Guidebook for Toronto
Drinks & Nightlife
Our favourite local watering hole. Large selection of beer, including cask ales. We love the back patio and the fish and chips.
A quiet place for meetings and work during the day; gets very busy with a lively crowd after work.
50 Einheimische empfehlen
The Oxley Public House
121 Yorkville AveOur favourite local watering hole. Large selection of beer, including cask ales. We love the back patio and the fish and chips.
A quiet place for meetings and work during the day; gets very busy with a lively crowd after work.
This tree-lined street is home to a variety of bars and restaurants, some relatively upscale (like Fieramosca - make reservations) and others more casual and sometimes student-centred (like Bedford Academy).
Prince Arthur Avenue
Prince Arthur AvenueThis tree-lined street is home to a variety of bars and restaurants, some relatively upscale (like Fieramosca - make reservations) and others more casual and sometimes student-centred (like Bedford Academy).
The Rebel House
1068 Yonge StreetTiny gastropub. Good food, good drinks, good times.
A refreshingly adult lounge and live music venue with excellent bands on Friday nights (check the web site for what's happening Saturdays). Music tends to lean toward hits from the 80's. Small dance floor. Reasonable music volume makes conversation easy. They serve food but we prefer to just go for drinks and entertainment. No cover charge. Some people dress up, others wear jeans (but still look pulled together).
Sopra Upper Lounge
265 Davenport RdA refreshingly adult lounge and live music venue with excellent bands on Friday nights (check the web site for what's happening Saturdays). Music tends to lean toward hits from the 80's. Small dance floor. Reasonable music volume makes conversation easy. They serve food but we prefer to just go for drinks and entertainment. No cover charge. Some people dress up, others wear jeans (but still look pulled together).
Classic live music venue along Queen Street West, which is a great area to visit for cool shopping and dining. Check the web site for what's happening.
133 Einheimische empfehlen
Horseshoe Tavern
370 Queen St WClassic live music venue along Queen Street West, which is a great area to visit for cool shopping and dining. Check the web site for what's happening.
Amazing jazz venue that's been around forever. Has a "dive bar" feel, so don't dress up. Live jazz every single day, and afternoon shows on some days. Perfect place to stop if you're exploring Queen Street.
109 Einheimische empfehlen
The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar
194 Queen St WAmazing jazz venue that's been around forever. Has a "dive bar" feel, so don't dress up. Live jazz every single day, and afternoon shows on some days. Perfect place to stop if you're exploring Queen Street.
A fun bar with a great beer selection and live music. Has been around forever. Crowd changes over the course of the day. Very wide musical variety so check the web site; they also have afternoon shows. It's a bit dark, so not my choice for a sunny afternoon but great for evenings.
52 Einheimische empfehlen
C'est What?
67 Front St EA fun bar with a great beer selection and live music. Has been around forever. Crowd changes over the course of the day. Very wide musical variety so check the web site; they also have afternoon shows. It's a bit dark, so not my choice for a sunny afternoon but great for evenings.
Food Scene
Great pizzas (all of which are $10 on Wednesdays) in a very casual "European cafeteria-style" atmosphere. This is a neighbourhood joint. We (and everybody else in the area, it seems) like this place most for takeout, but lunch on their patio can be nice, too.
Service can be uneven, so skip eating in if you aren't up for dealing with that.
8 Einheimische empfehlen
Portici Pizzeria
6 Scollard StreetGreat pizzas (all of which are $10 on Wednesdays) in a very casual "European cafeteria-style" atmosphere. This is a neighbourhood joint. We (and everybody else in the area, it seems) like this place most for takeout, but lunch on their patio can be nice, too.
Service can be uneven, so skip eating in if you aren't up for dealing with that.
A very fancy establishment steakhouse. We favour burgers at the more casual (and more affordable) bar.
21 Einheimische empfehlen
Morton's
4 Avenue RdA very fancy establishment steakhouse. We favour burgers at the more casual (and more affordable) bar.
A mecca of high end prepared foods, including amazing cookies. Prices are on the high side.
70 Einheimische empfehlen
Pusateri's Fine Foods
57 Yorkville AveA mecca of high end prepared foods, including amazing cookies. Prices are on the high side.
Solid Italian food, including pizza, in a lively atmosphere. Outdoor seating, good wine and beer selection, and a friendly vibe. Great spot for people-watching. Also fun for watching the fancy cars drive by.
92 Einheimische empfehlen
Trattoria Nervosa
75 Yorkville AveSolid Italian food, including pizza, in a lively atmosphere. Outdoor seating, good wine and beer selection, and a friendly vibe. Great spot for people-watching. Also fun for watching the fancy cars drive by.
Very good Indian food in a tiny, bright space. Great lunch specials.
Generally packed at dinner; call ahead.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
Utsav Restaurant
69 Yorkville AveVery good Indian food in a tiny, bright space. Great lunch specials.
Generally packed at dinner; call ahead.
A longstanding favourite for dim sum. Great selection of vegetarian and meat dumplings. Elegant decor (by dim sum standards, at least) but not as clean as you might like.
Gets very busy on weekend mornings. Be prepared to wait a bit.
17 Einheimische empfehlen
Dynasty
69 Yorkville AveA longstanding favourite for dim sum. Great selection of vegetarian and meat dumplings. Elegant decor (by dim sum standards, at least) but not as clean as you might like.
Gets very busy on weekend mornings. Be prepared to wait a bit.
This is one of those "see and be seen" kinds of places with a lively patio. Food is frankly mediocre. Stick to standards like burgers, salads, and moules with frites.
Good happy hour specials in the bar.
27 Einheimische empfehlen
La Société
131 Bloor St WThis is one of those "see and be seen" kinds of places with a lively patio. Food is frankly mediocre. Stick to standards like burgers, salads, and moules with frites.
Good happy hour specials in the bar.
Prairie Girl Bakery
150 Bloor St WCupcake lover's dream.
Zaza espresso bar
162 Cumberland StLively coffee spot that offers excellent people-watching.
Serves elaborate afternoon tea and over-the-top Sunday brunch. Great for special occasions.
11 Einheimische empfehlen
Windsor Arms Hotel Spa
18 St Thomas StServes elaborate afternoon tea and over-the-top Sunday brunch. Great for special occasions.
A tiny Yorkville bistro, accessed via an alley and barely visible from the street. Outstanding food in an intimate, upscale environment. Nice small patio. Tables are tight so not great for a tete-a-tete.
13 Einheimische empfehlen
Chabrol
156 Cumberland StA tiny Yorkville bistro, accessed via an alley and barely visible from the street. Outstanding food in an intimate, upscale environment. Nice small patio. Tables are tight so not great for a tete-a-tete.
Outstanding service, great food, delicious cocktails. Romantic atmosphere and a nice walk home along the back streets.
7 Einheimische empfehlen
L'Unità Enoteca
134 Avenue RdOutstanding service, great food, delicious cocktails. Romantic atmosphere and a nice walk home along the back streets.
Amazing home-cooked Greek food, just on the other side of the building. Perfect for takeout. Fresh-baked bread is a must.
(Closes early; best for lunch or early dinner)
Fat Lamb Kouzina
874 Yonge StAmazing home-cooked Greek food, just on the other side of the building. Perfect for takeout. Fresh-baked bread is a must.
(Closes early; best for lunch or early dinner)
New local darling. Tiny restaurant that gets packed fast. Reservations essential but hard to get (we're still trying!), but worth a drop-in if you are eating at an off-hour. Creative food, low key service.
17 Einheimische empfehlen
Brothers Food and Wine
1240 Bay St.New local darling. Tiny restaurant that gets packed fast. Reservations essential but hard to get (we're still trying!), but worth a drop-in if you are eating at an off-hour. Creative food, low key service.
Hidden Gem! A small, happening local hangout for great tequila drinks and tacos. Takes reservations and gets pretty packed, but you can usually get a table if you are dining a bit early or a bit late. A favourite of ours.
40 Einheimische empfehlen
Playa Cabana Hacienda
14 Dupont StHidden Gem! A small, happening local hangout for great tequila drinks and tacos. Takes reservations and gets pretty packed, but you can usually get a table if you are dining a bit early or a bit late. A favourite of ours.
Excellent vegetarian spot with lots of vegan options. Fresh juices, wraps, and lots of sweets, including gluten free. Great spot if you're feeling like you've over-indulged.
35 Einheimische empfehlen
Live Organic Food Bar
264 Dupont StExcellent vegetarian spot with lots of vegan options. Fresh juices, wraps, and lots of sweets, including gluten free. Great spot if you're feeling like you've over-indulged.
Great local hangout along the Dupont Street strip. Walk along the tree-lined residential streets to get there, then settle for fancy cocktails and modern French staples. Gets busy!
21 Einheimische empfehlen
Bar Begonia
252 Dupont StGreat local hangout along the Dupont Street strip. Walk along the tree-lined residential streets to get there, then settle for fancy cocktails and modern French staples. Gets busy!
Sunday brunch here is OUTSTANDING! You'll need reservations and a good appetite to enjoy a gorgeous seafood bar, prime rib station, unlimited mimosas and more. A great place to go before heading to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Costs about $90/person.
6 Einheimische empfehlen
TOCA
181 Wellington St WSunday brunch here is OUTSTANDING! You'll need reservations and a good appetite to enjoy a gorgeous seafood bar, prime rib station, unlimited mimosas and more. A great place to go before heading to the Art Gallery of Ontario. Costs about $90/person.
A local favourite off the beaten path but still just a 15 minute walk away. Big place, usually packed, so make reservations or eat an off hour. Menu of French staples and a great, affordable wine list. Attracts an older clientele.
34 Einheimische empfehlen
Le Paradis
166 Bedford RdA local favourite off the beaten path but still just a 15 minute walk away. Big place, usually packed, so make reservations or eat an off hour. Menu of French staples and a great, affordable wine list. Attracts an older clientele.
Arts & Culture
Often overlooked, this museum has a great collection of ceramic art in a low-key atmosphere. Great place to get away from the crowds. Outstanding museum shop, especially if you are in the market for jewellery or pottery. Wonderful staff.
114 Einheimische empfehlen
Gardiner Museum
111 Queens ParkOften overlooked, this museum has a great collection of ceramic art in a low-key atmosphere. Great place to get away from the crowds. Outstanding museum shop, especially if you are in the market for jewellery or pottery. Wonderful staff.
A really interesting museum that's a little bit off the beaten path. Wonderful way to spend an hour or two.
326 Einheimische empfehlen
Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor St WA really interesting museum that's a little bit off the beaten path. Wonderful way to spend an hour or two.
An extensive collection housed in an "old meets new" building that you'll either love or hate. Exhibits change regularly. Great museum shop.
2332 Einheimische empfehlen
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkAn extensive collection housed in an "old meets new" building that you'll either love or hate. Exhibits change regularly. Great museum shop.
Essentials
Probably the best meat and fish counters in the area. Good (if expensive) vegetable selection. Personal care items also available (soap, shampoo, etc.). Lots of organic options.
204 Einheimische empfehlen
Whole Foods Market
1860 Bayview AveProbably the best meat and fish counters in the area. Good (if expensive) vegetable selection. Personal care items also available (soap, shampoo, etc.). Lots of organic options.
Located in the bottom of the Manulife Centre, this supermarket has a solid selection of grocery items at more reasonable prices than others in the area.
Lunchtime salad bar is popular with the office crowd.
43 Einheimische empfehlen
Bloor Street Market
55 Bloor St WLocated in the bottom of the Manulife Centre, this supermarket has a solid selection of grocery items at more reasonable prices than others in the area.
Lunchtime salad bar is popular with the office crowd.
In the basement of the Manulife Centre, this location of the LCBO is big enough to stock a good selection of wine, beer, and spirits.
169 Einheimische empfehlen
LCBO
2300 Yonge StIn the basement of the Manulife Centre, this location of the LCBO is big enough to stock a good selection of wine, beer, and spirits.
Close, well-organized, fresh, and fairly priced. Probably the best value grocery store in the area. Can be very busy at lunch.
70 Einheimische empfehlen
The Market by Longo's
111 Elizabeth StClose, well-organized, fresh, and fairly priced. Probably the best value grocery store in the area. Can be very busy at lunch.
Getting Around
The intersection of the city's major subway lines is just a block and half away.
122 Einheimische empfehlen
Bloor-Yonge station
The intersection of the city's major subway lines is just a block and half away.
Low key station on the East/West subway line, about a 10 minute walk away.
70 Einheimische empfehlen
Bay station
1240 Bay St.Low key station on the East/West subway line, about a 10 minute walk away.
Shopping
The city's oldest independent music store, with a very large selection of sheet music and recordings.
Song & Script Music Store
2 Bloor St WThe city's oldest independent music store, with a very large selection of sheet music and recordings.
Grigorian.com
Unbeatable selection of classical and jazz music.
Parks & Nature
Popular with joggers and walking enthusiasts, this tree-lined valley is best avoided in rush hour, when cars make it noisy. It's otherwise quite lovely, and a good place for a power-walk.
Rosedale Valley Road
Rosedale Valley RoadPopular with joggers and walking enthusiasts, this tree-lined valley is best avoided in rush hour, when cars make it noisy. It's otherwise quite lovely, and a good place for a power-walk.
A wonderful urban park with a public pool that's always hopping. Great people-watching. Watch sports or fitness bootcamps while enjoying an ice cream from nearby Baskin Robbins. If you're hungry, try Tacos El Asador across the street.
About a 25 minute walk away.
246 Einheimische empfehlen
Christie Pits Park
750 Bloor St WA wonderful urban park with a public pool that's always hopping. Great people-watching. Watch sports or fitness bootcamps while enjoying an ice cream from nearby Baskin Robbins. If you're hungry, try Tacos El Asador across the street.
About a 25 minute walk away.