Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
It's totally unique and delicious, and steps from my house. How many of you have tried Persian food before? Brunch or lunch only. I love this place.
54 Einheimische empfehlen
Takht-e Tavoos Restaurant
1120 College StIt's totally unique and delicious, and steps from my house. How many of you have tried Persian food before? Brunch or lunch only. I love this place.
Totally charming, inventive, fresh local food. The menu is simple, but dishes are fresh and inventive.
23 Einheimische empfehlen
Me & Mine
1144 College StreetTotally charming, inventive, fresh local food. The menu is simple, but dishes are fresh and inventive.
The Federal
1438 Dundas Street WestHip and trendy spot, especially popular for weekend brunch.
Great tapas and wine list (it's a wine bar). Has a Parisian bistro vibe and a patio for when the weather is nice.
62 Einheimische empfehlen
Midfield Wine Bar
1434 Dundas St WGreat tapas and wine list (it's a wine bar). Has a Parisian bistro vibe and a patio for when the weather is nice.
Delicious, authentic Thai food. Great for eating in or picking up to take home.
81 Einheimische empfehlen
Sukhothai
1442 Dundas St WDelicious, authentic Thai food. Great for eating in or picking up to take home.
Inventive and delicious Asian fusion tapas. No reservations and it's usually busy, so you'll probably have to put your name down and wait, but it's worth it. Bring your mobile phone, you can go for a drink nearby and they'll text you when your table is ready.
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Foxley
207 Ossington AveInventive and delicious Asian fusion tapas. No reservations and it's usually busy, so you'll probably have to put your name down and wait, but it's worth it. Bring your mobile phone, you can go for a drink nearby and they'll text you when your table is ready.
One of the top restaurants in Toronto. They reserve most of their tables for walk-ins, though you may have to wait. Spanish tapas. Pricey.
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Bar Isabel
797 College StOne of the top restaurants in Toronto. They reserve most of their tables for walk-ins, though you may have to wait. Spanish tapas. Pricey.
Cheap Vietnamese pho (soup) and noodle joint, steps from my place. Closes at 9pm.
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Pho Linh
1156 College StCheap Vietnamese pho (soup) and noodle joint, steps from my place. Closes at 9pm.
Great coffee, croissants and pain au chocolate, though the pastries often sell out early in the day, especially on weekends. I always get the chai tea latte, and it's amazing if you think the Starbucks version is far too sweet.
85 Einheimische empfehlen
The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College StGreat coffee, croissants and pain au chocolate, though the pastries often sell out early in the day, especially on weekends. I always get the chai tea latte, and it's amazing if you think the Starbucks version is far too sweet.
Great bread shop. Most of the bread is made from sourdough flour (even the baguettes). They also sell homemade nutella and other spreads and products, including local honey, and some select sweets and savouries.
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Prairie Boy Bread
970 College StGreat bread shop. Most of the bread is made from sourdough flour (even the baguettes). They also sell homemade nutella and other spreads and products, including local honey, and some select sweets and savouries.
Electric Mud BBQ
5 Brock AveRaucous spot for yummy soulfood in nearby Parkdale.
Hip & trendy taco joint with yummy cocktails and loud music in trendy Parkdale.
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Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St WHip & trendy taco joint with yummy cocktails and loud music in trendy Parkdale.
Lovely restaurant featuring fresh, local, organic ingredients. Has a patio.
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Woodlot
293 Palmerston AveLovely restaurant featuring fresh, local, organic ingredients. Has a patio.
Great Jewish deli, with delicious house-made smoked meat, pickles and mustard. I LOVE the tangy borscht soup as well. Has a patio and is located near Kensington Market.
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Caplansky's Delicatessen
Great Jewish deli, with delicious house-made smoked meat, pickles and mustard. I LOVE the tangy borscht soup as well. Has a patio and is located near Kensington Market.
Great fancy cheese shop where you can also purchase some delicious breads, crackers, meats.
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La Fromagerie
868 College StGreat fancy cheese shop where you can also purchase some delicious breads, crackers, meats.
One of my favourite local restaurants. French bistro style using fresh, local ingredients with a cozy atmosphere and great service. They also have a fabulous backyard patio where I love to have a summer brunch or lunch on a warm day.
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Union
72 Ossington AveOne of my favourite local restaurants. French bistro style using fresh, local ingredients with a cozy atmosphere and great service. They also have a fabulous backyard patio where I love to have a summer brunch or lunch on a warm day.
Great tacos (really loved the fried fish taco). Killer margaritas.
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La Carnita
501 College StGreat tacos (really loved the fried fish taco). Killer margaritas.
Affordable and casual Salvadoran taco joint. Eat in or get takeout and eat in Christie Pits or Bickford Park.
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Tacos El Asador
689 Bloor St WAffordable and casual Salvadoran taco joint. Eat in or get takeout and eat in Christie Pits or Bickford Park.
Great, authentic, affordable Korean restaurant in the heart of Little Korea.
74 Einheimische empfehlen
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
691 Bloor St WGreat, authentic, affordable Korean restaurant in the heart of Little Korea.
Amazing homemade ice cream shop & bakery. Their ice cream sandwiches are famous city-wide.
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Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington AveAmazing homemade ice cream shop & bakery. Their ice cream sandwiches are famous city-wide.
Delicious southern Italian cuisine, including pizzas. This is the original location. There are others, including one closer to the heart of the downtown business and theatre district on Adelaide Street East.
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Terroni
720 Queen St WDelicious southern Italian cuisine, including pizzas. This is the original location. There are others, including one closer to the heart of the downtown business and theatre district on Adelaide Street East.
Cheap and delicious Chinese BBQ and Noodle Soups on the edge of Kensington Market, in Chinatown.
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King's Noodle Restaurant
296 Spadina Ave.Cheap and delicious Chinese BBQ and Noodle Soups on the edge of Kensington Market, in Chinatown.
Shareable plates of Chinese fare & handmade dumplings from a family recipe.
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Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.Shareable plates of Chinese fare & handmade dumplings from a family recipe.
Super delicious Thai Food in the heart of downtown. The owners of Sukkho Thai helped found this restaurant.
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Khao San Road
11 Charlotte StSuper delicious Thai Food in the heart of downtown. The owners of Sukkho Thai helped found this restaurant.
Yummy BBQ joint in charming Roncesvalles Village, close to High Park and a short streetcar ride from my place. Catch a flick at the Revue Cinema (reperatory theatre) before or after.
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Barque Smokehouse
299 Roncesvalles AveYummy BBQ joint in charming Roncesvalles Village, close to High Park and a short streetcar ride from my place. Catch a flick at the Revue Cinema (reperatory theatre) before or after.
Drinks & Nightlife
Fun cocktail joint where you can order fancy, unique drinks that come in pineapples and other fun containers to share. They also have food and snacks. They can be busy, so don't arrive too late.
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The Shameful Tiki Room Toronto
1378 Queen St WFun cocktail joint where you can order fancy, unique drinks that come in pineapples and other fun containers to share. They also have food and snacks. They can be busy, so don't arrive too late.
My favourite local pub. It has a great whisky menu and cozy couches. Sometimes they have fun local bands in the backroom. Usually they have a jazz band playing during happy hour Monday nights, for example.
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The Emmet Ray
924 College StMy favourite local pub. It has a great whisky menu and cozy couches. Sometimes they have fun local bands in the backroom. Usually they have a jazz band playing during happy hour Monday nights, for example.
Wonderful local brew pub with inventive snacks. It also has a great patio.
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Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveWonderful local brew pub with inventive snacks. It also has a great patio.
Popular local spot with a great backyard patio and yummy food. I love the fried chicken or the mussels.
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The 3 Speed
1163 Bloor St WPopular local spot with a great backyard patio and yummy food. I love the fried chicken or the mussels.
Popular dive bar on the Ossington strip. Has a backyard patio
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Sweaty Betty's
13 Ossington AvePopular dive bar on the Ossington strip. Has a backyard patio
Dive bar and famous music venue (The Stones played here back in the day). Many up and coming rock, indie and folk acts play in the back-room for a reasonable cover charge. The front room and small patio is a great downtown dive bar.
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Horseshoe Tavern
370 Queen St WDive bar and famous music venue (The Stones played here back in the day). Many up and coming rock, indie and folk acts play in the back-room for a reasonable cover charge. The front room and small patio is a great downtown dive bar.
Cameron House
408 Queen St WSmall dive bar and music venue. Historic Toronto institution.
Great basement music venue featuring roots, rock, blues and bluegrass music. Has a very fun "Bluegrass Brunch" every Sunday morning from 10am-2pm.
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The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestGreat basement music venue featuring roots, rock, blues and bluegrass music. Has a very fun "Bluegrass Brunch" every Sunday morning from 10am-2pm.
Fun local pub in Roncesvalles Village. Grab a beer and a boardgame and enjoy this popular local dive after a walk in High Park or a meal or store browsing in Roncesvalles Village. .
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The Local Pub
396 Roncesvalles AveFun local pub in Roncesvalles Village. Grab a beer and a boardgame and enjoy this popular local dive after a walk in High Park or a meal or store browsing in Roncesvalles Village. .
New ciderhouse and kitchen in the heart of cute Harbord Village, adjacent to the University of Toronto.
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Her Father's Cider Bar + Kitchen
119 Harbord StNew ciderhouse and kitchen in the heart of cute Harbord Village, adjacent to the University of Toronto.
Great spot for special, fancy, and tasty hand-made cocktails (they're pricey though). Perfect spot to enjoy while waiting for a table at the Black Hoof.
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Cocktail Bar
923 Dundas Street WestGreat spot for special, fancy, and tasty hand-made cocktails (they're pricey though). Perfect spot to enjoy while waiting for a table at the Black Hoof.
Bar and restaurant with a small menu. Charming & cozy and close to home.
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Wallflower
1665 Dundas St WBar and restaurant with a small menu. Charming & cozy and close to home.
Parks & Nature
My favourite place in the city! It's a short ferry ride from the Jack Layton ferry terminal near Queen's Quay. Unparalleled view of the downtown skyline. Great place to ride bikes, rent a canoe or a paddle boat, have a beach day (pack a picnic), or enjoy a few kids' rides in the old amusement park (Centre Island). If you rent bikes to ride, make sure you ride around the cottages and homes on Ward's Island.
Don't be shocked - part of Hanlan's Point Beach is clothing optional!
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Toronto Islands
My favourite place in the city! It's a short ferry ride from the Jack Layton ferry terminal near Queen's Quay. Unparalleled view of the downtown skyline. Great place to ride bikes, rent a canoe or a paddle boat, have a beach day (pack a picnic), or enjoy a few kids' rides in the old amusement park (Centre Island). If you rent bikes to ride, make sure you ride around the cottages and homes on Ward's Island.
Don't be shocked - part of Hanlan's Point Beach is clothing optional!
Great place to ramble around if you need some nature. Only a short ride away on the 506 streetcar west (the park is at the terminus). There is a small, free zoo inside the park, plus a restaurant and outdoor pool and sports fields.
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High Park
1873 Bloor St WGreat place to ramble around if you need some nature. Only a short ride away on the 506 streetcar west (the park is at the terminus). There is a small, free zoo inside the park, plus a restaurant and outdoor pool and sports fields.
Sightseeing
Great 360 degree views of the city and lake if it's a clear day/night. If you book a table at the revolving 360 restaurant, you ride up for free. I think the restaurant is pricey - haven't been in years.
You can also try "edgewalk" - it is exactly as it sounds like - if you can handle the thrills and the heights. Not for the faint of hear.
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CN Tower
290 Bremner BlvdGreat 360 degree views of the city and lake if it's a clear day/night. If you book a table at the revolving 360 restaurant, you ride up for free. I think the restaurant is pricey - haven't been in years.
You can also try "edgewalk" - it is exactly as it sounds like - if you can handle the thrills and the heights. Not for the faint of hear.
Great shops, neighbourhood and restaurants, plus a lovely spot to walk or hang out and sunbathe, with our without a picnic.
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The Beaches
Great shops, neighbourhood and restaurants, plus a lovely spot to walk or hang out and sunbathe, with our without a picnic.
Great, lively downtown neighbourhood, abutting Chinatown and Harbord Village. Full of vintage shops, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, great fruit, vegetable & cheese shops, Natural Food stores, and an explosion of medical marijuana dispensaries.
The last Sunday of every month between May and October this historic neighbourhood blocks off its streets to vehicular traffic and holds a super fun street festival with music, dancing, street vendors and many fun events, including a meditation sit! For more, see: http://www.kensingtonmarketbia.com/pedestrian-sundays-in-kensington-market.htm
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Kensington Market
Great, lively downtown neighbourhood, abutting Chinatown and Harbord Village. Full of vintage shops, bars, restaurants, coffee shops, bakeries, great fruit, vegetable & cheese shops, Natural Food stores, and an explosion of medical marijuana dispensaries.
The last Sunday of every month between May and October this historic neighbourhood blocks off its streets to vehicular traffic and holds a super fun street festival with music, dancing, street vendors and many fun events, including a meditation sit! For more, see: http://www.kensingtonmarketbia.com/pedestrian-sundays-in-kensington-market.htm
Interesting mid-century modern architecture. Take a seat in Nathan Philips Square out front, by the large water fountain that is used as a skating rink in winter, grab a hot dog, fries or drink, and people watch in the heart of downtown. There is a farmers' market in the square on Wednesdays from 7am to 2pm, from late May to early October.
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Toronto City Hall
100 Queen St WInteresting mid-century modern architecture. Take a seat in Nathan Philips Square out front, by the large water fountain that is used as a skating rink in winter, grab a hot dog, fries or drink, and people watch in the heart of downtown. There is a farmers' market in the square on Wednesdays from 7am to 2pm, from late May to early October.
Arts & Culture
Enjoy the beautiful architecture and check out the iconic Canadian/First Nations art collection. Wednesday nights from 6-9pm you can enter for free. There is an excellent gift shop, and the gallery is in the heart of the downtown Chinatown, a great spot for browsing and eating before or after looking at the art.
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Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WEnjoy the beautiful architecture and check out the iconic Canadian/First Nations art collection. Wednesday nights from 6-9pm you can enter for free. There is an excellent gift shop, and the gallery is in the heart of the downtown Chinatown, a great spot for browsing and eating before or after looking at the art.
Casa Loma
1 Austin TerraceToronto's only castle. Nice grounds, close to downtown.
Essentials
Good, affordable, local grocery store, the closest to my home. Decent selection of local produce. This store is good for basics, but not for fancy cheeses or specialty ingredients. There is a pharmacy inside the store as well, though it closes earlier than the grocery store.
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Joe's No Frills
900 Dufferin StGood, affordable, local grocery store, the closest to my home. Decent selection of local produce. This store is good for basics, but not for fancy cheeses or specialty ingredients. There is a pharmacy inside the store as well, though it closes earlier than the grocery store.
This is a pharmacy and a shop for personal care products and toiletries. It is open til midnight every night of the week.
There is also a Canada Post location inside the store, though it has more limited hours.
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Shoppers Drug Mart
935 Eglinton Ave WThis is a pharmacy and a shop for personal care products and toiletries. It is open til midnight every night of the week.
There is also a Canada Post location inside the store, though it has more limited hours.
College Fruit Market
682 College StGreat spot for fresh fruit and vegetables.
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Closest liquor store. It carries wine, beer and spirits.
Beer Store
1200 Dundas St WClosest Beer Store. Beer only.
Shopping
The best market in the city. Go get a peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery and browse the indoor food vendors. On weekends there is an antique market and outdoor farmers market.
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St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St EThe best market in the city. Go get a peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery and browse the indoor food vendors. On weekends there is an antique market and outdoor farmers market.
Upscale department store near the tony Yorkville neighbourhood.
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Holt Renfrew Bloor
50 Bloor St WUpscale department store near the tony Yorkville neighbourhood.
Canada's iconic department store. The place to buy the famous Hudson Bay point blanket and other red/yellow/green and blue striped items (clothes, towels, mugs, bags, etc.), as well as Canadian Olympic team gear.
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Hudson's Bay
37 Richmond St WCanada's iconic department store. The place to buy the famous Hudson Bay point blanket and other red/yellow/green and blue striped items (clothes, towels, mugs, bags, etc.), as well as Canadian Olympic team gear.
Unique gift shop, focused on hip, local products. Attached to the trendy hotel, which also hosts a bar, restaurant/patio and music venue.
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Drake General Store
1151 Queen St WUnique gift shop, focused on hip, local products. Attached to the trendy hotel, which also hosts a bar, restaurant/patio and music venue.
Toronto's City Gift Store. The best place for unique Toronto-centric gifts. For the urbanist in your life.
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Spacing
401 Richmond St WToronto's City Gift Store. The best place for unique Toronto-centric gifts. For the urbanist in your life.
Modern furniture and home accessories. Canadian-made with sustainable materials. It is located at 78 Ossington Avenue, not on Queen Street West as AirBnB suggests.
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Stylegarage
78 Ossington AveModern furniture and home accessories. Canadian-made with sustainable materials. It is located at 78 Ossington Avenue, not on Queen Street West as AirBnB suggests.
Iconic Canadian casual wear, sweets and high quality leather shoes, boots and bags. Roots outfits Canada's Olympic teams. You will also find Roots at several other locations, including the Eaton Centre shopping mall in the heart of downtown.
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Roots
80 Bloor St WIconic Canadian casual wear, sweets and high quality leather shoes, boots and bags. Roots outfits Canada's Olympic teams. You will also find Roots at several other locations, including the Eaton Centre shopping mall in the heart of downtown.
High-end 3-floor boutique for modern footwear, clothing & accessories for men & women.
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gravitypope Toronto
1010 Queen St WHigh-end 3-floor boutique for modern footwear, clothing & accessories for men & women.
Canada's iconic outdoor equipment and clothing store, nicknamed MEC, short for "Mountain Equipment Coop".
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MEC Toronto
300 Queen St WCanada's iconic outdoor equipment and clothing store, nicknamed MEC, short for "Mountain Equipment Coop".
Popular vintage clothing store in the hip Parkdale neighbourhood.
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Public Butter Vintage
1290 Queen St WPopular vintage clothing store in the hip Parkdale neighbourhood.
One of several must-see vintage shops on Kensington Avenue in the Market. This one is the original. Bungalow on nearby Augusta is also worth checking out.
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Courage My Love
14 Kensington AveOne of several must-see vintage shops on Kensington Avenue in the Market. This one is the original. Bungalow on nearby Augusta is also worth checking out.