Pamenar

Drink Quality: 4/5 Drink Selection: 3/5 Pastry Quality: 3/5 Pastry Selection: 2.5/5 Price: 3.5/5 Ambiance: 4.5/5 Service: 2.5/5 Cleanliness: 3/5 Location: 3.5/5 Located in Kensington Market, this café offers both front and back patios, with ample workspace and accessible outlets for electronic devices. A medium latte costs $5 (before tax and tip), and while the drink quality is solid, the selection is fairly average. The interior has a minimalist look, with functional seats and a casual, unpretentious atmosphere. While this simplicity may appeal to some, others might find it lacking in character or intentional design. A "grenade" art piece (see picture) at the entrance seems to convey a political message, which could be potentially off-putting for some. The back patio has a welcoming, homey atmosphere, enhanced by shade from apple trees. However, the lack of air conditioning can make the indoor space uncomfortably stuffy on hot days. Pastry options are limited, and while the quality is decent, it's not a highlight. Service is functional but lacks warmth or engagement. Cleanliness is average overall. There are several washrooms in the basement, but they're only accessible via stairs, which may present a challenge for some guests.

Charming little spot in Kensington! We came for drinks on a Friday night and sat out on the patio, which was super cozy with apple trees growing through it and twinkle lights overhead. The espresso martini was fantastic.

Love this place. The staff, the art, the music (not mall music :)) The 2 patio selection and the atmosphere. I’ve been coming here for years and finally giving them some love to let everyone know. Oh and the small music events they have as well are great. ThankYOU PAMENAR :)

Love this hole in the wall cafe beside a bike store. They have a variety of coffee, tea, beer, and other alcoholic drinks. They encourage you to not bring your laptops but instead to be offline and talk to each other. They also have a patio at the back and washroom in the basement.

A laid-back, indie-style café with excellent espresso and a super cosy interior. It’s the kind of spot where people come to read, work or just sit quietly for a while. The backyard patio is also a great place to relax on warmer days.

I was visiting a friend who was staying in the hostel across the street. We met at this cafe everyday (3 mornings in a row) each of us bought a coffee and small item. Food was very good. On the 4th morning I met up like usual with the three of us, except this time I didn’t get a coffee or treat. Each of my friends did and we sat down. Shortly after sitting down I was asked to buy something or leave. Staff was rude, especially the younger male worker. (Very tired and grumpy). Extremely unwelcoming cafe.

4.6. Love this cafe. Great space and amazing back patio to read/catch up with a friend/have coffee. The chai concentrate is made in house, also highly recommend the ice tea or breakfast cookie. Really nice atmosphere and friendly staff. They have lots of milk alternatives if needed

This is a unique bar/cafe shop with a terrace in the back that very much has a garden feel. The atmosphere is super cute and the staff were friendly and efficient. The cortado was well made and even the takeaway coffee cup had a pink lid. Would come back again to sit down and enjoy a snack in the heart of Kensington market.

I met a friend here as my first visit and I can't believe I hadn't been here already! It's a really nice spot. Great coffee, amazing covered patio, friendly staff. I tried their tahini chocolate chip cookie and I have to go back for more. My "canadiano" was delish and my friend enjoyed the matcha latte. Definitely will go back for a coffee date with myself.

This is one of my favourite spots in Kensington in summertime, for its cute back and front patio. Inside is smaller but intimate. Sitting inside or outside you are momentarily taken out of the city. I'd come here for a Saturday night glass of wine, or afternoon tea to read a book.

What a hidden gem! I am staying at the Samesun hostel across the street and simply stopped in for a beer. Turns out they have a lot of live music too. Pamenar's back patio was definitely unexpected. The bar itself is a great little dive bar, but it opens up into a little oasis of a patio. What a perfect setting for music and drinks.

Wonderful spot, comfortable indy vibe, good coffee, and in evenings drinks. Great little back patio. A

Cute little spot in Kensington that my friend and I happened on on our walk. We were tired and hot and just wanted a cool drink and a chair. Cute patio both in the front and in the back but we chose to sit at the bar and order iced coffees. The ambiance is cool and it was certainly a popular spot on a Monday early afternoon. Just a typical chill vibe. I could see it being a good date spot or friend catch up spot. We could see some of the liquor bottles displayed and it looks like an interesting selection of gin so I'm assuming the drinks would be on point here. This definitely seems like a go to spot for those in the area!

What may look like an unassuming cafe from the street is actually one of Toronto's best new live music venues. The back patio, under the canopy of giant trees, is literally one of the coolest, vibiest places to catch a live performance. The roster leans hard to World Music, usually with jazz influences, and features amazing musicians from the Middle East, North Africa, Europe and beyond. They also host DJs. With the trees overhead and the amazing selection of talent (and the occasional firepit), the back patio at Pamenar is simply a magical place with an ambiance that seems to transform--from chilled concert to full-blown club--depending on the band and the crowd that night. In the daytime, in season, the back patio is simply a beautiful, sunny (if rustic) place to enjoy a coffee or cold bev. Beyond the delicious selection of coffees, lattes, etc., they also have an impressive list of gins and other spirits. I discovered Malfi gin here, which I quite enjoy on the rocks. Another drink I highly recommend is Sekanjabin, a SUPER refreshing clear drink made with mint, an Iranian recipe apparently. So good on its own or with a shot of gin. Anyhoo, I loves me some Pamenar! You should too.

No laptops after 6pm (1pm on weekends). Coffee was good. Music far too loud as in most cafes, difficult to work here. Back patio has potential to be a really beautiful space, but needs a good cleaning.

I was visiting the GTA and stayed at my brother's place in Toronto the night before. While he went to work in the morning, his girlfriend toured me around Kensington Market. We went in the morning, so it was just coffee and tea for us, but it does have a bar to serve alcoholic drinks later in the day. We sat at the counter/bar, since it started to rain and there weren't any tables left inside. It can be a little tight sitting in the long and narrow hallway, but it's cozy and you forget about it after awhile. There's seating for groups of two closer to the back, plus the benches in both the front and back of the cafe. She treated me to a chai latte, since I don't usually drink coffee. Newbie like me didn't even think of asking what options there were, so it came with regular cow's milk. I think almost all alternative milks are available but for an extra cost. Not sure if it was whole milk that I got, but it was very rich and creamy. It was spicy and warming, perfect for the gloomy day it was. The art wasn't perfect, but the latte was delicious. There's also free wi-fi, with the password on the blackboard at the front, but it looked like there were more readers at the time. I can see why this place is popular, especially on a nice day, with all of the greenery on the back patio and fresh air moving through the cafe.

Ahh how do I even begin this is one of my most favorite coffee shops in Toronto!!Guys if you haven't been here yet you don't know what you're missing out on. Usually Saturdays are my days to explore and after lots of snacking and a nice lunch this is my go to place to prevent food coma! Even on the busiest of the days I do end up finding a good spot to sit and enjoy my regular latte..it was actually the first and last coffees I tried here.Its so perfect than I can't ever not get it when here.I absolutely love their chocolate brownie which is made to perfection, it's dense yet fluffy and very moist at the same time!A must try. The decor has an industrial feel but very warm and welcoming.They do have a cozy front and back patio, usually end up sitting in the back end patio.The pricing is very reasonable. Pamenar does have alcoholic beverages and cafe foods like cookies, croissant etc.Service is very friendly and overall it's a great place to unwind.

This lovely and rustic cafe in Kensington is awesome. The coffee is great (to me that means strong enough tasting without the awful sour notes) and the service is nice - nothing too saccharine but no head up their butt rude hipster attitudes. The outdoor patio behind the cafe is so pretty and peaceful. Lots of greenery and feels private. I've only had the coffee here but noticed they also sell beer which would be amazing seated outside on the patio. I enjoyed a break out here and didn't want to leave the quaint little garden. Seems like a good place to get some work done as well ( they do highlight a no laptop zone in the outdoor area out front). I would highly recommend a stop by if you're in the area. Just a note - they don't take credit card ! Only cash or debit

Absolutely loved this cozy spot for an am/pm situation! Went for coffee in the morning and to read on the back patio which was lovely and then brought my bro back in the evening to chill at the bar - they have a lovely selection of gin and had a Montreal based gin and tonic that was very floral and nice.

This is one of the best bars in Toronto's Kensington market. Cafe with good matcha lattes day, drinkers delight by night. Tuesdays are live music nights and I promise you it's the best experience. Bartenders are great. Atmosphere is great. The drinks speak for them self & do yourself a favour get something with gin in it.

Here is my first impression of the place. The atmosphere is Cozy and welcoming. The interior design is pretty fine and so many available tables Even though the cafe is not empty at all. However the negative side of the matter is the staff. Barista/bartenders are indifferent. The coffee is not good and there is a ridiculous policy of "No tablet/laptop" after 6:00/6:30 pm probably because they turn to a bar for the nights.

Even though I've walked past Cafe Parmenar many times, recently I went in looking for a spot to park it during a wait for the dentist next door early one Saturday morning. As most Torontonians know, the city is mostly deadsville anytime before lunch so seeing a light on and a friendly face at 8 am on a Saturday was like seeing a mirage on the desert. Bonus! The patio out front has a sign warning, 'No Laptops on the Patio' which we later asked about. Apparently there is a problem with space out there in the summer so laptops are banned which makes more room for people watchers I suppose. No need to look at your screen in Kensington. Inside, there is a front space for sitting just before the bar area. The bar is great! I love when surprises happen, and the fact that Cafe Parmenar is licensed and sells cocktails is a fantastic bonus. There was some funky instrumental 70's music from Japan playing on the speakers which the barista talked about as she poured my latte. Very inspiring. In the back there is a space for the laptop crowd with a nice view onto the rear patio. What a sweet spot in the market to park it!

Thanks for Dishan for suggesting Cafe Pamenar as one of our Koffee Krawl stops for this beautiful sunny Sunday!! The space... just love the space... a bar like vibe... in fact, Cafe Pamenar is really trying to get a license to sell alcohol.... so it is going to be a Bar Bar or an Espresso Bar? Friendly staffs working the cash and espresso machine... Barista did take a long long time to make 1 drink.... So long I lose interest waiting and someone else just took my Cappuccino by mistakes!! Communal Table at the back is quite nice and spacious... good place for us to park ourselves and enjoy our coffee and sweet... I could not resist when I saw that HUGE nutella cookie ($2) I just want to smell it and taste it!! :)

This place is sooooo cute!!! It reminds me of old buildings back in Tehran. Very nostalgic The drink menu is good, but they need to work mire on the desserts!

A bit disappointing from the pictures. We asked if she had milk and she says their lattes had milk in it. So then my wife asked if they had milk to purchase. and then she said yes. Not much of a selection of baked goods. A bit of a hole in the wall but the croissants were very fresh and delicious. Beware they do not except credit cards or if you have US currency they do not do conversion so you could end up being overcharged 30%.

Charming with a good selection of teas. Lots of space for working ... maybe I can work on the next new great American (Canadian?) novel. This place has got that kind of vibe.

It would be a good place to get things done. People are in their business and work with their laptop. However, the staff and customers suddenly engaged in arguments loudly. One particular customer's behaviour was not appropriate, but the staff did not need to yell at the customer for other customers to hear. The staff said the customer was offending other customers and so was the staff. The Asian lady behind the counter seemed to prefer white male customers to other people. She was very friendly to white male customers but not other people.

Cozy, warm cafe in the heart of Kensington the chai latte is as delicious as delicious can be.

First time here. This is a cozy hipster coffee shop. They sure serve quality coffee here that tastes great. You can enjoy a black cup of coffee here without having to add sugar or cream. Wonderful baristas and friendly service. Place is great for meeting people. its also good for getting some work done, They got free WiFi and spacey tables, but not all plugs work here so I suggest that you charge up your laptop beforehands. I recommend that you bring a Macbook if you want to blend in. Really nice patio but it was raining when I was there so everything was wet. Surely check out the patio if the weather permits. Overall great coffee and great service.

I'm so happy with Cafe Pamenar, it's very spacey inside and while there's not a large number of seats that problem will be fixed come summer and the opening of their cute looking patio. The one minor negative thing was their small drinks menu compared to other indie coffee locations as well as the few food options. However, it is a very coffee centric menu and if it's coffee based drinks you want, they would have it there. Prices are comparable to most other indie shops I've visited in recent times. Got their nutella cookie and caramel and banana cake and they were both big hits with me, a bigger fan of the caramal banana cake which is pretty heavy and just the right amount of moisture! My latte was very well done and their americano which Susan G ordered did smell wonderful! The staff were very friendly and like Bijan mentions their chalkboard outside is a nice welcome (it had a message regarding the "Snowpocolypse" and how it sucked) I feel like I must yet again stress how much I like their big roomy space they got going. A far cry from some of the other coffee shops in the vicinity :)

One of the better cafes in Toronto, conveniently located near Kensington area. They have outdoor seating arrangements which is absolutely amazing- if you're lucky to have good weather. We sat inside though. I like their playlist and it's a good cafe to work in. The cappuccino was also good. I will definitely be back for more coffee.

Great espresso and one of the sweetest patios in Kensington Market, what more can you ask for? This cafe has a long, skinny layout with a little patio on Augusta and a bigger one out back. A perfect oasis of calm to do some reading or get some work done (it certainly has more of a quiet, work vibe vs. more social cafes). The espresso drinks are smooth and delicious, hot or cold. They have liquid sweetener so you can get an iced latte and not worry about it being too bitter. Friends tell me the paninis are excellent too. Baristas are really friendly, with zero attitude.

- ~ Koffee Krawl ~ - # 2 I seem to have trouble pronunciating "Pamenar". It would be much easier to call them Cafe "Pam" instead. It'll be interesting to see how they handle the street crowd on Pedestrian Sundays in the Summer. There's still time to prep but hope they don't make me wait like Ideal Coffee did. At least these guys have good sense of humour. Open tunnel vision space as the Front and Back have Garage Doors allowing 100% fresh(?) Downtown quality air within the simple cool space adorn with Art of Inuit Scenery. Maybe this space is how Inuit Housing looks like, reclaim wood, aged, rustic. Cafe allows plenty of natural light in, which is refreshing compared to other nearby Shops. Cappuccino($3.10) - Well made from social-able focused young Men and I agree tasting acidic quality to this choice of Coffee Bean selection. # Location ------l------------------------------------------- ----- ? I Sam James Coffee Pocket 1 I Sam James Coffee Bar 2 I CAFE PAMENAR 3 I Dark Horse (Queen W) 4 I Thor Espresso Bar 5 I Jimmy's Coffee( I Timed Out @@)

Beautiful, spacious outdoor seating!!!!! Good music, nice barista, lotsa lotsa gin options!!! Good cappuccino. Yum

Best coffee we had in Toronto so far!! Got two coffee latte to go and had a seat on the patio in the back. *quick and friendly service *tasty coffee *good price value *nice interior and nice patio

As you may already notice, I am always in search for a coffee place to chill on the weekend. We decided to try out Cafe Pamenar (@cafepamenar) after our desert stop here in Kensington Market. Love the long narrow space with the super long counter and they have both front + back patio. Free wifi and electric outlet are available, which is great if you want to hangout for a bit. Love the back patio Cappuccino $3.10 ~ It was a darker traditional roast which I like. Love all the details from the wood back board to the scale table for cream & sugar. Just love the lighting along the bar Verdict : ~ Will be back, maybe with my laptop this time to work on a post or two (?_?) ~ Love their cappuccino ~ Will definitely come back to try their drip and their Sakanjebin which is a traditional Persian drink with mint, cucumbers and lemon (guess it`ll be almost like a mojito without the alcohol)

Coffee - great! Music - too loud Wifi - spotty, at times slow Bathrooms - an abomination

If you're used to Starbucks' in the suburbs, you'll feel slightly out-of-place here! Café Pamenar is a café/bar for the biking/tattoos/piercings/dreadlocks set. You can have a caffeinated drinks...and perhaps a Dieu Du Ciel as the night wears on. :) Place itself is long and narrow like a rocker. Latté was good. I have a feeling that place is better in the Summertime!

Would have given this place 5 stars if it wasn't for the barista. Her americano was delicious (best I've had in Toronto) but her attitude was not so good. Other than that, this is the perfect place to read, do some work, or meet a friend. The ambience is great and there's a really charming patio out back - ideal way to start a saturday morning!

Sweet spot in Kensington Market. Perfect for a nice cold drink or pint on a hot summer day. The patio is kinda hidden and you wouldn't even know about it unless you walked inside. I would recommend this place for a quiet coffee get-together. Seems like a local hang out place for hipsters.

The coffee was very good here and sitting out on the patio in the sun was an added bonus.The lady serving was very friendly but seemed to have trouble understanding what we wanted to order ( and I haven't got a clue why). Eventually we ordered two regular coffees ,walnut & white pepper shortbread and a raspberry muffin. The shortbread was very good just the right texture and with a subtle hint of pepper alas the raspberry muffin did not taste of raspberries but had great texture. The cafe was very busy had a very relaxed feel !

*3.5 star review* The space is great with plenty of seating. There's a long communal table in the front, a few four-seaters in the back along with another communal table. There's an patio in the back but the space isn't open...yet (waiting for the furniture, I'm assuming). I had the 5 ounce cappuccino which I found too acidic/sour for my palate. I'd have to come back to try the latte. The scones & cookies are from Circle and Squares so they have to be good.

The repute for cappuccino is what brought me to this place. The setup is nice though with a decent sitting area in the front with a long counter in the middle and small oasis of sorts in the back. My friend recommended the dessert here as well so we decided to order a mix. In addition to the cappuccino we had an americano, tea and ice latte. For desserts a pistachio and tea short bread and for good measures a chocolate cookies. The desserts were good and the cookie was more like a sponge cake with a chocolate cream cheese frosting. Short bread was nice and moist and with balanced of the flavor and sweetness. The tea didn't fare well. The ice latte and americano were decent. Here is the verdict for cappuccino Espresso: Medium/strong flavor Crema': Just gorgeous Milk: Frothed very well with nice microfoam with a somewhat sweet finish in the milk one craves. One of the better capp in the city and definately the top spot in this area.

When Pamenar opened in 2011 it was unique and special. 6 years on and there are a LOT of similar coffee shops in the area with pretty much the same characteristics. There is not much that Pamenar has done to keep up with the trends and stay ahead of the game, unfortunately. I would still highly recommend pamenar to friends and would visit again, but it does not blow me away.

Pretty great place. I was impressed because I didn't expect to find anything as nice in Kensington market. The bathrooms weren't the cleanest but other than that, great. I was in the neighbourhood and thought I'd try some place new to get some work done and I'm glad I did. Drinks: Lattes are pretty good (I've had better, I've had worse). A few varieties of loose-leaf tea. Cucumber-infused tank of water to get your own water! Loved that part about this place. Food: Croissants are pretty good. Not the best, but better than many I've had. Three varieties of shortbread cookies: black pepper, walnut and lemon-thyme. Other baked goods (squares, pecan butter tarts, etc.) Atmosphere: Free wifi (that was pretty fast and only cut out twice the whole time I was there), lots of young adults with laptops, electrical outlets within reach. Very busy. I was lucky to find a table. The tables are close together so expect some coats, purses and bags brushing against you and people banging into your table. If you can't find a table there is a communal bar near the cash. The espresso machine isn't facing that way, otherwise it'd be cool to watch all the barista action from there. Nice display of the baked goods, too. I liked the concrete and wood bar area. Great spot. I'd go again when in the area.

The 2 stars is for the atmosphere and layout of the cafe. Love love love the outdoor front and back seating area and it's a nice place. But let's just say Tim Hortons makes better lattes then this place. The vanilla latte I ordered was such a disappointment! Could not bring myself to more then a few sips of the drink because there's no hint of vanilla what-so-ever. Only thing I was able to taste is badly brewed coffee that's not even worth a dollar and it cost me $4.15 for this drink. I'll consider coming back to try some tea if I run out of cafe's to go to in toronto. And that's highly unlikely to happen.

I would give this a 4 as a hipster hangout! I walked in to a plethora of mac laptops and a lone acer in the corner taking advantage of the wi-fi. I will admit if I was in the area, I would too. It's nice to not work at home. Be one with others in a non intrusive way. For me, the most important thing is the coffee. I have my faves: Sam James And Manic so far. My resounding review is, it's OK. I was not, ``oh, god! i must have another!`` At the same time, it was tasty but not a cup of coffee where i wish i could go back in and want to order another one right away. This is how i measure a true cup of deliciousness!

I agree with others, the space is great. The patio is great, the bar area is great, and they actually have regular seating as well. I was torn giving it 2 or 3 stars though. I came here for a latte and it was a disappointment. I don't know if they used non-fat milk or the espresso was just not strong nor had crema ... it was just really watered down. It's a tad better than a Starbucks latte which doesn't say much at all. I wish Manic had this spot ... I will come back and try the food though. The carrot cake looked awesome. Service was great. Please have better coffee soon!

AMAZING iced americano. This is the first place I've had an americano where the brew tastes 'bright' and not 'acidic'. Great location - would come back again to try some of their other espresso drinks! Also love that they have a patio on the back and front for some afternoon libations! If you like your caffeine with a bit of a hipster vibe, check this place out.

Beautiful backyard and cool crowd. I liked my coffee and I would recommend this place for a date, or a small gathering. The only issue is the size of this place. It's very tiny. I don't recommend this place for studying cause the tiny IKEA garden chairs are not that comfortable for long sittings.

Look for the sweet eye outside. On Sunday, they had a band playing outside that was rocking it, not sure if it was a coincidence or sponsored by Pamenar, but they beckoned us inside. I had an americano, which was solid and got me my caffeine fix. I also enjoyed a really nice nutella cookie alongside it. Tasty. Even sweeter is the patio out back. It is downright pleasant, fairly large, offering plenty of picnic table style seating under a nice green tree canopy. Seems like a decent place to sit awhile and chat with a friend or get some work done.

Favourite neighbourhood hang out spot. They have great coffee - grab a coffee with a friend or sit and stay awhile with a book or get some work done with their free wifi. There are large communal tables and a great patio out back for just hanging out. There's a full bar with a large beer selection so daydrinking is always an option if you're not in the mood for coffee.

One of my favourite coffee place, great to do work but also to hang out with friends. They have a cute backyard/patio that's perfect for warm spring/summer nights. Seating options are not extensive but this place is never too busy that I've had trouble finding a seat. I love their iced americano (I believe based on its taste that they use a light roast) but Im not too big of a fan of their milk based espresso drinks (the foam on my cappuccino was too stiff and the bubbles were too large). Overall, would come back to do work or to chill with friends very often

This is one of those cafes that turn into a bar after dark. As cafe, this place is great, particularly if you want to work on your laptop - good coffee, free wifi, reasonable amount of work space, cool people. As a bar, this place is nothing special.

If your service is going to be this bad you need to have an exceptional product, which they do not. Bad service and mediocre service..... great patio... that's why it's 2

Went there last saturday, the place has awful customer service and bad drinks. I felt like i was drinking ethanol , not gin and tonic. They dont accept credit card, but they didnt tell that ahead.. Music is too loud and not enough seats.

This cafe shop is my favorite one in Toronto. I'm particularly fond of the Kesington Market area all together because of the great food, coffee, desert places, as well as fun, unique people you can meet. Even though there are plenty of cafe places around, Pamenar is simply the best. Its ambience is warm, inviting and authentic. When there, visit the back patio. It has a relaxing atmosphere. In short, a great afternoon place to grab a coffee and have a good read.