Chérie

What is Chérie? Set along the bustling student and transit strip at 233 College Street near Spadina, Chérie is a Korean-influenced artisanal pastry counter and espresso bar founded by duo Cherie and Jay. The compact interior is clean and minimalist, detailed with warm light-wood accents, soft lighting, and sleek glass cases showing off daily bakes. Seating is kept tight with a handful of small cafe tables and perimeter perches designed for a quick caffeine-and-sugar pit stop or grab-and-go convenience.

Chérie Menu & What to Order The pastry counter revolves around meticulously engineered individual cream tarts and French-style canelés baked fresh every morning. The pistachio tart is the undisputed star, layering rich, finely tuned nut paste into a buttery, crisp sablé crust that never tips overly sweet. For deeper earthy notes, order the matcha lava tart alongside a cold pistachio raspberry matcha or an old-school cream-topped Vienna coffee. Whole tarts can be reserved in advance for occasions, and oat milk is available for all espresso and tea drinks.

Know Before You Go Chérie is purely a counter-service, walk-in cafe with no table reservations. The room fills up fastest during weekday class changes and weekend afternoons when Kensington-Chinatown pedestrian traffic peaks. Transit is easy via the 506 Carlton streetcar or 510 Spadina line, while street parking along College Street is metered and scarce during rush hours.