A true coffee bar. Plenty of cafés make that claim, but Behind the Alley actually delivers. Here,…read morethe baristas are more like mixologists, swapping alcoholic sedatives for caffeine stimulants and treating every drink like a carefully crafted cocktail. I was greeted immediately upon arriving and, after struggling to decide because every section of the menu sounded interesting, was recommended their Orange Coffee. It was excellent. The preparation alone was worth watching. Fresh orange slices were coated in brown sugar and caramelized with a torch. A sprig of rosemary was then lightly torched, releasing its oils and filling the room with fragrant herbal aromas. The orange was placed into the glass before what i think was San Pellegrino Aranciata was poured over it. Finally, an Americano was carefully layered on top, keeping the two liquids beautifully separated, and the drink was finished with the rosemary garnish. I was told not to stir it, but instead to enjoy it from the bottom up. The first sip is light, sweet, and gently fizzy before giving way to the rich, earthy bitterness of the coffee. It's a combination that sounds unusual but works remarkably well. The service was five-star from start to finish, and the relaxed atmosphere makes it an easy place to linger over a thoughtfully crafted cup. This coffee shop is the perfect complement to picturesque Unionville.

This place is such a vibe. Probably one of my top 5 fave…read morecafes uptown. Not only is the interior so chill and relax, but the baristas are all so friendly and knowledgeable. I also loved that they have great coffee mixed (fusion) flavours. Will always be my go to place whenever I'm in unionville.

One of the recent additions to Markham's cafe scene. Has some pretty unique drink options like…read moreespresso matcha latte, pineapple americano etc. interior is super cute but doesn't have a lot of seating. Service is quick and the pineapple americano sparkling drink is very refreshing. Great for summers!

Super cute tiny coffee shop. Lots of coffee and noncoffee drinks to choose from! They also have…read moresnacks and desserts as well. I ordered the large Fancy Matcha Latte, which is made with matcha, espresso, and coconut milk. The regular sugar is not too sweet, which is nice. I did taste the matcha and espresso, but not so much the coconut milk. The drink was decent. For $10 for a drink though, it's definitely on the pricier side for a coffee drink. I also purchased the set of 6 bear macarons. They are so cute! It's $23 for the set, no tax, and you're basically getting one for free since one macaron is $4.5. The macarons came frozen. I would come back and try out the other drinks, especially the non coffee drinks. Their specialty drinks sound good. Staff were really nice and they explained a lot of their menu to me.

Coffee and drinks are always on point at Dopapen Coffee. The Osmanthus Matcha Oat Latte is light,…read morefloral and delicious. Now that they have Happy Hour wine daily from 2-6pm, I'm exciting to try new wines from time to time! Service is friendly and courteous. Atmosphere is warm and welcoming, and they are doggo-friendly ^^

A cute coffee shop located inside a floral shop? Adorable!…read more I've heard of this spot before but never went to check it out until recently. So glad I did since it was such a vibe in there. The spot is dog friendly and have friendly staff. I thought their menu was nicely curated and their coffee drinks were great. Saw that they also do wine nights and special events which I thought was a great addition to their shop. They have trinkets and quirky things around the shop that really showcases their personalities - which I liked! Would be back for their coffee and vibes!

Came here on a Friday evening for dinner. Called ahead to make a reservation and they reserved two…read moretables for us to choose! Service was superb with very friendly servers - so friendly that even my toddler with stranger anxiety liked them and engaged with them! Atmosphere and view were great since it was sitting on Toogood Pond. Inside was really cute too. Tables, chairs, and even the booster were clean. Zero complaints! The only thing is the washroom is the public park washroom so it's not the prettiest and cleanest; there were some bugs and some smell. In terms of the menu, there aren't a lot of choices for pasta but it makes sense since it is a bistro. Ordered the Mortadella & Burrata and Tagliatelle al Ragu. Both were really delicious and the pasta tasted fresh even though we don't know if it's fresh pasta. Had a really good experience here and would definitely come back! This spot is perfect for date nights since there are many small tables and the vibe is just a date night vibe!

A couple of months ago, my wife and I went for lunch at La Fonte. You really go for the view, not…read morethe food. The food is decent (we split a pizza, and then had a dessert). Not bad, but nothing out of the ordinary, either. But what you really go for is the view of Toogood pond. With a review like that, you'd think I'd rate it higher. So why did I give it only 2 stars? We liked it enough that we tried to make a reservation again. Only now, their policies had changed. You had to make a $25 minimum per person, and on top of that, they add a 20% penalty (what they euphemistically call "gratuity". But it most definitely is not a gratuity, because a gratuity means that it's voluntary. There's nothing voluntary about the 20% surcharge. So call it what it is - a penalty). Because of these 2 extremely dumb changes, we'll never be dining there again. There are plenty of other delicious spots in Unionville (including 3 other Italian restaurants that don't have these practices), that there's no need to tolerate these policies.

A local coffee shop in a Markham plaza with quite an impressive menu, especially on their seasonal…read moredrinks. It was my first time here and i was surprised to see that they also have seating here as well. I was intrigued with their seasonal menu and I'm so glad I checked them out because their drinks were delicious and well rounded in flavour. Opted for their blueberry latte and peach jasmine cloud and both drinks were so delicious! The blueberry latte had a nice subtle blueberry flavour with the coffee. The peach jasmine cloud on the other hand was refreshing but had that savoury cheese foam on the top as well that worked well with the drink pairing. What a great local coffee shop with nicely curated drinks in Markham. Worth checking out for sure.

Cute small cafe in the area with a few tables inside. The staff was nice and answered any questions…read moreI had. They do offer decaf which was nice. We got a hot rose latte and an iced dirty matcha. The rose was subtle and not too sweet which I enjoyed. I thought the dirty matcha was a little too sweet for my liking but it was smooth otherwise. Price tag is a little high but I would come back to try other specialty drinks!

Overall rating 4.4/5 (rounded up)…read more Haven't been back to this cafe in a while, and I forgot how much I enjoy their drinks! Their coffee/espresso is solid here (Hatch beans!), so you know you're getting a good drink. I went for their sea salt cheese foam latte (iced), which was a perfect blend of espresso, milk, & slightly sweet, salty, creamy foam. I also appreciate how there is some seating available (high top table by the front windows, bench seating along one side of the store). It's not the best cafe if you want to work or have a long chat, but it's nice that there's the option to sit and relax instead of just taking your drink to go. I wish the prices of their speciality drinks were slightly less expensive though, because $8 for an iced drink (while delicious & pretty) is a lot to spend.

We happened upon this little coffee place while in the area for lunch. Located in Langham Square,…read morethe space is bright and airy with a small seating area at the front and along the wall. Menu is all items coffee and matcha based with a limited selection of non coffee items. There is also a selection of baked goods (croffles, butter mochi and canele). They were having a special promo on flavoured lattes and Americanos (buy 1 get 50% off the second) so we settled on Strawberry Matcha. Flavour of the matcha is very good. The strawberry base was a puree that did not come across too sweet or fake. Prices are comparable to what you would find in similar places. Very nice. A solid 4.5! We would come back when in the area.

Library coffee is a meticulous coffee lab that is dedicated to roasting beans with precision and…read morebalance. That level of care really comes through in the cup; you can taste the depth and intentionality in every sip. I ordered the vanilla bean iced latte, and it was easily one of the best espresso bases I've had in a while. The shot itself was rich and layered: deep, chocolatey, and nutty striking a really nice balance between bitterness and acidity. It finished with a smooth, almost creamy note that made the whole drink incredibly enjoyable. The only downside is the size-to-price ratio. At around CAD $8.50 for what felt like a 10 oz drink, it's definitely on the pricier side for something that goes down this easily. Still, I'd absolutely come back when I'm in the mood for a more premium coffee experience. (Funny note - the barista and I had a small rant together about how people order "iced cappuccino" and macchiato expecting Starbucks milk sugary drink instead of the "proper" shot with dollop of foam. I understand their pain hahah)

The Library Specialty Coffee seems to be highly regarded by Redditors in the area, and I was open…read moreto trying it again after a subpar experience at their downtown location a couple of years ago. My cousin and I arrived shortly after opening on New Year's Eve. The cafe has a small interior with minimal seating, mostly bench seating along the wall with small round coffee tables. Even though there was only one barista working that morning, she was efficient at taking orders and making drinks despite several orders happening at once. We did not feel like we were waiting very long. I ordered a pour-over with the Finca El Paraiso Peach Colombian beans, which use a thermal shock washed process. That was something I had not heard of before. The tasting notes listed nectarine, tropical fruit, and caramel, and it was recommended since I was looking for something more out of the ordinary. I enjoyed the wilder flavor profile, but it was hard to fully appreciate because the coffee tasted overly diluted. The barista mentioned she used a 15g to 250g bean-to-water ratio, which is higher than how I normally enjoy my pour-overs. My cousin ordered a flat white with whole milk that was very creamy with strong espresso notes. We also ordered a matcha latte for my other cousin, which was apparently too creamy. Overall, the beans themselves were good, but the pour-over leaned watery for my personal preference. The bag of beans used for the pour-over was priced at $32, which is only a bit more than double the cost of the pour-over itself. In hindsight, I felt slightly ripped off and should have just bought the beans instead.

This review is for their North York location…read more There is no seating at their North York location, so it is more of a grab and go establishment. At the moment, they're only selling their nana special banh mi with us equivalent to a supreme cold cut sandwich for $10 with tax. I wanted to like this place, however the sandwich felt off for me. I did appreciate them toasting the sandwich before serving, however something about their flavour seemed to bother me - it might be a personal preference. My partner said he tasted some coconut flavour in their sandwich, which might be the potential reason I didn't like it as much - I generally don't like coconut flavoured stuff. I also didn't like that they don't accept credit card, especially since they're charging tax. Most Asian operated banh mi places don't charge tax when you pay with cash, it almost seems like they're double dipping.

Banh Mi Nana serves two items: Banh Mi and Coffee…read more They have a little shop with about 8-10 seats and most people who order takeout. They are a cash/debit only business. Their Banh Mi is one of the best in the GTA, it's basically a double/extra meat Banh Mi with all the toppings. It also reheats well at home. We got one per person and it was a filling lunch. Would stop by again when in the neighborhood!

We continue to go to this incredible pastry shop whenever the mood strikes. Their creations are…read moresecond to none. The quality and the finish are at an artistic level. And I haven't even begun to talk about the flavors. Their signature dish/pastry is the Mont Blanc. It is highly sought after, and often run out before the afternoon. We made a point of going there yesterday, from my partner's birthday to get some special treats. We were not disappointed. Despite being jampacked, as it often is, there was a good supply of the pastries we sought. New to the mix, is their version of a tiramisu. It is off the charts! The pastry chef is truly an artist. If you wish to try possibly the best pastries in the entire GTA, this is the place to go. The staff are friendly and extremely helpful. It also pays a call ahead to ensure that you can get the products that you're looking for.

Has a lot of variety in pastries, croissants, danishes, chocolates and so much more!…read more Went in on a weekend and the space was crammed so we had to opt for takeout. Tried the hot chocolate and it was okay, not too sweet. Tried the Apple turnover which was a little chewy - should have warmed it up just a little. Also got their custard puff and it tasted really good. I loved how pretty their cakes looked but I didn't want to do a takeout so had to skip it.

Venue 4/5 Located in…read morea convenient plaza (Commerce Gate) with lots of parking it's easy to pop in without circling for a spot. There are a few tables and chairs to sit down to eat or a quick stop for a drink. Service 5/5 The staff were very friendly and helpful. They walked through the options they had and were patient with questions. I really appreciated being able to sample some of the bread before deciding. It made the experience feel welcoming and relaxed. Food 4/5 There's plenty of choices on the menu and everything tasted freshly made flavours are solid and satisfying, and the ability to try samples first helped narrow down what to order. Would definitely come back to try more items. Just keep in mind that some products would be sold out later on in the day, so try to come early in the afternoon if you want to see everything. I had the yuzu and they also have matcha and red bean buns

Tip: Bun Appetit is around the corner from Kinton Ramen in Commerce Gate plaza…read more A recent Yelp tasting event introduced me to Bun Appetit and its baked goods. I bought a couple of buns as a customer since then and I'm hooked! Bun Appetit is located at Commerce Gate. It's located closer to Highway 7. It's around the corner from Kinton Ramen, which I have been to a handful of times during the pandemic to pick up good eats. I found a parking spot steps away from Bun Appetit on a Wednesday evening at around 6:15 pm and backed in to it. It's easier to find parking when it's a weekday, in the afternoon. Bun Appetit's breads are naturally fermented for 168 hours. I liked that all buns and breads are gut-friendly and low on the glycemic index. I'm always interested in lower sugar options. I have sampled these items: - Baguette - Whole wheat walnut vegan bun - Lychee bun - Raisin earl grey bun - Oreo chocolate delight bun - Matcha pistachio pretzel - Whole wheat German pretzel - Yeast loaf with Nutella They were all delicious. They were soft and airy. My favourites were the whole wheat walnut vegan bun and the Oreo chocolate delight bun (also known as the messy hands bun). The former had whole walnuts that were so crunchy and fresh. The bread was chewy and soft. The messy hands bun used dark chocolate. It was also fluffy and soft. It lived up to its name. I had messy fingers just eating a morsel! It has 9 g of sugar, which is practically nothing being fermented. I liked how unique the flavours were. I loved the smell of the lychee bun. I wish it had lychee pieces in it. Instead, it was wine-infused and that flavour overpowered everything. I loved the yeast loaf with Nutella as a dessert option. I nearly picked up a loaf after this event was over! As a parting snack, I got the truffle mushroom one. It was the last one. I love mushrooms. It was super delicious with truffle oil, enoki mushrooms, spinach, garlic, and melted cheeses on top. The bun was soft and perfect. It was such a gourmet bun. I have since returned to get more buns: - Strawberry beetroot - Chocolate arancia The strawberry beetroot bun was fluffy. I decided to cut it in half. To my surprise and joy, it had whole strawberries in it. Wow and yay! I love fruit, but I wasn't expecting so much of it in this bun. I loved it. It was naturally sweet from the strawberries. The beetroot wasn't noticeable in flavour. I feel it added colour to the triangular bun more than anything. The chocolate arancia was equally as unique slicing it in half. This bun had candied orange bits in it. It tasted so good with the chocolate morsels on top and the subtle chocolate flavour in the bun itself. It was delicious. I need to return for more. I have found the buns of my dreams, which sounds odd and funny. It's all true! I paid with a credit card. You can register your phone number to collect points towards goodies. I'll be back. (185)