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Synonym

4.7 (17 reviews)
Closed 8:00 am - 6:00 pm

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SYNONYM ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Classy
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Synonym

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Jonathan S.

It was a joy to stumble upon Synonym upon my return to Hamilton. I absolutely loved the design and functionality of the space, and the staff was very kind and patient with our group when ordering. Since it was our first time to Synonym, we were glad to see various spaces and things to do inside the café. The large table was perfect for us, and I imagine it would be ideal for working, studying, and other social engagements. If you're there for drinks, I would totally recommend one of the Orange Chardonnays. They are lovely, and are some of the best wines I have had to date. I can't wait to be back here in the summer. Thanks for creating such a fun space!

Maberry Y.

We went to Synonym in the summer and this place has incredible brunch. We had a breakfast sando, French toast, and beet salad. All three incredible and we will be returning.

Turmeric Latte
Lo C.

I found Synonym on IG and was so excited to try a new cafe in Hamilton where I can read/apply for school. There is street parking which can be paid by the meters OR you can go around the corner and park on the side streets for free for a little walk. Synonym is super cute as featured on IG. There's several mini tables in the front for individual tables or a huge table in the back which can be shared. My barista recommended the tumeric latte when I found out they didn't serve chai. The tumeric latte came out dark golden and was incredibly visually appealing. The cup was huge with a clear 'latte art design'. The taste itself is amazing. The barista did not hold back on the tumeric and it came through strong and aromatic with a great load of spice. Amazing. I can't seem to find something as good as this in Toronto as of yet. The only downside is how uncomfortable the seating is. Although it looks great and simplistic, sitting on a wooden bench after an hour does get very uncomfortable.

Gary L.

Upon entering it was nice to see such a simplistic but aesthetic cafe, walking further in there is a magazine aisle which has all sorts of art books which are for sale or viewing which is really nice. Walking more past the aisle and there is a seating with really nice photographic walls. Decided to order the wild mushroom grilled cheese sandwich! It was really nice that they served it with a side of ketchup (it's a weird food combination for some but it's my favourite) Overall a nice cafe to go to for studying or just catching up with friends

Agnita M.

Service: * The service was good. Nothing specific or special to note about. * It was polite, friendly and fairly transactional. 3/5 Atmosphere: * In short, this shop is GORGEOUS. It is aesthetically pleasing and has everything you would and could want in a café. * This shop took over the former Oswald's gallery space and did a 360 with the interior. * The space is all white and complimented with wooden fixtures, floors and tables. The hints of color come from the art, books and that to die for Terrazzo counter top. * This space is so wonderful for reading, working or even catching up with friends during the day. I can only imagine the intimate setting and speakeasy feel to this space in the evening. * The feature wall with coffee table books are also something special and rare these days. There are also unique art hung on the walls. Walk around the shop and treat it like a museum and it is as beautiful as one. 5/5 Full Review: www.thelocalepicure.ca Instagram: @thelocalepicure

The outside
Priscilla W.

I absolutely LOVE the place. Located along James St North, not too far from Jackson Square. This cafe is vegetarian and vegan friendly!! The cafe is very welcoming; it is aesthetically pleasing to the eye with warm wooden chairs/tables and white walls. It is simple yet elegant! It is narrow at the front of the cafe (ideally for small groups with 2-3 people), but there are a lot more tables/space at the back for bigger groups. When I walked in, I was greeted by a friendly gentleman. He told us the delicious snacks (e.g. cookies and scones) that they had that day as well as the fresh oatmeal yogurt parfait that they had just made in the morning. After perusing the menu, I got a regular brewed coffee ($2.75). Sidenote: Their brewed coffee machine is SO BEAUTIFUL and UNIQUE. They served Detour coffee when I was there, but they also serve pilot and other brands other times. The coffee was slightly on the acidic side. I usually add a bit of cream to my coffee, but the barista that day suggested that I try it black first before adding anything. It was more acidic that I liked so I added a bit of cream to offset it. Nonetheless, it was great! I also got a small lentil soup ($4) and it was absolutely delicious! Loads of chunky lentils with enough spices! Perfect soup for a cold winter day. It came out super hot which I loved! :) My friend got the grilled cheese sandwich($7) and a Cortado ($.3.75). The grilled cheese sandwich was crunchy and creamy and it came with a side of ketchup. We loved that it was not oily at all. The bread was super nice. Even when it turned cold, it was still delicious! Often at times you can't taste the mushroom in sandwiches because they are all mushed up, but you can definitely taste the earthy wild mushrooms in this sandwich! The best part about this sandwich was that my friend did't feel bloated or super full after consuming it. Win! As for the cortado ($3.75), it had a really nice texture and it was steamed really nice. Loved the latte art! Just to note that some items on the menu are off season so you might not get to try some of the things when you go! But don't worry, they will have the items back! They also serve beer and wine if you want some alcoholic drinks!! A definite recommended place! I'll be back very soon!

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2 years ago

Yummy sandwich, pasgreat coffee, friendly staff, nice seating inside and out. Will be back next time I'm in town.

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Review Highlights - Synonym

:) My friend got the grilled cheese sandwich($7) and a Cortado ($.

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The Wine Bar

The Wine Bar

(4 reviews)

My party of four visited during Taste of Oakville, and in hindsight, the evening foreshadowed…read moreitself early -- the restaurant's website was down with a 404 error, and we kept finding two different addresses (one apparently their old location). We eventually found it. Upon arrival, the door swung open and struck a seated guest -- a sign of just how small the space is. The restaurant was full except for one four-top (clearly ours), and we stood awkwardly in the entrance -- which is essentially inside the dining room -- waiting to be acknowledged. When greeted, we were asked if we had a reservation. We said yes. "Table for eight?" we were asked, which felt impossible given the size of the room. We clarified four, and were pointed to the only open table. No name was requested; we realistically could have just walked in and taken it. The space is starkly lit with aggressive bright white lighting that feels more clinical than cozy. The artwork is interesting and gives a gallery-like feel -- it seems the restaurant is aiming for a downtown Toronto wine bar aesthetic, but it doesn't quite land. Our table was missing water glasses, and the stemware was mismatched -- not in an intentional, charming way, but more in a "we ran out" way. Once seated, we weren't acknowledged or offered water for nearly 20 minutes. Not rushing guests is one thing; leaving them feeling forgotten is another. When our server finally arrived, the service set the tone for the evening. One glass of water was poured before he realized another was missing. He disappeared, returned with a glass, inspected it mid-pour, then walked away again (dirty glass). After several more trips and long gaps, everyone eventually received water -- about 15 minutes later. He was polite and friendly, just clearly untrained. He shared that the owner is also the sommelier, cook, and server, and that he liked working there because he wasn't expected to know much about wine -- an interesting admission for a wine bar. The owner greeted us warmly but asked only one guest about wine preferences -- ironically the only non-wine drinker at the table. The concept appeared to be sommelier-led, though this was never explained. If that is the intention, engaging the entire table is essential. That said, the wines themselves were enjoyable; the service surrounding them was not. The Taste of Oakville menu promised three curated 3-oz pours paired with a charcuterie board for two. The pours arrived unevenly and slowly, with little explanation of the pairings. The charcuterie boards were plain and inconsistent between tables despite containing similar items -- basic fruit, crostini, simple cured meats, small portions of brie, and two slices of truffle cheese. No crackers, spreads, or thoughtful touches elevated the experience, and presentation varied noticeably. Our second wine pour didn't arrive until our mains, and service moved so slowly we requested a wine list to order a bottle. We were told there is no wine list -- "we're not that kind of restaurant." Instead, all reds are $80 and all whites $70, and the owner selects the bottle for you after asking only red or white. The concept might work if explained upfront; without context, it was confusing. At one point, noticing my empty glass, our server poured me a random red -- which turned out to be the same wine as our first pour -- and then left without serving anyone else. We had to remind staff we were still waiting for our second curated pour. Nothing about the experience felt curated. The most surprising moment of the night came when our mains arrived. As we lifted our appetizer plates -- still holding olive pits, fruit rinds, and crumbs -- the servers told us not to worry about clearing them and proceeded to place our main dishes directly on top of the used plates. I'm still shocked. I wouldn't do that at home, let alone expect it at a Lakeshore, or quite frankly, any restaurant. Two of us ordered the tagliatelle, which was tasty but contained only two small pieces of short rib -- and was difficult to enjoy while staring at discarded rinds beneath the plate. The other two ordered brisket sliders: two sliders, no sides. They tasted good but left diners hungry. One guest joked they kept thinking the fruit rinds were fries -- unfortunately accurate. We tried to make the best of the evening, but it never delivered the cozy wine-and-charcuterie experience we had anticipated -- dim lighting, thoughtful pairings, something special. After finishing our meal, we requested our bills and reminded staff we were still waiting for the third curated pour. We were told "five minutes." Those five minutes never came. Eventually, wanting simply to leave, we paid a single combined bill and sorted it out ourselves. Dinner for four totaled $460. This was not the boutique Lakeshore dining experience we expected, and ultimately, it was deeply disappointing.

As an Oenophile, I was excited to check out The Wine Bar in my neighbourhood. The door was open, In…read morewalked in at 4:55 to be "Greeted" by the Owner, "We don't open till 5 o'clock".......Attitude from the get go. I looked at the menu, interesting but very pricey for the offering. I looked at a row of wine bottle partially open and simply corked, no nitrogen or air extraction.....no telling how long the wine had been "Breathing"....Days? I am puzzled by the discrepancy 5 Star vs 1 Star reviews. I have no confidence in the 5 star reviews....Friends?...Self reviewed? No serious wine enthusiast would visit this establishment...bad attitude, poor value, insufficient wine care and presentation.

Buvette Restaurant & Wine Bar - Filet & lobster

Buvette Restaurant & Wine Bar

(6 reviews)

Fine Dining... casually!…read more When a restaurant delivers the best meals, with top shelf service in an intimate setting, you call that Michelin Star or at least recommended. When you do it effortlessly, you call that Buvette, a new standard in Casual Fine Dining. I had the most wonderful evening at Buvette in Burlington. Yes ... Burlington. Far away but worth the drive. Step in and friendly salutations are offered, along with overheard lively conversations of happy patrons that have been looking forward to a night out. It's been a long few years, and Buvette has spent their time setting up and after only opening 8 months ago, they are shaking up the dining scene. The home reimagined and constructed into Buvette is gorgeous. The passthrough fireplace, with Buvette proudly emblazoned on it, plays the center piece. The sunken sunroom dining area, the intimate bar, stairs to the second floor dining area all pass by warmth of the fire. And of course, opposite to the fireplace is the glass encased small collection of fine wines. Though Buvette is a Winebar, let's not forget their handcrafted cocktails. The owner was cheeky and named them after businesses around the historic Village Square of Downtown Burlington. From carpaccio to cauliflower bites, burrata to pastas, steaks to lobster, the names may be standard, but the food here is elevated to a whole new level. My fav? Obvisouly The Buvette Signature Share Platter! A mouthwatering board featuring steak, lobster, shrimps, lamb, and all the fixings. Whether you are here for vibes and drinks, spend some quality time with family, or a special someone, you really came to the right place. My night was amazing, however, take a gander at the menu before heading out. The place is casual but don't forget, it is Fine Dining. Bring your card made of metal... or someone you know that is!!! Downtown Burlington continues to impress me as a place for upscale living, and I think Buvette has given me another reason to perhaps make a move? Hmmm... CHEERS!!!

Food and service tops! Beet salad was delicious and as a…read moreappetizer huge BB bits and hamburger both are worth every bite. But not for the handicapped as washrooms are up stairs!

Synonym - cafes - Updated May 2026

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