Gloria Espresso Bar & Cafe

This is by far the best place to get coffee on Roncesvalles.

It was ok. Same old song and dance. Average tasting coffee. Average, just average. Just another coffee shop in Toronto.

I may be biased as I couldn’t be happier to have a quality café open next door to my apartment. But Gloria is top shelf. The coffee is exquisite and reasonably priced. The baked goods are delightful, and the bagels in particular are heavy and chewy, Montréal-​style. The turkey havarti sandwich is rightly flavoured, savoury with that old-​cheese bite.
The premises themselves are light, open, and airy. A huge mirror makes the room feel larger than it is and the Spartan décor makes the place feel grand and flowing, not spare. Brian, the proprietor, is affable and warm – and his staff follows the same business model.
Add to this the new trend of hosting live music on weekends and displaying local art and you have a winning combo in north Roncesvalles. They run weekly raffles for AGO tickets with plans to do the same for Jays games in season (!!). I can’t wait to see what is in store for Gloria in warmer months, as their January 1 opening means that hey haven’t been able to take advantage of open doors and outdoor seating – yet.
Minor complaints include the occasional order gaffe (cream cheese instead of PB or overcharging on a latte), and the fact that the cavernous space doesn’t do well when filled with shouting children on weekends. But all told, Gloria is a bastion of calm and good vibes and deserves all the success that is surely coming their way. Bonus points for sheer cheek and audacity opening across the road from Starbucks.

Very cute spot! Good coffee, yummy snacks, and I love the environment! Saw on Instagram that they host live jazz nights; definitely looking forward to checking that and to frequenting this spot!

I have spent the afternoon working at Gloria a few times in the past month. Compared to the over-​crowded Reunion Island or the crappy Starbucks down the street, it is a fantastic shop that I hope is here for awhile.
Some thoughts:
First, the coffee blend and baked goods are delicious. The muffins are especially well thought out. I don’t know if they have a supplier or if they bake it themselves. The lady next to me on my first visit remarked that the sandwiches were great, too.
Second, the service is awesome. Coffee places can sometimes be full of jerks, but these folks are no-​nonsense without sacrificing quality. They’re friendly, which is in short supply at 3pm on a Thursday in most coffee shops.
Thirdly, they were playing through the Ella Fitzgerald catalogue on my second visit, which is perfect music for a rainy, if productive afternoon.
Of the countless new coffee options popping up in Roncie & Bloor West, Gloria takes the cake.

Fantastic option for coffee on Roncesvalles. Staff are very friendly and accommodating. Just opened so their food options are limited, but what they have is great so far. They will customise whatever you want as well. Looking forward to seeing what they add over time. Only downfall is limited seating if you’re going to do some work.

so I new coffee shop has just opened up «time to coffee it up». Family owned coffee shop with a great start up with so much potential.
Coffee has a good strong blend to it, so this will be my morning go to coffee place but the grind of the bean was to be perfected, it’s there first day opening and coffee.
Positives
1. No sour aftertaste or smell
2. Smooth
3. Sugar not required
4. You can taste the quality of the coffee bean.
5. Over all great cup of coffee

Delicious coffees (with all the milk options!) made by welcoming and friendly staff. I love their almond milk latte, brownies and rice crispy treats. A charming place to meet a friend or sit alone.

Seriously, I never use Unilocal but I can’t get over the super buttery croissant and a great coffee to match. If your walking by pop in, it’s worth it, great atmosphere and great service. We will be coming back for sure!