I've walked by this place many times, but I finally took the time to step in. I originally wanted to order the PB & J Protein Latte, but unfortunately, they were out of the special milk they use to make it, which was a bit disappointing. Instead, I went with the Biscoff Latte and an Almond Croissant, while my party ordered a London Fog and a Regular Latte. The Biscoff Latte was pretty good, it wasn't overly sweet or bitter. However, the Almond Croissant was the real standout. It was perfectly crunchy on the outside, with a generous amount of almond paste in the middle. I'd definitely stop by again just for this. The cafe itself had a beautiful, open-concept design with an upscale feel, and I really regret not taking any photos. The service was also very good, as the drinks came out very quickly, but it also wasn't very busy. I'd definitely stop by again and hopefully, I'll finally get to try the PB & J Protein Latte! read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Biscoff latte (left), regular latte (middle), london fog (right), almond croissant - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

As a repeat customer, I have to recommend! Absolutely wonderful, splendid, and positively divine! Also have to recommend the cookies. Sooooo tasty read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Left: chamomile tea Right: americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Things have gone downhill a long time ago but I keep going to Dark Horse but now I'm done. I repeatedly go to this location due to being in an accessible coffee island for this area. Unfortunately, the service is consistently pretty bad (which is an exception for Dark Horse which typically has great service). For the past few years that I have been going here, it seems like I am bothering the baristas when I am there to order and that they'd rather keep chatting with each other. Dark Horse is a bit more pricey than others. Having great ambiance helps to make up for the cost but great service is also needed. I do recommend the other locations, and avoiding this location until staff is better trained. read more

We visited this Dark Horse Espresso for a unique drink and were not disappointed! Try the Toffee Cardamom Matcha for a delicious treat. Will visit again on my next trip to Toronto! read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Toffee Cardamom Matcha - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Set in the heart of Chinatown is this cozy coffee shop where i thoroughly enjoyed my flavourful raspberry hot chocolate. I liked how the chocolate was creamy and not watered down. Also the ambient of the shop was very cozy with plants surrounding the area. The servers were fast and efficient. And on top of that, there were a nice selection of pastries to choose from. The only down side is that it doesn't have its own washroom. You need to use the common washroom in the building. Overall, i'd go back there again. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Peppermint hot chocolate - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I haven't tried the food sadly on my part, the service is great, the atmosphere is very wonderful I look forward to stoping by. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Black coffee - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Recently I was offered to enter my phone # there to get a $1 discount for every $10 spent. So I did. At $3.25 for a never hot drop coffee, this made me feel less like a consumer chump! Days later I was told it was changed to $1for every $15 spent. In an era of no ne being able to afford living because of rising costs, I felt like this a way for the owners to tell repeat customer that they are not valued, in fact. However, the staff are kind and cool and the view is lovely. read more

I was in town for work and this coffee shop wasn't too far from where I was staying so I planned to stop by to get some work done. I arrived to find a coffee shop much larger than I expected with a lot of seating and great natural light. There was only one fella working the busy morning shift and while it took a time to get through the line.. He was busting ass. After ordering a latte and a croissant my coworker and I decided it was time to open up our laptops to get some things done. That's when we realized that they had no wifi. After waiting in line, making a purchase, and settling in, that was a big bummer. We ended up having to leave to go to another shop nearby so we could start our day. Hopefully they can get that working again soon. Other than that big hiccup, it was cool. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Dark Horse Espresso's windows let in lots of bright sunlight and it feels like a sunny solarium inside the cafe. The music was mellow giving summer pool party vibes. Service was great. The friendly baristas made my flat white just right. It was small-ish, milky-creamy, and rich and fruity-tasting. I like their to go cups. Also ordered an Americano but I much preferred the creaminess of the steamed milk in my flat white. They've since upgraded their Espresso roasts to suit the tastes of those who prefer their beans less dark. There was no air conditioning inside but on a sunny summer day who wants to be inside anyway? read more

Dark Horse on Spadina has been around for years now and is a very impressive spot! If you are in chinatown and need a break from the typical grimy streetscape you find yourself in, drop in to DH for some relief. With its high ceilings and exposed interior, it's a gorgeous sight. There is a lot of room inside with large tables you could have a work meeting at if you wanted from the looks of it. There are benches outside, as well as a sidewalk patio when I went in 2022. What I didn't realize right away is that there is an elevated seating section behind the order counter accessible with a small staircase on the left side. Very nice up there away from the hustle and bustle of Spadina. Great lighting and decorations. The service at the counter varies and some of us had to wait a while to get our order without an obvious reason. When my nephew was in town couch surfing, he said the rule was 2 nights maximum, then move on. So after staying at my place, he walked over to DH and chatted up the staff. Viola, he found another place for him and his gf to couch surf at! read more

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We stopped by for pre-breakfast drinks on a Friday morning. I skipped the coffee and went straight for the Kale Cheddar Sourdough Scone to wake me up. My companions ordered espressos to start their day. I haven't had a scone in a while and really enjoyed the unique flavors of this particular one. Crusty and dense on the outside while still being soft and light inside. I liked the different flavors tucked into each chunk, depending if you get the cheddar or the sourdough or the sesame seeds in the mouthful. My coffee connoisseurs swore that they day before, they had the best espresso here. However that morning, it was too sour for their tastes. They chased it with a round of lattes. I like the elevated seating area behind the bar. There is an eclectic mix of tables and chairs. A great spot to watch the bar work and the bustle of patrons as you enjoy coffee and a treat. read more

This is a nice spot around the Chinatown area if you wanna stop to have a coffee after you eat some food. There were a large variety of drinks and staff are very friendly. There's also lots of other treats to buy like big goods, fresh baked bread, food items from local retailers, and a small selection of refrigerated items. The only downside is that there is quite limited seating , and there is only one bathroom key, and you can expect wait a very long time to use the bathroom that's inside the building and difficult to find read more

Waited for an event on the patio back in the summer time. Decided to try Dark Horse espresso for the first time. Wow. It's amazingly good. I had a latte and the coffee tasted so aromatic compared to Starbucks latte. I'm a fan now. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Their baristas are super unfriendly and rude; look like junkies. They keep people waiting to order even there not even doing anything. I ordered a ice lattle, the drink itself its not that bad but certainly doesn't worth that price. read more

Ok location, coffee almost as consistent as Broadqueen location which I admit I am partial to. Good hangout space and people watching. Spadina, it's whatcha get... read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

How can you call yourselves "Dark Horse" when you don't serve dark roast? And your medium roast tastes burnt! Very disappointed! The service gave me the feeling I was interrupting the workers. EXCUSE ME! Gave one star for the cookie... read more

When I stepped in this Dark Horse Espresso, I felt like I just transfer to somewhere else.... I did walk pass numerous Chinese/Vietnamese restaurants, supermarkets.. and elbowed myself through crowds of Chinese shoppers on the Spadina..and Dark Horse Espresso's vibes totally calm me down.............. Mind you, if you are in a hurry...and just want something fast, go to Starbucks down the street.. Here the barista really really take his/her time... and you have no choice but to chill... Watching him making my cappuccino and pouring the foam milk to make the lovely latte art... was such an enjoyment in itself! Seating can be a little tight... I end up sharing the communal tables with others and overlooking the big windows out on to Spadina... a little piece of paradise which I cherish! read more

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Out of all the Dark Horses, this one on Spadina is definitely my favourite one :) This coffee shop is trendy, chic and spacious- with huge windows to absorb all the sunlight, has two large wooden communal tables and also a cozy second floor just behind the coffee bar. The vibe is calming and relaxing, with trendy music playing in the background. It certainly takes me away from my busy schedule... a place where I often lose track of time lol. I enjoy watching the people on the busy streets as they move in time lapse while the time slows down inside this coffee shop. Service has always been friendly, courteous and prompt. I love their delicious pastries... keeps me coming back! There is a whole display case full of them... assorted croissants, brownies, cookies, scones, low fat muffins- just to name a few :D I'm curious about their steak and brie on baguette stick... I shall try that next time ^^ They also offer water at the communal tables and fruit infused water at that coffee bar area (self served)... very thoughtful, thank you. So if you need a coffee break, a place to catch up with friends or simply a quick getaway from work, I would recommend this Dark Horse be one of your go-to destinations :) You won't be disappointed! .....unless you're frantically looking for an outlet to charge your device, then you WILL be disappointed lol. read more

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I always hear about this place, so one day while wandering around downtown, waiting for my friend to finish work so we could head over to the AGO, I stumbled on in here. First of all, it was like 40+ degrees outside...so I was hoping when walking in to feel a cool blast of AC. Nope...no AC here....just a small fan in the corner. Oh well...I was going for a cold brew anyways. That cold brew....cost me $5.........! But the staff were kind when I asked for a glass of just ice b/c I was so hot. But they seemed more interested in their own conversations...I get that. Maybe if I lived in the area I would stop by...but honestly...I didn't really see anything special here. I didn't even see any outlets to plug into...but a few people were working on their laptops so maybe the outlets are few and far between. It has a very hippie vibe - from the staff, to the decor, long wooden tables, huge windows to let lots of light in. It's a nice space to definitely read or do some work (although according to some other reviewers it can get loud in here....when I went it was pretty quiet, but that was around 4:30pm-ish...maybe the crowd already left as I believe they close around 7pm). read more

This is one of the rare times where I felt an independent coffee shop may have lost the focus of providing a great drink and atmosphere to enjoy it in. The actual location is gorgeous... honestly one of the nicest places in Toronto but with a slightly above average drink and a really uninviting atmosphere, I feel this spot missed the mark. 4 for location. 3 for drinks. 2 for atmosphere. I've read the reviews before coming and saw there was a lukewarm or negative reviews about the experience. I've seen the same for Dark Horse's Canary location and my experience was actually good there. Unfortunately I have to agree with the negatives here. I dont think the lead supervisor or staff cares about what happens outside the barista area. So the positives first, the space is just amazing. Probably one of the nicest coffee shops I've ever seen in Toronto and possibly Canada. Vaulted ceilings with exposed old brick walls and large timber beams that give a wonderful character and warmth to it. The massive windows just lets in a lot of beautiful sunlight. There's an upper alcove that has smaller tables and it's a more intimate space but the main areas have large communal tables that sit in the sun. Annnnnnd then you have the goat music blaring. No... not Greatest Of All Time. But modern folk music that sounds like a bleating goat. I kid you not. Before 11 am, it was chill and cool but when a particular barista arrived, she flipped the music immediately and made it LOUD. I had a hard time talking to the person beside me. She was happily singing to it while everyone at the tables was wondering what happened. I've never seen a barista completely oblivious to the cafe space before. Suffice to say, we wanted to leave immediately. Flat White - The beans they used gave the drink a higher acidic taste. It also had a stronger bitterness that drew away from the drink. It wasn't a bad drink but it wasn't a good one. It wasn't watery but the espresso flavour wasn't pleasant. 3/5 Honey Cardamom latte - I tried something new and though I tasted sweetness, it was sugary instead of honey and I didn't taste any cardamom. I feel that FIKA did the same drink much better and a better balance to the espresso. This one I would pass unless you like Starbucks style sweetness and lack of coffee flavour. 3/5 If the atmosphere would change, I would say this would be a decent spot but with the current atmosphere, I don't think I would be returning. read more

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I think I missed the concept of this coffee shop. It's spacious so there's lots of room for homework, studying or just catch up with a friend. At first I thought it was a coffee shop but they also have food food. Like burritos and what not so I was a bit confused. The coffee was mediocre at best. Nothing that can't be purchased else where with similar taste. The only reason why I'm giving it a 3 star is because my sister really enjoyed their flat white. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

You walk in and it is all natural light (which I love) thanks to the huge windows. There is a chandelier above people's heads but the place also had a very rustic feel. Perfect, I thought. Newspapers were strewn across the giant table that was surrounded by men on their laptops and phones working on something clearly very important. The male hipster vibe was strong at this table. I asked, "Is anyone sitting here?" before I moved all those papers and sat down. It was the polite thing to do. The table had been perfectly quiet but everyone stopped what they were doing. Everyone looked displeased at being interrupted and no one looked me in the eyes. Nobody said a word. One man in particular looked disgusted with being disrupted by a lowly creature whose existence he would not deign to acknowledge before going back to work. WTF? I have NEVER experienced anything quite like it before. I was quite shocked and entertained at the same time. This is exactly why Toronto gets a bad name. Well I wasn't having any of it. I knew I was going to be there for a while so I ordered a ham and cheese croissant, a decaf mocha and an almond turnover. I paid, stood and waited for a while but I could not hear anything happening. I sat down and waited. Nothing. A new person finally came behind the counter so I went up to her and said, "I am checking on the status of my order." You could tell from the shocked look on her face that nobody had done anything. My order (other than being handed the turnover in a paper bag) was completely either ignored or forgotten. She said she was on it and she did apologize profusely which I appreciated but at this point, was officially pissed off. My sandwich was tasty but the pastry quite dry. The decaf mocha was good and I enjoyed it as I got out all sorts of arts and crafts supplies and started journalling amongst the macho men with a sparkly elephant by my side. I did not want to finish my mocha and have my tart amongst those cranky people anymore and saw that there was a balcony behind the cash. I also noticed... The sound of voices! People were actually talking to each other up there. Much more interesting. As I got up there a very nice young man was leaving and he said, "Yes! You can have the best table in the house!" What a sweetheart! I thanked him profusely and felt so much more comfortable up where there was conversation and no uptight assholes. I felt much more at home above everyone down there who had treated me like crap as I ate my almond turnover. Again, the ends were very dry but the almond cream filling with the pastry was absolutely delicious. I do not know if that was the reason I was completely neglected after I paid $13 for my food and drink but honestly, there is no excuse. There was no one else in line at the time, they just did not fill my order and left me waiting indefinitely. Unforgivable. I am giving Dark Horse Espresso Bar on Spadina any stars because someone did actually finally make my order and apologize, otherwise... I will not be going back to this location. They can keep their pretentious food and drink to themselves. I have had much better at many other places. Completely mediocre, at best. Customer service pretty much sucked. Life is too short. Go somewhere else. ~ Suzie The Foodie Full story here: http://www.suziethefoodie.com/dark-horse-espresso-bar/ read more

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Having walked past this place a few times I wanted to try this spot. Finally I got to it today and ordered a Cappuccino. My friend had an americano and we ordered a Biscotti for good measure.First the Cappuccino Nice crema' on the shot. Good texture on the foam and as you can see from the picture a nice finish for latte art. As for the taste I think better than other joint around that area (hint hint Sense Cafe') My friend commented that for an americano it was weak and she didn't get the coffee fix she desired (something to do with the taste being not to her liking) As for Biscotti nothing to write home about. The ambiance is awesome BTW. I would give 3.5 stars overall. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Americano - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Living downtown, I have made many trips - whether that's on foot or in my parent's car - and passed by the large expresso bar that was called Dark Horse. Each time I have passed by, it's always decently crowded and its big, bright windows seemed to be inviting me to come inside. One morning I insisted to my friend, Nguyen, to meet me there for a cup of coffee. The moment I walked into the expresso bar, it was filled with bright light, and simply beautiful people. The one thing I love about being downtown is being surrounded by people of all walks of life - something as simple as going to an expresso bar such as Dark Horse just brings together all types of people. The ambiance was everything you could find in an interior design magazine; open concept and wooden decor which added nicely to the hipster feel. Truly, I was very impressed with the atmosphere, and to top it off it was a beautiful sunny morning in June. When Nguyen and I got our drinks, unfortunately the main area was quite crowded (with good reason, it was probably the prettier part of the cafe). However, they did have seating areas at the back of the expresso bar, which was almost as nice - though I wish the lighting was a bit brighter there so I could enjoy my coffee more. Regardless, Nguyen and I sat with a Cafe Macchiato and a Vanilla Latte for me and exchanged some great conversation about coffee, food and Vietnam. Overall, coming to Dark Horse is great if you're looking for something different from your usual cup of coffee at home, Starbucks or mainstream coffee. If you're into latte art like myself, a plus for one to come into Dark Horse and witness the barista create the drinks right before your eyes (a little show for your morning!). I highly recommend coming to Dark Horse - I had no regrets coming here with my friend. For the full review, click here: https://foodieutopiablog.com/2016/08/15/dark-horse-expresso-bar/ read more

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Great coffee and pastries, efficient staff, and lots of seating downstairs and upstairs. Also has a bathroom. Great place for a light breakfast with coffee, or a quick takeout coffee. You can also by a bottle of wine (food purchase required). A pleasant ambience with free Wi-Fi and a counters for laptops. read more

Dark Horse Espresso serves up your standard coffee with a wide selection of sandwiches (croissant and baguette) & pastries. The coffee itself is definitely a step up from your typical chain coffee shops, but I think that's about it - nothing else really stands out apart from its specialty coffee shop competitors. Despite that, the giant glass windows give the space plenty of natural light and the high ceilings make the place feel large and spacious. There's two main seating areas: at the communal tables in front of the entrance, and up the steps at the back for armchairs. 3 stars, but +1 for the atmosphere for boosting my productivity. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Post-midterm lunch: Latte & turkey sandwich - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It was a nice place in downtown. It was spacious and comfortable. They have large glass windows, so inside was bright and sunny if it is not raining. They have a nice view. I really had good time there. However, if the place is so stylish and trendy and charge $3.00 for coffee, the taste of coffee could be better. It was a nice place and I would come back, but I would not order coffee the next time. read more

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Great coffee, terrible service. The staff ignore you and make no effort to help you with extra forks and napkins

Came to this location last Christmas when in the city and when we came back this year, had to go again. It was a cold day with wind and rain so coming in out of the weather was a nice respite. Coffee and food, as usual, was good. Atmosphere relaxed. Sometimes it seems hard to get a seat but we were lucky both times and were able to settle in to enjoy everything. read more

Checked this place out for its rave reviews and hype. I can say that it's well deserved! Ordered a detour Brazil blend (?) French press and was really happy with it. Got a cranberry coconut bar on the side and that was pretty good too, if not a little more dense than I'd preferred. Worth checking out. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I stepped in the DOOR to walk towards the counter but there was a Barista with a broom sweeping up what looked to be a glass mug broken right in front of the counter. Stepping aside I waited for the Barista to dump the junk to order... Waited for him to clear the counter/tray full of empty cups to order... When he asked, I saw Cappucinno to go. As he continued to put the empties away I waited. As he got ready and mingled with others behind the counter I waited. WORTH the wait as the shot pulled into the paper cup looked so amazing. He then made his signature milk pour and it was a work of art as most people have expectations for but don't realize how many hours it takes to perfect. I had a previous ENCOUNTER here before where the Baristas where just as good and I took a seat on the upper level. It has its mix of CHIC lighting mixed with Wooden worn elements. I think it's not one of those places I can feel comfortable in, maybe I'm too RUGGED and uncool for this setting. Maybe I'm right! read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Decided to get prepping for the next semester.. decided to go on an adventure at the same time and check out this Cafe on Spadina..huge place, I personally like the rustic feel with the giant square tables that can seat 12-15 people .. the exposed non-refurbished brick walls, the super high ceilings with the wooden slats for a ceiling, the giant wood pillars and wood cross beams imo really makes this place appealing .. Now for the food. Got the latte, and the ham and egg croissant. $10 for both. Nothing outstanding or special with it.. . But I see why people come here.. it's a great spacious place to do some work.. . Also, Asian girl with a bull ring in her nose, seems very very miserable with her work. No smile or any sort of enthusiasm in her work... Sad.Actually, same goes for all of the ladies working there. read more

Fantastic cafe with a cool vibe. The large communal tables, wood, brick interior and the 2nd level overlooking the espresso bar really makes this place stand out. It's a great place to meet friends, work and while I'd like to go their to read, the large windows makes it hard not to people watch! I went back to Dark Horse to catch up with my friend (the first time I had to get a latte to go - yes to eco-friendly paper cups!). I had the latte and the very last cinnamon bun. The latte was stronger than my usual Starbucks latte which was a nice kick and the rosetta leaf was very well done. It reminds me of my time in living in Vancouver where it seems like most of the cafes at the very least try to do some latte art on their drinks. The cinnamon bun probably would have been a lot better if I got it earlier in the day - it was a bit dry and tough but I can imagine it being mouth watering when it's fresh. My friend had the london fog, which he said was one of the best he's ever had (he's a big tea drinker). It's a bit pricier compared to Starbucks but you have to keep in mind that you're paying for more than just the coffee. Dark Horse if my favourite cafe so far... :) read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Dark Horse's latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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I was eating a lemon cranberry scone and while I was in the middle of taking a bite, a mouse fell from the ceiling, hit my hand, and then landed on the floor beside my chair to where it died. To say this was very traumatic is an understatement. I felt sick to my stomach with the whole experience since I've never seen an animal die nor have I ever experienced anything like this ever before. Immediately after the situation I went to the front counter to let them know about the mouse and tell them exactly what happened. I was met with unprofessionalism when I was interrupted with a very loud "EWWWWW" from the cashier after I said the word "mouse". I haven't even finished with my first sentence on explaining what happened to me for the two girls working to completely disregard my feelings. They offered me a refund, which I let me friend take my money (since I paid with cash) while I went to the near by washroom to wash my hands and take a second since I was feeling extremely ill. They advised my friend that "it's an old building" as a reason why the mouse fell from the ceiling. Once I came back the two girls asked if I wanted anything to eat or a free drink, which I politely declined since I didn't want to consume any food products after the clear health code infraction 10 feet away. The two girls were laughing during the whole things and in the midst of their laughter they finally asked if I was ok. However, based on the conversation(interrupting me, laughter, and treating my situation like a joke) and how they didn't even go to clean the mouse, I knew they didn't care. Overall, I'm extremely disappointed with the cleanliness of the location I've visited today, the service I've received, and the lack of empathy from the staff. They never asked for my name, took my information, or even stopped laughing to seriously connect with me to see if I was ok. read more

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Stopped by in my quest for bright, open study spaces and I must say, DH doesn't disappoint! I love the big communal tables they have at the front of the store made out of wood. Very spacious; exactly what I needed for my laptop and textbooks. I believe they have smaller, more private tables in the back for anyone who doesn't really like being in open spaces. The latte was great, though kind of small in my opinion. I'm happy that they had agave nectar though. I wish the latte had been hotter upon drinking it though. It was only warm when I got it. I would definitely come back here to study, just not during peak hours. It can get quite busy so it's hard to find seats to sit in. Also, the prices are pretty much the average price at any other cafe, but I just found the cups to be a bit smaller than normal. The biggest part that probably won me over was the interior. Great space for doing work in! read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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One of the best Dark Horse Espresso places I've been to. It's super trendy and hip. There's two large tables for you to sit at and bring your laptop. There's additional seating upstairs. The menu is a bit pricy but YOLO - treat yourself to something because it's worth staying here. Everyone here is super friendly although it can get busy so be patient while your order is being magically crafted. It's located just south of Chinatown, but north of Queen and Spadina. A great find for writers, coffee lovers, and anyone looking for a nice, quiet place to type or catch up with friends. read more

Dark Horse Espresso - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The last time I was in Toronto, I walked by Dark Horse without time to stop by & enjoy a cup of coffee. So I bookmarked it & made sure I had time to do so. My friend & I were walking around so we stopped by for a refresher. I ordered an iced soy latte & loved the bold flavor of the coffee. The soy milk added enough creamy texture to the mix & I loved the subtle taste of sweetness of the soy milk. I loved the open space of the cafe. Great study area or lounge area to catch up w/ friends. Staff is also very chill. Pluses in my book! read more

Gorgeous space with a huge chandelier and big windows overlooking Chinatown. The little upstairs area is nice too. It feels like an artist's loft. But if you go during peak hours, it can be disappointing to find nowhere to sit. Also, the food and drinks are nothing particularly special. I find the lattes not as smooth as at some other places and the mochas a bit bitter. The staff have never been particularly personable either. And I don't really find the big wooden tables that conducive to meeting people, maybe it's just me. Mostly just people on laptops working side by side. I would categorize Dark Horse as more of a work cafe than a social cafe. Last time I went for an epic catch up session with a friend I hadn't seen in ages, and it was awkward because we felt like everyone around us was eavesdropping. read more

Came here as a meeting point on a Saturday afternoon. The space is large, but it was quite crowded with students doing work. That being said, if you snag a table, it's a great place to do work or catch up with friends over a cup of java. The decor looks very industrial, but it adds character to the coffee shop. Location wise, it's quite convenient. You can easily access DHE by TTC and there are also heaps of funky shops around so you can look around pre or post coffee. I had a latte, which was pretty good. It was made promptly and it also came with latte art (my favourite!). Although I didn't have anything to eat, the snacks looked good; they have something for everything because I saw gluten free stuff too. Good for: coffee, snacks, dates, meet ups read more

For me the bar for coffee shops is Starbucks, although I do enjoy my double double at Tim Horton's. I wanted to try this place out to see if I was missing anything. This being my first time, I wasn't sure if their menu is as extensive as Starbucks, and I was to afraid to find out. At Starbucks you can order a coffee that is 10 words long. I didn't see that sort of stuff here, but of course the base coffee types are the same. I got an americano (for the first time) on a recommendation and my wife got an iced mocha. I also got an iced tea and they are in my wheelhouse, but unfortunately there aren't any ice tea places in the city. I can say that I enjoyed the americano. Very flavourful, full bodied, bold (these are some great words huh?) and as a friend put it "velvety". I did however really like the iced tea. There were two kinds ready to be poured, and some other ones I could have had steeped for me. I got the english breakfast because it was already steeped. This is the first place I know of that has different kinds of iced tea. My favourite iced teas are ones that are brewed without sugar, and then later put some liquid sugar in; none of this simulated lemon flavour bs. I chugged this iced tea down. What impressed me the most is that they get their tea's from David's tea, which I'm guessing their selections will change over time. The only thing I didn't like about the place was that there doesn't seem to be any structure. I don't even know if that's the right word, but the milk is in one place and the station to mix you coffee is in another. I didn't even realize that the milk was for our use, because its not actually at the coffee mixing station and is the same ones the baristas use. read more

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