- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Coffee & Tea |
- All
La Merceria
Categories: Food Coffee & Tea Restaurants Cafes Coffee & Tea, Cafes [Edit]
506 Adelaide St WToronto, ON M5V 1T5
(416) 848-0057
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 7 am - 7 pm
Sat 9 am - 6 pm
Sun 9 am - 5 pm
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- Free
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
22 reviews for La Merceria
Review Highlights
-
"...are so amazing and their Hot chocolate is made with." In 4 reviews -
"and the cafe carmaleo (with real dulche de leche." In 3 reviews -
"...is a cafe straight out of Buenos Aires in downtown Toronto..." In 3 reviews
Loading...
22 reviews in English
-
Review from Rachael T.
Toronto, ON
12/10/2011
Sometimes you ask yourself - what makes a good latte? Whether it is a coffee based, or tea... what elements would satisfy your morning palette?
Is it the tea or espresso bean? temperature of the milk? the foam etc...... I feel like I have gotten more picky with having worked at Starbucks, learning about microfoams, coffee art and all those other words that people have gotten all fancy with when it comes to the art of coffee.
Walking into La Merceria, I felt like I had this high expectation (which can be such a bad thing) to get a great drink... maybe it was because of the atmosphere it had - both retail and coffee shop, the place was very chi-chi, I thought anyway. The trinkets and other things on sale were very unique and looked expensive!
On the menu were some decadent selections: condensed milk, dulce de leche... I thought about changing my mind and getting a coffee but I was set on getting a london fog this morning so that was that. The guys at the counter were so nice and friendly, I wish I had more time to chat it up with them. Their teas are from tealish, which I absolutely have come to fall in love with after tasting them at the One of a Kind Show.
They don't put that much water into the cup (1/3), so I get a good serving of calcium haha.. I hate it when they rip me off on the milk.. and yes they have skiim! I don't usually like foam, but this was delicious. It was silky smooth and the vanilla syrup they used just absorbed into the whole drink altogether. I like their earl grey because it is not too strong like Starbucks (the bergemont ) and the tea does not become overpowering after being steeped in the cup for an extended period of time.
Now, that review wasn't too picky was it :S -
Review from Renata R.
12/13/2011
I'm still not sure if it's a coffee shop or gift store. Either way, I feel like spending some time there. The food smells, looks and tastes awesome, and portions are BIG. Try an empanada!
Now, let's start a new paragraph for their beverages: as an Argentinian place, they have an amazing coffee with traditional DULCE DE LECHE (if you never had it, go there NOW) and steamed milk, Café Caramelo. Also, Coffee with Condensed Milk. Their hot chocolate is made right: steamed milk with a melted dark chocolate bar inside. Yeah. At last but not least, tea is Tealish and they do offer toasty almond, my favourite!
They serve some other food (soup, sandwiches) and, well, you can buy hand cream, crayons or a kitchen apron while you drink your coffee. This place is just amazing! -
Review from Vivek S.
10/23/2011 3 Check-ins Here
La Merceria is equal parts retail store and coffeeshop delicately juxtaposed in a small space at Adelaide and Portland. It's a mélange of Pinterest-esque cuteness here with notebooks, Caldrea soaps, home furnishings, acoutrements, bric-a-brac, knicknackery, etc. Their cash register is an iMac and nothing in here is more than a few tonal steps from ecru.
They serve Colombian coffee, real hot chocolate, and a variety of teas. Their muffins and cookies are from Sweets From The Earth and they have some sweet loaves from The Brick Street Bakery. Good to see them supporting local. They also serve sturdier fare like empanadas for $2.50. The prices here are pretty reasonable, but they do two things I'm not a fan of: a) charge $0.25 for debit if you spend less than $5.00 and b) prompt you for a 15% tip when you're using debit. Why not just let customers choose their own percentage? It's weird being put on the spot like this, and I prefer to tip with cash anyhow.
I like to come here and settle in one of the nook-like spaces in the back. You can a seat on one of the comfy sofa-like benches, or sprawl out with a throw pillow and take a nap. (I'm kidding, don't ever do this.) It's a great place to get some reading or quiet work done. They have free Wi-Fi, but not a tonne of outlets so keep this in mind. Very relaxing in here.
I must admit, my last visit was subpar: I took a bite of my mixed berry muffin and it was ice cold. Not just cold, the berries inside were kind of frosty. Mega turn off. I took it up to the front, and the girl at the front knew exactly what was up before I said anything. After apologizing for serving me a cold muffin, she offered to heat it up. Meh. I declined and abandoned the muffin with her and walked away unhappy. In retrospect, they probably could have and should have done more to make the situation right.
I probably won't get a muffin here again, but their coffee and the space are excellent.
Obligatory Title Pun: Have MERCI.
Menu Readability: Handwritten chalk above the counter.
Need to mention: The Wi-Fi password is unmemorizeable. You can ask the cashiers for it.
What this place teaches me about myself: I needs that muffin warm, girl. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
6/28/2011
Empanadas. Hot chocolate. Tealish ice teas. (I'm eyeing my coconut bongo as I type this.)
So quiet here; perfect place for me to get some work done! (But apparently not enough work, since I'm writing this review.) (Shaking fist at Yelp.) -
Review from Ben B.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
La Merceria was a decent place to pass a quiet afternoon away from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
(Do I sound like an east coast bumpkin yet? Of course I do.)
The calm, bright atmosphere managed to counter the fact that I haven't seen the sun in six weeks and the fact that the entire place feels like someone's house felt more personal than the chrome-and-mirror cafés that I had been in thus far. Every now and then you just don't want to feel like Whitney Houston's about to come get the party started while you're enjoying a latté, amirite?
The empanadas made for a nice, light lunch, the service was friendly-ish but pretty low-key, and the little nooks to sit with some privacy would make it perfect for getting some work done without distractions.
The only real complaint is that the door is hooked up to a little alarm system that sounds whenever it's opened. Over the span of a two hour stay, having a loud BEEEP go off every few minutes was enough to give me an eye-twitch...Listed in: The Big T
-
Review from Kelly O.
4/25/2011 4 Check-ins Here
This is a bright, sunny place to get a fantastic hot beverage.
I have always enjoyed my orders, in particular the mocha (with real chocolate!), and the cafe carmaleo (with real dulche de leche)! No flavour syrups here!
Very nice houseware-type stuff available for purchase, but its not cheap! This is one of my favourite cafe's in the hood! -
Review from Jen C.
10/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
La Merceria is a cute Argentinean coffee shop, with a house-wares-and-kick-knack boutique folded in. Done up in whites and woods, this is a pretty space, with lots of things to buy. Grabbed a cappuccino that came with a cookie to nibble on. Lovely space to chill in. Would return to check out the rest of the goods.
-
Review from Natalie T.
East York, ON
11/8/2011
VIBE
You know how you read design magazines or go onto Design Sponge and think "Yeah, I wish my place looked like that?" And then you think "Well, I'm too lazy to make my couch out of church pews and I can't afford Brian Gluckstein's taste?" You can get that vibe at La Merceria. There is a lovely bench in the front and a few wooden chair and tables; there's also a quiet space and more bench room in the back (with limited outlets to plug in your laptop). Affectionately known to me as La Merc this is one of my go-to spots to work. Lots of creative types come in and out of this button-cute café or stay all day (like me). An added bonus is that you can buy a lot of home décor stuff from brands like Dwell or sweets from Bobette and Belle all while waiting for your hot chocolate/latte/espresso (choose your poison). The staff are friendly, relaxed and professional. Plus, there is mellow Argentinean music in the background. The owners are Argentenian and if you have a chance to see their son, he is the cutest little boy!
I EAT/ATE
La Merc makes a really mean hot chocolate; they also make a good chai latte and London fog. Their tea is sourced from Tealish and they'll make a brewed version and ice it for you. It's so tasty! Their prosciutto sandwich is so good you may rip one of your molars out (the bread is pretty hard--not in a stale way but more in a texture way-- but I don't care) and if you're looking for alfajores, they are the source! They charge the standard price and take debit/credit.
OBLIGATORY CATCHY REMARK
Dwell in your second living room away from home. And buy it too!
*Still don't have that copywriting job. Knock Knock! Who's there? Not an advertising agency. -
Review from Tara A.
12/29/2010
I couldn't be happier with this coffee shop. Not only am I able to get myself a delightful cup of coffee but I'm also able to do my gift shopping here. From glassware to cards to linens, they have something for everyone.
The atmosphere is quaint and the people are friendly.
The fresh Empanadas are so amazing and their Hot chocolate is made with..wait for it.. REAL CHOCOLATE chunks. none of that powdered liquid crap.
There are not enough words in the dictionary to describe my utter joy for this place. It has and forever will be my morning pit stop on the way to ... well anywhere.Listed in: Killer Coffee Joints
-
Review from Daniel B.
North York, ON
10/20/2010
This is easily one of the best, if not the best places to get a coffee - from cafe con leche, to cafe con dulce de leche. The owner, Marcello spent over 1000 cups of experimentation to get it "just right" as he once told me. Come here for lunch and order the "Parma sandwich" - a long Italian style sandwich with prosciutto with cheese and a slice of pear on an Italian bread, warmed up on their sandwich machine - it's amazingly good. The owner's family ships in daily fresh empanadas and tartas, which are as good as anything home made from your grandmother in Buenos Aires. The ambiance, the location, nothing is out of place here. Cozy, not pretentious. The staff, very cool, friendly, and genuine.
Drop in for a coffee and an alfajor, you won't regret it. It's our favourite cafe in the entire city, we come down from Yonge and Lawrence for lazy afternoons on Saturday's to enjoy the coffee and just reading a magazine while sipping away the afternoon. -
Review from Daniel B.
9/22/2009 1 Check-in Here
Spectacular.
A wonderfully cozy place that makes you feel like you're in Buenos Aires and not Southern Ontario.
There's no reason to wake up at 7 in the morning ever. But if you do, this is the first place you should go.
Instant peace. Calm. Chill.
Beautiful decor. Excellent coffee. Free wifi. Hidden gem. Never leave. Love everything. Amazing.
I sit in the gorgeous wooden antechamber and smile.
A very deserving five star review. -
Review from Aaron B.
11/27/2010
Okay, I'll just go ahead and say that this is one of my favorite places in Toronto. That's actually not saying much considering my consistent disappointment in Toronto, but this place would be great anywhere. If only it were open until a reasonable hour. No cafe that closes at 6:00pm can get more than 3 stars. I mean, they are closing almost when I want to go there. No after-dinner coffee. No after work conversations. It's just too damn early.
So this rating is despite a great Illy bean Americano, great spinach and egg thingy, great desert, great ambiance, and an amazingly friendly, helpful and cheerful barista. The place is filled with cute and expensive nick-knacks and kitchen goods. Even the music was awesome. The only bad thing I can say about this place is the hours, but that's a big deal. It doesn't matter how awesome the place is if I can only rarely go there. -
Review from Rachel L.
Toronto, ON
12/9/2009
Este es un café porteño en Toronto. Este es el idea el más mejor en TODO EL MUNDO.
This is a cafe straight out of Buenos Aires in downtown Toronto, which is quite possibly the best combination of cities I can hope for. I actually started to dance a little (my boots weren't heeled, so I was a few inches short of a tango) when I realized that this was a BsAs café and started gushing in Spanish with the owner about how excited I was that I found it.
Order their café caramelo (y si vos sos un porteño, "café con dulce de leche") and grab an empanada. Sit and pretend you're in Palermo (or Recoleta, San Telmo, Villa Crespo, your choice). Look at their tchatchkies. Swoon a little. Eat some more dulce de leche.
The only thing you do to improve your experience is simply go to Buenos Aires yourself. ¡Estoy felícisma! ¡Qué suerte, qué bueno que lo discubrí! -
Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/23/2008
This is the slot where I normally make a witty remark about an establishment in which I have just dined or sipped, or gorged, or chugged but when I have nothing funny to say about a place, it doesn't mean it's humourless (and lord knows I'm not), it just means it's great!
La Merceria, an adorable, light-filled, little spot, in the heart of the King and Bathurst district, leaves me jokeless. How can I kid about a place that makes a mocha latte by melting a bar of dark chocolate into a cup? This coffee shop is serious business! They also have very tempting pastries (I had to do everything to stop myself from picking off the buttery caramel from a pecan bun at the counter) and the cutest little tables.
Tip: I for one have exed any boy off my list who has made the choice to take me for coffee on the first date, but I might reconsider if he brought me to La Merceria. -
Review from KL M.
Toronto, ON
7/28/2010 1 Check-in Here
This place is the definition of a cute little cafe. And what makes it cute? White-washed decor, baked goods, quaint rooms, and carefully selected household items on display and for sale.
It's simply calming - not an easy feat in this city. -
Review from Lupillo R.
Toronto, ON
9/24/2010
The decor is clean, the chairs and tables are perfectly mismatched, and in addition to being a cafe, they also sell small housewares and other little artsy things made of fabric in the back.
The guy working at the counter was very pleasant and made small talk as he prepared my coffee, which was very good. What was great, however, was the chicken empanada that I had with it which was even served with homemade chimichurri (an argentinian sauce with oil, parsley, and garlic). They also had some good looking sandwiches which perhaps I'll try next time along with a slightly fancier coffee rather than my usual Americano.
I like the fact that they don't use disposable stir sticks or sugar packages. They reduce their environmental impact by having spoons and a sugar jar. -
Review from Tara Z.
11/30/2010
Oh, man, it's like time stops when you step in here. All the quiet little tables and the careful, methodical staff (watching the guy who made my iced mocha was an exercise in meditation) make me feel like I'm exactly where I need to be. Each room of the shop is filled with lovely home goods like high-end natural cleaners and silkscreened towels, but each room also has neat little tables tucked against the walls so you can have a private, cozy lunch with a friend. What a wonderful find!
-
Review from Sol O.
Toronto, ON
5/18/2011
I used to live in Argentina. This cafe reminds me why I loved that place. Yummy treats, great service, and a wonderful atmosphere.
-
Review from John B.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2009
Interesting hybrid of housewares and cafe. I had a couple of okay empinadas and one delicious cookie. Had the drip coffee for once (instead of my usual espresso), and it was also pretty decent. I see myself coming back here to try out some of their other stuff, and maybe upgrade my rating.
-
Review from Sarita A.
Toronto, ON
9/9/2010
Beautifully curated boutique. Unique houseware and some clothing/bedding in the back. I'm more of a browser here and bought some stationary. Great gift shop and good coffee. Nice to stop for a coffee and snack (just tried the coffee).
Friendly as well. -
Review from Mike S.
Toronto, ON
6/13/2011
I love the decor and ambiance at this place. I had a great iced mocha here too!
-
Review from Tom Jakobek J.
North York, ON
5/10/2011
nice shop, great coffee!
