Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Fantastic thin crust pizza (Try the namesake "lil' bacci": sausage, fennel pollen, and caramelized onions. They have a back patio and a wonderful atmosphere.
39 locals recommend
Frankie's Italian
892 Queen St EFantastic thin crust pizza (Try the namesake "lil' bacci": sausage, fennel pollen, and caramelized onions. They have a back patio and a wonderful atmosphere.
One of the top brunch restaurants in Toronto. Classic French fare: tarte, quiche, baguette sandwiches, and wonderful pastries. VERY popular, arrive early before the line forms.
144 locals recommend
Bonjour Brioche
812 Queen St EOne of the top brunch restaurants in Toronto. Classic French fare: tarte, quiche, baguette sandwiches, and wonderful pastries. VERY popular, arrive early before the line forms.
Starbucks
2E Spadina Ave.Closest Starbucks to the loft
My very favourite (along with Bonjour Brioche) brunch in Toronto. Creative brunch options including many latin-influenced dishes. VERY popular, arrive before 10:30 to beat the weekend rush.
207 locals recommend
Lady Marmalade
265 Broadview AveMy very favourite (along with Bonjour Brioche) brunch in Toronto. Creative brunch options including many latin-influenced dishes. VERY popular, arrive before 10:30 to beat the weekend rush.
Te Aro
983 Queen St ENice independent espresso bar with large patio.
My favourite Indian food in the city. Though the place is almost always under construction, it is a favourite of the local Indian community. Fresh, hot, and well-flavoured Punjabi food (Halal).
100 locals recommend
Lahore Tikka House
1365 Gerrard St EMy favourite Indian food in the city. Though the place is almost always under construction, it is a favourite of the local Indian community. Fresh, hot, and well-flavoured Punjabi food (Halal).
Delicious and well-priced Vietnamese food in a lovely setting. Back patio during the summer. Cash only. Moments walk from the loft.
49 locals recommend
Hanoi 3 Seasons
1135 Queen St EDelicious and well-priced Vietnamese food in a lovely setting. Back patio during the summer. Cash only. Moments walk from the loft.
This place is very rough around the edges, but has WONDERFUL, flavourful, and extremely inexpensive vietnamese food. Their pho is amazing. Run by a very sweet family.
7 locals recommend
Que Ling Vietnamese Cusine
248 Boulton AveThis place is very rough around the edges, but has WONDERFUL, flavourful, and extremely inexpensive vietnamese food. Their pho is amazing. Run by a very sweet family.
Great for vegetarians, vegans and Jains. Vegetarian, south-Indian fare.
42 locals recommend
Udupi Palace
1423 Gerrard St EGreat for vegetarians, vegans and Jains. Vegetarian, south-Indian fare.
Very hip and popular pizza resto with a cool interior and excellent three-course prix fixe menu option.
121 locals recommend
Queen Margherita Pizza
1402 Queen St EVery hip and popular pizza resto with a cool interior and excellent three-course prix fixe menu option.
Dangerous Dan's Diner
714 Queen Street EastEnormous, artery-clogging burgers.
Take-out only burger joint. "The option" is a heavenly (and sinful) cheese-stuffed portabello mushroom, deep friend, and placed atop a burger. Wow.
88 locals recommend
The Burger's Priest
1636 Queen St ETake-out only burger joint. "The option" is a heavenly (and sinful) cheese-stuffed portabello mushroom, deep friend, and placed atop a burger. Wow.
Amaya Express
1168 Queen St EExcellent (but pricey) upscale Indian take-out.
Although I admit I've never been here, I walk by every few nights and it is ALWAYS busy. French bistro.
18 locals recommend
Table 17
Although I admit I've never been here, I walk by every few nights and it is ALWAYS busy. French bistro.
One of my favourite spots for Ethiopian takeout. The vegetarian platter is wonderful!
27 locals recommend
Rendez-Vous Ethiopian and Eritrean Restaurant
1408 Danforth AveOne of my favourite spots for Ethiopian takeout. The vegetarian platter is wonderful!
Great independent coffee house, quirky place, great squares and cookies, always has a crowd.
45 locals recommend
Tango Palace Coffee Company
1156 Queen St EGreat independent coffee house, quirky place, great squares and cookies, always has a crowd.
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave.Trendy coffee house
An off-the-beaten-path coffee shop that roasts its own beans. For every cup of coffee, the beans are ground fresh. This converted warehouse space is likely to be shared by you and only a few others.
48 locals recommend
Merchants Of Green Coffee
2 Matilda StAn off-the-beaten-path coffee shop that roasts its own beans. For every cup of coffee, the beans are ground fresh. This converted warehouse space is likely to be shared by you and only a few others.
Essentials
A drugstore, but a very convenient place to pick up basic grocery items: milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, bread, etc. Canada Post outlet inside. BUY TTC tokens here with cash or a credit card.
515 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
388 King St WA drugstore, but a very convenient place to pick up basic grocery items: milk, cheese, eggs, cereal, bread, etc. Canada Post outlet inside. BUY TTC tokens here with cash or a credit card.
Dave & Charlotte's No Frills
449 Carlaw AvenueBUDGET grocery store
Great independent cheese shop with friendly staff who are happy to give samples. WICKED grilled cheese sandwiches.
61 locals recommend
Fox Theatre
2236 Queen St EGreat independent cheese shop with friendly staff who are happy to give samples. WICKED grilled cheese sandwiches.
Loblaws
585 Queen St WClosest (non-budget) full-service grocery store.
Great (tiny) bakery selling wonderful almond (or chocolate) croissants, scones, cookies, tastes and a selection of breads.
54 locals recommend
Brick Street Bakery
255 Logan AveGreat (tiny) bakery selling wonderful almond (or chocolate) croissants, scones, cookies, tastes and a selection of breads.
Rowe Farms
Expensive but high quality organic meat and produce.
T&T Supermarket
222 Cherry StLarge Chinese grocery store with a great hot foods section.
Arts & Culture
Alliance Cinemas - The Beach
1651 Queen St EClosest large cinema complex to the loft
Great independent concert venue hosting a wide variety of shows (I've seen Gossip and Temper Trap here, to name a couple)
66 locals recommend
The Opera House
735 Queen St EGreat independent concert venue hosting a wide variety of shows (I've seen Gossip and Temper Trap here, to name a couple)
Sightseeing
Wonderful vehicle-free park. Great for cycling/walking/jogging. It was reclaimed from former port lands and has become a major bird sanctuary.
106 locals recommend
Tommy Thompson Park
1 Leslie StWonderful vehicle-free park. Great for cycling/walking/jogging. It was reclaimed from former port lands and has become a major bird sanctuary.
Centre of Toronto's famous "Beaches" neighbourhood. Long wooden boardwalk, sandy beach, blue flag certified water quality.
7 locals recommend
Kew Beach Avenue
Kewbeach AvenueCentre of Toronto's famous "Beaches" neighbourhood. Long wooden boardwalk, sandy beach, blue flag certified water quality.
This subway stop is in the Centre of Toronto's Greek Town neighbourhood (many restaurants, shops, bakeries)
17 locals recommend
Chester Station - Westbound Platform
22 Chester AveThis subway stop is in the Centre of Toronto's Greek Town neighbourhood (many restaurants, shops, bakeries)
Toronto's famous Little India: lots of restaurants, shops catering to South Asian fashion and serves. Lahore Tika and Udupi Palace are your best bets for food.
15 locals recommend
CZ WHolesale
51 Chelwood RoadToronto's famous Little India: lots of restaurants, shops catering to South Asian fashion and serves. Lahore Tika and Udupi Palace are your best bets for food.
One of Toronto's 5 Chinatowns. Though smaller than the one downtown on Spadina, this one has many good Vietnamese restaurants and a nice Chinese bakery. Runs along Gerrard from Broadview to Logan
East Chinatown Off-Track Wgrng
729 Gerrard Street EastOne of Toronto's 5 Chinatowns. Though smaller than the one downtown on Spadina, this one has many good Vietnamese restaurants and a nice Chinese bakery. Runs along Gerrard from Broadview to Logan
Beautiful neighbourhood that's great for a stroll. Largest collection of Victorian homes in Canada. Large park and Riverdale Farms (mini-zoo). Stunning in the spring with many flowering trees.
97 locals recommend
Cabbagetown
Beautiful neighbourhood that's great for a stroll. Largest collection of Victorian homes in Canada. Large park and Riverdale Farms (mini-zoo). Stunning in the spring with many flowering trees.
Really lovely neighbourhood of historical buildings at the site of Toronto's old liquor distilleries. Cobbled lanes, great shops, an beautiful coffee house called Balzac's, some great restaurants.
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StReally lovely neighbourhood of historical buildings at the site of Toronto's old liquor distilleries. Cobbled lanes, great shops, an beautiful coffee house called Balzac's, some great restaurants.
Everything Else
TRANSPORTATION: From this intersection you can pick up the Queen Streetcar - Westbound (north-east corner) to the city core or East (South-west corner) to The Beaches. Download Rocket Radar App!
Carlaw Ave At Queen St East station
TRANSPORTATION: From this intersection you can pick up the Queen Streetcar - Westbound (north-east corner) to the city core or East (South-west corner) to The Beaches. Download Rocket Radar App!
TRANSPORTATION: From this intersection you can board the Carleton Streetcar. West to the city core (wait on the Northeast corner) or East to Little India (South-west corner) Download Rocket Radar App!
Gerrard St East At Carlaw Ave station
TRANSPORTATION: From this intersection you can board the Carleton Streetcar. West to the city core (wait on the Northeast corner) or East to Little India (South-west corner) Download Rocket Radar App!
Streetcar: You can board the King Streetcar here. Pay attention to the route number and name as both the Queen AND King trams stop at this spot.
Queen St East At Broadview Ave station
Streetcar: You can board the King Streetcar here. Pay attention to the route number and name as both the Queen AND King trams stop at this spot.
Large park with public tennis courts. Less than 5 minutes from the loft.
22 locals recommend
Jimmie Simpson Recreation Centre
870 Queen St ELarge park with public tennis courts. Less than 5 minutes from the loft.
Wonderful trail for cycling/jogging. Can be accessed nearby at Lakeshore Road & Don Roadway or through Riverside Park. 60+ kilometres in length. Long stretched of forested trail. All well-paved.
Lower Don Recreation Trail
Lower Don Recreation TrailWonderful trail for cycling/jogging. Can be accessed nearby at Lakeshore Road & Don Roadway or through Riverside Park. 60+ kilometres in length. Long stretched of forested trail. All well-paved.
Right on the corner, just a couple of minutes from the building, this wine bar has a great menu and large wine selection.
45 locals recommend
Skin+Bones
980 Queen Street EastRight on the corner, just a couple of minutes from the building, this wine bar has a great menu and large wine selection.
Shopping
If you're visiting friends in Toronto and need a nice host gift - this flower shop should be at the top of your list.
Florabunda Inc
1131 Queen St EIf you're visiting friends in Toronto and need a nice host gift - this flower shop should be at the top of your list.
Drinks & Nightlife
The Comrade
758 Queen St EPopular vodka bar
If you like quirky "dive bars", this is one of my favourites. The place isn't sketchy, just very well worn. An eclectic, local crowd and some great Canadian beers on tap like Big Rock Traditional Ale
69 locals recommend
Big Picture Cinema and Stage
1035 Gerrard St EIf you like quirky "dive bars", this is one of my favourites. The place isn't sketchy, just very well worn. An eclectic, local crowd and some great Canadian beers on tap like Big Rock Traditional Ale