Church Street Espresso

Local family owned café/bar with great coffee and food as well as super friendly owners and staff. They genuinely foster community every opportunity they get, and the café tends to be way more social than most in town. Mural covering the corner café’s north facade makes for a charming all year round accessible patio that’s dog friendly and kept heated in winter. Hands down favorite café in the village.

This awesome cafe is in my neighbourhood and I am trying this place for the first time. Had a craving for an afternoon cappuccino and desert so I popped in here WOW…blown away by the incredibly friendly and welcoming atmosphere…a really warm reception. Settled into a beautiful & delicious cappuccino and mouth watering apple strudel..HUNBA HUBBA!!! I fear this has the potential to become my addiction. VERY impressed with this warm and welcome cafe!!! Awesome! CHECK IT OUT👊👊

Café/bar with the vibe of an unpretentious European sidewalk café. Laudable adaptations for the winter contribute to a rare example of keeping our sidewalks alive during our brutal polar vortex months. Atmosphere tends to be more open/social than most cafés. Friendly local ownership/management. Played the world series on the patio.

Nice coffee shop in with quaint patio, coffee was good. We tried a cookie but did not try the food. They offer drinks and breakfast! Great spot

Cute, local coffee shop. Went for a late breakfast around 12md, food was good, service was friendly and fast. Def worth a stop in. I will return.

A cozy spot with great coffee and a relaxed vibe — perfect for catching up with friends. The atmosphere is welcoming, drinks are solid, and service is friendly. Would definitely return!

Came with a large group and staff were very friendly and attentive. Some orders got lost, but all was settled in the end. They have a nice spacious covered patio. Coffee and beer available. Nice place to relax

Great breakfast and coffee! This café is a perfect breakfast spot in Toronto. The food is fresh and delicious. The staff are super friendly, and the cozy atmosphere makes it a lovely place to start the day. Highly recommend!

My friend got a chai coffee and she said it was really watered down and just tastes like chai water. It does have a cute patio so I have it 2 stars for that. Also we got a cookie and it tasted a couple days stale... Not terribly impressed.

Good service, good coffee, good breakfast sandwiches. A cafe with indoor and patio seating.

I love this place. Tons of space inside and on the patio, chill atmosphere, great food and coffee, and they take cash (way too much of a rarity these days).

Absolutely love the ambiance and coffee is even better and the croissants are to die for love this place....

My Americano was so weak it just tasted like dirty water. No care taken in its preparation, no crema, no flavour at all. Couldn't be more disappointed by a coffee shop with the word Espresso in its very name. I ended up throwing most of it away. Adding a point in for the croissant I tried, which was good, though nothing I'd return for.

A cute little spot in the village. Love the size of their patio - it is incredible for people watching on Church street. One of my new faves lol. I would suggest a seat under one of the umbrellas during the summer, it will save you from a sunburn. Friendly barista, very happy to help you if you aren't sure what to get. If you have a few people to meet, this has a lot of variety in seating. Everything from small tables to outdoor sofas with cushions. It's kinda awesome, my friends.

Nice improvement over the past coffee shop tenant. In the surrounding blocks there are 2 BETTER coffee shops... The competition makes a better latte/flat white. Nice interior and staff.

Nice cafe to get some work done, if you can sit strategically facing away from the two large TV screens. Not too noisy, and good amount of seating in the afternoon. The person who served me did not know what a flat white was, and had to get someone from the back to explain. I decided not to take my chances, and went for a macchiato instead, which was quite good.

Love the atmosphere and the coffee is amazing. Friendly staff and customers in general. Prices are average for coffee shops in toronto. I love the vanilla lattes especially!

My original review was for Zaza, but it has since been purchased by a different operator, and thus, it deserves an updated review. Over the last few months I have been coming here pretty regularly. The reason why I have become a fan of this place, is not only because of the great coffee (gelatos are still too expensive), but because of the chill vibe, and cool owner. Every time I am here, I get quick and efficient service, and are left alone to relax. I particularly love their patio. You could literally sit there for hours, and no one bothers you. I was surprised to learn that they also sell beer and that they will soon be selling other mains, besides sandwiches! I heard lasagna is going on the menu.

Great little spot for coffee and and chat with friends. Super friendly and great for people watching.

Toronto is known for its diversity and special cultural villages. On Church Street, this place is a gem. Few can capture the flair and experience of a European cafe, but this place brings you back to your favorite European place you visited on your vacation. It's all in the details: the coffee is exquisite (try the tumeric latte you will not be disappointed!), the patio is beautiful and peaceful, the staff caring, super friendly and knowledgeable! A special treat is the gelato on a hot summer day...so many flavors to choose from (pistachio anyone?). Or a nice cold beer to take the edge off. The charismatic owner Joe will make sure your brief stay is the most enjoyable. Look for the red chairs... stop by for a visit.

I loved my experience at Church Street Espresso! The staff were super friendly and helpful, the iced americano I had was smooth and creamy, and the cheese and chive scone the barista recommended was super tasty and fresh! While the inside space isn't super stroller or wheelchair friendly, Theo outdoor patio is large, with great seating!

That staff and service at this cafe are always fantastic. There's usually ample seating, which is even better in the summer with the patio open. The coffee is decent and at a reason price. The food is just okay and I wish they had a larger variety of pastries but other than that this cafe is fantastic. I also enjoy the very chill music and atmosphere of this cafe. It's definitely a great spot for reading or introverts. I highly recommend coming here over one of your typical Toronto chain cafes.

Very lackluster service- poorly informed cashier who didn't know what was served or what it cost, a wait of way too long for simple food while only a few others in the cafe. I'd only stop by again if desperate. Food quality average.

I have my own business so my office can be very flexible. I really enjoy setting up my 'office' for a few hours here and having a coffee, a pastry and taking care of business. It's a lovely place, the coffee is great, the staff super friendly and could not ask for a better atmosphere day or night. Once done...I can relax on the patio and enjoy a cocktail. Try the Caesar with gin! Start your weekend with a cup of latte and choose a croissant, a quiche or quesadilla... read a book... and enjoy your day.

Not a fan of this place due to a lack of good customer service. I came in for an Americano and when I asked if they could steam some heavy cream for the top the barista ignored me and didn't reply. Then instead of asking me if I wanted anything else she proceeded to talk to a regular customer behind me and ignored me further. She made me feel like I was inconveniencing her with my very presence. She then slapped down my coffee and continued to chat with her regular and didn't even look at me while I was paying. So I'll continue to look for a small coffee joint for my daily coffee because this place definitely isn't it.

Try their quesadilla it's so good! Staff is kind and Welcoming to all! I go here everyday! Their menu is not only diverse but it's affordable! I been going here almost every day for my entire second year! Also really nice heated patio for the winter overall 20 out of 5 stars

Popular coffee place. Yummy latte. Kids loved the hot chocolates. Can't wait to try the specials drinks with the etoh liquers.

Settling into my new 'hood, I noticed this adorable little place, first by it's patio. I decided to drop by for a coffee. The patio was great, and there was ample shade which was so welcomed on a 35 degree day. They've got nutella biscottis for about $3, sandwiches, beer on draught, lattes, tea, alcoholic beverages, perrier, san pellegrino, pastries, bagels, and other delicious looking snacks. This is such a nice space. They also have wifi here, so I'll be coming back to work. It wasn't too crowded and I loved the patio. My mocha was absolutely delicious. Really happy to have this place in my neighbourhood!

Great local for coffee. Haven't had the food but we've gotten americanos a number of times and the quality is consistent. Staff are friendly, a nice alternative to the chains throughout downtown and the Village.

This is a wonderful independently owned coffee shop. Over the last year, they added a heated patio structure. You can almost always get a seat. The coffee is reasonably priced, they're open in the evenings (unlike other coffee shops these days) and even Christmas Day, and the staff is friendly. The offer a loyalty card so every 10th beverage is free. This is my #1 coffee shop in Toronto

Really nice place, small selection of foods. Got the chicken rap and it was very tasty. Quiches also look very good

Nice café for a get together with friends. Nice patio. Enjoy it while you can. They have gelato...yumm

I love this spot. It has the nicest vibe. Everyone who works here is super nice and the service is always fast and on point. I especially love their great patio off of church which is a great spot to enjoy a coffee or pint. Prices are fair for their products and well worth it.

Cute lil restaurant with delish gelato and pastries. The patio is usually full on warmer days

I am not sure who is writing all these bad reviews I am having the Espresso and Gelato and it is the perfect cool pick me up on a summer afternoon, a good friend of mine told me about this place and the people are friendly and helpful, the espresso has a great flavour, but when you add in some tiramisu gelato its outstanding! Not too many European style cafes in their neighbourhood if you ask me and this one is worth trying.

This place feels like a little piece of Italy in Toronto and reminded me of going for cafe on the sunny beaches of Sicily in the summer. Serves gelatos, classic pastries, sandwiches and the traditional espresso style drinks. I had an espresso and chocolate almond croissant to go. Espresso had a creamy tan froth and the croissant was flakey with a nutella like chocolate center. Really hit the spot and started my day off right.

One of my favourite coffee spots. Great space to work. Big patio. Love that they also serve alcohol. The mulled wine in the winter is great.

Church Street Espresso is really coming into its own as a community staple. As with any new business there can be a rocky start and a period of exponential growth. CSE is coming through the other side of this period and establishing a warm and friendly neighbourhood clientele through the charm of the owner. This sense of community and the authenticity of the drinks gives this cafe a truly European essence.

I like going to this place because the owners are very friendly and believe in delivering a great customer experience. They serve much more than coffee, including quiche, sandwiches, pastries and gelato. When the weather is nice, they have a great terrace with new modern furniture. It's a great place to meet friends and catch up.

I love this place. The owner is such a nice man, and the rest of the staff are lovely as well. Great patio and great coffee!

I go to this neighbourhood once a week. I went by Church Street Espresso to meet a friend of mine twice. It was convenient for me, and I had gelato twice. They have nice flavours and the price is not cheap. The staff is nice and pleasant. Inside is clean and they have comfortable seats and tables. I really liked the place, but the taste of gelato was not that good. Second time, I tried another flavour again because I wanted to like the place. I did not like the taste of gelato either. It is very nice place and I like the place. I wish they would have gelato taste better.

Got a super yummy iced soy latte from here! Service was great and the outdoor patio was beautiful. Would definitely recommend to anyone looking for a reasonably priced cafe with room to sit and chat!!

Great coffee and nice space. The espresso is consistently good and they have a nice array of coffee related snacks. There's a full bar too, which is a nice option for later nights.

Coffee, gelato, beer,and pastries are all awesome. The patio is very nice, the staff are nice and kind.

Excellent service! My friend was moving apartments nearby so I went to zaza to see if I could purchase a large carafe of coffee. They did not stock the heavy takeaway cardboard containers for this purpose, so the guy behind the counter offered up a large insulated thermos instead. He could have turned me away, or made me purchase 10 individual cups of coffee...but he trusted me enough to bring back his container! He also made sure I had enough sugar and milk for the move crew. When I returned the container, he refused my offer to pay him for using the thermos. In a sometimes impersonal city, he made his coffee joint feel like a small town one.

Great local cafe! Really friendly helpful staff with a cosy vibe and a lovely patio. Selection of beverages and food is also really strong and tastier than some of the other nearby cafes.

The staff are super nice and the whole vibe of the place is very relaxing and nice. The gelato is great, you can get drinks and their patio is always busy. Personally love the macchiato here, always made great

Nice! Cozy! Small place in the downtown. I like this place for delicious coffee! You can sit outside in summer

I went for a coffee and a bagel. Both were great, but that's not why I am leaving a review. I am leaving a review because I think the people that work there are really fun and outgoing. I think they are pulling together the community with this space they have created and I think that's the best part about this place. Thank you for the drinks and food, CSE.

Out of towner, looking for the best summer patio cafe ambiance in Toronto. Pretty sure I found it here. Nice cozy lounge furniture, picturesque corner with lovely trees and ivy covered buildings. Oh, the iced coffee and Nutella biscotti were quality!

I was passing by and was hungry. Atmosphere is relaxed and the cashier is friendly. I Ordered only the chicken wrap so i can not comment on anything else. It was so yummy, it's a wrap filled with pulled chicken w little chipotle sauce w nothing else which very much matches my taste. I can not comment on anything else but if you are tired of chain coffeeshop this spot should definitely be on ur list.

I am kinda over the moon. Even as I've become a regular at the local coffee shop in my new neighbourhood, I've wished for a proper caffe, like the ones I went to daily in Florence and Venice. Well, I tried Zaza today. LOVE. Italian espresso (Toronto favors a different roast than Italians. I like the Italian.). A couple of house made (very good) Sammies and salads. Pastries. The best gelato I've had in North America. I found the service friendly and attentive, the restaurant was clean and well appointed. I will be returning, probably very regularly.

Love the coffee and goodies here. Owner is friendly and a great asset to the community. Get patio for a coffee or a drink.

They made me an iced Vietnamese coffee at my request. Dam good. Friendly staff. Relaxing ambience

Best espresso in Toronto. I have traveled extensively and this place rivals my favorite international coffee spots. I am obsessed with coffee like any good Canadian and this place makes me feel like I am drinking what I deserve.

Had a great chat with the server. Awesome customer service and almond chocolate croissants

Cute little place with friendly service. I had a Mocha Latte, it was made very well and my partner had the hazelnut/baccio gelato. It was delicious (I obviously had some hehe). The prices are comparative to any other coffee/gelato shop. I like that it's at the end of the Gay Village strip, and is a bit less frequented. It's nice to walk in and have a choice of seats! But that said, it seems to be well visited. They also have a patio, which is great cus the neighbourhood has a lot of dogs. Of course, winter will be upon us soon, but I imagine it's quite a popular patio on summer days (and if it isn't, it should be!).