SAM JAMES COFFEE BAR - BROCK

Sam James Coffee Bar is hands down one of the best coffee spots in the city. The espresso is smooth, rich, and perfectly balanced every single time, and their lattes and cappuccinos are consistently made with care and precision. On top of the amazing coffee, they also have a great selection of fresh and delicious baked goods that pair perfectly with your drink—everything tastes like it was made with quality ingredients and real attention to detail. The staff are always friendly, welcoming, and knowledgeable, which makes the whole experience even better. The atmosphere is warm, simple, and inviting—perfect whether you’re stopping by for a quick coffee on the go or sitting down to enjoy your drink and pastry. Every visit feels consistent and reliable, which is why it has become one of my go-to coffee shops in Toronto.

Great sweets and the cappuccino was solid. Only downside (depending on hour of visiting) is lack of a washroom. But the library across the street has one!

Utter embarrassment of a place. I’d be embarrassed to call myself one of the employees and I’d be embarrassed to own the place. Absolutely appalling service every time. Thought it would just be a one off, the next time(s): perhaps they’re just having a bad day. No, every time, the workers are miserable, careless and sub par. Given them enough grace and won’t be going again. Luckily we have genuinely fantastic coffee shops in Parkdale like Larry’s, who care about their customers, the level of service and quality of coffee. Sam James uses its moderately well known name to maintain any kind of clientele, when in actual fact, its coffee is mediocre in comparison to nearby competitors, the service is appalling, the cups don’t fit the lids (caused a coffee explosion all over my clothes). Simple fixes that someone who cared about delivering a good service could recognize and rectify. I’d say the one saving grace is the Robinsons bakery. Even there, why would you bake and sell artisanal breads, and not have slicing capabilities. Small things that a competent owner would spot and rectify, but again, Sam James fails to deliver on quality and care. Imagine spending $65 on 4 coffees, 2 loaves of bread and a couple of pastries…. Go to Brodflour, go to Larry’s, go to Forno, go to Rustic Cosmo. There are plenty of options, all of which will look after you better than Sam James.

Sam James, located within an industrial-style Robinson Bread, offers a unique blend of warmth and modernity. The concrete walls and minimalist design create a sleek, urban atmosphere that contrasts beautifully with the comforting aroma of freshly baked bread. The space is spacious yet cozy, with plenty of seating that invites you to stay awhile. Their latte is robust and well-crafted, making it the perfect match for the bakery's top-notch bread and pastries. If you appreciate a stylish, industrial vibe with excellent coffee and baked goods, this spot is a must-visit.

What a treat to have this in the neighborhood. The coffee is always great (with beautifully done latte art as a bonus detail) but what brings it into the sublime is the connected Robinson Bread bakery. Best quiche pastry I have ever had, best chocolate croissant I have ever had, the list goes on. The bread is amazing too. Truly gifted bakers.

This is my favorite Sam James location — they serve excellent coffee and delicious baked goods.

I got a latte and a sandwich. Both were really good. I was a bit shocked that it was over $20 for a sandwich and a coffee (that's without a tip). The place is clean and everything looks fresh. However I did not achieve full climax while enjoying the sandwich. I guess I got frugal and the price seems high to me. I suppose if you compare to other fancy coffee shops, it's on par. Just out of my budget for any regular visits. Maybe I'll get a latte again next year. Also no veggie sandwich available at the time.

Came back to take back stars. Not sure if the baristas hate their job because they can’t crack a smile or give a how are you to their customers for the life of them. I have to question if I’ve run their family over. Anyway coffee and pastries are fine. I only go in for a baguette now since the bakers are doing their job well.

Amazing coffee and pastries. This seems to be the production site for the entire chain as a lot of people were baking pastries that you can see from the line and the limited seating inside. My wife and I ended up eating outside since it was crowded inside. A great asset to the Parkdale neighborhood we stayed in.

This Sam James Coffee Bar location is located on Brock near Queen St. W, just west of Dufferin. The coffee shares a space with Robinson Bread where you can purchase both coffee, pastry items, and loaves of bread while you visit the café. I've been to this location of Sam James a couple times and think it's great. The vibes are extremely chill and there always seems to be a steady flow of customers. The pastries are delicious and the bread is a must try. Definitely get a cappuccino, good atmosphere to just chill to enjoy your coffee. Service is friendly and you can also purchase SJCB beans there as well. Overall, great location, coffee, pastries and bread! Definitely recommend if you are around the area!

Went to grab a pastry at Robinson and first time grabbing coffee at this SJCB outpost. Friendly staff as usual. Coffee as a BASE is good. Just my order was wrong. I ordered a flat white and he gave me a latte with a whole lot of milk filled to the rim. sigh .... Waste of my coffee ... you have good coffee but drowned it with milk ... do I order a cortado to get a flat white next time? I was in a rush, it was raining... I didn't figure it out till I took a second sip when I left the store ‍

We had just finished a meal at BB's across the street, so we decided to pop in here to see what they had. I'm not a coffee person, but I noticed some interesting-looking sweet treats, including some financiers. Financiers seem to pop up a lot on cooking shows, but I'd never tried one before, so I leapt at the chance to finally do so. It's a really tasty concoction. It's baked so that it's a little crispy around the edges and moist near the center, and the flavor is leaning almost towards the savory, which I really enjoyed. (It's still sweet, just not in a throat-burning kind of way.) This is the sort of post-meal treat I can't resist, ultimately.

Took the day off for my birthday and decided to randomly drive around until I found a new spot. I was lucky enough to find SJCB and am so happy. I purchased bread, apple hand pies, and other treats to go with a latte. This place is a hidden gem!