Purple Penguin Cafe in Toronto

Lovely little Cafe! Tasty Dalgona latte and warm apple fritter

Breakfast sandwich delicious. Service little slow in morning rush

Its very cute, and the coffee was excellent.

Excellent coffee stop in the morning!

On a street packed with good coffee shops, this is my favourite. Homemade sandwiches, great coffee, and the BEST staff and service in the building.

Ice matcha latte superb yummm!

It meets everything they offer. The employee is very nice also. Tea, one sandwich and dessert is about 24 cad.

Fun place to try some freshly made fritters!

Visiting Toronto from the USA. Had the gf chocolate chip cookie as well as the gluten free kitchen sink bar. They were fantastic. The coffee was also very good.

Good food, good coffee, great cookies. Lot of seating and standing area for a cafe. Still appreciate getting a coffee when I was short on change a couple years back

Great little cafe with delicious Montreal bagel sandwiches! (I had the avocado and tomato, which had cream cheese and a drizzling of balsamic glaze. So good!)

Food is good

Ordered apple and oreo fritters and breakfast sandwichs and they all were so good! Definitely recommend!! Food

I came this morning, it was a busy time. I understand, I was told they could not make a single shot coffee. I was not asking a reduced price, all other places make it, waste the other shot. Terrible service.

Great and unique cafe. You can really tell all the food is made fresh in store. Their service is quick and polite and their coffee is perfect.

Guy working was helpful and friendly. I got a large cold brew coffee. They have add your own simple syrup and cream. It was really good coffee.

Delicious apple fritters and the twisters bagels are great too, lots of options for sandwiches. Dolgona latte is a must try!

Very friendly staff and fair prices for the portion size. I really enjoyed the breakfast bagel and chicken Caesar wrap, as well as the freshly baked Fritters!

Cute cafe at the corner of Logan and Queen East with friendly staff and delicious breakfast bagel sandwiches.

wasn t super impressed with my oreo fritter but staff was pleasant

Sorry out of drip coffee mid afternoon, but I can up charge you an Americano... really?

Literally the best apple fritters you will ever have!! made fresh per customer

Friendly staff! Cute atmosphere. Very little indoor seating on a rainy or cold day. The coffee was good. Vegetarian options: Noticed many veggie options on the menu.

Paying nearly $7 for a small macha is insulting.

Terrible service. terrible employee working there. I come here every Sunday, but that s going to change. Apparently, purple penguins rules are regular customers get served before casual customers. Checks out

Very rich pure life

Love this place to bits. We take out there a lot. This week it was a goofy grilled cheese sandwich Great selection of bagels, sandwiches, breakfast sandwiches, and.... made to order fritters! They rock.

Lovely cafe, excellent service and delicious oreo fritter!

Place is tiny and a little cramped but adds to the cozy atmosphere. On occasion the person at cash can be very cold and a little condescending (sorry) but most of the time very fun bright and sweet place to get coffee <3 The seller here is the apple fritters, and they actually have fritters in a couple of other flavors as well very delicious and made on the spot when you order. They also have a range of baked goods and a variety of breakfast sandwiches that are all quite delicious. You can also buy your own high-quality coffee and tea to make at home. Considering that they are across the street from a big box coffee shop, they do quite well with lots of loyal customers and definitely hold their own. Its definitely worth a visit!

Fantastic little corner café with excellent coffee and food.

I LOVE the grapefruit lemonade it is the best lemonade I ve ever had in my life, so fresh and zingy. Excellent flavour. I love their classic breakfast sandwich and their bagel sandwiches are so nice too! Very fresh bagels, service here is very good and the cafe is very clean

Friendly service, food and drink options for anyone. Our breakfast bagel and avocado/tomato panini were made fresh and delicious. Fresh baked banana chocolate chip muffin was still warm and so good. Iced coffee was made with Reunion beans and a great balanced flavour. HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS PLACE. Small, locally owned cafes forever!

I go here to get this delicious cookie made from taro and has white chocolate chips in it. I m hooked.

Delicious fritters and friendly staff

You have to go for the Apple fritters! Made at the time you order and the coffee is always great. Love coming here on a Sunday afternoon to enjoy a coffee and topeople watch on Queen street.

The most ultimate apple fritters, delicious bagel sandwiches, and the friendly staff make this place so cozy! A Leslieville gem.

Great ambiance! I met a friend for coffee, which was delish, but I didnt get to try the food. Options looked great!

Never an issue, always great service and there s lots of food I love here. We often order ahead on their website and it s great set up.

So I just went to this cafe because I ve been seeing so many wonderful reviews of it and my husband and I drove 20 mins to get here! We came at 4:20 pm knowing that they were going to close soon but I just wanted to dry a drink. We got there and received a cold and rude greeting from the barista with the pink hat and tattoos. We were looking at the menu and she proceeded to hurry us because she said they were closing. When putting the order she was extremely cold and mean. The matcha tasted amazing however, but it was an unpleasant experience. Maybe we just got this worker on a bad day but it s upsetting because I was really looking forward to a good experience.

Lovely little purple cafe that we visited this morning. Warm and festive atmosphere Great coffee with a nice selection of breakfast foods and snacks! + friendly staff! If you are in the area, this is one of the many awesome coffee shops on Queen. Check it out.

I ordered online after seeing the reviews, but I was put off by their washrooms and am not eating this.

Should offer table service for food. Order at counter than bring over. Good bagels.

Small incredibly wonderful Cafe wood wonderful coffee and great pastries highly recommend it to all

Perfect spot to stay or to go for a nice coffee and an interesting breakfast food menu. The twisted bagel is my personal favourite. The people who work here are always pleasant. 10 out of 10 times I d come to Purple Penguin over the competition across the street.

Really nice Café vibe with delicious sandwich options. Really enjoyed their breakfast muffin and will be back for more!

Best bagel sandwich in Toronto!! The owner is so kind and honest Coffee is always fresh and tasty!

Friendly staff, great food. Had the Ham Brie Apple Panini

Wow, they have keto muffin & sandwich and taste is great

Great coffee and breakfast. The baked goods look delicious also. Nice eating area with about 10 tables give or take. Staff was polite and food was prepared fairly quickly!

Fritters are made fresh to order. They are next level and a must try. Breakfast bagels are also super fresh and delish. Fair prices. Eat here.

Have been to this cafe so many times. I love it. They are simply so good.

My boss got me apple fritters from here. Super hot, crispy and fresh!

I have been wanting to try this adorable place for a while but I am glad I finally did. The food is delicious! Even writing this review makes me want some

Wouldn t go back. They forgot to make my girlfriends order, left her to wait for 30 minutes standing there, didn t say sorry, didn t offer a discount or anything, plenty of other customers came and went, overall terrible service.

Purple penguin is one of my favorite cafe!! Coffee and apple fritters tasted fantastic! Also, barista Jane responded friendly and quickly. Thank you! Food

High quality sandwiches. Counter service and self bussing. Coffee above average!

The customer service was good, the banana fritters are so delicious, but the salmon bagel could have more cream cheese.

Very kind staff. The Montreal bagels are good, and seating is pleasant. Id highly suggest this place.

Absolutely wow, amazing coffee

I love this place and the owner is very attentive and friendly.

Overrated. The cookies could be better and it s overpriced. The general atmosphere isn t welcoming.

We love the bagels here - the bread is fresh and the fillings are tasty! My favourite is the ELT.

Amazing food, the California breakfast sandwich was perfect. The iced coffee is also fantastic. The lavender lemonade and apple fritter are both easy recommendations. Somehow the service is even better than the food. So welcoming and friendly. A must go for breakfast! 10/10!

Very friendly and informative staff. Had a delicious dairy-free almond-flour blueberry muffin (~$5.50) and a spinach mango smoothie ($7.75). Smoothie is made with real spinach and mango nectar and can be made with oat milk. Got the food to go. My muffin was still fresh and hot and smoothie prepared quickly. Dietary restrictions: Dairy-free options

Very nice and friendly service, delicious food and amazing colours!

Very cute corner for a quick coffee and a snack, but cozy enough to stay in to study or work also. 100% will come back

The Purple Penguin cafe is a cute little place to have a treat, or even a quick meal/bute to eat with family and / or friends. Its an all-age friendly cafe with staff that are very knowledgeable about the menu and positive vibes. The overall environment here is positive vibes, with a lot of purple in the interior (hence the name). I absolutely adore the penguin plates and cups that they use here, to the point where I even bought some myself after a quick search in a few Dollarama stores, haha. I visited with a friend in the early afternoon, on a weekend, which was somewhat busy but there were still ample seating available. The penguin biscuit was all right, but the iced matcha latte with honey chunks was the highlight of my visit. I never had these crispy honey chunks with my drink, and they tasted great; both dry by itself or crumpled up and mixed into the matcha latte. While the prices are more expensive than usual - its in downtown, so no surprise there - Do stop by here for a fun treat if you ever see the iconic penguin in a purple building. The treats here are worth trying out. Vegetarian options: Non-dairy options available. Wheelchair accessibility: Located on the first floor; no stairs or escalator required.

GET. THE. APPLE. FRITTERS! If youre getting a bunch of them call to order in advance otherwise on a busy day it may be a bit of a wait, but still worth it! Banana fritters are good as well and drinks are your typical good coffee/latte/etc but apple fritters are

Very inviting and friendly staff. Great flat white, blew with medium-dark roasted coffee beans. They serve bagel and baked stuff as well. Lovely little coffee shop in the hood.

The Americano was great, but the food was extremely disappointing for the price. My cookie was stale and the lettuce on my ELT was brown and rotten.

Super cute small cafe! If you are looking for a place with great sweet treats and a variety or sweet or strong coffee and teas, this is the place! Has seating for those looking to park and do some work or reading. Service was kind and informative. Didnt try the food but have heard (and seen) good things!

Been here for breakfast sandwiches and paninis a couple of times and the experience was subpar unfortunately. Their prices are quite high for the amount and quality of food but it s the service that discourages me from coming back. We ordered 3 things per 2 people and they forgot one of the orders. We ordered a panini with an egg and they forgot the egg. And the last time we came in around 3:10 and when ordering, the staff asked whether it s for here or to go. After saying for here, she said they will make it go because their dining room closes in 20 minutes. The ordered was prepared and eaten within those 20 minutes and we didn t appreciate being rushed out, what s the point of asking in the first place

Good coffee shop, with delicious food options. Not crazy extensive in terms of options BUT everything they make is sooooo good! Way better than Starbucks across the street. Do yourself a favour and come here. You won t be disappointed!

Great tasting food

I bought a couple fritters from here, not a huge order obviously but was still treated politely and professionally by the staff member. The fritters were made fresh and were definitely something I would order again. Cheers

Egg and avocado on twister all day. So much better than anything you can get from Starfarts across the street

Egg and avocado is the best sandwich I ve ever had. Definitely recommend

$15 for a stale bagel and almost no cream cheese or salmon I ve never felt so ripped off. Asked the person working if this was the way it is now and she said yes. Used to be good years back but not anymore!

has nice vibes via the paint colour and other things but the head waitress with glasses and tattoos is horrendous at her job. I feel as though shes trying to treat me as terribly as possible. Almost ruins the whole place for me. Seems narcissistic, Probably wont come back if i see her working here.

Breakfast sandwiches and donuts are on point!

i feel like quality has gone down a bit, i remember when they used to toast it properly, ive gotten my bread cold twice now even though i asked for it to be double toasted. The quantity of the fillings are less than what it used to be, ive stopped going after i found mold in one of my cheeses in my turkey club havent gone back since its a shame but hopefully it gets better overtime and maybe ill consider coming back and re trying it but for now im scard for life

Love the apple fritters. Delicious when hot.

cute and cheap. the chairs need to go though l m a o

Coffee was really fresh and apple fritter was absolutely great !

Amazing!

Great space with a couple of tables and some seating. Cozy and friendly atmosphere. Drip coffee and lattes are great!

Charming cafe.

Great coffee, treats, ambience and everything purple.

Best Apple Fritter In Toronto!

Great service and breakfast sandwiches! The apple fritters are a classic too!

Heaven on earth. My skin hates the sugar but I sacrifice for this delicious treats any time Thanks Purple Penguin Cafe staff for always killing it at what you do for us!!

Great service

I love this cafe. Definitely a hidden gem. I always get their bagel lox and cappuccino!! So good and they don t skimp out on the salmon. Their espresso is one of the best in the city I highly recommend if you re in the east end.

Do you love coffee, purple, and penguins? Then you must visit this wonderful cafe! They serve breakfast all day and have a wide variety of sandwiches. A handful of tasty options for vegetarians. Wide selection of coffees, teas, and smoothies. Delicious pastries including purple cookies. The decor inside is whimsical and creative. Hoping to make this place a frequent spot to visit.

Breakfast here is awesome

What a find, great freshly made food. I am sure to be coming back again

Apple fritters and friendly service to die for.

Best bagels on queen!

Their Oreo and Apple Fritters are a must try. The Oreo is soft on the inside and if you get the apple fritter, the apples are well seasoned and cooked. The prices for their food and drinks are really decent. The western breakfast sandwich was not bad for the value.

Lovely muffins

Cute cafe, really nice people, broad menu, and a signature offering. Stopped by of course for their famous apple fritters. A bit heavy on the coating and wanted a bit more apple, but it was still very good. Piping hot, good fry (crispy, not oily), perfect amount of sugar. We also got: - Keto Lover: Tasty keto bread, good slab of brie and egg, would have wanted more of the bacon and avocado mayo. - Iced dalgona latte: If you want a really sweet drink, this is for you! Cafe is smallish, but has a good layout to maximize the space, and a great outside seating area. Service is super friendly and customer oriented - they were in the process of changing the oil for the fritters when we got there so had to wait a bit, and they gave us additional fritters for free! Bonus points for also being open so early at 7:30. I can definitely see why Purple Penguin is a place people waddle to.

Love the ice teas and the staff is so nice

The only place so far that has keto food, and keto late, and keto muffins that dont taste like keto typical muffins. Theses muffins are as good as regular style muffins and they are keto. The owner is a passionate keto follower and knows how to eat keto. Very impressed. Only place so far that I found to support and offer keto like this places does. This business could go big with keto options and her keto muffins is something that could be sold nationally. I really enjoy the location, vibe and the people that run the place. Must check out for sure. Lots of none keto options obviously but keto options is what I care about in this review from my point of view. I and their keto breakfast sandwich and I just love it. Id eat it every day. Dietary restrictions: Keto options Wheelchair accessibility: Wheel chair ramp

Been going here for years. Great fritters, fresh squeezed juice and breakfast sammies!

Everything tastes amazing! And the owner is such a hard worker and one of the nicest people I have ever met!

Good coffee and friendly service

Try the fresh made apple fritters, theyre amazing!

Nice little place with a small patio.Service was good as was the expresso!!

Friendly, attentive, food and drink were both delicious. Great vibe in there and the apple fritters are definitely a highlight.

Wow amazing food and great service.

This place is a finesse. They charge 9$ for a bacon egg and cheese on a bagel and they put half a piece of bacon. Egg looks like it s been microwaved. Will never go again.

Awesome bagels and friendly staff. I highly recommend this fine establishment :)

Sweet staff, great food, comfortable atmosphere and pretty smiles This Purple Penguin Cafe is one of my favourite cafe Thank you always

Love the gluten free bread and apple fritters here!

The most delicious breakfast I have ever had. The BELT and home made Chai tea is out of the world!! A must go try

I like this little coffee shop/sandwich bar. They make a great sandwich and its nice to go here after the gym on the weekend. They are also one of the few places in the East End that serves Dalgona (Korean iced coffee), which is yummy!

The purple penguin cafe is a really nice atmosphere. Good coffee and food. Kid-friendliness: Nice space for chidren

Everything was spot on ! Cappuccino , everything breakfast bagel ( no meat) , great customizations, Apple fritter is a must try its not overly sweet and pairs well with your coffee beverages, hot chocolate. The person who serves behind the counter ( we came here sat morning) is super warm, very clear in taking down orders and very welcoming , definitely coming back !!

Amazing Apple fritters

Great sandwich selection and friendly service. Dont leave without trying their apple fritters.

Very friendly place. Great ginger molasses cookies!

Sweet cafe, with delicious sandwiches. Great for a quick bite. Kid-friendliness: Casual place, families would be happy to eat here. Food : 5/5 |

I love going to purple penguin. The staff is lovely, the food and drink are great. My only complaint is that theres russian dressing on a lot of things which isnt the end of the world if you remember to ask them to not put it on, but if you forget its just kind of a weird taste on a bacon, egg and cheese bagel.

Food was ok, a little expensive for the size.

Great place ! People are welcoming, the atmosphere is comfy, the coffee is fresh and made with Love- So is the food ! We stayed their a couple of times and tried different things, from the sweets to the dishes, everything is freshly prepared and of good quality :) It s cheaper than a regular restaurant and better then any fast food chain out there. We loved supporting a local business, shout out to the owner and her team :) P.s: We loved the huge croissant, don t sleep on them ! Greetings from Paris, E+B

A cozy local cafe in Leslieville with some delicious breakfast and snacks options. Ordering a portion of apple fritters is a must, tastes like grandmas recipe. Also the special breakfast bagels are great and filling. Id rather support local businesses like this one instead of big chains. Food

Love love love this place. The apple fritters made to order are the best in the city. Fabulous coffee no idea why people go to Starbucks across the street when this place makes a killer coffee. No matter what I try I m never disappointed.

If u ask me, they sell the worlds best coffee here!!

Best Apple Fritters in the East End

EXCELLENT service and even better coffee and treats. Theyre so nice and friendly. Kid friendly too!

The apple fritters are AMAZING! Also got a breakfast bagel and it was delicious. Staff was nice and friendly. There s tables for you to dine in and eat. Can t wait to go back

Love, love, LOVE the ube crinkles and apple fritters here! I stumbled upon Purple Penguin while exploring Leslieville one day, and it was a delight to spend an afternoon here. Its not the biggest space, but when you can snag a seat by the window, its a great place to grab a snack with a friend or on your own.

Nice little café. I got the apple fritters. They were nice and crispy. Parking: There is street parking but it can be hard to find. Queen Street is always very busy. Food : 5/5 |

covid response needs serious work. don t be fooled by online ordering... either way you need to wait outside for 15+mins for a brewed black coffee that s cold by the time you get it (we see you adding some hot coffee at the end, that doesn t make the 3/4 of coffee no longer cold from sitting there for 15 mins without a lid)

The twister bagels are very yummy there!

Love their Made-to-Order Apple Fritters. So fresh. They are different than your donut-like, doughy fritters. These are like deep fried onion rings in apple form. Delicious.

I bought a few apple fritters after reading online reviews and it definitely lived up to my expectations! I wish I bought more but they are best when you have them fresh!

Amazing apple fritters and great coffee. I recommend this over other local cafés.

EN: Best bagel place in Leslieville. I didnt grow up in North America, and I didnt like bagels as much until I discovered this place. Their twister bagel with cream cheese is my go-to; both, simple and delicious. Service was good, and friendly. EN: The best bagel in Leslieville. I didnt grow up in North America and didnt really like bagels until I discovered this place. Their twister bagel with cream cheese is the one I always order - its simple and delicious. Good service and friendly.

My favourite fritters in the city. Great variety of drinks. Oat lattes are phenomenal. Fresh pressed juice is always a perfect match to the fritters. Cannot recommend this great local and friendly place enough!

You might be surprised. Street parking usually available, casual staff, great service. Dont forget to try the Apple fritters!

Love this spot! Theyre twister bagels and chai tea lattes are the absolute best :)

Love this place. Great owner and atmosphere. Not pretentious. Just good.

Great real Montreal style bagels!

Two words: Apple Fritters!! They are delicious. Made fresh to order. Individually (!!) or in batches. They are a tasty treat when you need a little pick-me up. Or just a little joy. I first discovered this cutest café during my first week living in Toronto, back in 2016. If you re in the East End, drop by to pick up some delicious apple fritters Did you know? June Smith, the fritter-maker and owner of @purplepenguincafe worked on perfecting her apple fritter after she discovered them over 15 years ago at the St. Jacobs Farmers Market, near Kitchener!! I

Love this place! A local Gem! Their fritters are always fresh and delicious and their bagles are delicious!

Favourite cafe in Leslieville, purple is my favourite colour and the food here is always amazing. My whole family loves the fritters. Staff are friendly fast and on the ball compared to some other coffee shops in the area. Skip your Starbucks one day and try this place across the street.

My iced chai latte was great, more flavorful than Starbucks, however I was disappointed in the fritters but in retrospect that was because of my expectation. I think I expected something different from the term fritter when more accurately this is a deep fried insert piece of fruit . They are fried up fresh so a bit of a wait. The deep fried apple slice was indeed delicious, lovely batter and stuck well to the apple, also most reasonably priced and travelled well. The pineapple slice was quite juicy so the batter didn t adhere as well and was falling off. The deep fried banana might have been better had I been able to eat it right away but there was still no dine in at this time and it was just too hot for me outside, this one did not travel well at all and was just inedible by the time I got home about 20 mins later. The deep fried Oreo was delicious but had I realized this is what the Oreo fritter was, I provably would have passed and waiting until my next trip to a fair or the CNE. That being said if I was going past here I would stop in for the apple fritters again but I wouldn t go out of my way to get them.

Omg their fritters are fresh to order and soooo goood

I drink just americano and I tried coffee in many places and they were all bitter or sour! Good and high quality coffee here! Love it!

I love everything that Ive tried here. Chai latte, famous apple fritters, bagels, sandwiches have all been delicious. Friendly staff too.

One of the best coffee shops in the area. Definitely try the fritters if you havent

Great coffee. FRESH fritters. Didn t realize it s made to order. Tastes delish. Amazing service ! Will definitely come back !

I visited the Purple Penguin Cafe this morning specifically to try their apple fritters. The cafe itself has an inviting atmosphere with big windows that look out onto Queen St. Seating inside and out. The staff were friendly and care about the customer and providing a good overall experience. The apple fritters were great. Big pieces of apple, fried to a delicious crispy outer layer with a warm, custard like interior. Dusted with cinnamon and sugar, just the right amount, they are not overly sweet. Perfect with a coffee. I tried them as soon as I bought them, it was cool outside and the hot crispy fritter was the perfect companion. I did prefer them better however after they had been sitting for an hour. Either way they were perfect.

My new go to because the penguin never disappoints!

No joke I just had THE BEST breakfast sandwich I have ever shoved in mouth in my entire life!!!! Had the California Breakfast Sandwich (except I had it without ham). Staff was great as well!

Nothing but chef kiss for this local cafe spot! The only place I actually love my coffee from. So tasteful!

Beautiful location

The most delicious baggel I have ever eaten in my life is here. You can smell it a block away. Be sure to go and try it!!

The fritters are insane! So good! The drinks are great too :)

Best breakfast sandwiches!

These guys make a KILLER chai latte! Ive tried only 4 paninis and all have been a hit. Cant wait to try the rest of the menu!

Wonderful bagels and delighted by their awesome bakery selection. Everything there was so attractive - couldnt decide! A nice outside seating area too.

Best Apple fritters in the GTA hands down.

Everything is delish and the staff are fantastic. Cutest little spot. A total gem in this neighbourhood

Great coffee and tasty treats

My first visit and I was impressed! They made me a delicious hot chocolate while I waited for my friend. Then I had a curry potato soup. To die for! Their COVID protocols were on point and I felt so safe with tables distanced. Definately 5 stars.

Wonderful cozy coffee shop with cheerful efficient staff + very good food. especially appreciate gluten free bread + sweets!

I m sorry but the bagel just with butter here is another level just grab a quick breakfast because I forgot to bring my sandwich at home. The Asian lady was greatly nice, I was in a rush and she told the kitchen for to make it first for me because I just a bagel with butter and before me was a big order. Definitely come back for the bagel just with butter

Everything was fresh and Yummy!

Excellent, quick service. And wow, the chai tea late was soooo good. And the walnut, date unsweetened coconut bar was a perfect pair. Yum!

Service is always lovely and food is great!

Fritters! Mmmm

Pros: Local, freshly made, Priced well Con: A little on the soggy side This visit I ordered the 12 apple fritters. The price wasnt bad at all considering if you ordered a dozen of anything from the big places, its be likely more expensive. The fritters were made fresh to order so you know they havent been sitting around all day. They were a bit soggier than what im use to, but they were still very delicious. Great place to try if youre looking for something different from the big chains.