White Squirrel is definitely one of my favourite coffee spots anywhere. The reasons are simple: - The coffee is always delicious - a perfect latte or a perfect americano awaits you here, people. - The staff is friendly, efficient and not pretentious. - Biodegradable/environmentally friendly cups. - Delicious muffins and treats (try the lemon corn bread muffin, I'm not sure if it's vegan though, whoops) - The prices are competitive, cheaper than Starbucks, that's for sure. - For those of you with an ice cream craving, they serve Greg's Ice Cream! Bonus: they stay open later than most of the other indie coffee joints (in the summer they turn off the espresso machine at 8:30, 8 in the winter) thereby ensuring I am no longer reliant on the Starbucks or Second Cup down the road. Only two things would make White Squirrel better: - vegan ice cream (but I do realize this is incredibly rare and possibly asking a lot) - a bigger tea selection (including more herbals). I think they only had about six tea options when I was there last. Ultimately, this place is worth a visit and one of my favourite neighbourhood spots to pick up a latte before I wander around the park or the 'hood. read more

White Squirrel is one of the very few places in Toronto whose coffee I genuinely enjoy drinking as an aficionado and not someone in need of caffeine. The espresso ($2.75) was executed perfectly and had a delightful fruity aftertaste, something I truly savour and have scoured far and wide. Most places in Toronto go for ridiculously burnt-tasting beans, but not White Squirrel. The place is run by the former owner of Aunties and Uncles, my favourite brunch spot, and is situated right on Trinity Bellwoods. Perfect. What else is there to say? read more

Today I had THE BEST MOCHA IN CANADA courtesy of the White Squirrel. White Squirrel, you have literally taken my breath away! (Which by the way, literally hasn't happened in quite a while!) Coincidently, my friend literally saw the white squirrel today across the street at Trinity Bellwoods Park. SO YES PEOPLE! THE WHITE SQUIRREL DOES EXIST! :) read more

As a dog walker in the Queen West 'hood, the White Squirrel has been my saviour time and time again! It is the only place in the area where you can stroll up with a group of dogs and order a life-saving beverage (hot or cold) from the take-out window, never having to go inside. It only takes a minute, and for those with dogs or strollers, it is a godsend! The White Squirrel lemonade ($2.50) is the BEST IN TORONTO! It's wonderfully fresh and spritzer-like, with the optional mint making it more like an alcohol-free mojito. And if you're ultra-environmentally conscious, you can forgo the (biodegradable) cup and take it to the park in a glass...they trust that you will return it. ;) For vegans, the tofu & chickpea empanada is healthy, filling, and yummy, but they sell out early! All of the staff have been nothing but fast, friendly and helpful, and I stop there 4-5 times/week so trust me, I would know! If other reviewers claim otherwise, I would suggest that their experiences are more a reflection on themselves than the White Squirrel staff. read more

I am in love with this place. This is a LOCAL coffee shop with LOCAL vibe and genuine awesome cafe americano. The ambience, the staff and the patrons all mix together. The table is "communal" which adds to its charm. You will feel awkward to come here on a first date, people will potentially hear when you ask your date the question "so tell me more about yourself." Awkward right? Typical first date question. Back to my review. There is no sign in front that says "White Squirrel" - just a white squirrel logo. I'm serious. Though I have not tried it, the ice cream looks great. I will surely come back here to read a book or have a conversation with a stranger. It's totally possible. read more

My go-to spot for a coffee break whenever I'm in the 'hood. Prices are good compared to other places (e.g. regular flat white is $3 with tax included, compared to TAN which is closer to $4 before tax). They also have some good quick bites -- I recently tried their portabello bahn mi sandwich ($5). Yummy and flavourful with some kind of miso-based spread. I like that prices include taxes so you aren't counting change and things are more efficient. They always play good music and baristas are exceptionally friendly. Gotta love the name too -- I actually finally saw a white squirrel in Trinity-Bellwoods Park this year! They DO exist! read more

Seems like a cute place from the outside with a lot of customers on a nice Saturday afternoon. However, you only get one chance to make a first impression. The ice cream flavors, mysteriously named, come with no descriptions. When asked about the contents of these ice creams (god forbid you have an allergy to anything), the arrogant staff get annoyed. My friend's ice cream was very 'soft' and couldn't be served alone in a cone (it had to be served upside down in a cup). They forgot about my lemonade, which resembled a virgin mojito more than anything, so that was a bit annoying as well. I wouldn't go back again simply because of the arrogance and attitude. There's a lot of other shops I could spend my money on, thanks. read more

I was surprised to read negative reviews about this place. I usually grab an americano here on my way to/from trinity bell woods park and always have a pleasant experience. I love the clean, modern look inside. I found the menu very readable and upon my first visit it was clear where I was supposed to order and stand (not too hard to figure out, given the tiny size, but with some coffee shops it is frustrating to not know the proper protocol.) I found the staff very friendly and not pretentious at all. In fact, my only issue with this place is the size - it can get crowded fast because it is so small, but I have found service here to be very quick. The americanos are tasty and cheap, and I've had a few of their treats (including a brownie, which even though I don't really like sweet/deserty things, was admittedly delicious.) read more

My first experience at White Squirrel was in warm weather and I was really excited about finding what I still think is the most delicious ice cream sandwich I've ever had... it was amazing! I had opted for Greg's roasted marshmallow which they served between two perfectly chewy dark cookies that I believe were a chocolate/gingersnap combo of some sort. I've been back several times since for coffee, mostly due to proximity to the park, and my willpower has been tested against these treats. Luckily, they make a great americano too. Due to it's small size, I wouldn't go here to hang out for long, but it's perfect for dropping in on your way to Trinity Bellwoods or browsing Queen West. read more

One of the places that makes Trinity Bellwoods what it is today. White squirrel is a gem with great staff. I've always gotten things to go, but there are beautiful seats in the back with a window that opens up to create a soothing breeze on humid summer days. They also have the service window to the street which makes things amazingly convenient. The great coffee should be mentioned, since this is a coffee shop. They also have homemade baked goods that are delicious. read more

Friendly service, nice atmosphere, will definitely come back again. Got an iced coffee and it was delicious!

Do white squirrels even exist? Or is that just a PC-way of saying albino? I opted for the equivalent of a Starbuck's "Red Eye" (Shot of espresso w/ coffee) and maybe it was just the batch, but the coffee tasted burnt and left a bitter after taste in my mouth. I also noticed that the barista was friendlier to what I would call "regulars" than to me as he wasn't particularly friendly and seemed put off when I didn't know order their "Red Eye" equivalent by its proper name. For coffee and better service I'd go elsewhere. read more

Best place for caffeine fix. I swear I felt woken up after my third sip of Americano. Love the communal table and artwork on wall. Service was very friendly and a great experience. Once I spilled my Americano on myself after I purchased it and they made me a fresh one for free. It was very kind of them and they were very courteous.Will return. read more

White Squirrel Coffee Shop - Love the art on walls. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Great coffee and snacks - they also carry Greg's ice cream which is locally made in Toronto. The barista is adorable and super friendly. Please note - though they have plentiful wifi, they do NOT have air conditioning! Little balmy in there. Grab your coffee to go and enjoy across the street in the park. read more

Honestly I do not understand the high reviews of this cafe. I went in with 3 co-workers on Tuesday at 9am. There was no one behind the counter, loud rap music was playing, all the baked goods were sitting out uncovered, dirty dishes were littered behind the bar. We stood there for 5 minutes, said hello and no one came to help us. To make matters worse there were milk jugs upside down in steaming pitchers which is against health codes. It was a dirty disgusting shop. It should be seen by the health board. read more

Great coffee shop, in a real nice location on Queen West facing the bellwoods park. I live real close so i come here often to just sit on the bench and enjoy a coffee while i people watch or relax. The internet is really quick so the few times i have come here to work the only nuiance is when the weather is warm there are shit loads of flies in the top section. read more

It was okay. Small little place, with a communal table at the back. I had a latte with soy milk, but it wasn't as rich as I would have liked it. But it was a nice quiet spot for me to sit and yap on the phone. I may as well have taken everything to the park though. read more

Right across the park, this little coffee shop (with a very small communal table upstairs) serves delicious ice-cream and coffee. And affogato, of course. Yes they do apple cider! I walked out smiling from the A+ service and a delicious Americano. read more

I am sitting here as we speak. Thank goodness for trendy coffee shops along Queen West who don't turn their noses up at people who linger. I've been here once before, and was turned off by the snobbish attitude of one of the staff when ordering some Greg's Ice Cream. Thankfully, today, the owner (previously a partner of Auntie's & Uncle's fame), is here and keeping things casual and friendly. In my eavesdropping as he chats with regular customers, he works here during the weekdays and loves his new venture. It is well earned, I think. The atmosphere is lazy and not over-thought. Prices are also quite reasonable (a large iced tea is comfy at $2.50) and lovely to enjoy 'round the communal table of Macs, Macs, and many more Macs. Ah yes, White Squirrel, you have redeemed yourself. read more

One of my favourite coffee shops! They use organic milk, from what I understand. Flat whites are delicious. Iced lattes are delicious. Service is always really friendly. Best place nearby, even with the new competition spawning up next door. Highly recommended! read more

Stopped by White Squirrel today because I saw people eating ice cream outside and wanted a cone ... was pleasantly surprised to see that they were selling Greg's Ice Cream - wooot.. I had a kiddie size scoop of malt ball crunch - chocolate based with little pieces of whopper like candies. I also sampled coffee toffee, which was excellent. Kiddie size is $3, but you still get one really big scoop. A small size comes with two scoops - and they let you mix and match. read more

As noted by other Yelpers White Squirrel Coffee Shop is named after the rarely seen but none the less legendary albino squirrel of Trinity Bellwoods park. Apt name as the place is just south of the park itself. The cafe is small with most of their business being take-out (they even have a street side pick up window). On the menu is of course caffeinated beverages as well as house baked goodies like muffins, empanadas (kudos!), ice cream and sandwiches. The espresso is decent. The beans come from Mountain View Coffee. Taste is along the lines of a flavorful traditional Italian espresso. Service is as quick as the lone guy behind the counter can pump it out. The place tends to be a busy spot for coffee drinkers heading down the Queen St. W. strip to or from downtown. Though there isn't that much room for seating the place is none the less a popular spot for laptop warriors. Free WiFi of course. If you happen to be around Trinity Bellwoods I think this cafe would be a good place to drop by for coffee, ice cream, or even lunch. read more

I've only been here a handful of times, and it's usually when I am hung over and just need a simple cup of coffee to slowly sip on while walking home or heading to a brunch spot. The place is quite relaxing each time I've come in. There's always people on the small top floor quietly working on their laptops. The people serving me have always been nice and polite, and the customers ahead or behind of me appear to be friendly as well. Overall the vibe is nice and I like how they seem to have all the handy caffeine ingredients right in front of me. I never have to really look around to locate milk or cream. I'd really love to come back some day when I am not so groggy. I would also like to try their ice cream selection, but until then I can recommend this spot for quality coffee served by some nice peeps! read more

First of all, I have to include a self-referential digression. I have been to the hometown of the white squirrel in Olney, Illinois. White squirrels are even creepier than the black squirrels one find in New Jersey. Google them, trust me. This coffee shop across from Trinity Bellwoods is definitely busy when the park is busy. On the plus side, they serve solid coffees, flat whites [like a latte but less milk], and espressos. I've been quite satisfied with the caffeinated quaffing here. They also serve Greg's ice cream, which is quite delicious, and a super random assortment of pastries or other edible things. It's limited and often rather weird, like an oatmeal cookie and some type of samosa are the two food choices. On the minus side, most of the staff are as hipsterfied as possible. I don't mind hipsters, but these hipsters are in absolutely no rush to do anything at all. Getting a coffee or an ice cream literally takes 3 times as long as it should. They stop and chat to other hipster friends and serve them out of order. It's just a little bit infuriating. Some of them just make every interaction awkward, although I did really like chatting with my barista last time, I just wanted to my flat white sometime that day. It's a bit pricey for what is. $10 credit/debit minimum without an extra fee. read more

Not a fan. The coffee is decent, but I wouldn't say my socks were knocked off. The staff felt kinda pretentious; it just felt off. The muffins looked good, but they also look like how I'd make them at home. They might taste good, but i did not try. as for the coffee, i had a flat white. it tasted like a solid coffee. i think this place probably is a decent place to chill, i think it could be even better to chill if it had space for seats facing window. nevertheless, it wasn't very loud inside, so probably alright to meet peeps. there are plenty of places to get coffee downtown, so this place isn't my fave. read more

Cute. Yummy lattes. I love squirrels. Treats to eat. I'd go here all the time if I lived in Toronto. The park across the street is great. So nice...warm or cold out...doesn't matter. Have some ice cream or a muffin. Can't wait to go back. read more

I arrived about 20 minutes before closing and ordered an Americano, but he said he had already shut down the machines and could only offer me normal coffee- okay, that was fine. The coffee was nothing spectacular and was overpriced. They have Greg's ice cream and are across from Trinity Bellwoods park, so I would come back to grab an ice cream to take to the park but probably wouldn't come back for coffee. read more

I have nothing but positive things to say about The White Squirrel Coffee Shop. Not only is the coffee/espresso incredible and the muffins delicious, the barista is a very kind human! After waking up to no heat in my apartment on one of the coldest days in Toronto, my morning was very chaotic. I showed up to get a coffee on my way to work and forgot my wallet! The lovely gentleman at the bar said "you can get me next time you're in" and proceeded to fill my coffee order and packed me up an amazing muffin to go. It's these incredible moments of kindness that make a business go from somewhere you buy coffee to somewhere you feel cared for! Thank you!! read more

You know this place typifies what the Trinity Bellwoods area is known for.. Hip, young, urban types - some with strollers, all with Macs. The chicks are cute, and the guys all have beards. It's a nice place, but I show up at about 3pm to get some work done, and almost every time (ok 4 times in the last 2 weeks), they have nothing to eat except ginger cookies, brownies, and some kind of biscotti. Neither of these really turn my crank. The atmosphere has a kind of charm to it, the WiFi is decent, and the coffee is pretty good. So I keep going back. Or maybe it's because of the cute chicks ;) read more

I like going to White Squirrel, the coffee is decent, among the better in TO. However, the place is dirty and shabby inside. 4 stars for the coffee, 1.5 for the ambiance. Go for the takeout window. read more

What's up with the washroom? So the washroom is a one person room like you might find at home as opposed to the stall situation. Here's the thing- the door has "frosted" glass cut outs basically from floor to ceiling. And I use quotes around frosted because it's still fairly see through. And its right beside the toilet. So you can see the people as they walk by outside while you're in there. And they can see you. Awkward. ANYWAYS, White Squirrel serves a great coffee and has many DELICIOUS ice cream flavors- I highly recommend the roasted marshmallow, coffee toffee and lemon meringue. It's a trendy spot right across from Trinity Bellwoods park so you can grab your tasty treat at the "walk by" window and enjoy it out in the sunshine, or at one of the communal picnic-like tables inside. Love the option to use Liquid Stevia as a more healthy alternative to sugar. read more

Came across this little gem across from Trinity Bellwoods Park today! It is a really tiny coffee shop with great coffee. Had a latte which was great tasting and reasonably priced. I could definitely taste the espresso but it wasn't too strong either. Great balance. Barista was super friendly and helpful. The only downside is that it's tiny and there isn't a lot of seating available, but otherwise great location and nice ambiance as it's bright inside, lots of natural light. read more

White Squirrel Coffee Shop - Latte - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

Had a cappuccino. It was well crafted. It seems "3rd wave" espresso joints in Toronto have a problem brewing thier espresso at the right temperature resulting in a sour or bitter cup. These guys get it right. The cap was strong without sliding into bitter or sour. The beans they use don't seem to have any outstanding flavour properties but were enjoyable. I found earthy chocolate notes as it married with the milk. They use glasses wrapped in a little denim jacket. I always prefer a porcelain cappuccino cup, but this is a cute little quirk that sets them apart. And the most important thing is the quality of the beverage in the cup right? The space is small and intersting. The seating is very close quarters, but good enough to sit and chat with a friend or make new friends. yeah. read more

Great lattes, and super adorable barista. Coffee only comes in single or double sizes, so us caffeine addicts need to order two doubles :-) Pastries are subpar, but the coffee is good enough to carry. Plus, it's surrounded by two great pastry stores that have terrible coffee. Win! read more

My absolute favourite coffee shop on Queen Street West. I'm a very simple customer who only orders black coffee to go, but the quality is always high and the service always excellent. I like the general atmosphere of the place, which is relaxed and fits well into the neighbourhood. What I like about the coffee is hard to describe, but it definitely has a light feel with a good hard edge. read more

Great coffee, "poor" customer service - depending on who is serving you and if you are hipster enough. Good luck waiting if you aren't hipster. read more

White Squirrel Coffee Shop - Coffee & Tea Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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Nice little place. Look up for the white squirrel or you might miss it! The iced cappuccino was awesome. Really put a hop in my step after drinking it. The staff was also nice. Very light hearted environment. Also purchased some cute little white squirrel buttons that me and my girlfriend will wear proudly back in Montreal! read more

Really bad customer service and pretty horrible coffee. Wouldn't recommend this to my worst enemies. Maybe Dan. Dan check this place out you'll love it ! read more

White Squirrel is adorable, hip and named after the elusive white squirrel of trinity bellwoods park. The coffee is organic and locally roasted. The snacks are worthwhile and the ice cream is from Greg's, which is pretty good in my books. The most delicious coffee drink to order is the Flat White - which is like a stronger, less milky and frothy latte. Order one. Today. read more

The white Squirrel is exactly what a little Bellwoods coffee shop should be. If Broken Social Scene could have designed one, this is what it looks like. It is a cmmunity with good branding. The drink called The Flat White (Squirrel) is like a cortado, an Australian born drink of espresso and just enough frothy milk to make is taupe coloured. White Squirrel icecream. Is also just the right blend of chocolate (white) fruit and nuts. read more