee is top notch ( they have that latte art down pat) and food is some of the best healthy homemade stuff you can get in T. They really care about their patrons well being here. Saving Gigi, I love you. read more

Friendly barista, great drinks and a good place to work.

This place used to remind me of Montreal cafes - grubby, friendly and warm. New management have redecorated and made this cafe too similar to many other locals. All trying too hard, where one can't sit comfortably for the uptight chairs, nor drink interesting beer, or feel inspired to work or socialize because the place inexplicably sucks your soul out of your ear and tramples it. read more

Perfect end to a walk through Christie Pits as it's a great spot to chat over a coffee during the day or a pint into the evening! The brunch menu is on point and I would go with any of the sandwiches at any time during the rest of the day. Bonus: they often have comedy or live music. read more

Best cappuccino in the city. One of my favorite spots of all time. The owners are awesome, would recommend to anyone. Have been a regular now for over a year. Biscuit sandwich is unreal. 5 stars. read more

Saving Gigi seems to be under new ownership (Nov 2017). The decor has received a much-needed update (I liked the thrift-store feel, but things were actually just starting to fall apart), but the prices have increased as a result. And although it really did need I facelift, I feel like it has lost its original charm. There is a lot of dark grey which makes it a bit heavy and it just doesn't feel like a comfortable place to hang out. They were playing some annoying pop music on the sound system, which didn't help the ambiance. I had a medium Americano and a small muffin and the bill came to over $7 - the Americano alone was $4. Hard for me to justify when I can get a delicious Americano at the Common $2.50. If you like tea you're in luck, they have 30 varieties. I would perhaps go back for tea but not for coffee. read more

Finally a good alternative to Coffee Time in this neighbourhood. Employees are incredibly friendly and make a decent coffee. The place attracts hipsters with laptops who make like it's their office on weekdays so I always get my stuff to go. I'm a muffin-skeptic as a general rule (too many stale ones out there) but I could tell the ones at Saving Gigi were freshly baked just by looking at them and I have not been disappointed by a SG muffin yet. I would actually go so far as to declare their muffins Best in Toronto. My favourite is the chocolate espresso but it's a changing line up every day with 2 or 3 types on offer, usually including some fresh fruit and nut options. Well worth my $2.50. read more

I've got to give a bit of a downgrade, because I love this place, but there is one ass who works there who, when I was pregnant, consistently, and pointedly asked me if I "want a decaf" when I ordered my banana in the tailpipe smoothie, which has a shot of espresso. Even if moderate amounts of caffeine weren't totally okay for pregnant ladies (at least if you believe sources such as Mother risk, run by the Hospital for Sick Children), please keep your barista-ing out of my uterus. THANKS. read more

This is an awesome cafe, with an amazing vibe love the food a lot of variety and options, would highly recommend!

Went for a quick Sunday coffee and brunch with 2 friends. Saving Gigi is a cute and comfy, communal cafe. Americanos are okay - Northwood's are better. Service is a little slow and nothing is served with a smile. Food took awhile - my bf and I both ordered two egg brunches - eggs were really tasty, potatoes were a little bland, and the turkey sausage was tasty but dry. read more

I'd say I come to Saving Gigi at least once every couple weeks for the past few years or so with my boyfriend. It really is hit or miss depending on who's working, although it has enough charm that I keep coming back. Service has definitely gotten worse in the past six months. If you're in a hurry, I'd take a pass on this place, especially if you're eating. Food can take a ridiculously long time to arrive (especially since it's mostly just sandwiches) and I've also had food orders completely forgotten about. That being said, when the food finally arrives, it's quite good. I've had most of the sandwiches on the menu and the bacon, cheddar, avocado one is my favourite. I wouldn't say it's a destination restaurant or cafe, but overall a pretty nice neighbourhood spot. read more

I love saving Gigi's! It definitely has the nicest atmosphere and ambience of any cafe in the area. The owners of the cafe totally make you feel at home once you enter. I've only had the sandwiches there, and they were really awesome. The first one I had was the tofu, and it was heavenly. The second time I went I had the apple and bacon one with cheese, which was also pretty tasty. Their lattes are also pretty decent. Sometimes the service can be a bit slow...it might not be the best place to go if you are in a rush and need a latte to go. read more

When we walked in the door and heard Bob Dylan, we knew we were on to a good thing. My eating companion is a Dylan crazy person so he was hooked immediately. It helped even more that one of the friendly staff, Christian, is also a Bob fan and indulged his obsession for a while and offerred to play more obscure Bob tracks from his collection the next time we come in. As everyone has said below, the atmosphere here is great. You feel like you are hanging out a friend's home. There is stuff in the bookcase and on the walls to peek at. The coffee is great, the french toast with pears was so tasty and my companion said the egg brunch just had all of the things (potato, tomato, parmessan, cilantro, bob dylan) that make his perfect breakfast. We are new to the area (and to the country actually) and this is exactly what we were looking for. I think we have found our local breakfast joint. read more

Now that I've visited a few more times (read: every chance I get) I can safely upgrade this to a 5!

One of my favourite spots in our beautiful city. Great coffee, food and pastries. Great date spot!

What a nice surprise to come around the corner and find Saving Gigi. I knew it the moment I walked in that I would have a good experience here. An owner operated cafe with seriously good coffee and yummies. No arrogant edge to this place. A few seats and wireless, in a neighbourhood that obviously needs a little push in the right direction. read more

This place rules! If you want sum good food served-up in a relaxed & unpretentious environment check this place out. Free wireless juxtaposed w/ a record player spinning vintage vinyl oddities from the 60's & 70's are part of Gigi's eclectic charm. Hopefully by this summer they will have rounded out the place with a patio at the side of the bldng (on Roxton)...looking forward to more. read more

Good music, Vietnamese coffee, southern fried tofu sandwich. The best.

Coffee is quite good. Wifi works fine. So why one star? Waiter, who turned out to be one of the owners, was abusive to my wife and me. Will not be going back. read more

Saving Gigi is an excellent neighbourhood hangout with delicious coffee and good food. It's one of those places where you can set up shop for a few hours thanks to their free wi-fi and big coffees and teas. The only issue here is inconsistent customer service. Sometimes you'll get a great group of staff that are friendly and attentive, but sometimes you end up the a group that doesn't greet you when you're standing at the counter for 5 minutes. Overall it's a wonderful spot that I frequent once or twice a week, but beware of the moody staff! read more

The negative reviews of this place are borne of ignorance. The food is superb and superbly imagined (particularly their vegan options and weekend brunch specials!), the baristas unpretentiously skilful, and the music is eclectic and often inspiring. If you're the type who will let your complaints about waiting ten minutes for a sandwich, or that your free internet isn't running smoothly, or that the bathrooms aren't lined in marble obscure your image of a place, then you should move along and free up one of the always busy seats for people who appreciate something unique. I gladly pay $7.50 for a sandwich made from fresh, homemade ingredients (homemade vegan mayo, vegan spelt bread, free range, organic eggs, etc.) or a salad topped with sautéed onions, figs, and chèvre that seems to go on forever. Approaching the counter for a second coffee almost always brings you into some sort of hilariously obscure debate about politics, music, film, Buddhism, sex, drugs, or rock and roll. Goddam, if I wanted empty pleasantries I'd go to starbuks! The reason this place has never been in the Now! or any other of the mainstream publications is because vapid Torontonians just don't get it. The owner's of Saving Gigi haven't just built a wonderful cafe, they've built a community of some of the most creative and warm people in the city. Quasi-homeless drunks sit side by side with three generations of award-winning indie musicians, chess nerds, carpenters, artists, academics, anarchists, architects, radical feminists, poets, novelists, lawyers, dancers, yogis, Buddhist monks (really), and yes, even hipsters. Conversations with strangers are the rule rather than the exception here and the people watching is some of the best in the city. It takes all of an afternoon to be included in the community and meet someone who might just become your new best friend. Or at least to meet someone you really want to sleep with. This is the truth of the place. Believe the hype. read more

The thing I like the most about here is how they play records throughout day. They have a wall of books and records for you to look at and which they play. There's a cozy layout w dark wooden benches and chairs. There are a couple communal tables Which creates an open and friendly vibe. The two people running the cafe the day I went were very friendly and brought me water right away after I finished my coffee. They have limited menue items for sandwiches, but the grilled sandwich I had when I went was deeeelicious! They offer a solid selection of beers, and have a variety of events at night. read more

I was really looking forward to finally checking this place out but, like some of the other reviewers, was a bit disappointed by Saving Gigi. Couldn't really see what the fuss is about, I live about 3 mins bike ride away but wouldn't bother to come back. I went with a friend for Sunday brunch - thought we were in luck as a table vacated as we came in, no one greeted us so we just sat ourselves down. Waited about five mins, no one came over or said anything so we just went to counter to see what the deal was. Weird non-table/table division of labour. Not many brunch options, only the "special" which was pricey (I think it was 8-9 bucks?) for veggie option that came with gross-looking fried meat wannabe type thing. The staff seemed more interested in chatting between themselves about their hangovers rather than talking to customers who were waiting at the counter. Maybe they're more helpful if you are a regular but I wouldn't be bothered to find out. read more

Saving Gigis is one of those places you can have an incredible conversation with a total stranger or write a novel without anyone interrupting you. It's a community where jazz musicians play their instruments with passion and precision, where record players have an infinite selection and you have that vague sense you have been invited to an introvert's perfect party. If you go for breakfast get the biscuit sandwich. It's a gourmet version of that Tim Hortons biscuit that makes it okay to get up at five in the morning to get on a plane and sit next to someone who snores. Every gourmet sandwich is delicious. Personally I stick to my top three : melted cheddar, cranberry club and another sandwich I believe named after a cheese. All have bacon. Good bacon. The type your mother made when she realized you didn't cry at the end of Charlotte's Web. Horrifyingly delicious. I am an addict of ice americanos and Gigis makes a mean one. The type to get your heart going a little faster and make your mind razor focused like you were ready to defuse a bomb if you had to. The owners are community builders and a fantastic couple. They know most everyone who comes there and have good singing voices. I know this because I hear them singing to their adorable child. The songs usually involve the words poop. That is the only shitty thing about Saving Gigis and I mean that exclusively as a pun. They have cool drink specials everyday and great beer on tap. It's the type of place that makes Toronto worth living in. Where the staff actually want to work there and hang out after their shifts and know what you are going to order before you do. Where the coffee is great, the food memorable and the people the friends you haven't met yet. read more

The girl taking our order didn't smile once and looked very annoyed that we needed a menu (which we couldn't access ourselves at the time). She had to think about whether we could get an order to go and then when it was handed over and we realized there was no cutlery, she blankly stated that they don't have any. I had to point out the container filled with plastic forks behind her and ask for one. Besides the shit service, the food was edible. read more

i like it i don't know what the internet is but i go there for good coffee and music and to marry my various wives and husbands the sandwiches are good and the water clean i like that it costs more because they get fresh products and grow their food in the basement with chipmunks and elves some of the staff are hand drawn and resemble scribbles i like it when old people come in dripping blood from their butcher beef outfits cos they are butchers down the street read more

The first time I came to this place was only a few weeks ago while meeting one of my co-workers who lives in the neighbourhood. During the day it was packed with people working on their laptops, which is what I do at cafes close to me. I like that this place is very friendly to people coming in to do work during the day. One of the complaints I had was that I sat near the window and the heat was almost unbearable as there were floor heaters right underneath me. There was also a shortage of plugs, but luckily one one the patrons in the place ran down the street to a hardware store and picked up a powerbar and shared it with a bunch of us who were all getting low on our laptops. As for the lattes - yum. i definitely have no complaints, and I did like their music choices, which seemed to be coming from a turntable near the counter at the back. When I'm in this neighbourhood again, I'll be back read more

So, I've always loved Saving Gigi, but my experience yesterday was more than disgusting. I ordered a chive scone, and when what I thought was a piece of chive fell off the top, I thought nothing of it and kept on eating. When I finished the end of my scone, I went to polish off some of the crumbs and realized it was not a chive at all, but a dead cockroach. GROSS! I nearly ate that! And you know what's worse? When I brought my plate up to the front, I got a terse apology. And that was it. You served me a dead cockroach, I expect profuse apologies...and hey, maybe a refund? I didn't realize I was buying a scone with 'essence of roach'. Inspect your food here before you eat it...just sayin'. read more

So the staff might not be overly excited to see you, but the wooden tables, free Wifi and chill music make this a great place to do some work or grab a coffee. They do have some nice, simple sandwiches and the coffee's ok, but it's good for taking your laptop or book and wiling away a wintry day. read more

A great place to get a coffee, sandwich or delicious smoothie and read a book or hang out in the Bloorcourt area, with free wifi (which, obviously, gets a bit slow during peak hours). The large windows provide lots of nice light, and the simple, re-used furniture (old wooden chairs, desks) makes you feel at home. A single, long table spans much of the room, encouraging conversation with strangers, which is nice. They seem to have a bit of a patio now as well, which will be great in the summer. read more

Not just coffee and tea - it's also an awesome place to see a show. Small, so get there early if they're having any kind of gig or you run the chance of not getting in. They have an awesome tap selection and a good run of microbrews in bottles as well. read more

Good quality, cheap coffee. I want to try brunch here one day. Super chilled cafe with free WiFi. And super hipster. Staff are so so... depends who is making your coffee. I guess I'm used to more engaging baristas and café staff who make you feel at ease. These dudes are kind of passive about that, but maybe that's the vibe of the café. I still go for the coffee. It's decent! read more

One of my favourite spots in the neighbourhood. The owners, Christian and Amelia, are not only super nice, but are also tapped into the community and make huge effort to participate in the neighbourhood. The food is consistently great - they make a lot of things from scratch, which I appreciate so much. Coffee is also great. The service isn't the fastest, but it's not a 'grab breakfast to go' kind of place for us. We really love sitting in the cozy atmosphere and having a lazy breakfast. Our favourites include: tailpipe smoothie, breakfast sandwich, southern fried tofu sandwich, and biscuit sandwich. read more