Lish’s Guidebook Ossington and Bloor
Essentials
Metro
2155 St Clair Ave WGrocery store with parking.
Joe's No Frills
900 Dufferin StGreat discount food store.
Shoppers Drug Mart
710 Mt Pleasant RdFood scene
Ossington Avenue is a hub of all things savoury, sweet, and intoxicatingly delicious with every storefront acting as a little culinary world of its own. If you’re on the hunt for something to eat, these spots you won’t leave you hungry. In fact, you’ll leave full not only of good food, but good memories, too.
They’ve usually got about 15-20 different flavours on the menu and you can get your ice cream in whatever form you like: in a cup, a cone, a waffle, sandwiched between two cookies or even just straight in a tub.
171 locals recommend
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington AveThey’ve usually got about 15-20 different flavours on the menu and you can get your ice cream in whatever form you like: in a cup, a cone, a waffle, sandwiched between two cookies or even just straight in a tub.
Each wood-fired pie is made to order from local ingredients when possible.
11 locals recommend
Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington AvenueEach wood-fired pie is made to order from local ingredients when possible.
Each foldable slice of this Ossington joint’s New York classic is minimally topped with sweet tomato sauce and mozzarella, and finished with a dusting of parm and oregano.
43 locals recommend
Superpoint
184 Ossington AveEach foldable slice of this Ossington joint’s New York classic is minimally topped with sweet tomato sauce and mozzarella, and finished with a dusting of parm and oregano.
For Greek food, Mamakas Taverna is truly at the top of Toronto’s game.
102 locals recommend
Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossington AveFor Greek food, Mamakas Taverna is truly at the top of Toronto’s game.
Pho Tien Thanh
57 Ossington AveMaking some of the best Pho you can find in the city.
Chef Brandon Olsen's cuisine features an extensive raw bar and French classics, executed in a modern style.
42 locals recommend
La Banane
227 Ossington AveChef Brandon Olsen's cuisine features an extensive raw bar and French classics, executed in a modern style.
Resto-bar Sybanne serves tapas inspired by Israeli, Lebanese and Moroccan cuisines.
9 locals recommend
Bar Sybanne
229 Ossington AveResto-bar Sybanne serves tapas inspired by Israeli, Lebanese and Moroccan cuisines.
Tanto
922 Queen St W Steakhouse, Argentinean, Italian
Salt Wine Bar Ltd
225 Ossington AvenueTapas / Small Plates, Spanish, Mediterranean
Foxley
207 Ossington AveEclectic pan-Asian menu.
ODDSEOUL
90 Ossington AveSnack-focused menu, served until 2 a.m.
Soos
94 Ossington AveInspired by the street food of Malaysia
Tasting menus showcase hyper-local ingredients and ultra-modern techniques.
60 locals recommend
Actinolite Restaurant
971 Ossington AveTasting menus showcase hyper-local ingredients and ultra-modern techniques.
Bellwoods Brewery focuses on using local ingredients and sustainable practices to craft its varied seasonal menu.
373 locals recommend
Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveBellwoods Brewery focuses on using local ingredients and sustainable practices to craft its varied seasonal menu.
The menu is french-inspired, too, with rich indulgences such as oysters, cheese, pâté and tartare.
35 locals recommend
Cote De Boeuf
130 Ossington AveThe menu is french-inspired, too, with rich indulgences such as oysters, cheese, pâté and tartare.
Paris Paris also takes inspiration from the French. Fueled by their love of wine, they’ve really made it the star of the show.
63 locals recommend
Paris Paris
1161 Dundas St WParis Paris also takes inspiration from the French. Fueled by their love of wine, they’ve really made it the star of the show.
Named after the Spanish word for Tea, the restaurant serves Korean & Taiwanese flavours, tapas style.
6 locals recommend
Té
70 Ossington AveNamed after the Spanish word for Tea, the restaurant serves Korean & Taiwanese flavours, tapas style.
Stop by during the week for lunch, dinner and a glass of wine, or join them on the weekend for a phenomenal brunch.
128 locals recommend
Union
72 Ossington AveStop by during the week for lunch, dinner and a glass of wine, or join them on the weekend for a phenomenal brunch.
Repeatedly voted the Best Mac & Cheese in Toronto, it’s pretty certain that this place won’t disappoint.
16 locals recommend
Bobbie Sue's Mac + Cheese
162 Ossington AveRepeatedly voted the Best Mac & Cheese in Toronto, it’s pretty certain that this place won’t disappoint.
La Cubana
392 Roncesvalles AveToronto’s Cuban Restaurant; Classic Cuban comfort food and cocktails
Coffee Places
Filosophy Pastry and Espresso Bar
912 Bloor St WThe Common
1028 Bloor St WSaving Gigi
859 Bloor St WTim Hortons
120 Fort York BlvdStarbucks
1909 Yonge StSightseeing
Casa Loma
1 Austin TerraceToronto’s most iconic landmark is the 1,815-foot CN Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1976, when it was built, to 2007.
3509 locals recommend
CN Tower
290 Bremner BlvdToronto’s most iconic landmark is the 1,815-foot CN Tower, the tallest freestanding structure in the world from 1976, when it was built, to 2007.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
288 Bremner Blvd
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill St
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkArt Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WKensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St ENeighbourhoods
Although this historically Italian neighbourhood is now more diverse, its heritage is hard to mistake. Discover some of the city’s best Italian—or Spanish—food and drink then dance at a club, people-watch from a patio or just enjoy an after-dinner stroll with a gelato.
296 locals recommend
Little Italy
Although this historically Italian neighbourhood is now more diverse, its heritage is hard to mistake. Discover some of the city’s best Italian—or Spanish—food and drink then dance at a club, people-watch from a patio or just enjoy an after-dinner stroll with a gelato.
Energetic Chinatown hosts a variety of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese restaurants that range from dim sum and pho to modern fusion. The animated Asian open-air markets and shops along Spadina Avenue offer fresh fruits and vegetables, along with herbal medicine and souvenirs. Chinese New Year celebrations draw tourists and locals to live stage shows, martial arts demonstrations and lion dances.
740 locals recommend
Chinatown
292 Spadina Ave.Energetic Chinatown hosts a variety of Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai and Japanese restaurants that range from dim sum and pho to modern fusion. The animated Asian open-air markets and shops along Spadina Avenue offer fresh fruits and vegetables, along with herbal medicine and souvenirs. Chinese New Year celebrations draw tourists and locals to live stage shows, martial arts demonstrations and lion dances.
Torontonians have always known that the West Queen West neighbourhood is cool and hip and incredibly artsy. Now the whole world knows about West Queen West thanks to a recent Vogue article that identifies the West Queen West neighbourhood as the second coolest neighbourhood in the world. How cool is that!
723 locals recommend
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestTorontonians have always known that the West Queen West neighbourhood is cool and hip and incredibly artsy. Now the whole world knows about West Queen West thanks to a recent Vogue article that identifies the West Queen West neighbourhood as the second coolest neighbourhood in the world. How cool is that!
Kensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a walkable bohemian neighbourhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. Students and families populate Victorian houses along tree-lined streets.
Koreatown is a magnet to local shoppers and foodies. Get your fill of K-beauty, K-fashion and K-stationery (yes, it’s a thing) at local boutiques, and then fill up on bibimbap, grill-it-yourself kalbi, soon tofu and other restaurant specialties. Finally, sate your sweet tooth at a dessert cafe, bakery or bubble tea parlour, or sing your heart out at a karaoke lounge.
161 locals recommend
Koreatown
Koreatown is a magnet to local shoppers and foodies. Get your fill of K-beauty, K-fashion and K-stationery (yes, it’s a thing) at local boutiques, and then fill up on bibimbap, grill-it-yourself kalbi, soon tofu and other restaurant specialties. Finally, sate your sweet tooth at a dessert cafe, bakery or bubble tea parlour, or sing your heart out at a karaoke lounge.
Toronto's beaches are some of the best beaches in Ontario. They are easily accessible to all, with lots of space – you'll have no trouble finding your perfect patch of sand. The beaches are fun for all ages. On warm summer days, they can be packed with families, teenagers, and retirees enjoying the wide-open spaces. Activities include swimming, playing in the waves, strolling, or just reading a book in a chair. Lifeguards are on duty at most locations to keep an eye on you.
424 locals recommend
The Beaches
Toronto's beaches are some of the best beaches in Ontario. They are easily accessible to all, with lots of space – you'll have no trouble finding your perfect patch of sand. The beaches are fun for all ages. On warm summer days, they can be packed with families, teenagers, and retirees enjoying the wide-open spaces. Activities include swimming, playing in the waves, strolling, or just reading a book in a chair. Lifeguards are on duty at most locations to keep an eye on you.
Bickford Park
400 Grace StTrinity - Bellwoods
Christie Pits
Dufferin Grove