Dark Horse Espresso Bar

I’ve visited this Dark Horse Espresso Bar twice, and it’s quickly becoming one of my favorite spots for a quiet break. It’s a great place to work or study, they have plenty of tables and even a cozy space at the back that feels a bit more private. The atmosphere is warm and inviting, with beautiful chandeliers adding a nice touch of charm. They also have a small market section where you can pick up chips, wine, and other goodies, plus some merchandise. The coffee is high quality, I really enjoy the flavor and consistency here. One area for improvement would be the pastries. It would be nice if they could warm up or toast items like croissants, as that would make them even more enjoyable. That said, the overall food and drink experience is still very good. The staff is kind and professional, some are a bit more serious, but they do make an effort to provide good service. The washroom requires a bit of a “mission” to get to (you’ll need a key and a short walk), but it’s not a big deal once you know the process. Prices are standard for Toronto coffee shops. Cleanliness is generally fine, though sometimes tables take a while to get cleared, especially if people leave without tidying up. Overall, I recommend visiting. I’m giving it 5 stars because the experience is good and consistent, and I hope the small areas for improvement will be considered.

I came to Dark Horse many moons ago and found myself here again this morning. It opens at 7am some days, which makes it one of the better options for early morning. It’s a bright open cafe with big windows and clean, comfortable tables to bust out your laptop and do a few things. Coffee is good and they have a bunch of other stuff for sale too - which I didn’t look at but may be appealing to someone else - such as pastries, sandwiches, snacks, wine and coffee/tea supplies. Also to note, the cashier was very friendly and welcoming.

Tried only the matcha slushee but enjoyed it! Matcha flavour was there, and its texture as a slushee was decent. (Note: because it is matcha, it might not be as “refreshing” as you’d expect a slushee to be). Overall, I’d get the drink again and would love to try other menu items. Ambiance was great, felt spacious and calm. There’s seating in the back that’s elevated and lets you look out to the front. Good place to stop by and sit for a drink.

Had a long Monday morning and wasn’t able to have breakfast, walking on the street I found Dark Horse just looking for a coffee and quick bite and was greeted by Dua and her energy is amazing. Such a friendly vibe and recommended one of her favourite coffees and pastries. Made my day better, coming back for sure!

I really don't want to give two stars cause I love their Latte. It's the nearest coffee place to my workplace after all. However, each time I'm shocked by the manners of the staff. Today there was a lady behind the cashier who just ignored me while I was waiting to be called as the next customer! She even had a look at me but for some reason showed nothing. Even after I was noticed by another staff who was preparing the orders, she didn't even say Hi! The first thing she said was "Do you have our points card" or whatever they are trained to say, even when they don't greet! The funny part is that the next customer (of a different skin color) was greeted with a wide smile. If she just works there, please refer this to the manager. If she is the manager, then I'm very sorry for Dark Horse. I like this place, and I will get back, but I don't want my experience to be ruined by such poor customer service.

I tried their Matcha Slushee upon seeing their signage out front. It tasted great and a perfect drink, at first... After a few sips, it was just ice and I could hardly drink anything. What made it worse was the paper straws, which kept bending on itself so I had to get additional straws just get through the drink. I also saw the barista pour a coffee syrup/flavouring of some kind directly into the coffee slushy, so while the matcha slush tasted good, I have no idea what's in it. That said, the atmosphere and the cafe was cozy. It was the perfect place for me to enjoy reading my book, with a nice ambience.

Matcha latte was super weak and just tasted like green-tinted milk. I asked the barista how much they usually add, and they just said - looking inconvenienced with no one else waiting - “I’ll add more” and it still was lacking. Dude. Service leaves a bit to be desired. Unfortunate as I really used to like coming here.

A really perfect experience. There’s a barista — the blonde guy — who makes my favorite drink, a dirty coconut-milk London Fog, to absolute perfection. And the buckwheat vegan gluten-free cookie? Heaven for a gluten-free vegan without a stove at home.