Guidebook for Toronto

Natalie
Guidebook for Toronto

Food Scene

Delicious Italian, wine by the ounce, covered patio (ok on a rainy day), awesome for groups
395 locals recommend
Gusto 101
101 Portland St
395 locals recommend
Delicious Italian, wine by the ounce, covered patio (ok on a rainy day), awesome for groups
Intimate spot with tapas-style food and delicious drinks! Can get busy on weekends but otherwise worth a stop.
164 locals recommend
416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst St
164 locals recommend
Intimate spot with tapas-style food and delicious drinks! Can get busy on weekends but otherwise worth a stop.
Great for groups. It's like a German beer hall with a huge selection of sausages and beers on tap. Try the duck fat fries!
198 locals recommend
WVRST
609 King St W
198 locals recommend
Great for groups. It's like a German beer hall with a huge selection of sausages and beers on tap. Try the duck fat fries!
Our favourite hole-in-the-wall. It's a dive bar, but we go for the home-cooked Russian food, especially borscht and khinkali dumplings.
54 locals recommend
The Ossington
61 Ossington Ave
54 locals recommend
Our favourite hole-in-the-wall. It's a dive bar, but we go for the home-cooked Russian food, especially borscht and khinkali dumplings.
Stop in when you're exploring King West
78 locals recommend
Quantum Coffee
482 King St W
78 locals recommend
Stop in when you're exploring King West
Escape to Paris. Get the macarons.
183 locals recommend
Nadège Patisserie
780 Queen St W
183 locals recommend
Escape to Paris. Get the macarons.
Coffee to go when you're heading to the park
80 locals recommend
White Squirrel Coffee Shop
907 Queen St W
80 locals recommend
Coffee to go when you're heading to the park
Coffee to go or on the patio before heading to Trinity Bellwoods
16 locals recommend
Tokyo Smoke
76 Stafford St
16 locals recommend
Coffee to go or on the patio before heading to Trinity Bellwoods
For indulgent French weekend brunch, with turn-of-the-century Parisian decor
155 locals recommend
Le Sélect Bistro
432 Wellington St W
155 locals recommend
For indulgent French weekend brunch, with turn-of-the-century Parisian decor
Cheap and delicious Vietnamese noodle soup (under $10). Cash only. Patio in the summer. Eat in or take out.
119 locals recommend
Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington Ave
119 locals recommend
Cheap and delicious Vietnamese noodle soup (under $10). Cash only. Patio in the summer. Eat in or take out.
Modern vegetarian/vegan food, but there's something for everyone. There's another location at Richmond and Spadina.
143 locals recommend
Fresh on Crawford
894 Queen Street West
143 locals recommend
Modern vegetarian/vegan food, but there's something for everyone. There's another location at Richmond and Spadina.
One huge advantage of staying here... you can keep an eye on the massive line up at Bang Bang! So many unique artisan flavours, like London Fog, ginger milk, or espresso made with beans from the coffee shop down the street. If it's just too packed, head to Sweet Olenka's on Queen.
171 locals recommend
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington Ave
171 locals recommend
One huge advantage of staying here... you can keep an eye on the massive line up at Bang Bang! So many unique artisan flavours, like London Fog, ginger milk, or espresso made with beans from the coffee shop down the street. If it's just too packed, head to Sweet Olenka's on Queen.
One of our favourite date night spots. Doesn't take reservations. Asian-fusion tapas and a yummy wine list. Try the short ribs!
80 locals recommend
Foxley
207 Ossington Ave
80 locals recommend
One of our favourite date night spots. Doesn't take reservations. Asian-fusion tapas and a yummy wine list. Try the short ribs!
Delicious, affordable, takeout tacos. The octopus is yummy!
115 locals recommend
Seven Lives
72 Kensington Ave
115 locals recommend
Delicious, affordable, takeout tacos. The octopus is yummy!
Clean, hip, inexpensive, delicious! Tacos, guac, and chips. A real crowd-pleaser.
142 locals recommend
Wilbur Mexicana
552 King St W
142 locals recommend
Clean, hip, inexpensive, delicious! Tacos, guac, and chips. A real crowd-pleaser.
Go-to spot for dim sum in Chinatown
78 locals recommend
Rol San Restaurant
388 Spadina Ave.
78 locals recommend
Go-to spot for dim sum in Chinatown
Le Neuf Cafe. Serene place for a park-front brunch, but still in the middle of the city.
25 locals recommend
Clarence Square
25 Clarence Square
25 locals recommend
Le Neuf Cafe. Serene place for a park-front brunch, but still in the middle of the city.
Ethiopian food. $12 feeds two people and you might even have leftovers! Super casual, cash only. Get there before 5:30 to avoid lineups.
71 locals recommend
Nazareth
969 Bloor Street West
71 locals recommend
Ethiopian food. $12 feeds two people and you might even have leftovers! Super casual, cash only. Get there before 5:30 to avoid lineups.
Take your spouse, take your parents, or just take yourself. Modern/upscale Greek food. Reservations required.
102 locals recommend
Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossington Ave
102 locals recommend
Take your spouse, take your parents, or just take yourself. Modern/upscale Greek food. Reservations required.
Farm-to-table / Canadian. Vegetarian friendly. A bit pricey.
60 locals recommend
Woodlot
293 Palmerston Ave
60 locals recommend
Farm-to-table / Canadian. Vegetarian friendly. A bit pricey.
Coffee and hipster people watching
103 locals recommend
Capital Espresso
1349 Queen St W
103 locals recommend
Coffee and hipster people watching
Argentinean cafe known for empanadas & brewing traditional mate (a drink of steeped yerba leaves, simlar to tea).
31 locals recommend
El Almacen
1720 Queen St W
31 locals recommend
Argentinean cafe known for empanadas & brewing traditional mate (a drink of steeped yerba leaves, simlar to tea).
Thin-crust pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven with creative toppings
69 locals recommend
Pizzeria Defina
321 Roncesvalles Ave
69 locals recommend
Thin-crust pizza cooked in a wood-burning oven with creative toppings

Arts & Culture

Beautiful architecture. I particularly like the modern art. Free on Wednesday evenings.
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St W
2262 locals recommend
Beautiful architecture. I particularly like the modern art. Free on Wednesday evenings.
68 locals recommend
The Power Plant Contemporary Art Gallery
231 Queens Quay W
68 locals recommend
This is a the old TTC (streetcar) storage barns converted to a park and events space with lots of great live in artists, coffee shop and things to do. Farmer's Market every Saturday morning from 8am-12pm and lots of special events.
44 locals recommend
Artscape Wychwood Barns
601 Christie St
44 locals recommend
This is a the old TTC (streetcar) storage barns converted to a park and events space with lots of great live in artists, coffee shop and things to do. Farmer's Market every Saturday morning from 8am-12pm and lots of special events.

Parks & Nature

Bring a blanket, pour your wine into a coffee cup, chill all day with the hipsters.
590 locals recommend
Trinity - Bellwoods
590 locals recommend
Bring a blanket, pour your wine into a coffee cup, chill all day with the hipsters.
Long lakefront trail for running & biking
98 locals recommend
Martin Goodman Trail
98 locals recommend
Long lakefront trail for running & biking
Toronto Islands are an oasis in the city, accessed via ferry. I suggest taking the ferry to Ward's Island, which is residential and therefore very quiet, or to Hanlan's Point, which is mostly parkland. There are a couple cafes on the island but I recommend packing snacks as well.
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands are an oasis in the city, accessed via ferry. I suggest taking the ferry to Ward's Island, which is residential and therefore very quiet, or to Hanlan's Point, which is mostly parkland. There are a couple cafes on the island but I recommend packing snacks as well.

Drinks & Nightlife

Rotating selection, great (but busy) patio, or buy some bottles to go
373 locals recommend
Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington Ave
373 locals recommend
Rotating selection, great (but busy) patio, or buy some bottles to go
Café by day, bar by night, with a patio
29 locals recommend
Northern Belle
913 Dundas St W
29 locals recommend
Café by day, bar by night, with a patio
All day hangout spot. Daytime coffee shop, nighttime cocktail bar / craft beer, patio, and weekend brunch
92 locals recommend
Northwood
815 Bloor St W
92 locals recommend
All day hangout spot. Daytime coffee shop, nighttime cocktail bar / craft beer, patio, and weekend brunch
Hidden back patio for hot summer days. Happy hour 5-7pm with $1 oysters.
106 locals recommend
Bar Neon
1226 Bloor St W
106 locals recommend
Hidden back patio for hot summer days. Happy hour 5-7pm with $1 oysters.
As close to a speakeasy as you'll find in TO. Good luck finding it. Go down a storefront alley to find this hidden bar. Amazing cocktails and chill patio.
96 locals recommend
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street West
96 locals recommend
As close to a speakeasy as you'll find in TO. Good luck finding it. Go down a storefront alley to find this hidden bar. Amazing cocktails and chill patio.
Molecular cocktails... Yours may come smoking with dry ice! Be prepared to spend some $$. It's a real mixology experience.
145 locals recommend
BarChef
472 Queen St W
145 locals recommend
Molecular cocktails... Yours may come smoking with dry ice! Be prepared to spend some $$. It's a real mixology experience.
Mellow live music, best tequila selection, cozy back patio, funky crowd. If you only have one night to chill out with friends, go here.
100 locals recommend
Reposado
136 Ossington Ave
100 locals recommend
Mellow live music, best tequila selection, cozy back patio, funky crowd. If you only have one night to chill out with friends, go here.

Shopping

Iconic Canadian stuff / souvenirs, with a bunch of things you didn't realize you want.
39 locals recommend
Drake General Store
1151 Queen St W
39 locals recommend
Iconic Canadian stuff / souvenirs, with a bunch of things you didn't realize you want.
Canadiana / souvenirs / expensive hipster stuff
7 locals recommend
North Standard Trading Post
1535 Queen St W
7 locals recommend
Canadiana / souvenirs / expensive hipster stuff

Sightseeing

Spend a couple hours strolling around the converted factories, galleries, etc. Check out El Catrin for brunch, SoMa for chocolate, and Balzac's for the most gorgeous cafe in the city.
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill St
1704 locals recommend
Spend a couple hours strolling around the converted factories, galleries, etc. Check out El Catrin for brunch, SoMa for chocolate, and Balzac's for the most gorgeous cafe in the city.
An eclectic mixture of people and places. Vintage shops, street musicians, record shops, fascinating people-watching. The last Sunday of each month (in the summer) is pedestrian only.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
1698 locals recommend
An eclectic mixture of people and places. Vintage shops, street musicians, record shops, fascinating people-watching. The last Sunday of each month (in the summer) is pedestrian only.

Entertainment & Activities

A permanent location for our famous film festival, the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). Offers a great selection of independent films, documentaries and classics.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St W
582 locals recommend
A permanent location for our famous film festival, the TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival). Offers a great selection of independent films, documentaries and classics.
Great sketch comedy and improv. You may even be able to get same-day tickets if lucky
156 locals recommend
The Second City Toronto
110 Mercer St
156 locals recommend
Great sketch comedy and improv. You may even be able to get same-day tickets if lucky
Local community theatre
43 locals recommend
Lower Ossington Theatre
100 Ossington Ave
43 locals recommend
Local community theatre