Noir Coffee & Tea

I have been here once and will definitely return! I had an amazing salad! and also a wonderful chai tea latte and vegan muffin! so yum!

Really cute and comfortable place. The variety of tea was great — and yummy! Service was good too! I’ll be back !

3 Stars barely.
Maybe this review is based more on personal preference than anything else, but then again, maybe it’s not. Here it goes:
Coming here the name speaks for itself. If you are expecting a nicely lit place with bright colours, it’s not going to be this place. Noir has a dark and sleek feel to it; very asian inspired. The place is beautiful, but just not a space I personally like because of the lack of light.
I ordered a Latte and after pulling about 4 shots the barista finally got it right. Maybe he was testing out the grinds or something, but it took an awfully long time to get my Latte. I am a patient person, so I waited patiently. The latte was more like a cappuccino, but tasted great. I think their expertise is tea more than coffee. They have a great selection of teas available and according to one of the employees, «they are the bomb!»
I personally wouldn’t come here on a regular basis because there are other shops that are just better overall, but I would probably go back in again if I was right in the area and wanted a coffee
The vibe just isn’t something I am into, but for some they like the darkness and that specific vibe. I guess at the end of the day the vibe of the coffee shop determines whether it will be a place you want to be or not. There is nothing majorly wrong with this place. They serve decent coffee, the staff are great, and it is a nice place.
That’s it!

I’d like to return here another time to see if I like it any better, but for now my first visit was just «A-​OK».
The décor is fine, nothing out of the ordinary — but I did like the couch-​thinger (excuse my ignorance) that people could kneel or sit on. It was hot in there, though, which made it uncomfortable while I was chugging a hot cappuccino. I was also kind of hungover too, so maybe that was my fault? Is that a normal symptom?
The staff was fantastic, super friendly which was great. I was a bit sad when many of the menu items we (me and two friends) were interested were not available. I’m not sure why, but I don’t really understand the concept of a menu if you can’t order everything from it. It should say «things we think would be good if we could give them to you» on it.
I picked whatever sweet was in the cabinet still — a slice of apple pie for just over $ 5. Not worth the price, but I ate it because hangover.
My large cappuccino was good, it was basically a bowl with cappuccino in it so really, that’s awesome. I liked it. It was the same price as my mediocre pie, though. It made me sweat alot (see above) but I kept going and going til it was empty. Then I had to force my friends to leave so I could go outside and remember what feeling cool was like.
I would return here if they could promise me the strawberry shortcake was available. I am still sad about it.

Came in for a quick coffee (it was between this place and the Starbucks) while killing time waiting for Stockyards to open. Opted for a Cortado — and it was excellent. Fast friendly service, nice décor, excellent coffee. ’nuff said!

You have to admire (and support) a coffee shop brave enough to open next door to a Starbucks. I’ve been to there twice, the coffee (at least, the dark roast) is superb. I had a muffin the second time, also very good. The only negative is the one-​hour limit on their internet access. It sends a bad vibe that strikes me as unnecessary.

It’s a nice, somewhat haute feeling environment, with Japanese décor all about, including Buddha heads and paper lanterns and bamboo and cushions.
The place is quite nice, the menu is large.
The internet is only for an hour, which is annoying, but understandable, and it’s a bit pricey, not overly pricey, but slightly, and the portions are quite small.
I had the asparagus soup with a chicken breast and cranberry sandwich, it was yummy, but I didn’t leave feeling completely full, I wanted to get more food. My brother had ‘loaded oatmeal’ which is basically instant oatmeal with fruit on top, which he also enjoyed but didn’t leave feeling satisfied.
It’s not too busy and it’s a nice environment, but not a place I expect I’ll return to often.

I had occasion to stop at Noir this weekend.
Great little coffee place — and much more. Check out the pastries or quiche — they have a pretty good menu, so brunch offerings are definitely on offer.
I had the iced coffee (made to order and great coffee flavor!), and OMG — want something sweet but not too sweet — go for the Strawberry Rhubarb pie — to die for!
I personally love the «local coffee» shops — the chains are ok – but if you have a place to go to like this — always the first pick! Enjoy!

I was introduced to this place by a journo tweep of mine a while back. Then about three weeks ago, I went back while I went to mentor someone.
I enjoyed their lattes both times I visited.
It’s kind of dim inside but very relaxing to say the least. Anyone can read, study or just relax there. It’s definitely a change from the regular Second Cup or Starbucks.

Love this place for coffee or simply to sit with a friend and chat. This place is decorated in black furniture and has a very serene feel to it. They also have free wifi but I believe it is limited to half an hour. It is a small place so tables are limited.
Their coffee are usually good but their London Fog is what I like the most. It’s very rich and frothy without being overwhelming. They also have a small variety of cookies and croissants but I wished their baked goods section was a bit bigger.

Noir Coffee & Tea is a new café on the Passport that I was eager to try. I saw the pictures online and I knew I had to drag my boyfriend there with me. It looked like a lovely place to have drinks with someone. The overall Japanese-​themed aesthetics really appealed to me, especially since I am a lover of all things oriental and used to be obsessed with Japanese manga during my high school days.
I was surprised to see that they offered cold Vietnamese coffee, since being Vietnamese myself, I don’t think I ever had one (it’s pretty much iced coffee). As well, it’s not a drink I see commonly offered in other cafes. They also have a specialty called the Maple Bacon Latte. With a name like that, who wouldn’t want to try it? Unfortunately, they didn’t offer it to Passport holders. They did, however, offer another specialty drink called the Shakerato, which is iced espresso with simple syrup. I am not an espresso person, but I really like trying out specialty drinks if they are on the menu. It was a bad decision for me. It was completely bitter and extremely hard to drink. Being someone who enjoys sweet chai lattes, the Shakerato was the complete opposite. This was the first time I left my drink unfinished (maybe with one or two sips left). If you love espresso and strong, dark coffee, maybe you would like this one. Since I don’t have the tongue for it, it was completely wasted on me.
Overall, I really like this café’s décor and it’s a nice place to bring people to. I’d probably visit again in the future and bring someone along who also enjoys fancy cafes. Except I will be ordering anything but the Shakerato this time around.

The atmosphere is very cool, but not the place to go if you are looking for expectational coffee. the coffee is fine, but only fine.
Full disclosure: I am a coffee snob

Came here for the Indie Coffee Passport 2012 (ICP) and was pleasantly surprised by the setup as I wasn’t expecting this kind of place then again I am not familiar with this area so did’t know what to expect.
The place is gorgeous with Japanese Zen approach towards the setup and no expense spared to get the feel they are trying to achieve. Full marks here as I spent quite a bit of time just admiring the interior. They do have an extensive tea list which I am sure will be enjoyed by the Connoisseurs of tea.
Now for the cappuccino
Espresso: Mild
Crema’: Medium
Milk: Frothed well
Latte Art: Good with a nice finish
The drink itself is OK and I wish they used a bold espresso as then it would be ideal for me.
Also worth a mention is the high tech approach for internet access you get ticket with your personalized password and login (sadly it expires in 30 min so one can’t really loiter around here for hours :) which can be a good or bad thing depending on how you like to enjoy your drink.
I will be back for sure
3 stars for the drink 5 star for the setup.
Update for ICP 2013
They didn’t have the Cappuccino this time so the alternate was Shakerato (my choice) and my friend had a Tea Latte.
Shakerato took its time but I couldn’t tell much on the nuanced they are trying to achieve. There was slice of lemon zest at the bottom of the glass hmm but the espresso shot overpowered it. Still a solid spot to get your java fix.

I came across Noir this morning and popped in for a latte. Asian-​inspired décor, beige brick walls, low key music, and comfortable sofa chairs.
Nice array of baked goods, quiches, and other snacks. Good assortment of teas. It is so clean you could eat off the floor. The coffee is OK but not as strong as I prefer and there was too much milk in the coffee. Otherwise, good place to get freshly roasted Paradise Island beans. I will be back.

If this were a design blog, Noir on St. Clair West would receive five stars.
On an unassuming patch of the strip, just west of Wychwood Barns, Noir sits opposite a McDonalds and beside the oft-​reviewed Stockyards.
Unlike most of the corporate/​homespun storefronts in the area, Noir is all style; grey painted bricks and a sharp black, white and red sign scream «awesome indy coffee house. Swanky hipsters apply within for mindblowing expensive coffee drinks».
The theme carries on inside, where exposed walls and slate tiles serve as background for comfy chairs and tables, and the occasional bright red leather chair. Chalkboard menus are clear. They hover over a long bar which includes an espresso machine, tea selection, and a refrigerator case that tempts with pastry. The décor is vaguely asian, very contemporary, and very welcoming. I could sit and read or work or gab for hours.
I don’t usually review bathrooms, but Noir’s deserve mention. They’re more beautifully appointed than some homes I’ve visited, and on each occasion they’re just as clean. If Noir were a friend’s apartment, I might look into couch-​surfing.
With all of the attention to looks, you’d hope for great food and drink. What you get is stylized «good». Tea service is a hoot. You choose your leaves, and a small iron pot is brought to your seat, along with a timer that tells you when to pour. Noir may in fact be mislabelled as a coffee shop. Lattes are frothy, but the espresso lacks depth. A regular cup of joe is dispensed from the same plastic carafes you find in any midrange coffee shop, and tastes interchangeable. If you require cream and sugar, you have an impressive range of options. It’s decent but not special, at special but not decent prices.
A vine of tomatoes beckons you to order a freshly made tomato sandwich. At peak season, this sounds like a great idea. Out of a greenhouse earlier in the year, not so much. I’d rather visit Wychwood Barns on a lazy Saturday, buy some fancy bread and local tomatoes, head home and bring out the Hellmans for lunch on the patio at a fraction of the cost.
I don’t like to gripe about price, and I appreciate the space, but I feel that I’m paying more for the atmosphere than for the food.
Noir is an excellent spot for a first date, where style can be as important as substance. For a lasting relationship, I’d sooner plunk down $ 4.50 for a killer latte in shabbier surroundings (see I Deal Coffee, the Crema nook on Bloor Street or the original Bulldog).

What’s rose and beige and grey with brick walls? Noir. Yeah, it doesn’t make sense to me either; in my mind a place called Noir is matte black, plays The Smiths on repeat, and hires be-​turtle-​necked men and women with upturned chins, vapid gazes with unisex names like Chris, Sam or Robin. This café is nothing like that — though I’m not sure what place is.
It’s quite pleasant there actually. With just a hint of Japanese aesthetic, Noir is a sizeable space, with orchids on their tabletops and cozy leather chairs. They serve coffee, tea, desserts, and sandwiches. You can also pick up travel mugs and tea sets here.
My favourite part are the outlets built into the table. My least favourite part? The latte. It was pretty underwhelming considering the swank Victoria Arduino behind the counter, but they could have had an off day. I will return here — seems like a great place to study or work.
Obligatory Title Pun: How soon is NOIR?
Menu Readability: Their actually menu is quite hard to read but coffee beans are printed on a board in huge fucking letters.
Need to mention: Free wifi has a two hour limit.
What this place teaches me about myself: I wonder if Morrissey will play at this café I made up?

A cute little coffee shop with an assortment of dessert type foods as well. The coffee was pretty good, and the place is sparkling clean (I don’t know if this is just because they’re still pretty new.)
The servers were very friendly, and the atmosphere is very warm and relaxed. The only thing is there isn’t a whole lot of seating. It’s comparable to a small Starbucks.
Oh, they also have free WiFi and power outlets at the tables.

Noir Coffee and Tea is really my kind of coffee shop! It really have a spa like feel to it and fits well with the Japanese deco.
Everywhere is so clean here… even the washrooms! The washroom here for sure will be voted one of the best washroom for a coffee shop! (especially after I use the one at Moonbeam less than 2 hours agao!)
I like how they serve their tea in this Japanese teapot using the tatami material made tray…
With the atmosphere here, all the patrons seems to speak softly too… or maybe this place is just more spacious?
Free Wifi access is always an additional 0.5 stars!
I definitely will drop by for a coffee when I am in the area!

Noir has an Victoria Arduino Espresso Machine, identical to the one I saw at a Café in Vaughan. This machine is truly a simple beauty that fits within this traditional Japanese zen atmosphere. The underground washroom area is just as perfectly design for those of you looking for basement furnishing ideas (See Photo). Actually the whole place is nicely designed if you have that dream expense account.
As others have said, I actually waited for a friend here first prior to going to Stockyards next door. Not all seats are equal here, so some will pick and choose the seats to their preference as I saw a couple move from one area to another. There Menu is expanded in comparison to your standard Individiual Coffee Shop. It probably rivals Starbucks in food/​snack selections.
The solo staff here means you might have to be more patient than other Coffee & Tea shops however as I watch him carefully stir my Iced Latte ($ 4.00) and pulled any fine grinds. There’s definitely Wi-​Fi and some power outlets but the bar seat area seems a bit uncomfortable as you drink your beverage while facing the wall several inches in front of your face. 3.5 *Star*

Newly opened as of last Friday, Noir joins the now possibly café-​saturated strip of St. Clair West.
I truly hope that they do well because the subtle chrysanthemum logo, tasteful Japanese-​themed décor and doggy bowl outside reflects a thoughtful attention to detail. Also I have a soft-​spot for independently owned businesses.
I had an $ 1.50 ice-​tea (American style, add your own sugar) and a $ 1 day-​old chocolate and caramel cookie that was so good I wonder how amazing a fresh one would be. They have a full selection of espresso based drinks but that will have to wait another day. I did overhear one of the staff informing another customer that all of their coffees are fair-​trade.
They are still figuring out their hours and plan on being open until maybe 6, maybe 8 p.m. depending on traffic. They are right next door to the Stockyards so maybe they will benefit from the nightly lineups there?
Four stars for now unless they prove otherwise.