Starbucks

I go to a lot of different coffee shops (chains & independents) & I must say this one has a pretty cold staff. It always seems you’re interrupting them from something. Their saving grace is the usually quiet patio upstairs.

Great space. The second floor patio is a total bonus. But when Pizza Pizza has better wifi signal than you, it’s time to rethink your strategy Canadian Starbucks!

I’m quite fond of my Starbucks and this one is one of my favourites as it has a rooftop patio. I’m not in the area too often, but if you are and want somewhere to just be a potato and drink coffee, this Starbucks is the place.

I think anybody that goes to Starbucks on a semi-​regular basis knows that they’re in for.
As far as the drinks are concerned, this location is the same. The service is similar.
This Stabucks gets points because of the setup. It looks great. It’s comfortable.
Walk upstairs, it’s amazing. There’s a patio, there’s bookshelves. It feels more like an old school coffee house or something you’d see on a TV show than a typical Starbucks location.
There are also some cool restaurants popping up nearby. This part of the neighbourhood is starting to develop.
There are Starbucks locations closer to me, but I’ll walk a bit longer sometimes to go to this one.
Definitely one of the top 5 Starbucks locations in the city.

There are many Starbucks all over this damned world. Almost all of them are more or less the same as each other. Why bother writing about one? Heck, I don’t even drink Starbucks often!
But this one at Gerrard and Jones, is one unlike the others. No really, it has a lot of personality built into it. Crazy, yes, that it struck me oddly that this visit is a very unique experience for a mere ubiquitous international coffee chain that normally employs uniform interior design standards. A metamorphosis really, when compared to the cheap greasy spoon this property was previously where I once regularly bought $ 2 chicken burgers for lunch, in a rather unremarkable-​and-​unglorious-​yet-​slowly-​gentrifying stretch of east-​end Toronto (I’ll spare y’all the ancient memories – the Starbucks that it is now bears absolutely no signs or semblance of its former past, but lest I digress.).
Be at awe upon walking in. This location is decked out with a series of unique wall murals, lighting fixtures, and furniture, including very comfy chairs upstairs. A bookcase and communal table anchors the south front. Plenty of power outlets for all you laptop-​in-​a-​café fiends. And upstairs, you’ll find they’ve carved out a spacious patio. The atmosphere is warming enough to want to make you want to live here instead, or feel like you’re in a fancy cocktail lounge and not a chain café. Very cozy.
I’d imagine this Starbucks would be packed during school hours – it sure must be a blast for the RCI students across the street to study and hang out here. But in the middle of the afternoon during an intense summer heat wave, I had the whole patio to myself. And for a moment, I felt like the king of a castle.
I wish all Starbucks were like this location. This is the Starbucks to end all Starbucks.

Patio. Patio. Patio!!!
If this starbucks were located downtown, or in a more upscale area, it would be ranked among the most popular in the city. This is mainly due to the upstairs outdoor patio, which is great for lounging on a spring, summer or early fall day.
There is ample seating on the second floor indoors and out, for those that prefer the comfort of A/​C. Service was prompt and friendly.
While many of us will frequent a Starbucks simply for our frappacino fix, this location is an inviting spot to sit and enjoy your drink with a friend, rather than just grab and go.

C’est Starbucks. C’est tout.

I can’t lie, I love Starbucks. Some may even call it an obsession, and I have this location to blame for it.
Before this Starbucks popped up almost two years ago, I visited Starbucks once in a blue moon. So what’s the allure behind this location that puts it above the rest? Is it the drinks? Not necessarily. The food? Well, Starbucks food comes pre-​packaged, so no, not really. The location isn’t highly attractive either. It sits on the corner of Jones and Gerrard, sharing the intersection with a high school, a dingy corner store, and a poorly ventilated Pizza Pizza. Outside, it doesn’t seem like much, but walk inside and be wow’ed.
The store itself is sleek and modern, but feels like home. There are two murals, one on the wall beside the staircase and one on the patio, done by a local graffiti artist. My favourite part though, is the bookshelf. Maybe it’s the bookworm in me speaking, but it definitely boosts the cozy atmosphere by 110%! It stretches from the bottom of the first floor all the way up to the ceiling. A bookshelf is not complete without books though! There are dozens of books lined on the shelf, free for you to read as you please.
There are plenty of seats, but typically during busy hours and on weekdays from 3pm — 5pm, it’s almost impossible to find a seat because they’re taken by rowdy high school students from across the street (no offence, but teenagers can be loud). Other than that, the place is fairly quiet, but not too quiet that it feels like the fifth floor of the reference library. No worries, you won’t be shunned for speaking!
What makes this place my favourite Starbucks though, is the service. Never have I ever on one of my plentiful visits received bad service. The baristas are always kind and understanding. Even when the line of indecisive teenagers flows in during the lunch hour, their cheerful moods never falter. Sometimes I wonder if specially selected workers with A±worthy customer service skills are hired for this location or if we’re just plain lucky! So if you’re looking for a Starbucks with excellent service, this place is perfect for you! The baristas never fail to impress.
The outdoor patio on the second floor is also an added bonus during the summer. With plenty of seats, relax and enjoy your cold drink while basking in the sun! It definitely beats lounging indoors!

This is my new favorite Bux! The staff are consistently really friendly, which is always a plus. They have lots of outlets, which helps us be productive or slack on our laptops for a good long time. It’s one of the consistently cleaner Starbucks, which makes for a very pleasant atmosphere for that (lack of) productivity. But most important – at least in the warmer months – they have a gorgeous rooftop patio. What a great place to get your caffeine fix and get work done at the same time (or not).

I dig the patio, and the location. It’s not my closest starbucks, but a nice stop if I happen to be in the area. The drinks are delish. Nothing to complain about at this location.

A Starbucks with a Rooftop Patio! I know where I going to hang out with my laptop on a nice summer day…
Right at the corner of Jones and Gerrard across from Riverdale Collegiate. I will definitely avoid this Starbucks on a school day afternoon unless you want to hang out with high school students… nothing wrong with that!
Really spacious even without the patio, there are 2 levels…
There are some notable elements make this Starbucks different than some of the suburbs ones I frequent:
— The wood on the walls is reclaimed bleacher seating from a high school in Scarborough
— Tiles used are all 40% or more recycled content
— Upholstery for the leather chairs is made from recycled materials
— The long stand-​up bar at the front of the store is made from a piece of beam found — in an old warehouse in Toronto
— Community table is made locally and the top itself is a piece of bowling alley from the old Scarborough Lanes
— The patio table is from the Bank of Montréal building and the supports are made by a local artist
— The murals are hand painted by a Toronto graffiti artist

The east-​end has developed very quickly these couple years. I really enjoy being surrounded by all the creative boutique stores around Leslieville. Lately, a new Starbucks Coffee popped up at the corner of Jones and Gerrard, just slightly north of Leslieville.
This store got a decent size, it has two storeys, so I’d say at least 20 seats. They also got a nice, big round table on the first floor, great for chatting with a bigger group of friends or working on a group project. They also got reasonable number of power outlets along the wall. I went there last Saturday, and it wasn’t too packed or too noisy. If it stays this way, it would become my next «go to» coffee place!

Cosy atmosphere, but kind of cold

Alright, normally I don’t review Starbucks. What’s the point? They are so very similar. That’s the reason you go to Starbucks. It’s consistent. (That and the free soy milk for the lactarded amoung us, and the free wifi when traveling). I have to say though, this Starbucks that I popped into had SUCH excellent service that I had to comment.
Now for myself, they did screw up my drink, but in the end they got it right, and all was well (although they overcharged me, but whatevs. I didn’t feel like making a fuss over less than a dollar.)
However while I was sitting, drinking my bevvie, snacking on some veggies from my purse, I saw a group of teenaged girls come in from the high school across the street, and order three waters. The barrista not only gave the girls their free water, but she did it without a grudge. Then a man came in and asked for a bag of ice for his hand. Another barrista happily gave him a food bag full of ice, and even apologized for not having a plastic bag. Nicely done. It’s not just fulfilling the odd customer request, it’s doing it HAPPILY. That’s not seen very often.
Bonus points for Tom Waits and Regina Spektor playing.

Amazing new location on the corner of Jones and Gerrard! This place has two levels and a huge table on the first big enough to accommodate a good sized mom group, their babes and strollers. Also there is a stroller sized bathroom on the main floor with a change table.