Constantinople Bakery & Coffee

Now it’s Istanbul, not Constantinople…
This new café at Bathurst and Queen is more spacious than it looks when you walk in, though it still retains that intimate charm found in most cafes. The décor is pleasant, and the tables were filled with the usual crowd you find anywhere.
Their specialty is the Turkish coffee that is served on a beautifully designed espresso cup, with a piece of Turkish delight on the side. The price is quite reasonable for the novelty of the drink, though it takes a little longer wait before it’s ready. The taste is bracing with the grinds still present, though I wish the portion was bigger, and the roast darker.
I also had an apple crown pastry, which while not 100% authentic is still within the realm of Turkish, as apple tea is popular there. Staff are also friendly and helpful, and they post the password at the tables for the wifi, which was a nice touch even though I missed it. Will definitely give Early Bird across the street some healthy competition.
Take me back to Constantinople…

Was in the area so decided to finally try my first Turkish coffee! I twas served in a tiny, miniature sized cup with a glass of water on the side and ordered it sweetened, as recommended by the cashier because of the grimey bottom. I also ordered a Water borek (has feta and spinach (?) in it) ($ 3.75) and my total came to ~$ 8. I have to say, it was not nearly as «espresso-​y» as I expected and wasn’t thick at all. You can’t drink right to the very bottom because of the coffee grime.
Totally didn’t live up to the hype that I expected. Maybe it was my luck? Maybe because they were busy? I’m not sure, but I’d think twice about coming back for my caffeine fix.

Strolling along Queen Street West looking for a place for lunch. If had not been for the sandwich board on the sidewalk would have walked by the unassuming storefront.
Such a different feel once inside!
Relaxed environment despite the number of people in the restaurant. Was easily able to have a conversation with my friend without having to shout to be heard or worry about the adjoining tables intruding in our space.
Enjoyed the Turkish breakfast. Beautifully presented. A lovely combination of freshly made breakfast food … great for lunch, brunch or lunch! A hearty meal without being too much. Also had the Turkish coffee. Served in artfully on a wooden platter in a gorgeous espresso cup and saucer and little nibble of Turkish delight. Loved the flavour.
Will be back to try other menu items and enjoy the space again.

Don’t be fool by the small store frontage of Constantinople Bakery & Coffee. I was amazed when I walked through the door and entered into the café itself. The space is cozy and huge with ample seating and even a bakery and chocolatier making their products fresh on site.
Turkish Coffee ($ 3.90) was not as I remembered: not as strong, thick and bold. But the Turkish delight sweet did save the day. Though labour intensive and nicely presented, $ 4 for that cup really does not justify the price tag. I will stay with espresso coffee next time.
I will be back and chill out a little longer next time!

Beautiful space with lots of seating, outlets and fast and reliable WiFi. The atmosphere was very pleasant and relaxed (even when the place was full), with music gently playing in the background.
I ordered an americano misto and a feta and parsley borek, and my friend bought an americano and a Nutella swirl pastry. The coffee was delicious! Probably the best americano misto I’ve ever had, actually. It was well balanced, rich and smooth, with surprising sweet cocoa undertones. The pastries, unfortunately, were rather underwhelming. Nice flavor, but pretty dry. For $ 4, I expected more cheese filling in my borek. I probably won’t try any more pastries but I’ll definitely be back for more coffee!

I went in with pretty high hopes given the description but came away quite disappointed. While the place is nice and the staff is friendly, there really isn’t a huge selection of baked goods. Worse yet the place falls for most of the same west-​end trappings. I’m fine paying more for a nice location, but I was shocked to find that a Burek was $ 3.00 for a small piece (you can get a pie for as much in most places), one small glass of Turkish tea was $ 3.00 (it is typically served by the pot). These are basic staples that one would enjoy in reasonable quantities at any true Turkish café or bakery, not being able to share a pot of tea or some food with friends really negates any cultural experience. As such, there are much better options for coffee in the area. There wasn’t even any bread on the shelves to take home.

Directly across the street from Early Bird this place adds another dimension of café to the immediate area. They offered something you don’t see just about everywhere which is a Turkish coffee served in a pretty good looking cup and saucer.
Me, I didn’t actually have it but I saw after my friend ordered it and it wasn’t exactly how I remember seeing the last Turkish coffee I drank which was very thick and dark, thicker looking than espresso. The Turkish coffee takes almost 8 – 10 minutes to make. Of course they offer more than just that particular coffee.
The inside is larger than Early Bird and has a good vibe to the place.

Awesome place with its great staff and service quality! As a big simit (Turkish styled bagel) fan, I am very happy that I found this place. Will go there again any time soon to try out their Turkish coffe and buy couple french bagets :)) Good job guys, keep it up!
Strongly recommend!

I was about to go to Early Bird across the street when I noticed this place and thought I’d give it a try. The space is huge, with classic dark wood finishing, red leather benches, and a bakery in the back with glass walls.
I ordered a cannelle, which was dreamy — custardy melt-​in-​your mouth crumb with a crispy crust that tasted like dark brown sugar. The macchiato was rich and complex, definitely on par with some of the better coffees I’ve tried.
I give this place a fifth star for having wifi, power outlets, and lots of seating, a combination that’s hard to find in busy Toronto. I’ll be back.

Good espresso, great bakery. The place is very new, a bit hard to spot from outside, but huge and stylish inside. Nice ambience. Worth checking!