Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Some say it's the City's best coffee, and it's served out of a shop the size of a shoebox. See if you can touch both walls with your outstretched arms!
28 locals recommend
Coffee Pocket
688a Bloor St WSome say it's the City's best coffee, and it's served out of a shop the size of a shoebox. See if you can touch both walls with your outstretched arms!
Scout & Cash Caffe
146 Christie StGreat coffee, friendly staff, cute space just north of Christie Pits.
Starbucks
1545 Bayview AveWhen nothing but 'Bucks will do....
Coffee and light meals in a setting conducive to conversations and cofficing
175 locals recommend
Aroma Espresso Bar
430 King St WCoffee and light meals in a setting conducive to conversations and cofficing
The bigger version of the Coffee Pocket. Think of it as the Coffee Jeans.
62 locals recommend
Sam James Coffee Bar
297 Harbord StThe bigger version of the Coffee Pocket. Think of it as the Coffee Jeans.
Really wonderful Indian food on the edge of Christie Pits. Can get busy, so call ahead for reservation if you can. They also do takeout and delivery.
158 locals recommend
Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WReally wonderful Indian food on the edge of Christie Pits. Can get busy, so call ahead for reservation if you can. They also do takeout and delivery.
Right on our corner (until they move across the street), a Toronto institution. Authentic Mexican / el Salvadoran cheap eats.
75 locals recommend
Tacos El Asador
689 Bloor St WRight on our corner (until they move across the street), a Toronto institution. Authentic Mexican / el Salvadoran cheap eats.
On the southeast corner of Clinton and Bloor, one of the top picks for Korean food. The menu is limited, but what they do they do well, especially if you're a red meat eater.
74 locals recommend
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
691 Bloor St WOn the southeast corner of Clinton and Bloor, one of the top picks for Korean food. The menu is limited, but what they do they do well, especially if you're a red meat eater.
Don't go here if you're counting calories. Quintessential comfort food, like fried chicken and waffles. The mac n cheese is silky decadence.
27 locals recommend
The White Brick Kitchen
641 Bloor Street WestDon't go here if you're counting calories. Quintessential comfort food, like fried chicken and waffles. The mac n cheese is silky decadence.
Mexican meets Korean! I particularly like the chicken kampungki and braised short-rib tacos.
40 locals recommend
Barrio Coreano
690 Bloor St WMexican meets Korean! I particularly like the chicken kampungki and braised short-rib tacos.
Super popular ramen restaurant. Cheap, tasty soups with chicken or pork broth bases and chewy noodles.
136 locals recommend
KINTON RAMEN
668 Bloor St WSuper popular ramen restaurant. Cheap, tasty soups with chicken or pork broth bases and chewy noodles.
Upscale middle eastern and a modern celebration of old country Jewish food. They've taken the cauliflower to new heights. Behind is Shmaltz Appetizing, your bagel and shmear destination.
75 locals recommend
Fat Pasha
414 Dupont StUpscale middle eastern and a modern celebration of old country Jewish food. They've taken the cauliflower to new heights. Behind is Shmaltz Appetizing, your bagel and shmear destination.
A genuine neighbourhood restaurant that also serves a mean weekend brunch. Get there early or be prepared to wait.
58 locals recommend
Chadwick's Craft Kitchen & Bar
268 Howland AveA genuine neighbourhood restaurant that also serves a mean weekend brunch. Get there early or be prepared to wait.
DaiLo
503 College StDelicious Chinese fusion, one of Toronto Life's Top 20 restaurants 2015.
If you're in the mood for BBQ, this is the place to go. Limited seating, but you can always take out and sit at Wychwood Barns if the weather's nice. The burger is one of our favourites in Toronto.
85 locals recommend
The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder
699 St Clair Ave WIf you're in the mood for BBQ, this is the place to go. Limited seating, but you can always take out and sit at Wychwood Barns if the weather's nice. The burger is one of our favourites in Toronto.
Calorie alert!!! These scones are divine and loaded with butter. I prefer the savory over sweet, but just try to resist the creative flavour combinations.
24 locals recommend
Baker and Scone
693 St Clair Ave WCalorie alert!!! These scones are divine and loaded with butter. I prefer the savory over sweet, but just try to resist the creative flavour combinations.
There are a lot of sushi restaurants along our strip, but this one is worth the walk (about 15 minutes). It's constantly recognized as a readers' choice award winner.
94 locals recommend
Sushi on Bloor
525 Bloor St WThere are a lot of sushi restaurants along our strip, but this one is worth the walk (about 15 minutes). It's constantly recognized as a readers' choice award winner.
Totally fun Izakaya (Japanese tapas), and the food is tasty and reasonably priced.
75 locals recommend
KINKA IZAKAYA ANNEX
559 Bloor Street WestTotally fun Izakaya (Japanese tapas), and the food is tasty and reasonably priced.
Great French restaurant with service done right. Arguably one of the City's best steaks.
10 locals recommend
Frank's Kitchen
588 College StreetGreat French restaurant with service done right. Arguably one of the City's best steaks.
Toronto's only soda fountain malt shop. At time of this writing it hasn't even opened, but I am damn excited to try it.
8 locals recommend
Bean & Baker Malt Shop
326 Harbord StToronto's only soda fountain malt shop. At time of this writing it hasn't even opened, but I am damn excited to try it.
Alright, so it's a little far away, but it's possibly the top real-deal gelato places in Toronto.
39 locals recommend
La Paloma Gelateria & Cafe
1357 St Clair Ave WAlright, so it's a little far away, but it's possibly the top real-deal gelato places in Toronto.
Around the corner from Honest Ed's, Mirvish Village has a collection of shops and restaurants. They also host a sidewalk festival in the Spring, Summer and Fall.
9 locals recommend
Mirvish Village
Around the corner from Honest Ed's, Mirvish Village has a collection of shops and restaurants. They also host a sidewalk festival in the Spring, Summer and Fall.
A splurge night: this restaurant by the Food Dudes catering company has interesting and tasty dishes, great service, fun atmosphere.
32 locals recommend
RASA
196 Robert StA splurge night: this restaurant by the Food Dudes catering company has interesting and tasty dishes, great service, fun atmosphere.
Arts & Culture
Board game cafe with coffee and alcohol. The Game Concierges can recommend the perfect game for your mood. Soon to have its own TV sitcom (for real.)
77 locals recommend
Snakes & Lattes Annex
600 Bloor St WBoard game cafe with coffee and alcohol. The Game Concierges can recommend the perfect game for your mood. Soon to have its own TV sitcom (for real.)
I'm so grateful to live close to a theatre dedicated to documentaries! It's particularly fun during the Hot Docs festival annually end of April, but they run other doc festivals throughout the year.
161 locals recommend
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
506 Bloor St WI'm so grateful to live close to a theatre dedicated to documentaries! It's particularly fun during the Hot Docs festival annually end of April, but they run other doc festivals throughout the year.
Drinks & Nightlife
Northwood
815 Bloor St WGreat place for a glass of wine or cocktail without attitude
Owned by a pair of brothers, I love this place for its great service, excellent beer selection (many Ontario choices) and homemade pub food.
44 locals recommend
Tallboys - Craft Beer House
838 Bloor St WOwned by a pair of brothers, I love this place for its great service, excellent beer selection (many Ontario choices) and homemade pub food.
At the southwest corner of Clinton and Bloor, Clinton's is a long-time Toronto institution for beers, live music and dance parties. Big patio.
36 locals recommend
Clinton's Tavern
693 Bloor St WAt the southwest corner of Clinton and Bloor, Clinton's is a long-time Toronto institution for beers, live music and dance parties. Big patio.
Cheap and cheerful beer and student food with a nice patio just around the corner.
17 locals recommend
Pour Boy - Manning
666 Manning AveCheap and cheerful beer and student food with a nice patio just around the corner.
Doesn't list its phone number and was busy before it opened. A scene place whose corner location lends itself to lots of patio.
235 locals recommend
Bar Raval
505 College StDoesn't list its phone number and was busy before it opened. A scene place whose corner location lends itself to lots of patio.
I've never been here; however, if you're looking for a busy, young scene with all dishes $4.95, this Whistler, BC-based chain delivers.
69 locals recommend
El Furniture Warehouse
410 Bloor St WI've never been here; however, if you're looking for a busy, young scene with all dishes $4.95, this Whistler, BC-based chain delivers.
Shopping
Too late! You missed it. Closed December 31, 2016. But I bet what they're replacing it with will be far more exciting...
68 locals recommend
Honest Ed's
581 Bloor Street WestToo late! You missed it. Closed December 31, 2016. But I bet what they're replacing it with will be far more exciting...
Doug Miller Books
650 Bloor St WGem of a bookstore.
Reasonably-priced and fashion-forward women's clothes. This one has a better selection than its sister store further east on Bloor.
Risqué
660 Bloor St WReasonably-priced and fashion-forward women's clothes. This one has a better selection than its sister store further east on Bloor.
Love this store for well-edited Canadian women's clothing lines, shoes, jewellery and accessories. Reasonable prices, especially during their sales!
6 locals recommend
Trove
793 Bathurst StLove this store for well-edited Canadian women's clothing lines, shoes, jewellery and accessories. Reasonable prices, especially during their sales!
Everything Else
Gus The Other Barber
701 Bloor St WClassic barber shop, 55 years and still going strong.
If you want to buy wine, liquor and beer you need to go to specific stores. Welcome to Ontario! There's a LCBO on College @ Palmerston as well. You can also buy wine from the Wine Rack in Honest Ed's.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.If you want to buy wine, liquor and beer you need to go to specific stores. Welcome to Ontario! There's a LCBO on College @ Palmerston as well. You can also buy wine from the Wine Rack in Honest Ed's.
Sightseeing
Lovely park for kids of all ages! Festivals, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team on Sunday afternoons, great playground, public swimming, outdoor skating rink and sledding in winter. Chill with locals.
246 locals recommend
Christie Pits Park
750 Bloor St WLovely park for kids of all ages! Festivals, Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team on Sunday afternoons, great playground, public swimming, outdoor skating rink and sledding in winter. Chill with locals.
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkOne of the top museums in the world
Beautiful building and diverse, extensive art collection. Kids activities as well.
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WBeautiful building and diverse, extensive art collection. Kids activities as well.
A starting point for generations of new immigrants to Toronto, Kensington Market is a fabulous mix of shops, restaurants, bars, eclectic shops, second-hand stores and homes. A slice of real Toronto.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
A starting point for generations of new immigrants to Toronto, Kensington Market is a fabulous mix of shops, restaurants, bars, eclectic shops, second-hand stores and homes. A slice of real Toronto.
This arts-based centre has transformed the surrounding neighbourhood. Excellent Saturday morning farmers' market. There's a hill to climb to get there, but then you can justify the butter tarts.
85 locals recommend
Wychwood Barns Park
76 Wychwood AveThis arts-based centre has transformed the surrounding neighbourhood. Excellent Saturday morning farmers' market. There's a hill to climb to get there, but then you can justify the butter tarts.
Truly cottage country in the city. After you go to the Barns take a walk through this unique neighbourhood with beautiful homes, tall trees and a secret pond!
29 locals recommend
Wychwood Park
Truly cottage country in the city. After you go to the Barns take a walk through this unique neighbourhood with beautiful homes, tall trees and a secret pond!
Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor St WA museum about shoes? Enough said.
Essentials
Toronto's largest independent grocer. Lots of organic and specialty foods, and a huge pasta aisle points to its Italian roots.
184 locals recommend
Fiesta Farms
200 Christie StToronto's largest independent grocer. Lots of organic and specialty foods, and a huge pasta aisle points to its Italian roots.
Completely renovated (completed May 2015), this outlet of the ubiquitous grocery chain has everything you need, including prepared foods, pharmacy and toiletries.
1112 locals recommend
Loblaws
585 Queen St WCompletely renovated (completed May 2015), this outlet of the ubiquitous grocery chain has everything you need, including prepared foods, pharmacy and toiletries.