Aroma Espresso Bar

The «warm chickpea salad» is actually about 80% cucumbers and tomatoes. Wasn’t even served warm! The menu describes it as: «Hearty chickpeas, tomato, cucumber, red onion, garlic croutons, parsley, and hard-​boiled egg served with housemade lemon olive oil dressing and tahini.»
My salad had zero red onion or parsley. There was maybe ¼ of an egg on top and the dressing added no flavour whatsoever. I will not be returning, this was awful.

I went to a dental appointment this morning and stopped by this aroma for a coffee and for the Muesli to have there. My coffee was overflowing so I spilled when I put it down and my muesli was not really muesli.
What I got was a big bowl of very cold fruit with a splash of yogurt and cheap granola. I double checked the sign displayed because I wanted to make sure that I didn’t misread the ad. Mind you, I know what Muesli is as I’ve had many trips to Europe. The sign read «fat-​free yogurt «topped with fresh fruit». Not the other way around. When I asked them for more yogurt and gronola, the broad gave me a little bit of an attitude amd told me that next time I need to ask them in advance what I want because this is how they make Muesli. I found that to be pretty annoying. It’s like telling someone «next time tell us if you want tomato sauce on your pizza». Moral of the story? google «how to make Muesli». People actually do travel and know the difference so get with the program people. I wrote the review because I was annoyed by the girls attitude.

I had a turkey BLT from Aroma a while back. Brought it back to my office to eat. The turkey bacon was slimy and gross. EEEWWW!!! It was so gross, that I picked it out and tossed it. Ate the rest of the sandwich which was mediocre. For close to $ 12, it was not worth it. I was so irritated that I tweeted them, including a picture of the slimy bacon. They answered me immediately and said «oh dear, that’s not right» and asked what location I bought the sandwich from. I wrote them back and that was the end of the conversation. You’d think there would be an effort to make it right or offer of some sort of comp but nope. No more Aroma for me.

The downside of working downtown’s financial district can put a hole in your wallet in terms of all its shops and restaurants. However on the flipside its got its options especially food… and oh yea… coffee! Aside from the usual Tim Hortons, Starbucks, Second Cups, there’s Aroma. Though it may not be as exclusive as Sam James Coffee Brewery (SJCB), Aroma Espresso Bar has its loyal clientèle.
Just a few walks from the office, below the Sunlife Towers, this is a go-​to place to cure your fatigue, or afternoon sweet tooth!!!
Not only are they whipping up Amercianos (yum) lattes and coffees, but they’ve also got a healthy menu in place serving fresh sandwiches, etc.
As always with the demands and bussle of d/​t, the service is phenominal, and the prices are quite reasonable… again not a total rip off! and the little dark chocolate bar they serve with your hot drink is an originally cute gesture… :P

As a coffee joint, the quality of the coffee is pretty good. My problem is more with the way the joint is staffed.
The last time I went, there was one barista responsible for everyone’s coffee, whether or not you ordered a house blend or a latte. While the house blend coffee literally takes 5 seconds since it’s already prepared, lattes can take much longer to prepare. So I ended up waiting 8 minutes for someone to spend seconds pouring coffee into a cup.
FYI, the person on the cash register wasn’t serving anyone at the time, but their roles were clearly distinct.

bonus star for delivery — imagine a nice espresso waiting for you at the desk lol.
And breakfast all day is always good in my books.

Enjoyed an ok breakfast at Aroma. Was in the area for a meeting and needed some fuel.
For the croissant sandwich, with an omelet and Swiss. It was very basic and super buttery, but tasty.
Bit overpriced but offered some healthy alternatives to food court usual suspects (McDonald, timmies, etc)
I RECOMMEND– their power breakfast– 2 eggs, toast and coffee
EXTRA TIP– my croissandwich took about 5 mins of prep despite cashier saying 1 min so plan accordingly

My husband an I went here for a quick lunch. So glad we did it was really good. Was a little crowded but we got a seat inside with the cool red chairs. My husband ordered an egg and cheese croissant with oatmeal. And a latte with a scoop of vanilla ice cream… yea I know right? I had a combo up meal which comes with your choice of half a sandwich, soup or salad. I chose the portabella mushroom sandwich with sun dried tomato spread with feta and the quinoa salad. The sandwich was tasty as was the salad which was much bigger than I expected. The salad had chopped cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions and grilled eggplant with out the skin. yummy!!! I also had the chai iced tea which was good. Give this place a shot if you re ever in Toronto. The area around it is eclectic and fun. After you eat walk around a bit. You’ll enjoy it. there are fun things to see!

If you are looking for something different, a change of pace, or maybe you walked in thinking it was a Starbucks but realized it wasn’t when the cashier started talking to you but you felt too awkward to leave. Either way, this coffee shop is a great change from the norm. Sure coffee is coffee and living in this city you can’t go a block without passing a place that doesn’t specialize in coffee. However, you should really check this place out. Price wise it’s not Tim’s, but hey sometimes you just have treat yourself.

Aroma is a good choice in the financial district for a well-​made espresso. Definitely better than the host of chains that pepper most of the path. I like that they have tons of seating in the concourse level of the Standard Life building and it’s comfy seating to boot! The overall ambiance is a 3*, but made up for by delicious coffee and ample seating.

Delish if u want a properly made espresso. For a treat I get the mocha coffee mmmm make sure u stir to mix in chocolate. Ps this is not as sweet as it sounds so u won’t be overpowered by sweet

Love the place! Can be accessed underground via PATH.
Love the menu and the food is delicious. Their French Toast is to die for and the best I have tasted! I also like their Shakshuka, Bureka Treat, Fresh Fruit with Muesli and their hot drinks are fantastic (Apple Cider and Hot Chocolate are my favourite)
WIFI is free! This place certainly attracts a certain level of clientele.
One thing I dislike are Food Court people who will purchase food from somewhere other than Aroma — and will sit in the designated sitting area for Aroma patrons (inspite of signs around the designated area).
Highly recommended! Try it!

I never belived that chocolate was even close to being as good as sex until I had their hot chocolate… and now im thinking it could be a close call on what one I love most lol. I also dont normally like paying almost 5 bucks for a large but Id pay it agin and even tip. I went to the one on don mills and even though the bus is a brat to wait for ill def be getting off to get one agin, So amazing! I thought it was kinda weird at first that they call your name when its ready though Its proably just me thinking really why do you need to know it, to give me something, but the little bit of added attention was nice. yay im a fan.

For better espresso and coffee than your typical Second Cup and Starbucks, try Aroma. Not too far from Scotia Plaza and First Canadian Place, it’s nested right at the entrance to the Standard Life building at concourse level –it’s SO worth the walk.
Don’t have to go to the Annex’s location, it’s right here in the financial district… though it’s a smaller version. Open concept of the store to the mall/​Standard Life building compromises this location’s café environment: wayy too busy (with suits of course), too much noise pollution, too open. makes it hard to consciously enjoy Aroma’s awesome drinks and healthy food options. They also have more sitting across the store itself, but it just isn’t the same as a closed concept and detached, tres mod, coffee house environment (like the Annex location).
Good coffee, nevertheless. Take your 15 minute coffee break here. You don’t have to enjoy your beverage here, just take it back to your desk and keep on trucking.

This place is very close to where I work. It’s right below the Standard Life building in the PATH, super easy to find.
This place is great! The coffee is delicious and the service is friendly and quick. They have a decent enough menu and you can see that they are baking bread fresh on site. I’ve order pastry and sandwich here and was not disappointed.
Some nice little things are the chocolates that come with each coffee order and they take your name when you order and coordinate the delivery of drink and food by your name rather than what you ordered. I ordered an iced americano and was pleasantly surprised to find out that there is a squeeze bottle with sugar-​water so that you can sweeten your drink to your taste and not have undissolved sugar crystals at the bottom of your drink.
Prices are on par with other espresso bars. There is some seating inside and just outside the shop by the escaltors. There always seems to be somewhere to sit.
Four stars instead of five because this place can’t compete with the places that have outside seating since it’s in the underground. Definitely my go-​to coffee place, worth the walk past Second Cup, Starbucks and Timothy’s.

What can I say? I pop into Aroma almost everyday for my usual latte and chocolate croissant. Simply delicious.
Don’t let the name fool you, this place is not only about coffee… their sandwiches and salads are amazing. The portion sizes are good and the prices reasonable if you’re looking for a healthy, fast food option in the PATH.
I would recommend the mozarella salad or warm chickpea salad. They are extremely flavourful and always fresh.
Only downside is that this place does get busy over lunch so expect a bit of a wait for your salad/​sandwich if you stop in anytime between 11:45am-1:30pm. However, I assure you that it’s worth the wait.
The tiny chocolates they give you with your coffee order are a nice treat too.

Once I saw Aroma, it immediately reminded me of my time spent in Italy. A welcoming bar, espresso, and iced water with lemon as a complimentary drink for patrons!
While I haven’t taken Aroma up on a coffee or breakfast, I have enjoyed two awesome steak sandwiches for lunch here. Aroma offers the choice of a half sandwich and a soup or salad which ends up running you a little less then ten dollars, and will certainly leave you satisfied. If you choose to go with the soup option I suggest the pasta fagioli! As for the steak sandwich, it was superb. Nice shaved steak, some peppers, and a to die for (but unable to determine) sauce between two fresh slices of bread. If you’re really hungry take a run at the full sandwich, but I’ll warn you it’s pretty filling! I had a hard time getting through all of it. My only complaint about the sandwich is that the bread isn’t toasted and I found that on both occasions the bread became a little soggy because of the warm steak. If you’re taking it to go to eat at your office, it could get even soggier when it’s wrapped up in a bag, so I would suggest eating it there!
The complimentary iced lemon water is a great touch!

Aroma is a great addition to the PATH. Their multi-​grain bread is deliciously light and flavorful.
I highly suggest their ½ sandwich and soup combo. The ½ sammy is definitely filling with the soup. I’ve also tried their chopped salad and it’s yummy. Chopped tomatoes, cucumber, onions with fresh mint and parsley makes a tasty and refreshing salad. Tahini dressing is the perfect compliment. If you’re feeling like you need more substance, go for their chick pea salad which is basically the chopped salad with chick peas and a warm shredded boiled egg for added protein.
I’m not a coffee drinker but they give you a nice chocolate treat with each coffee. Bonus!

I don’t always work downtown but the last two times I did I stopped by the new Aroma which opened in the PATH (close to TD centre). Both times I went I really enjoyed it.
The first time I went I ordered a small salad — although it’s «small» it’s actually the perfect size for lunch and full of hearty ingredients. It also comes with a piece of bread so it’s enough for lunch!
The second time I went was for an afternoon cappucino and a cookie. Both were great and I found out all coffees come with a cute little chocolate!
They also have their own area set up with tables and red chairs. Both times I went i was able to find a seat but I hear it gets busy. I also notice they kick ppl out who did not buy aroma food — so i guess that helps to keep tables free too!

The Euro-​style café has finally made its way to the financial district. They’re a nice addition to the neighbourhood which probably has more coffee shops per square capita in the city. Only open for less than a month, a line-​up had formed when I got there and it was only 9:30 am.
The café is located in a good spot within the PATH system. The traffic flow is busy (close to St. Andrews Station and on your way to First Canadian Place and TD Centre), but not too busy where it can get loud, like near a food court.
They’ve set up an attractive seating area where their red chairs add a nice pop of colour to the space. It’s a good spot to take a 15 minute break or do some work.
What I like about Aroma is their specialty coffees and espresso drinks. My cappuccino was good and frothy, and I’m a big fan of their hot chocolate and mochas. I also like the little chocolate treat they give you with each order.
They have a nice selection of pastries but seeing the tray of ‘well-​done’ croissants worried me. Maybe I’m being too picky but shouldn’t croissants be golden in colour instead of dark brown? Hmmm. Maybe they haven’t figured out how to use their oven yet, but once they fix it, I’m more than happy to sample them in the near future.