Nice big open cafe with fast service and quality espresso pulls. Cafe menu includes lactose free and other milk options with a small selection of pastries. The space offers beer and cocktails too which is nice in the evening or for just lounging outside. Their patio is big, spacious and has that wooden deck feel. Grab a drink and watch the water. read more

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Tell me why my friends and I are sitting at our table and as soon as my friend's boyfriend leaves the table our waitress was so rude to us and was rushing us to leave? I don't understand why she was so rude as soon as the man left the table. for that service I'd go somewhere cheaper read more

I had the best latte ever here! Sparks fly in tribute to TaylorSwift has an ube and coconut flavour to it! Absolutely delicious, highly recommend. You can also co-work from this spot. Make sure try it while it's available! read more

Went for a weekend brunch with a few friends. The menu has enough options for various dietary considerations; but the highlight has to be the patio with views of the lake and the bustling Saturday crowds at the waterfront. The coffee menu was varied but the pour overs are way too expensive at $9 - for just about a decent sized mug's worth. The fresh juice was also very much out of a box. The service was also a bit iffy, one order came very late (although it was comped, to their credit), one coffee order was misplaced, and a coffee cup was served with hot water (which was meant to just warm the cup). read more

Boxcar Social - Brunch Board - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One of the few waterfront restaurants I have ever been to that lived up to its location. Go for the view and stay for the great food and service. Our server was absolutely lovely and we enjoyed all of the drink options. The fresh lemonade was so good on a very hot day. They have a full bar and also operate a coffee bar. The lunch menu was somewhat limited, but offered some nice lighter options for a small meal. Great open air atmosphere with beautiful views of Lake Ontario. read more

Boxcar Social - a man standing at the bar - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Quick service, clean dining room, and delicious food. Our party had the French toast, turkey BLT, and chopped salad with falafel. Everything was fresh and delicious. Service was excellent. The harbor view is awesome too. We will be back! read more

Boxcar Social - Chopped salad + falafel. The whipped feta is life changing :) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Review is based on their venue space alone. I've been here twice already for private parties so the entire space is booked out and clear of tables/ chairs. It really is a large space you can use for whatever the event may be. The event I attended was a birthday and for night time, so the entire space as booked out and for our friends only. They do your regular bar rail drinks that you can order or get a bottle. The space is spacious and can easily holy over 100 people. We had about 50-60 at the space and there was still a lot of room left for others to join. The best part is that the outside is overlooking the waters, with a skating rink in the winter. If you're looking for event space in the future, definitely consider Boxcar Social. However, since it's at the Harbourfront, the parking is quite expensive and is underground right beside the Harbourfront Centre. read more

Was on a walk this morning and decided to stop in for a quick bite and coffee Got an Americano and the breakfast eggs which is two eggs, some salad, two slices of sourdough, a few potatoes and we subbed the bacon for their veggie patties. Really tasty, only complaint is the portion size is quite small for what you pay for. Very kind staff read more

Boxcar Social - View from the patio - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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The location is super with a great view on the patio. but I think they use it for private events often. I've tried several times to go and have been closed for an event. Finally got there for drinks and the service is great, they don't offer coffee in the evening, too bad. The drinks options are good but we didn't have any food. Will go back to try that next time. read more

Not going to lie, based on purely the food and drink it might be closer to 3 stars - there are maybe two or three items on the menu that I would consider ordering as a main; the burger I did order was very good. The "Boxcar Martini" was kind odd, with the froth and almond milk creating a texture that only vaguely resembled that of an espresso martini (let alone a regular martini). (In the past I've ordered a Yuzu beer that I quite liked.) But the wonderful location overlooking the harbour boardwalk seals it - few other places in the area can offer the same sort of gorgeous views. Will be a frequent repeat customer for this reason! read more

Boxcar Social - Classic house burger - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Boxcar social is one of the only few cafes situated on the waterfront which serves light bites and coffee. Whilst it's a little difficult to find due to the construction going on, it's just round the back of the harbour front centre with a slightly instructed but pleasant view of the waterfront. The interior is super trendy and huge, with options to sit outside on some benches as well. The menu is quite limited but with a focus on the coffee, it makes sense. Staff are super friendly but are limited in what they can do, my friend just wanted a grilled cheese and whilst they had the ingredients, they can't offer options. Saying that, there is some options for breakfast including a vegetarian option. I opted for the flat white and an almond croissant. The almond croissant was a little disappointing, tasting a little stale and chewy. However the coffee definitely made up for it - smooth and creamy, it's exactly how I love my flat whites. Definitely will come here again for the coffee, it's ace. read more

Boxcar Social - Flat white and almond croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

A fantastic spot for a drink or coffee by the water. The outdoor patio provides a nice view of the lake, while the music from nearby areas contribute to the ambience. We tried the hummus platter which was delicious! It comes with three different versions that are incredibly unique and flavourful. Highly recommend the beet one as it brings a nice tanginess. An awesome dish to share as a group! read more

Boxcar Social - a long rectangular plate of food - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Great alternative to the chain coffee shops in the area. This is a vast improvement from the cafeteria that was previously here. Prime location overlooking the Harbourfront Centre and lake. It's right next to the skating rink (in the winter) and pond thing (in the summer -- which people hilariously try to "canoe" in, even though it's about 1 foot deep!). The decor and vibe is similar to other Boxcar locations. It's a great place at any time of day, both as a coffee shop, somewhere to eat a meal, or for a drink. There's plenty of seating, including several long communal tables and patio seating. There's wifi and in the quiet parts of the day, it's an ideal place to read or get some work done. Food options are much more robust compared to most cafes. They have a nice selection of paninis and salads at lunch. The fries portion is huge! Unfortunately, I found the fries super salty and their seasoning was overpowering. I've been here for dinner and they have a few small plates/sharing items. There aren't many "entree" type dishes, but there is a cavatelli dish that could be a main course and it was delicious. This area is such a culinary wasteland, so Boxcar is very much welcome here and definitely my go-to for Harbourfront eats. read more

Boxcar Social - Cavatelli - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This place is one of the biggest tourist traps I have ever been to. The food is decent but extremely overpriced. The bathrooms are some of the dirtiest I have ever been in. The food came out piece by piece with no rhyme or reason. I noticed a girl asking other tables if the food was theirs. I had to stand up and ask for manager to have my wife receive her food after 30 minutes of everyone else receiving theirs. Do not bring children to this establishment as there is no kids menu. I was able to have my kids share the fried chicken sandwich. Stay away - if their kitchen is anything like their bathroom I'm worried read more

Boxcar Social - No TP - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This is a solid 3.5. The view is absolutely beautiful. Can't argue with this place for the water front setting. It's busy but there's always space somewhere. So props to the designers for accommodating throngs of tourists, locals and lakeshore lovers. We came here for coffee. The first attempt at a an americano was not too good. Too much water so I was happy to see they accommodated us with another cup. I ordered a london fog latter which stranglely enough tasted spot on with a starbucks version. A compliment or not?I am unsure. I can say, I loved the setting. Very relaxing. The customer service was okay. Not a smile or a wee bit of positive energy from the three that worked there. I was hoping maybe at least 1 out 3 might crack a smile or maybe something that said they liked being there. It's better coffee than the usual in the area but by no means is it say, a destination coffee house. Which is disappointing considering they featured phil and sebastian. read more

Boxcar Social - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Boxcar Social is a great place to sit down and work when you need a change of scenery. I come here on occasion when I want to avoid being interrupted and need to get things done. I enjoy the natural light shining through the large windows and the view of the inner harbor. Even with music playing in the background and the idle chatter, the only thing that distracts me from my work is watching people ice skating outside. The coffee is great. The wifi is fast. Come here for the coffee, come here for the view. You won't regret it. read more

Boxcar Social - Mocha latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Poor service every time I visit, in new unique ways. Staff are always extremely friendly, but everything is slow and disorganised. Coffee and food are unremarkable. If it wasn't for the location, I wouldn't even consider this place. read more

Boxcar Social is so many wonderful things. An open-air event space, a waterfront patio, a communal work space with a badass coffee bar and a restaurant. Seriously, what more could you ask for? I've popped in twice. Once for patio cocktails and once for a little laptop and beer time. The food menu looks great, and people rave about the coffee, so I'll be back again soon. Plus, whenever I say the name of this place The Pixies pop into my head. Bonus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dIOYjnTxNk read more

Boxcar Social - Ace Hill Radler - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Overpriced and cold food. I was asked to come back and have something on the house but they are unreachable!!

This is nice cozy spot next to Natrel Rink. It has good ambiance, nice music and decor. I ordered Cappuccino and cheese croissant. The coffee was overly milky and lacking coffee flavor. The cheese inside the croissant tasted weird. I may try this spot another time for drinks and meals, but for now its fail. read more

Boxcar Social - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Went here while I was visiting Toronto. The area is gorgeous, but the food is overpriced. I thought that the portions would be larger, seeing as they were expensive and it's a social type of setting, where one would think they would have shared portions. But they don't, and they also don't split anything between parties. So if you're traveling, just note that one person will have to pay. Also, I got the shrimp, which wasn't really that flavorful. But my friend got the Buffalo cauliflower and she really liked it, just in case you're interested in those dishes. The service wasn't great. Our server took 20 minutes to bring our drinks. It was a Thursday afternoon and was kind of steady, but not too busy. He refilled our water once, and that was the last time he came to us. When we finished, he never came over. We were trying to get his attention for about half an hour, but he just kept dropping things off and disappearing. We just asked another waiter for the check. Not the best service. The view is amazing, right on the harbor. If you want something scenic, it's beautiful. This place isn't my cup of tea, but I think if you just want some drinks, it should be fine. read more

Boxcar Social - Shrimp and buffalo cauliflower - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The location and establishment are actually quite lovely but the hipster-style atmosphere unfortunately make this place quite overpriced. The food is nice, fresh and simple, but it's your typical $11 avocado toast that you could easily make for $3 at home. Service is just ok and coffee takes a while because it goes in order of who ordered which includes food orders. The patio is the selling point here and when the weather's nice, you can sit right out on the harbour. read more

Boxcar Social - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Gotta love a place where you get both Coffee and Alcohol.but I feel this place is lacking on good food options... Very limited menu. I must say the ambience is very delightful and has best sitting area though a bit far from the waters.. the drinks taste great, they know what they are doing! I would mostly recommend this location for their cocktails :) read more

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Excellent coffee and breakfast was also good with both traditional bacon and eggs and some healthy options. Nice location even on a cold day with sun streaming in through the windows. Service was excellent although it was quiet which I don't understand... need to support these places if we want the inner city vibe of similar waterfront places in other cities. read more

This place is right on top of the harbourfront skate rental. So while my friends are off skating, I had time to sit and relax to enjoy cup of beautiful cappuccino! I sat in front of the large glass windows that's facing the line up right in front of skating rental. The menu has variety of specialty coffee and beer. There's also a menu of appetizer and full size meal entrees. Some of the options look delicious like the Brussels sprouts with poached egg. Next time when I come I will be sure to come on an empty stomach to try the delicious sounding healthy options. read more

Boxcar Social - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Excellent staff, coffee and chai tea. Lovely establishment to stop in before a sailing in the tall ship Kajama.

Boxcar Social looks like a coffee shop, but it is also a wine bar. The atmosphere and aesthetics is modern with a hipster vibe. The prices are comparable to other coffee / wine bars which is to say there's a small "hipster tax". On the weekends, the coffee and wine bar is quite lively. I ordered the london fog with almond milk. It was pretty good, but portion was small for the price paid (again "hipster tax"). Boxcar Social also has a small menu. The items on the menu is light and fresh. I had the Avo Toast with salad. It was delicious. I would recommend it. However, the portion is small for what you are paying. The service is mediocre. Overall, I would recommend this place if you are by the harbourfront. It is a great pitstop. read more

Boxcar Social - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

(Ex) Barista approved! This place is the perf spot for studying, a date, dinner or to people watch (and see people slipping and sliding on the ice in the winter). It's absolutely beautiful and the interior is quite large even though it has a very cozy feel. The aesthetic is dark, romantic and intimate. It closes late-ish and it was my first time there and I can definitely say I'll be back even though it's not close to where I usually am downtown at all. I parked in the underground that's right there (cheap in the evenings) and it was a 3 minute walk from there. Easy peasy. I suck at navigating the ttc other than the subway but the streetcar stops right in front of the harbourfront centre too. When people say 'you're fine like espresso', this is what they meant because this espresso was the finest, smoothest thing ever. Each drink was made to perfection and my espresso machiatto was deliciouso. They also have dairy free milk alternatives, which any coffee shop should have by now. I was taken here to try the vegan bars they have because apparently they're delicious, but they were out by the time it was 8pm-ish. Will need to satisfy my tummy another time. They also have alcohol. I felt like that had to be it's own sentence ..anyways! I can't wait to visit this beautiful coffee joint when it doesn't feel like my bones are going to freeze and crack anymore. Winter, go away. read more

Cool coffee spot by the water. Grab some iced coffee and enjoy the views Go all the way into the bar for takeout. Other wise they have table service. read more

I love coming here on a brew-tiful day! Boxcar Social has now become my #1 place to work, hang out, meet friends, or even just admire the beautiful (I mean brew-tiful) view of Harbourfront! The ambience of the place is perfect and transitions seamlessly through the evening from a chill bar to one that is full of energy and bustling with people moving in and about! During the day, it's a perfect place to work, kick back with some good tea or coffee and watch the ducks fly in to swim on the pond in front. During the evening, it's a wonderful place to relax with some friends over a couple drinks and catch up on the day's/week's happenings The patio is accessible (although the inconvenience of the ramp is slightly off putting) but the marvellous view tends to make up for any ill will. Moving on to the actual menu, the drinks are reasonably priced (Half bottle wine on Tuesdays!!!) And the food is actually fairly delicious. I would recommend the Peach Blossom Tea with it's scented aroma and it'll leave you in a very relaxed state. Combined with the Patatas Bravas, which has a sour taste but very delicately made and the potatoes crispy, it's a good light bite to get you through the day! Other recommendations also include the smoked salmon and the seared tuna (only available after 6pm at the Harbourfront Location, aren't you lucky?!) The staff are friendly, nice and not to mention, extremely accommodating and incredibly patient (a virtue I highly admire in any restaurant staff!) I love this place too much (not to mention come here to work and chill) to give it anything less than a 5 Star Review PS Great date spot! read more

Boxcar Social - View from Boxcar Social Patio at Harbourfront! (Sunset time) - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Amazing patio view of the waterfront. All I have to say is bring back the Friday fried chicken specials! Why was that ever taken away? I found out about this place when I was supposed to do a coffee meeting here, and then realized oh! they serve beer, and they serve fried chicken sandwiches. I was glad my coffee meeting got cancelled last minute because I then continued to wolf down the fried chicken sandwich in peace and not with the watchful eye of a business contact. When I came back again, i was disappointed to see that the fried chicken sandwich was no longer available, womp womp... I remember having a sandwich with fries but it just wasn't the same. Patio was still great though. I also passed by once and saw that they were holding a private wedding. What a cool venue I thought! I'd get married here, right by the lakefront. Parking might be a bit of an issue for guests, but surely it can't be as expensive as a regular banquet hall venue. read more

Would really give it a 4.5. It's a great space on the water with really cool atmosphere. The food was really, really good and loved the IPA beer we had too. Didn't have to wait long for food and our wait staff was super friendly and attentive! read more

Boxcar Social - Chicken sandwich and beet salad. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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So, going in we had no expectations at all, and definitely no intention of getting a bite to eat. Well, om*g the fries here are easily the best in the city. I am assured by the wait staff that is how they always come out. Order some fries when you come here for a beer. You will not be disappointed. read more

Boxcar Social - Fries!!!! Hmmmmmmm - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It's boxcar social!!! They carry Sey!!! Tim Wendelboe!!!! Lacabra!!!! Coffee collective!!!! Lüna!!! 5 elephants!!!! And.....the OG George Howell What more could a coffee lover want??!!! read more

I've been here multiple times - maybe too much (check my Yelp check-in LOL), but I can't help it, this Boxcar location probably have the best view of the lake for me! It's difficult for me to write this review as I truly enjoy enjoy this place, however the service & quality are going down ... I honestly don't know if the barista even care anymore. On multiple occasions, I noticed they only fill up half of the glass with my iced latte. Seriously? If you are charging $5 for a latte, I do expect to get 3/4 or full glass of the latte. One time I ordered the smoked salmon sandwich, that took 30 mins to arrive and I had to remind them twice. Mind you, there were only 4 customers in the cafe and all of them received their respective orders. I even noticed customers who arrived after me received their smoked salmon sandwich first... When I reminded the server/staff on the second time, she even said "Oh we probably couldn't find you." UH excuse me, you didn't even walk around to ask each customer if he/she ordered the sandwich. Also, even if you couldn't find me, what did you do with that sandwich then? Did you throw it away? Or serve it to another customer??? They used to have a number system - meaning if you ordered food, you would be given a number so the staff can find you - I haven't seen that system being used for a long time so I assume they removed it. Would I come back? Maybe, maybe not. I might go to their other locations instead, and you guys should be aware of the terrible services here. Also, I noticed Zeel's review below regarding her experience, I was there and can vouch for her story of the customer service here. read more

If there's an option to give half star, i seriously would. My boyfriend and I were strolling around in the area over the weekend and we decided to check this place out for a quick beer and snack. Instead, that turned into an hour of sitting in the sun for beers that never made it to our table. We waited in line for 10 mins before we get seated at the patio which is fine considering it is the Canada day long weekend. We waited at least 20 mins before our waiter, Carlos, came to our table to to greet us. He recommended us two beer samples for us to try before ordering full pints. We agreed as the restaurant does not carry the beers that we normally order as they only carry local beers. We also ordered a poutine as a snack. Another 20 mins of wait before our poutine came(with no utensils), but the beer samples never made it to our table..... We had to ask another staff to follow up on our beer samples as we were just too thirsty (imagine eating poutine in the heat without drinks being served). The beer samples finally came when we were already half way into finishing up the poutine. We did not like the taste of the beer samples that they gave us at all.... we wanted to ask for other samples to try but our waiter never came back to check on us. It came to a point where my boyfriend got fed up with the terrible service that we got up and went to the cash register to ask for our bill. This was when our waiter, Carlos finally came to us and asked if everything is okay. Why is that even a question? I told him how disappointing we were due to the lack of service. Carlos apologized and said he would take care of our bill but my boyfriend insisted and paid for what we had and left no tip (first time ever). All in all, we spent an hour and 15 mins at this restaurant for a poutine (which was alright) with no water/drinks being served. Never coming back again and would not recommend to anyone. read more

This café is so Toronto. I was there on Monday and they close at 5:00. I don't know what to say about Toronto. Unless one wants to go through a McDonalds drive through (yuck) everything in this town is closed at night. There is a grill restaurant near my house that starts putting up its chairs at 8:00 PM! No wonder the riff raff and their polluting cars get together in the parking lot of the doughnut shop every night (car fascination is so 1999). With that said, why the four stars? The beverages are quite good and rich. They use real and authentic ingredients. The view is fabulous looking onto Lake Ontario and the islands. The waiter and the person behind the counter/cash were quite polite and friendly. They have wifi and the premises are clean. Yes, the beverages are $1 more expensive than elsewhere, but given what I just wrote it is worth it. With that said, five o'clock?? read more

WORST SERVICE EVER. Absolutely ruined Mother's Day. Probably should have read the reviews about their terrible service before coming. Just walked out of this place with godawful service. Came in for mother's day today to treat my mom and we had been walking around so we had 2 Starbucks fraps. We walked in and ordered fries and avocado toast. At no point did the cashier or any of the waiters mention that outside food was not allowed. As we were enjoying our food, the "manager" (the quotations are my expression of shock that someone with such an awful disposition could ever make it as a manager in the service industry.. Or any for that matter) Miles abruptly approached us at our table on the patio and said that he would have to get rid of our drinks as it was against policy- EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS NO SIGN OR INDICATION OF SUCH A POLICY. I told him that and he continued to say that because they were a fully functional cafe, outside drinks would not be permitted. He actually tried to physically take the drinks from us and created such a scene (even though we were paying customers) that other patrons of the patio were looking at his behaviour. I offered to give him our drinks so that he could put it behind the counter if that really was the policy. He was absolutely rude and said he would have to throw them away. The couple sitting next to us intervened as well because Miles was absolutely awful and terrible. He absolutely ruined the dining experience for me and my mom for Mothers Day in addition to the dining experience of other people on the patio. His behaviour was appalling as he attempted to humiliate us further. I spoke to someone that allegedly is his boss even though somehow he's the manager. She was a short woman and was somewhat nicer than him but continued to defend his actions. She said that because they had redone the patio, the sign was not currently up. She did not apologize for his rude and callous behaviour. I fail to see how its appropriate to harass paying customers for their drinks while they're trying to enjoy their paid for meal in peace in middle of the entire patio. If this really is a policy of the patio, they should have let us know as we approached the establishment or even when we went to pay for our meal and not attack us while we eat. Miles, along with the entire establishment, need to learn a few things about appropriate social behaviour and how to treat paying customers. Will not return due to this awful experience on Mother's Day. read more

Walking through harbourfront my friend and I decided to stop by for drinks. I wanted a mojito and she wanted a sangria. They didn't have either which I thought was a little odd. We both settled for wine (5oz) which was basic. Can't remember the names but she had red and I had white. Our server switched midway through without telling us so we had to ask a different server for our bills etc. Neither were very friendly and seemed a bit standoffish. Also we weren't seated for a good 5-10 minutes when we walked in and had to ask someone if it was okay to sit anywhere. Not a welcoming vibe at all. I doubt I will be returning. read more

Location is nice. Not much to eat. We went for a birthday gathering, after spending $1500 for food & drinks with almost $300 in service fee, they charged us an additional $80 for cutting the birthday cake we brought ourselves... I respect restaurants' decision to charge a reasonable fee for outside food. But charging $4 p.p for 20 people ($80 total) for cutting open a cake is just ridiculous. I will not return again nor recommend large parties coming here if you want to bring your own birthday cake. read more