The Sweet Escape Patisserie

This place is definitely one of the staples of distillery and it smells absolutely heavenly. I could just stand there all day and sniff but I think they’d kick me out immediately.
The workers here don’t seem too particularly friendly but they do their job. They have baked goods of all kinds! I really enjoy the macarons here, they’re super yummy and have the perfect consistency. I wish they could just make me a bunch of macaron shells so I can just bite into them all day. The lavender one has a light but distinct flavour and I AM A FAN! I’ve never tried the other products but the meringues look amazing too. all different flavours and they look like little puffs of heaven just sitting in that basket.
There are no seats inside but there are a few tables outside. However, those tables are usually packed with people mingling in the distillery. I always just buy my macarons and eat them as I walk around. It’s not a big deal.

From the outside of the building to the packaging to the chocolate factory, everything was beautifully presented. I’ve got nothing to complain about their chocolates. If you’re a tourist, I would recommend d buying more to take back home. You’ll regret it if you dont!

Walking through, looked really good with a lot of snacks — also quite busy.
I picked up a broccoli salad w cranberries, yogurt, red onions. It was really good, though a bit heavier w yogurt than I would’ve liked

Ice cream way yummy and true to taste: black sesame, caramel milk tea, chocolate.
$ 4 for small with up to 2 flavors

Amazing little macarons, and shortbread cookies, but, the crème brûlée ice cream, it was a revelation, with little pieces of burn sugar, outstanding! Can’t wait to go back.

I only had the red velvet cupcake from here and it was good!!! I loved it. I would probably be back to try a few more things they have to offer but im hardly in the area.
The macarons didn’t look appetizing to me, and im a macaron freak.

Best shortbread cookies ever! I have only purchased their Earl Grey and Green Tea flavors but I am absolutely hooked. There were also gluten free shortbread options. Two packages for ten bucks… about 20 cookies in a package. I intend to come back to try the other shortbread flavors and cupcakes… and macaroons… and biscotti… and bars…
It was a dreary Wednesday around 4pm that I came in, so the district was relatively empty. The lady working behind the counter was super nice and not short or rude with me. I didn’t feel rushed in my decision-making…so many flavors to choose from. Pleasant experience all around!

I came here for the first time while I was in the Distillery District for the Christmas Market. I heard from another «food enthusiast» that their cupcakes are really good, so perhaps that set my expectations a little higher than they should have been. I tried a bit of the vanilla cupcake and thought it was okay, not bad but nothing super memorable. I also tried some of their macarons, because they do 6 for $ 10 ($ 2 for 1). I unfortunately wasn’t blown away by their macarons. Again, they also weren’t bad, but I found pretty much all of the flavours I tried to be really really sweet. Also the macarons weren’t as soft as I would have liked and I thought a few of them were actually too crunchy/​crumbly. Since it’s the holiday season right now, they have candy cane macarons, which quite honestly are like the best invention ever, as they mix two of the greatest things in life, peppermint and macarons, together. Again, a little too sweet (although flavour was good) and crumbly.
They have a lot of other things besides desserts, i.e. sandwiches and quiches that looked pretty good, so maybe I would come again and give them a try. In all it’s not a bad place, I just didn’t think it lived up to the hype.

It’s not a cozy place, too rush rush people walking around every where, they don’t have a door, their baked goods and sandwiches are not that fresh, staff is rude!
Only reason I am giving it 2 stars is because their red velvet cupcake is half decent!

Tiny bakery inside of a large building in the Distillery District.
I’m always happy to find macarons. I tried the Sake, it was so-​so.
There weren’t many other pastries available the day we visited. It felt a little touristy here, as it was a little pricey.
Sweet Escape will work in a pinch for a coffee and sugary treat break. But it didn’t leave a lasting impression.

I kinda happened upon this place because I was in the business of finding a place to sit for a bit to take a break from being a tourist and they had small white tables that were reserved for customers only. Count me in!
I ordered a small cup of milk & cookies /​root beer ice cream. This combo went really well together, believe it or not. Also a possible surprise success here? The pancake cupcake with maple icing. That darn piece of deliciousness was just… Ugh. I can’t even think about it for too long. I will want it again and I can’t have it – all things considered, like the fact that I’m in another country right now and always.
The Sweet Escape was a nice … escape … from Tankhouse shopping, and they, indeed, serve up some great … sweets!

I like this little Café/​Bakery/​Patisserie located at Distillery District and hidden inside a beautiful brick street.
They have it all from sandwiches, to hot drinks, to home made ice cream & Sorbet, to cupcake, to Macaroon!!!
The place was a little pricey but I am sure they have to pay huge rent to be where they are located. They service was good and fast. I tired there Chocolate Macaroon and it was quite good!
Its a hidden gem so do check it out when you are in the District.

This place is a sad addition to the distillery district. The trouble starts with the seating as it is grab while you can approach here. The tables are not kept clean so you have to take care of what the people before left on the table.
Their cupcakes are recommended apparently so I gave them a try. I am not a fan of cupcakes and these didn’t change my mind. I would say they are similar to other versions I have tried i.e. overly sweet frosting with poor ratio for sponge to filling/​frosting.
Now it would have fared better if the drinks were not so vile. I ordered a cappuccino and this was like a make at home version that comes out of the premix package. I didn’t see whether they use the 1 touch Jura automatic machine or the normal one but the results were pathetic.
There are quite a few better option in this area for dessert/​drinks so I would recommend trying them out.
1.5 stars.

During our Honeymoon through Canada, I made it a point to sample as many cupcakes throughout our travels. Our sightseeing stop at the Distillery resulted in quite a nice surprise.
My husband and I enjoyed a chocolate cake, with a vanilla buttercream icing, and multicolored sprinkles. As pedestrian as this sounds, it was much more than that. The cake was moist and fresh, and the icing was in perfect proportion, iced perfectly, and left us with a happy smile on our faces. The icing was not the mouthful of sugar you sometimes experience with a normal buttercream, this was a meringue buttercream, which is creamy, light and super delicious.
The quaint location is just enough for the bakery, and even has a cool glass window into where the baker does her magic. It had a french patisserie feel, which is explained in their name — cute, airy and just enough — exactly like their cupcakes!
Service was helpful, and we were even served our cupcake on a plate with a fork.
If you are anywhere near this patisserie, I highly recommend a stop!

Had a cupcake here for a snack while wandering the Distillery District with hubby one day. It wasn’t what I expected. The flavour was called Caramel fleur de sel. So in English I guess that would be Caramel Salt Flower? LOL. The cupcake tasted like pound cake & the frosting was made from butter & quite salty. Not the best cupcake I’ve had, but also not the worst. Needless to say, I couldn’t eat this often. Total heart attack food.

I’ll be honest I don’t know if I’m reviewing the right place but it’s the dessert place with the ice cream section out front with the same sign.
The ice cream here isn’t bad. We had some between heading to different bars in the Distillery District and the team needed a break. I ended up getting the cherry and like I said it wasn’t bad. I think the ice cream is all made by TSEP. I found the price a bit high for the ice cream but I think that’s the case for most things at the Distillery District.

A small, little patisserie in the distillery district.
Nestled inside a small mall-​like space is Sweet Escape. It is filled with a wide selection of baked goods. Catering to people like me who have no dietary restrictions and to those who have vegan and gluten free concerns.
My favourite thing, the oatmeal chocolate chip cookie. Soft, chewy and all round happiness — for a few seconds.
For those searching for gluten-​free baked goods — cookies, cakes and little bags of goodies to go — here is a good place to hit!
I have to say, if you are in a hurry any of their sandwiches or choices from the case that need heating or grilling, the wait seems to be much too long. So if you have patience, then no worries.
Points off for the coffee. It is a fair trade bean but that does not guarantee a reasonable tasting brew. Tastes too watery. It is the one time I do not need to add sugar just a wee bit of milk. When you just want a simple cup a Joe this will disappoint you.
I do like at the very least a medium brew. Some may enjoy a weaker cup than myself like my dad so it may suit you but I must say I think it is even too weak for my dad.
I recommend you order an americano if you are in need a warm caffeine buzz.

Made a special trip to the Distillery to try the donuts here… had read an article that they were making donuts similar to Dynamo Donuts in San Francisco, which is arguably the best donut place in the world right now, and for good reason. So they had set the bar pretty high! And alas, the donuts seriously sucked. Sooooo dense and chewy and greasy and just plain gross. Nothing at all like the Dynamo Donut that they are trying to copy verbatim, nice try guys.
Cupcakes here are also pretty lame, greasy and heavy. Won’t be back.

Since I have pretty much finished my macaron discovery tour of Toronto, I’ve decided to start a new mission — Operation Cupcake Toronto!
I’ve never been a fan of cupcakes — mostly because my only recollection of cupcakes were those nasty store-​bought ones with icing. However, ever since the cupcake industry in Toronto started booming — it has debunked my myth that cupcakes are just overpriced muffins.
I have tried cupcakes from Bobbette & Belle, For the Love of Cake, The Cupcake Shoppe, and now, The Sweet Escape Patisserie will join that list.
After having tired of the ridiculous lineups that seemed to never move while down at the Distillery for the Food Truck Festival, we abandoned mission and were heading towards the T&T Supermarket on Cherry Street to sate our growling bellies. I did end up snagging a Strawberry Shortcake Cupcake from the Cupcake Diner Truck that was there. I paid $ 5 for an overpriced, dry, strawberry-​cupcake-​flavour-​lacking cupcake. The only redeeming factor was the icing which was quite delicious.
Peanut, one of the many foodies in our crowd is THE Cupcake expert as she has been prowling all over Toronto for cupcakes. Naturally, she decided to check this place out too. We ended up getting a Red Velvet Cupcake. It was good! The cake base was nice and moist, and the buttercream icing was tasty as well. It is one of the better cupcakes I’ve tasted in Toronto, though my favourite is still from For the Love of Cake.
Ringing in at $ 2.95, this cupcake was well worth the money! I would recommend getting your cupcake fix from The Sweet Escape!

Some good sandwiches at this place. I had the roasted turkey with tomato and arugula. They heat it up for you on a panini grill and bring it out to your table when it’s ready. The tables are interesting with different magazine cutouts laminated down to them. The staff were friendly also.
I would have liked to try some of the baked goods or the ice cream but I didn’t have the time to get back in line for dessert.