I first heard of Balzac's on Dragons Den and it's so great to see a Canadian chain doing well!
Location: 5/5
They're right across the street from the market. The interior of the cafe also blends nicely with the European feel of Market St as a whole.
Drinks: 4/5
Tried out the toasted almond latte and the matcha latte and both were good to the last drop. The almond latte wasn't too sweet and didn't leave a syrup-y taste in my mouth, unlike some Starbucks drinks. Felt the matcha could have been blended more since it tasted grainy but nonetheless was aromatic and light.
Atmosphere: 4.5/5
I liked that they had individual round tables rather than communal tables, since you don't have to worry about knocking over someone's drink next to you, or sitting too awkwardly close to a stranger while working. Tables can be hard to get on weekends but the traffic flow is quite fast.
I will definitely be checking out more Balzac's around the city!