I try hot chocolate at Balzac, and always like the chocolate taste as it is not too bitter. but the sweet taste that comes after makes me could not finish the cup. next time I will ask for the less sweet taste.
the atmosphere at Balzac is relaxing, open and soothing. people seems friendly because of that.
Balzac's serves great coffee in all of its locations. This one has a front patio (beware the smokers), seating inside, and a back patio.. so lots of options for sun, shade, quiet, larger groups, and so on. Staff were friendly. They have lactose free milk.
The coffee was good and being balzac strong.I had a cookie and a Biscotti and I did not like either of them.
I went here for a coffee one morning. It's a really appealing looking spot. It has a great front patio and a nice backyard terrace. The staff are not as friendly as you would normally find in Southwestern Ontario. They're more of a Toronto type, which seems to be typical in this town. They're not as chatty as they are... more
My daily trip to the office includes a stop at Starbucks. Balzac's easily beats the flavor and I wish there were one in Chicago! We made several trips to Balzac's during our stay in Stratford, and one person in our party commented that it was the best iced Chai Tea Latte they had ever had. I had the Americano and... more
Hands down best espresso in town. Their seasonal specialty drinks are not to be missed, especially in the fall.
I usually get a caramel latte. It is always artfully done and the quality is unbelievable.
Their treats and sweets are to die for. I personally recommend the lemon tart and carrot cake.
I always panic when I go to a smaller town because I know that it will be fine hard to find a good cup of coffee. We were able to get a cup of coffee in Paris without actually having today to go there, or at least Quebec City. The coffee and baked treats were fabulous.
The coffee -- especially the "Caffe Canadien" made with maple syrup -- was terrific, with good pastries and a really great décor. Staff are pleasant. What a lovely stop while shopping!
I enjoy Balzac's every time I go. I love it's fiercely Canadian flavors (the Atwood blend, ahem) and world class coffee options, its delicious bakery offerings, the friendly service, the cute patio. It's a great coffee place with ample options and seating, located most conveniently on Ontario street.
The place is very nice decorated. I had a tea, but my husband had a coffee and in his opinion, it was just average.
Three friends and I went to this coffee shop for coffee and a dessert this morning after a wonderful breakfast at another restaurant in Stratford. This coffee bar was GREAT! I enjoyed their "house" coffee and home made butter tarts. My friends also had some of the variety of coffee and tea along with other desserts for the counter top... more
As a chai drinker, the luke warm beverage and rather slow service plus disinterested staff make this an underwhelming place to visit in Stratford. The Balzac at the Toronto Reference Library could teach the Stratford staff a thing or two about hot beverages and service.
I'm a local and adore Balzac's coffee. There are so many options but no matter what you choose the coffee is strong and delicious. I usually get a caramel latte but they do have some seasonal picks that are very enjoyable. For the coffee this is the best place in town hands down.
We're not coffe snobs; we don't like Starbuck's; we do love Balzac's cafe latte in a bowl complete with artwork on top. We head here for coffee and to stay a while. This coffee house has a comfortable, airy-yet-cozy feel. We enjoy sitting on the high stools at the big window. From here I can people watch down the entire... more
What a refreshing coffee spot. This beats any Timmies. Desserts look inviting and seem puffed to 35 psi, the maple latte my better half had looked more like a bowl of soup than a beverage and was nicely designed too! Sorry for the run-on sentence, but needless to say, it's a nice casual spot. They seem to have dinners too.... more
I enjoyed an early morning Maple Latte and muffin at balzac's. The atmosphere is laid back and relaxed in this cafe. Also, the beautiful latte art that the barrista did on my beverage was a nice touch!
It was one of the ppened on a sunday afternoon during thanksgiving weekend. Good coffee and good presentation. Free wi-fi.
Café crème ... just like I used to have in Provence! What a wonderful way to start (and end!) our days in Stratford. Merci!
A great place to sit and enjoy a well-made cup of coffee. Love the colours inside, the high ceiling. The front patio is pleasant, too.
I have always found this coffee house to be top-notch. Terrific coffee; nice breakfast foods; very pleasant ambience. The waitstaff is always both efficient and helpful.
Beautiful space, gorgeous baked goods, excellent coffee. Try the Atwood blend for a great morning cup to start your day. My husband had the coffee with maple syrup - delicious. Great place to stop in, but next time I would bring something to read and stay a while to soak up the atmosphere.
they are the only coffee shop ( outside of McDonalds and Tim Hortons) that opens early in the morning. So that's where our early morning Americanos come from.
Brilliant ! Loved the coffee, pastries and atmosphere, You have got the mix just right ! ( took home some beans and so can enjoy Balzac for a while longer !
Balzac's is a regular stop for us, mainly for a cup of coffee or tea along the way to Lake Huron or after a theatre performance. The coffees are rather better than adequate but nothing special. It's the cookies that are truly memorable. especially the ginger and seed cookies. The latter are to die for. Try them; you'll love them!... more
Nice food and great mood before going to the play. Right downtown so that we could take a relaxing and romantic walk along the festival lake as well as through the downtown core.
Had breakfast down the street when the coffee was abysmal. Had passed by here earlier and so went for my 'shot of the day'. It was great.....cafe latte, while strolling and window shopping. Would go back to taste the
My espresso came too quickly and so it tasted exactly like a Starbucks espresso. The Grind down the street makes coffee properly. Sorry, Balzac. Nice place, though. Nice service. Bad coffee.
Balzac's makes a great cappucino! Staff is friendly and I love the pattern they pour in the foam! The baked goods are a bit heavy, but we tried a few cookies and they tasted good.
I came by there for a cup of americano which was not really what I expected,but the staffs were quite friendly and considerate.
She added water as much as exactly I told her. ^ㅡ^ that was pretty nice.
The taste of the americano was not quite alright which was a bit different from my expectations.
I'd say that it's JUST...
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The very best coffee with a great place to sit and enjoy it. Try the baked goods too. You will never go back to Timmy's again.
Coming from the USA, and a true Starbuck's customer, it was difficult to find in Canada in any of the chain like coffee shops a good strong bold Italian roast cup of coffee. Even by adding expresso shots, just wasn't quite there. The service was good and foot traffic was a steady flow. Thus if you are looking for a... more
Excellent espresso drinks. They have decaf espresso available as well. They also have baked goods which I did not purchase.
Nice atmosphere and good coffee. It is located right downtown in Stratford, making it a great place to stop for a cup on a Sunday morning.
with great coffee and snacks! Even the tea makes it worth a stop! The ambiance is lovely, with small tables and bistro-style chairs, and if the weather is nice, you can sit outdoors and people watch.
Nice spot, great coffee. Even got a short lesson in latte art. Better than your average 2nd Horbucks.
We went to this restaurant to get a breakfast bite to eat before going to lunch later. The service was prompt and friendly. The coffee was delicious and my scone tasted just the way I like it--flavorable, but not too sweet. The inside is nice but not huge, but there was also seating outside in the front and in the... more
Love the ambience, the local clientele and the air feel of the place. Sadly, for those of us who do not drink coffee and prefer chai latte's, this is not the place for us. Lots of milk, but not lots of those Indian spices.
A trip to the western parts of Ontario, that is west of Ottawa, always calls for a trip to Balzac's. We were down for a few plays in Stratford and stopped in each day for a coffee, and a treat. The coffee is alwasy first rate, and the snacks very good. And as been commented on elsewhere, the coffee is... more
I have to say that I have been to Balzac's several times. I find the coffee typically is too strong for what I suppose is the "average" coffee drinker. Perhaps connoisseurs of the beverage may enjoy the offerings, but those who are only looking for a cup of java are best to keep walking up the street. The baked goods... more
Balzac's is a real local downtown hangout. Busy year round and deservedly so. A lovely place to have an excellent coffee and dessert, or cookie. Some sandwiches, but it's really a coffee and conversation place. Free WiFi now - yay. Open very long hours from morning to night. Plus free dog biscuits for fido on the doorstep :)
Nice old building, good staff, consistently good coffee, and good treats - what else do you want from a coffee place? Oh yes, and it's not Starbucks, so it's got that going for it which is nice. The one in Liberty in Toronto is also good - too bad it's in Liberty (the land that planning forgot...)
Popped in here for coffee and some morning snacks - wonderful, fresh, aromatic coffee and loved the lemon tart and peanut butter/marshmalow square. Started the day off beautifully.
They might want to get some more newspapers in for patrons, however. It looked like there was only one on circulation so I had to go across the street t buy one.
Went here during my Swan Festival visit. When you walk in, there is a tremendous atmosphere as balzac's has a great historic look to it. The furniture with its metal trim is fairly impressive. I ordered the Cafe Latte and for $4 and it was worth every penny. The coffee beans are recently roasted and you can tell once you... more
Good atmosphere, service is very good and very friendly. Bit expensive but worth the treat. In the summer they have a big water bowl out for your dog. Love going there.
An excellent coffee house with a good variety of coffees and choice of snacks to go with it.
The staff are really very pleasant and we found the locals to be very friendly as well. 2 mugs of excellent coffee and change from $4 is a bit of a rarity these days, so expect to be pleasantly surprised.
In these...
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Balzac's is a great coffee shop on the main drag in Stratford. They have many types of drinks, from coffee to tea to juices. They also have a variety of pastries, cookies, scones, etc. to enjoy.
Whether you order a plain old coffee, a capuccino, espresso or Americano, you will not be disappointed. This place puts Starbucks to shame. Plus, the staff are fun and friendly.
Great coffee of course, but also a charming decor and yummy baked goods. Wonderful way to start a day of shopping and shows in Stratford!
We travel to Stratford from Chicago every year---and have done so for over 30 years. We spend time drinking wonderful coffee in Bentley's every day we are in Stratford. I must admit that I was disapointed to learn that Bentley's no longer has ice cream.
While strolling in the shopping district, if one should like to take a load off, she should stop in Balzac's for wonderful coffee. Even after morning breakfast, I look forward to a walk and a stop here for a dark roast with a shot of espresso (red eye). My husband enjoys the ice cream and pastries with a good cup... more
I've been to Balzac's several times and have never been disappointed. I've gone there when it was busy, and when it was quiet, and the service has been equally good and fast every time. I love the atmosphere in there, with vintage coffee ads and antique coffee grinders and tins, and a lot of the historic architecture is still intact.
In addition to all the coffee (including organic and...
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Balzac's Coffee Roastery offers these services: coffee house.