We really liked a Spinach artichoke. However, we like tims coffee more. Balzac Reference Library Café is a hidden gem for those who appreciate a tranquil and intellectual environment. The space is thoughtfully designed, offering a blend of artistic charm and functional comfort—perfect for reading, working, or simply unwinding.
The café’s selection of books complements its purpose, and the menu features quality beverages and snacks, though the pricing could be more accessible. Attention to cleanliness and a more welcoming approach from the staff could significantly enhance the experience.
If you’re looking for a quiet haven with an inspiring vibe, Balzac won’t disappoint. Adding soft, instrumental background music might take the ambiance to the next level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
John Frade
It's a decent place good drink options but it occasionally smells like homeless not a fault of the business but something to expect.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Amir Havkin
Tasty muffins and sandwiches, excellent coffee, great staff and nice library vibes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Tyrone Hall
Great location spot to work from, decompress after a library visit, or meet folks near the Bloor-Yonge Station. The coffee and treats are good quality!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
ラ・ラ・ラング
A cafe attached to an extremely large library. It can be difficult to secure a seat for a group during holidays. The coffee I ordered was a dark roast type blend from this store. It has a heavy bitterness and a rich coffee aroma, and it is a very high quality coffee as it costs over 300 yen for the medium size. It looks like a historical shop that also sells original goods. However, there is only one cashier, so you may have to wait for about 5 minutes depending on the situation.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Shipika Pitaliya
Vegetarian options: Cashew cookies are great, gluten free and vegan..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Catherine Ramkhalawan
I enjoy coming here before the library opens. Ample seating, good coffee, and good food. The baristas are nice and welcoming, and can answer any questions you have about their offerings.
For studying, there are a few communal tables with smaller tables available. If you want the library feel, you can head to a study table on the first floor once the library opens at 9:00 AM.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Joshua Young
Don't bother ordering decaf. They will charge you for a decaf Americano 'cause they don't have decaf coffee. Other coffee shops will honour the fact that all you wanted is a decaf coffee and charge you coffee prices. Not here. Your decaf Americano will be about $5. And the Barista will not understand how this is an issue. Besides that, atmosphere is good, pastries are always a day-old, but if you don't have an allergy to caffeine like I do, they have coffee. And it's $2 less than a decaf!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
B G
Rude customer service.
Reymold Marte
From the first day I arrived in Toronto I tried the Canadian Maple Latte, I loved that coffee, it has a delicious and different flavor since it is made with Maple honey. Definitely the best coffee I've ever had.
I like the atmosphere and location of this café. However, the customer service is lacking. The staff were rude to each other, and they took my order incorrectly. When I asked to change it, the girl with glasses seemed upset and threw away my previous order in front of me before making the change. The café wasn’t even busy at the time. Additionally, the matcha iced latte was disappointing. The matcha wasn’t fully mixed and was almost white, plus it cost nearly $8. Definitely not worth it.
Svitlana Bondar
One of my favourite coffee places in Toronto. good selection of coffee and excellent service, I would like to separately mention the manager and professional baristas from Europe. It is always nice to start the day with a cup of delicious coffee and a smile from a good-natured barista who knows her job. Thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Latte Art
MJ M
The service is rude and unacceptable particularly by the Sunday late afternoon shift. If you are going to be rude to customers even after being tipped then we can always get coffee from other businesses in the street. The manager should do something about this.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Catadores Locales
Service a bit on the slow side but the coffee is decent. Good library café option.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Angela D
Beautiful place excellent service and yummy coffee and pastries!
We really liked a Spinach artichoke. However, we like tims coffee more. Balzac Reference Library Café is a hidden gem for those who appreciate a tranquil and intellectual environment. The space is thoughtfully designed, offering a blend of artistic charm and functional comfort—perfect for reading, working, or simply unwinding.
The café’s selection of books complements its purpose, and the menu features quality beverages and snacks, though the pricing could be more accessible. Attention to cleanliness and a more welcoming approach from the staff could significantly enhance the experience.
If you’re looking for a quiet haven with an inspiring vibe, Balzac won’t disappoint. Adding soft, instrumental background music might take the ambiance to the next level.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
It's a decent place good drink options but it occasionally smells like homeless not a fault of the business but something to expect.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 3
Tasty muffins and sandwiches, excellent coffee, great staff and nice library vibes
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great location spot to work from, decompress after a library visit, or meet folks near the Bloor-Yonge Station. The coffee and treats are good quality!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
A cafe attached to an extremely large library.
It can be difficult to secure a seat for a group during holidays.
The coffee I ordered was a dark roast type blend from this store.
It has a heavy bitterness and a rich coffee aroma, and it is a very high quality coffee as it costs over 300 yen for the medium size.
It looks like a historical shop that also sells original goods.
However, there is only one cashier, so you may have to wait for about 5 minutes depending on the situation.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Vegetarian options: Cashew cookies are great, gluten free and vegan..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I enjoy coming here before the library opens. Ample seating, good coffee, and good food. The baristas are nice and welcoming, and can answer any questions you have about their offerings.
For studying, there are a few communal tables with smaller tables available. If you want the library feel, you can head to a study table on the first floor once the library opens at 9:00 AM.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Don't bother ordering decaf. They will charge you for a decaf Americano 'cause they don't have decaf coffee. Other coffee shops will honour the fact that all you wanted is a decaf coffee and charge you coffee prices. Not here. Your decaf Americano will be about $5. And the Barista will not understand how this is an issue.
Besides that, atmosphere is good, pastries are always a day-old, but if you don't have an allergy to caffeine like I do, they have coffee. And it's $2 less than a decaf!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 2
Rude customer service.
From the first day I arrived in Toronto I tried the Canadian Maple Latte, I loved that coffee, it has a delicious and different flavor since it is made with Maple honey. Definitely the best coffee I've ever had.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
I like the atmosphere and location of this café. However, the customer service is lacking. The staff were rude to each other, and they took my order incorrectly. When I asked to change it, the girl with glasses seemed upset and threw away my previous order in front of me before making the change. The café wasn’t even busy at the time. Additionally, the matcha iced latte was disappointing. The matcha wasn’t fully mixed and was almost white, plus it cost nearly $8. Definitely not worth it.
One of my favourite coffee places in Toronto. good selection of coffee and excellent service, I would like to separately mention the manager and professional baristas from Europe. It is always nice to start the day with a cup of delicious coffee and a smile from a good-natured barista who knows her job. Thank you
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Latte Art
The service is rude and unacceptable particularly by the Sunday late afternoon shift. If you are going to be rude to customers even after being tipped then we can always get coffee from other businesses in the street. The manager should do something about this.
Food: 1
Service: 1
Service a bit on the slow side but the coffee is decent. Good library café option.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 3
Beautiful place excellent service and yummy coffee and pastries!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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