LITTLE PEBBLES CAFE — Restaurant in Toronto

A Hidden Gem in Kensington Market: A Cozy Café That Charms with Simplicity and Flavor

Nestled in the vibrant heart of Kensington Market, this quaint little café is exactly the kind of discovery that makes wandering Toronto’s eclectic neighborhoods worthwhile. From the moment you step in, the atmosphere welcomes you with a calm, artsy energy that feels both intimate and Instagram-worthy—ideal for a quiet solo coffee break or a casual catch-up with a friend. Every corner of the café is thoughtfully designed, with cozy décor and natural lighting that makes it irresistible not to snap a few photos. The food display near the counter is particularly eye-catching, creating an inviting, almost rustic impression that reflects the charm of the place.

We sampled a modest selection from their menu to get a feel for both their beverage and food offerings. The strawberry matcha was an instant highlight. A delicate balance of earthy matcha and subtly sweet strawberry syrup, the drink was not overpowering, allowing both flavors to shine through in harmony. Served chilled with a gentle swirl of colors, it was refreshing and visually delightful—a beverage that checks both the taste and aesthetic boxes.

The regular cappuccino, while competently prepared, didn’t stand out in the same way. It was smooth, with a decent foam-to-milk ratio, but lacked the boldness or depth you might expect from a café that prides itself on curated experiences. That said, it did the job if you’re simply looking for a straightforward caffeine fix.

What truly impressed was the everything bagel paired with sun-dried tomato cream cheese. The bagel was baked to perfection—crisp on the outside, soft and chewy inside. The cream cheese was thoughtfully seasoned, with the sun-dried tomato lending a rich, tangy note that wasn’t overpowering. The texture was spot-on: neither too runny nor too dense, making it easy to spread and deeply satisfying with every bite. The contrast of warm, fresh bread with cool, flavorful spread made it a surprisingly memorable part of the visit.

Another delightful touch: the café offers freshly baked bagels for sale, allowing patrons to take a bit of the experience home with them. It’s a smart and comforting gesture that adds a local, homey feel to the overall offering.

In summary, while not every element was groundbreaking, the overall experience was filled with warmth, intention, and small delights that elevate a simple café visit into something a bit more special. If you find yourself in Kensington Market and are craving something cozy, photogenic, and quietly enjoyable—this spot...

I don't want to be super negative so I want to preface this by saying this was just my experience and it could have been a bad day. Work is hard and nobody can be expected to be at their best 100% of the time. That said, it IS my experience so I will be honest with the review.

First of all, this cafe doesn't really have seating. They have stools but it's clear that it's not meant to be a sit-and-enjoy type of place. So this isn't a cafe where the atmosphere can be enjoyed, which means the food or drinks should be really good.

I personally found the baked goods quite mediocre. I tried the black sesame cake, and the people with me tried a croissant and a cheesecake. They weren't bad by any means, but we tried Uncle Tetsu's cheesecake and Mille Patisserie's black sesame cake later and the difference was night and day. I personally don't feel like the food by itself (take a look at the photo for the size of the cake) was worth the price.

As for the service... after I ordered and paid, the barista pretty much forgot we existed. They immediately turned to the next person in line and started taking their order. Normally that's fine, but after they took the order they started making the next customer's drinks. I had ordered baked goods. Normally at Starbucks or Tim Hortons or any other cafe I've been to, the baked goods are given immediately and the drinks are served a bit later. I stood there for a while waiting for the baked goods but the barista didn't acknowledge me, so I sat down and waited, thinking maybe they were making the food fresh. After 20 minutes, I went to ask how long we were expected to wait, but it turns out the barista just forgot our order. They were pretty apologetic and took out the baked goods immediately... except that they got our order wrong, and when I pointed that out, they tried to get us to pay a different amount of money for what we already paid, even though it was their mistake...

Anyway this was a horrible experience for me but if you like coffee or something you may like this restaurant. It also meets all health and safety requirements and stuff, so I would overall rate this cafe as 'average'. Not really worthwhile but not the worst...

Little Pebbles is in Kensington Market so it is easily accessible via TTC. It is near China town as well.

As soon as you enter the bakery there is a cashier waiting in order to take your order.

I went on a Sunday around 12:30 PM and there was some seating in the bakery at the bottom of the stair area to the left of the cashier stand and like two chairs and a small table outside the bakery.

Ordering: There is a menu overhead the cashier stand. The staff was also very friendly and was able to recommend options to me.

Cost: I paid $12.66 including tax for a crookie ($6 for the crookie) and a matcha white hot chocolate.

Wait Time: There was about 2 people ahead of me so it took like 10 minutes to get my order.

The Food: I got a crookie and a matcha white hot chocolate.

The matcha white hot chocolate was not good. The white chocolate had no presence in the drink at all. The matcha itself was not dissolved properly and was sort of clumped together and powdery when drinking it. Was not impressed at all by the drink and would not get it again.

The crookie was okay. I ended up stuffing the crookie into my bag and not eating it until I got to a movie theatre (about an hour away). The croissant was still buttery and the cookie still had melted chocolate on it which tasted pretty good. I am however conflicted on this dessert because most of the time you are just tasting the cookie anyway. The cookie flavor is very overpowering and the croissant isn't contributing anything to the dessert unless you really try to taste the croissant by itself. If they had cookies by itself then you might as well just get those instead of this combined version.

Overall: The atmosphere of the restaurant is of a small cafe, the cashier was knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. The food was more of a...