Not a bad little spot, inside what looks like a gallery/work building... not sure. Coffee is fresh but nothing special. I've tried a few coffee houses over the weeks and will say their coffee has a bit more of a bitter flavour, but I like that, because the other places I went to it was almost like I was drinking "weak" coffee. Great seating area if you want to sit and chat w a friend, and not busy. Check it out if you're in the area, seems like a great local staple and the workers are lovely. read more

I wonder why these amazing chic cafes are hidden from plain sight? Guess that's what Yelp is for !! Roastery has good variety of coffee options to start with. All specialty coffees are less that $5. They have custom made to order food options plus something to-go as well. It's perfect for a quick bite during lunch hours or spending time enjoying your cuppa overlooking large windows. read more

The Roastery Coffee House - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

The Roastery located in the 401 Richmond Street West Arts & Culture heritage building just off Spadina, oozes of comfort and welcome, with ample comfortably spaced tables with a nice relaxed atmosphere. The food is delicious, serving the complete range of café fare - savoury and sweet - with great salads, soups, sandwiches, combos at very reasonable prices and of course terrific coffee. The extra magic that brings it together and takes it beyond are the lovely, competent & friendly staff. A place to return to and loiter some more! read more

See all

I work in the service industry so I can tell you nothing done here was forgivable. First they forgot my coffee was pouring (they weren't that busy) and had to remake it, more time, no apology. Woman put my omelette in a to-go and I said "oh it's not to go" so she slammed a bowl down, looked at me and so I said "it's ok" and she barked: "it's a plate or to-go you have TWO options." That sure made me feel welcome to stick around. Super uncomfortable, been there twice because I thought the first time was just maybe an off day but it's all around bad service. read more

I work in the building and go to the roastery sometimes in the morning and during my afternoon break. I have mixed feelings about this place. Some of their items are yummy and worth the money, but they have a bad habit of fluctuating the prices at their own convenience. The service depends on who is taking your order. They recently started making these really tasty cranberry/blueberry brownies in the afternoon. The only problem is they hiked up the price by half within a week and began to serve old stale brownies from days prior with no price adjustment. Now you only get half of what you got before for the +3 dollar price point (sometimes stale)... not good business practice if you ask me. Their toasted bagel with two slices of cheese for only $2.36 is definitely a good deal though... lets just hope tomorrow I don't get offered an open faced bagel at the same price ; D... read more

This airy brick-and-beam café is located in the base of the 401 Richmond building at Richmond and Spadina. It's a large space with lots of tables and (actually comfortable) chairs. There are even a few club chairs in the back around a short coffee table. This seems like the go-to place for anyone who works in the building or nearby. In addition to coffee and tea, they have sandwiches, pastries, cold drinks, fresh juice and other snacks. I ordered a chai latte on my visit and damn, it was actually pretty good. I guess I'm surprised because I've been underwhelmed at their sister store in Liberty Village. For the mobile commuter: I noticed quite a few outlets here. They claimed to have free Wi-Fi, but it might not have been working on the afternoon of my visit. I shall return. Obligatory Title Pun: I propose a ROAST. Menu Readability: Really poor handwriting on a series of chalkboards. Need to mention: It's a bit drafty in here. I dunno, I felt like mentioning that. What this place teaches me about myself: Cold is my enemy. read more

A lovely bright and airy coffee shop, hidden in the middle of downtown. I had my very first ice coffee there the other day, and I loved it, and I bought a pound of beans at a great price. A great chill space - a rare find in this part of the city! The staff and owner were very friendly and accommodating. read more

The Roastery is a nice place to relax with a book over a nice cup of tea or coffee. The location can't be beat -- close to Queen West and the Entertainment District. There are other cafes in the area (e.g. Dark Horse, Little Nicky's), however it can be hard to find a table at those places. The Roastery has plenty of seating and I have never had a problem finding seating there. I also like that they have good food options in case you get hungry. Most cafes just have baked goods, but here you can find healthier options like yogurt or their freshly made salads (I recently had one with sweet potatoes and chicken, and the chickpea couscous one is good too). read more

I 100% love the location and the building. LOVE the building. BUT the service at this place is horrible. The baristas don't listen to your order and you just settle on whatever they heard and give you because the place is so packed you assume it's just that they are busy and frazzled taht they dont' have time to listen to you. but I'd rather go to a place where I can get what I order and enjoy the RIGHT order. Free wifi is a slightly redeeming quality. But as adorable and "vancouver coffee house" as it is- it still isn't good coffee. read more

I recently started working in the area and have been to the Roastery a few times now. So far, so good! The lattes are good (although a bit strong for my weak tastes) and reasonably priced. They also give a discount when you bring your own mug. The service has been fine on my visits, although I haven't been in when its super busy. read more

The Roastery is conveniently located near almost every hip office building in the city, including my old stomping grounds at Movember HQ. I've probably frequented this unique coffee/snack venue about 20 times. I'd often grab one of their special pasta salads, coffee and/or a sandwich. I was partial to their egg salad, which is made to order. The servers were always generous with the toppings and genuinely lovely. MUST MENTION: In the summertime you can take your food to go and go to the stunning rooftop garden and check-out the Toronto skyline (while avoiding going back to work, perhaps). TIP: Order their lentil soup. It's delicious and hearty enough to be a good wintertime meal. *Not always veggie based, so look out if you don't eat meat. GOTTA LOVE: Free wifi. read more

It's more about the setting and the non-Starbucks appeal than anything else, I think. Located in the lovely 401 building, it's a refreshing alternative to the quicky choices we usually go for. It's true the service isn't great but everything else is and they have quite tasty snacks and an alternative selection of sandwiches and wraps. read more

I got the jerk chicken wrap as I read somewhere it was good. I HAVE NEVER HAD A MORE TASTELESS sandwich in my life. Not only that there was NO jerk seasoning, I don't think the chicken had any flavor at all. Perhaps I am biased because I do eat REAL and sometimes really hot jerk chicken, but this had absolutely no spice at all. I did not eat ANY spice few years ago and if I had this sandwich back then, it would still be tasteless and flavorless. I also got carrot juice which tasted really ODD...... kinda like the real thing but not really. I tasted a hint of potato and pumpkin, and perhaps sugar....? Not impressed! Needless to say, I will NOT be going there anymore. read more

This place is adorable, and they have a great selection of foods and baked goods. But, despite working in this building twice a week I rarely frequent the Roastery for two reasons: 1) They don't take debit which can be very annoying at times 2) Their coffee isn't very fresh, so unless you are getting made-to-order types of caffeine, the coffee is meh. Really cute place, decent food, a bit pricey and the coffee underwhelms. read more

Such a tasty fresh lunch spot! As others have said it's like going home for lunch. I have had their sandwiches, usually turkey or tuna and they have a great selection of fresh breads and vegetables to top with. The real star however is the 2 or 3 salad combo. The 3 salads comes to around $7 after tax and they always have a great selection. I favour the greek pasta or tuna pasta salad and then couscous and the arugala/beet/feta/pecan. You can really tell that they make them fresh that day. I always feel satisfied but not overly "full" afterwards which is perfect. I also love their spinach pies (basically a spanakopita) for 3.99. With a side salad it too makes a perfect lunch. Make sure to check out the soups while you're there too, the red lentil is especially tasty. Free WiFi! Couch and comfortable chairs! Note: someone mentioned no debit? They definitely DO have debit. read more

The Roastery is a staple in the 401 Richmond building. It provides coffee to many people who work in the area looking for something better than the usual office sludge. They also offer a variety of healty sandwiches and salads and cold pastas that you can (and will) enjoy. However, the sandwiches, while great, are exactly the kind of sandwich you can make at home if you take the time to do it. There's nothing special about any of the ingredients. The place itself is a cozy spot and I've spent many a lunch break here just sitting and reading. I've witnessed all sorts of interactions though: people hanging out, people having company meetings, people having 1 on 1 interviews or business pitches. Seems to be a location for any occasion. read more

Super friendly Managment. Coffee needed a touch of flavour and I was already finished half of it. She gave me three pumps and topped up my ice coffee for free ! Windows let the sunshine in and the wifi is quick and flawless to connect too read more

I'm fine paying a higher price point for a sandwich here because the quality used to be worth it. However, all the competent women who used to run this place have been replaced with (for lack of a more accurate word) dopey men. And this is relevant because if I make any request while a sandwich is being made, they act like I'm being a nag. Sexist tension is not a good appetizer. Today I really gave up on this place. I'd been holding my tongue all while one of these new dopes made the most half-assed sandwich I've ever seen. I thought "I'll just open it and rearrange it when I get back to the office, I don't wanna be a nag". But who puts one thick vertical line of mayo down the centre of square bread? Or doesn't even ask if you want lettuce/tomato before cutting it? An untrained adult has better sandwich-instincts; it was like watching a toddler make a sandwich. And because of the grumpiness I've experience from employees here in the past, I felt under pressure to tiptoe around his feelings as if he were a toddler too. I asked someone trained to correct it but they instead threw it in the trash, wasting all the time I'd spent away from my desk. I didn't have time for them to make a new one so had to ask for my money back, which they did resentfully as if it had been ME who threw the sandwich out. The whole experience had more of an impact than any sandwich-related experience should have, because they acted like I was being unreasonable for expecting the basic quality they're charging for. I could go get a ball of grease from the Tim Hortons if that's how I want to start my day. If you're not going to supervise new hires, then invest a basic amount of time training them. Why does it seem like this place is run by people who've never handled food or money before? The only people who seem to know what they're doing are the two Asian women who work there. Make the older one the manager and let her do the hiring. She super competent and she's always friendly. read more

The Roastery provides an appreciated alternative to the poorly-laid-out Starbucks or hit-or-miss Le Gourmand coffee, but they're more than just a coffee joint. They do tasty and affordable foodstuffs too. Between the decent coffee, the smiling staff and the healthy lunch choices, this is my number one weekday lunchtime escape when I'm feeling that 9 to 5 rut. Hello, high ceilings. Hi there, big windows. Obama-bump, free wifi! read more

There is no sign saying I cannot refill my drip coffee from a self help station - i was told I must pay for a second time. When I inquired why there was no sign saying "No free refills" the staff member didnt have an answer for me. The coffee isnt good quality and doesnt warrant being paid for twice. A piss off. read more

My favourite thing to get here is the cheese croissant. It is very yummy but I wish they would somehow have it displayed in an enclosed space. It is more on the expensive side. All their staff are female...it would be great to see some diversity. read more

Not right on the street, but the extra 10 steps are definitely worth it! This place is pretty great. They have a downtown location, and serve up great coffee in the am and also have a great lunch menu. Great for a group of eaters with diverse nutritional restrictions. There are a lot of gluten free, and vegetarian options which are delicious and reasonably priced. Coffee, Lattes, speciality drinks are all under $5.00 which I think is just great! Cozy holiday drinks are lovely, including hot ginger lemonade They have a great lunch spread complete with: 3 flavour of soup which change daily Large assortment of salads Variety of delicious sandwiches made in front of you Many dessert options Seating available or you can take your food to go! read more

Bad service and subpar coffee. The foam on my cappuccino was all bubbles and cold at the top. Disappointed when I'm spending 3 bucks on a drink. read more

It's not the staff, though they are grumpy, i find this happens because of management. It is the fact that the owner ousted his much nicer, hardworking and amiable partner who established the cafe in 401 (after many had failed) and after taking over the food prices rose and the quality plummeted. Coffee, blah and expensive, go to the Dark Horse (in the building) or Little Nikki's close by. The soup is okay, mostly spiced with salt though and more expensive than other local choices. The sandwiches are expensive and The Bagel is right across the street with much better deals and amazing choices and a daily sandwich special that is $10.00. The Roastery also tried to take Timmy's biz by offering Chili, but they post a sign above that says "Does Not come with bread" lol. Every single time I have bought a croissant it has been stale, yes I tried numerous times because I work in the building. So off to City Market where they are made fresh, and they also have great daily soup. All are less expensive. Yeah so, about that.... pretty much choosing anything else. Ditto some of the treatment mentioned in other reviews. read more

I miss this charming little cafe tucked into a corner of the nicely refurbished 401 building. I used to grab lunch here almost everyday, there was enough variety that I wasn't bored coming back time and again. They have great fresh salads, made with chick pea, avocado or pasta (these do rotate), cups of yogurt filled with berries and granola (good for a snack), chow mein noodles, baked goods, and even a bunch of california rolls wrapped and ready to go. Several varieties of tasty coffee too, grab your cup and bring it up to pay. read more

It was too late to cancel my latte when I saw 1. they didn't keep the milk in the fridge 2. they didn't rinse any espresso equipment after using it or before they use it. Maybe the coffee would taste better if I didn't see it. The sandwiches are really good, they're all freshly prepared everyday. I would go back for their avocado mix on my sandwich again but not for their specialty coffees. By the way, wifi is free here! read more

Friendly staff, large menu with options available for any dietary restrictions & offer fresh scones and shortbread cookies for those of us that don't diet :) Fair prices, fresh food and fresh coffee. Great community space for artists, art lovers alike. Be sure to visit the free gallery spaces as well as the really cool store "Spacing" that is attached. I always take a moment out of my day to view current events on the arts bulletin board as well. Great way to start the day inspired. read more

Quiet place within the artist hub Richmond 401. They provide several organic coffees, and the Americano is good. Worth visiting this place if you want a peaceful afternoon. read more

I love The Roastery. I'm not a coffee drinker, so can't comment on that, but the tea selection is good and I love the soup and salad options. The soup is only $4 so it's a great winter lunch option. The lemonade is also delicious, if you're after something refreshing on a hot summer day. I've always had great service here and it remains my favourite cafe in the area for a combination of the atmosphere, quality food and good prices. read more

I love going to the roastery. It's very convenient as it's right across the street from my workplace. The staff is very friendly and their bagels are delicious! read more

I love the Roastery, I enjoy going there to get my flavoured coffee, and the odd lunch. The friendly staff recognizes me, and always says hello. It's nice going to places where they recognize you/know your name. Great food, decent prices, conveniently placed for all us Liberty Village workers. read more

If you're looking for a quick, healthy meal at a reasonable price, look no further than The Roastery! I definitely eat here WAY too often since I started working in the area, and even though I'm not a coffee drinker, I'm just as much of an addict when it comes to their 3-choice salad. My favourite is the chickpea, followed by the pesto green beans, then edamame and, depending on the day, I'll either round those out with cheese tortellini (warm or cold it's delicious), or their arugula and beet salad. Everything is always fresh, and dressing is either topped-to-order or never over-saturated in any of the premixed salads. The baked goods, cleverly nestled near the cash register, are a great grab-and-go snack (I tend to devour my chocolate chip or peanut butter cookie before I even get to my salad), and they are certainly just as tasty and less costly than any of the other nearby establishments... an added bonus when you also don't have to wait 10-15 minutes to get your food! Beyond the pleasant staff, the place is clean and well-lit, they are always prepared for the lunch rush, and everything is always clearly-labeled. If you have questions, the staff always knows the answer, which is great if you have any dietary restrictions or allergies. On a nice day, there are even a few spots just outside the door to eat while enjoying the fresh air, which is a welcome change when you're in such a busy part of the city. read more

Great coffee house with chick peas and spinach wraps that are unbelievable...assorted teas and coffee with flavor...and the Croatian girl is REALLY cute...great location, been in the building for 16 years...M read more

This place is actually the biggest rip off ever! Paid close to $9 for three perogies and 5 leafs of lettuce. Love the roastery in liberty village but this place sucks ball sacks...So many other better spots in the area to go for lunch. Never again! read more

I use to come here almost every other day because I work from home most of the time and need a place to make calls and get a break from being in the house. The staff all know what my regular order is and I use to feel very welcomed. I always order a coffee and sometimes get a snack or lunch depending on how hungry I am. Recently I was approached by one of the managers and was rudely asked to leave. She came up to me and said, "this is our lunch time rush, and there are people looking for seats but they cant find anywhere to sit" So I responded "Ok" wondering why she was speaking to me specifically. I had already purchased a coffee and was considering getting lunch since it was around 12. She followed up by saying "Can you hurry up and finish up you can come back later"(making a hand gesture to speed it up) Being completely shocked, I told her I have already purchased a coffee and said do I need to buy food to stay. She said "sure only if you buy food". Feeling completely singled out in the coffee shop as the only one to leave, I packed my belongings and started to leave. As I was leaving I noticed 3 other individuals at different tables all on laptops, only having a coffee by their side. This was unbelievable, and the feeling of being unwelcome and unfairly treated really showed the true colours of this coffee shop. Unfortunately I will not be returning here because of the terrible customer service and how I felt completely singled out from the rest of the customer at the coffee shop. I personally have spent over $836.67 at this coffee spot in the last 6 months, I will be moving to a more welcoming coffee shop. Also the Wifi really sucks here. read more

Can we give it NO STARS? The location at 401 Richmond has gone steadily downhill over the past year or so. I just ordered a bagel with cream cheese and lox. Stale bagel (not the first time), cream cheese spread so thin it is almost not there, I asked for onions and capers--- rec'd two pieces of onion and TWO capers, (one on each side of my bagel) Seriously..... Like to support the independents but for the same $6 I can go up Spadina to What a Bagel and get a fresh bagel with proper portions of smoked salmon and cream chees. read more