Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Right across the street from our house so it's very convenient! They're really good if you're looking for a basic egg and bacon/sausage brunch. In the evening they have a rotating tap list.
45 locals recommend
The Grapefruit Moon
968 Bathurst StRight across the street from our house so it's very convenient! They're really good if you're looking for a basic egg and bacon/sausage brunch. In the evening they have a rotating tap list.
They are my go to for delicious French Toast. The space also has a cool 1950's vibe.
35 locals recommend
The Epicure Cafe & Grill
502 Queen St WThey are my go to for delicious French Toast. The space also has a cool 1950's vibe.
Awesome if you're looking for something on the go. They specialize in bagels with cream cheese and a smoked fish. Super tasty.
22 locals recommend
Schmaltz Appetizing
414 Dupont StAwesome if you're looking for something on the go. They specialize in bagels with cream cheese and a smoked fish. Super tasty.
About a 5 min walk away from the apartment and quite good. They're known for their Rancheros and Eggs Benny and their sticky buns are ah-mazing.
58 locals recommend
Chadwick's Craft Kitchen & Bar
268 Howland AveAbout a 5 min walk away from the apartment and quite good. They're known for their Rancheros and Eggs Benny and their sticky buns are ah-mazing.
Rated as one of the top brunch spots in the city. Their menu includes some more interesting choices like 'coca cola brisket BJ’s cornbread' and 'fried chicken and grits' as well as the standard eggs & bacon and french toast.
58 locals recommend
Rose and Sons
176 Dupont StRated as one of the top brunch spots in the city. Their menu includes some more interesting choices like 'coca cola brisket BJ’s cornbread' and 'fried chicken and grits' as well as the standard eggs & bacon and french toast.
One of my fave thai food places in the city. It has a bit of a bar feel with load music so be aware that if you're looking for a quiet spot good for conversation this may not be it.
199 locals recommend
Khao San Road
11 Charlotte StOne of my fave thai food places in the city. It has a bit of a bar feel with load music so be aware that if you're looking for a quiet spot good for conversation this may not be it.
The best Polish food in the city! Highly recommended, and the portion sizes will not disappoint.
49 locals recommend
Cafe Polonez
195 Roncesvalles AveThe best Polish food in the city! Highly recommended, and the portion sizes will not disappoint.
The Common
1028 Bloor St WReally good americanos and croissants. Open early.
The pork and chives dumplings, and the tofu, bok choi and mushroom dumplings are absolutely delicious. Some of the best dumplings in the city. Cruise around China Town afterwards to check out this cool neighbourhood.
81 locals recommend
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.The pork and chives dumplings, and the tofu, bok choi and mushroom dumplings are absolutely delicious. Some of the best dumplings in the city. Cruise around China Town afterwards to check out this cool neighbourhood.
Well known for their week-round French Toast. Different toppings each week!
86 locals recommend
Mitzi's Cafe
100 Sorauren AvenueWell known for their week-round French Toast. Different toppings each week!
My favourite pizza in the city - thin crust with a delicious tomato sauce. I always get the Margherita.
91 locals recommend
North of Brooklyn Pizzeria
650 Queen St WMy favourite pizza in the city - thin crust with a delicious tomato sauce. I always get the Margherita.
Ice cream worth travelling for. The blueberry sorbet is perfect.
23 locals recommend
Delight Organic Fair Trade Chocolate
3040 Dundas St WIce cream worth travelling for. The blueberry sorbet is perfect.
Great pho, very flavourful broth, and the cold rolls are very tasty.
41 locals recommend
Pho Phuong Vietnamese Restaurant
1603 Dundas St WGreat pho, very flavourful broth, and the cold rolls are very tasty.
In my opinion the best pho in the city, and there are many to choose from. The broth is incredibly flavourful. Highly recommend. Cash only.
51 locals recommend
Pho Linh
1156 College StIn my opinion the best pho in the city, and there are many to choose from. The broth is incredibly flavourful. Highly recommend. Cash only.
Best value Indian food in downtown Toronto. All of the curries are delicious and the classic butter chicken is rich and tasty. Personal favourite.
158 locals recommend
Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WBest value Indian food in downtown Toronto. All of the curries are delicious and the classic butter chicken is rich and tasty. Personal favourite.
Same owner as Rose and Sons, this restaurant offers more of a tapas experience with small plates of high quality food. It's a little on the pricier side but worth the splurge. Favourite item on the menu is the sardine tartine. Great date spot!
21 locals recommend
Bar Begonia
252 Dupont StSame owner as Rose and Sons, this restaurant offers more of a tapas experience with small plates of high quality food. It's a little on the pricier side but worth the splurge. Favourite item on the menu is the sardine tartine. Great date spot!
Hands down the best Korean food in the neighbourhood. The bibimbap is always fresh and tasty, we've never been disappointed coming here. It's our go to for a cheap, tasty dinner.
25 locals recommend
Sunrise House
661 Bloor St WHands down the best Korean food in the neighbourhood. The bibimbap is always fresh and tasty, we've never been disappointed coming here. It's our go to for a cheap, tasty dinner.
Really good date night spot. I get their mussels in white wine sauce every time, they're so damn tasty!
100 locals recommend
Insomnia
563 Bloor St WReally good date night spot. I get their mussels in white wine sauce every time, they're so damn tasty!
Best breakfast bagels! They have limited hours so make sure to check their website before heading over (http://www.blogto.com/cafes/rusticcosmo/)
29 locals recommend
Rustic Cosmo Cafe
1278 Queen St WBest breakfast bagels! They have limited hours so make sure to check their website before heading over (http://www.blogto.com/cafes/rusticcosmo/)
This place is run by a French pastry chef - just try walking in and not trying one of everything! My personal favourite is the lemon meringue tart - to die for.
51 locals recommend
The Tempered Room
1374 Queen St WThis place is run by a French pastry chef - just try walking in and not trying one of everything! My personal favourite is the lemon meringue tart - to die for.
My favourite splurge restaurant in the city specializing in fresh, local ingredients paired with an extensive cocktail and wine list - the food is absolutely delicious. They make their own sourdough bread in a wood burning oven... what more could you ask for.
60 locals recommend
Woodlot
293 Palmerston AveMy favourite splurge restaurant in the city specializing in fresh, local ingredients paired with an extensive cocktail and wine list - the food is absolutely delicious. They make their own sourdough bread in a wood burning oven... what more could you ask for.
Have their earl grey ice cream on a gingerbread cookie - enough said.
113 locals recommend
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware AveHave their earl grey ice cream on a gingerbread cookie - enough said.
Drinks & Nightlife
One of Toronto's fave breweries - really good beer, food and an awesome patio. Expect line ups.
373 locals recommend
Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveOne of Toronto's fave breweries - really good beer, food and an awesome patio. Expect line ups.
Good tap list and free charcuterie spread Monday to Friday starting at 5pm!
15 locals recommend
Shamone
2952 Dundas St WGood tap list and free charcuterie spread Monday to Friday starting at 5pm!
Cool vibe, good tap list, vintage arcade games and has the added of benefit of being partnered with North of Brooklyn Pizza so you can order your pizza right in the bar. Gets a little crowded on the weekend.
62 locals recommend
The Greater Good
229 Geary AveCool vibe, good tap list, vintage arcade games and has the added of benefit of being partnered with North of Brooklyn Pizza so you can order your pizza right in the bar. Gets a little crowded on the weekend.
Located on the hipster Ossington Ave strip. Extensive tap list and vintage arcade games galore. Expect line ups on the weekend.
154 locals recommend
Get Well
1181 Dundas Street WestLocated on the hipster Ossington Ave strip. Extensive tap list and vintage arcade games galore. Expect line ups on the weekend.
A very trendy bar with standing room only, the interior of this space is absolutely gorgeous. They offer small plates and an array of fancy cocktails. Great for a classy night out.
235 locals recommend
Bar Raval
505 College StA very trendy bar with standing room only, the interior of this space is absolutely gorgeous. They offer small plates and an array of fancy cocktails. Great for a classy night out.
Cheap craft beers and cheap food with an outdoor patio combine to make this a good option for a budget friendly night out.
17 locals recommend
Pour Boy - Manning
666 Manning AveCheap craft beers and cheap food with an outdoor patio combine to make this a good option for a budget friendly night out.
Sightseeing
Built in the early 1920's, Casa Loma is Toronto's only castle. The architecture is grand and the grounds are quite pretty - it's worth a visit.
1217 locals recommend
Casa Loma
1 Austin TerraceBuilt in the early 1920's, Casa Loma is Toronto's only castle. The architecture is grand and the grounds are quite pretty - it's worth a visit.
The UofT campus is historic and leafy - it's nice to walk through.
445 locals recommend
University of Toronto
27 King's College CirThe UofT campus is historic and leafy - it's nice to walk through.
A beautiful historic building that on Sat morning is a farmers' market full of fresh fruit, veg, meat and cheese, and on Sun morning is an antique market.
1398 locals recommend
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St EA beautiful historic building that on Sat morning is a farmers' market full of fresh fruit, veg, meat and cheese, and on Sun morning is an antique market.
A historic walkable neighbourhood, full of old brick factories and whiskey distilleries - it has a cool European vibe.
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StA historic walkable neighbourhood, full of old brick factories and whiskey distilleries - it has a cool European vibe.
I love to walk down Roncesvalles Ave on a sunny day. Roncesvalles is an old Polish neighbourhood but it's been quite gentrified in the last decade or so - now you'll find lots of coffee shops, eco stores and fruit markets on this street. My fave Polish restaurant is still there - Cafe Polonez serves up some delicious Polish food like pierogi and cabbage rolls if you're into that.
135 locals recommend
Roncesvalles Village
147 Roncesvalles AveI love to walk down Roncesvalles Ave on a sunny day. Roncesvalles is an old Polish neighbourhood but it's been quite gentrified in the last decade or so - now you'll find lots of coffee shops, eco stores and fruit markets on this street. My fave Polish restaurant is still there - Cafe Polonez serves up some delicious Polish food like pierogi and cabbage rolls if you're into that.
Parks & Nature
One of the nicest parks in the city, situated on rolling hills, it has a bit of a wild feel. A little oasis in the city.
1205 locals recommend
High Park
1873 Bloor St WOne of the nicest parks in the city, situated on rolling hills, it has a bit of a wild feel. A little oasis in the city.
Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview AveA nice hiking trail in the city.
Great for swimming and tanning. Woodbine Beach is Blue Flag certified which means the water meets the highest standards for safety and cleanliness.
359 locals recommend
Woodbine Beach
1675 Lake Shore Blvd EGreat for swimming and tanning. Woodbine Beach is Blue Flag certified which means the water meets the highest standards for safety and cleanliness.
If you're a nature buff and in Toronto for a few days, the Bluffs are very scenic and worth checking out. A bit of an adventure to get to, but accessible by TTC.
198 locals recommend
Scarborough Bluffs Park
If you're a nature buff and in Toronto for a few days, the Bluffs are very scenic and worth checking out. A bit of an adventure to get to, but accessible by TTC.
I really like the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood around Dundas St W and Ossington Ave. During the weekend lots of people hang out in the park drinking beer and playing games. Worth checking out to get a sense of the hipster vibe in Toronto.
590 locals recommend
Trinity - Bellwoods
I really like the Trinity Bellwoods neighbourhood around Dundas St W and Ossington Ave. During the weekend lots of people hang out in the park drinking beer and playing games. Worth checking out to get a sense of the hipster vibe in Toronto.
Entertainment & Activities
My local rock climbing gym! They have beginner classes if you're looking to try something new while in Toronto.
28 locals recommend
Basecamp Climbing
677 Bloor St WMy local rock climbing gym! They have beginner classes if you're looking to try something new while in Toronto.
The EdgeWalk allows you to walk around the top of the CN Tower while strapped into a rope and a harness. If you're a thrill seeker then this is for you.
33 locals recommend
Edge Walk at the CN Tower
290 Bremner BlvdThe EdgeWalk allows you to walk around the top of the CN Tower while strapped into a rope and a harness. If you're a thrill seeker then this is for you.
Getting Around
Bathurst Station
Your closest subway station.
Essentials
Best organic grocery store around! it's supplied with fresh produce from local farmers and a great selection of bulk food items. Brayden and I are members so we purchase basically all of our groceries at this store. They can provide you with a free trail membership for your shop.
8 locals recommend
Karma Co-Op Food Store
739 Palmerston AveBest organic grocery store around! it's supplied with fresh produce from local farmers and a great selection of bulk food items. Brayden and I are members so we purchase basically all of our groceries at this store. They can provide you with a free trail membership for your shop.