All my favourite places... in one little book
Sightseeing
Here are the top things to see in Toronto... in my humble opinion. Normally if people ask me about sightseeing I say that there aren't that many great sights, but there is amazing opportunity to try authentic cuisine from all over the world and sip some lovely cocktails! ;)
I think this is the one true attraction in Toronto. Must do, so you can say you've been up there. :) You can also make a reservation and have dinner in the revolving restaurant on top!
3509 locals recommend
CN Tower
290 Bremner BlvdI think this is the one true attraction in Toronto. Must do, so you can say you've been up there. :) You can also make a reservation and have dinner in the revolving restaurant on top!
A Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto that is now a historic house museum
1217 locals recommend
Casa Loma
1 Austin Terrace A Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto that is now a historic house museum
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
288 Bremner BlvdOpen 365 days a year - 20,000 aquatic animals.
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkLovely place to check out if you'd like to go to a museum!
Great area to visit for an afternoon. You can browse all the shops, have great coffee at Arvo and grab a beer at Mill Street brewery. Also has a GREAT Mexican restaurant called El Catrin
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StGreat area to visit for an afternoon. You can browse all the shops, have great coffee at Arvo and grab a beer at Mill Street brewery. Also has a GREAT Mexican restaurant called El Catrin
Parks & Nature
A mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo.
1205 locals recommend
High Park
1873 Bloor St WA mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo.
The park sits atop the now buried Garrison Creek and features three ball diamonds, eight tennis courts, two volleyball courts, an artificial ice rink, a dog off-leash area, a picnic area, a wading pool and a children's playground. Located in the south-west section of the park is the Trinity Community Recreation Centre.
743 locals recommend
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WThe park sits atop the now buried Garrison Creek and features three ball diamonds, eight tennis courts, two volleyball courts, an artificial ice rink, a dog off-leash area, a picnic area, a wading pool and a children's playground. Located in the south-west section of the park is the Trinity Community Recreation Centre.
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
Food & Restaurants
Here are my favourite restaurants for you :) Enjoy!
An excellent Thai place in the neighbourhood. Very busy, but excellent food and only 5 minutes from my place. NO reservations, sadly.
266 locals recommend
PAI
18 Duncan StAn excellent Thai place in the neighbourhood. Very busy, but excellent food and only 5 minutes from my place. NO reservations, sadly.
Mmmm...if you want simple but amazing Italian food. This is the place to go on Queen West!
445 locals recommend
Terroni
720 Queen St WMmmm...if you want simple but amazing Italian food. This is the place to go on Queen West!
Kibo Sushi King
36 Charlotte StCheap but very good sushi spot. Perfect for take-out!
Casual and great VEGAN restaurant that I love going to. Try the quinoa onion rings - sooo good.
135 locals recommend
Fresh on Spadina
5031 Spadina Ave.Casual and great VEGAN restaurant that I love going to. Try the quinoa onion rings - sooo good.
Fancy spot for high-end dining. Belongs to Toronto's fanciest restaurant Alo (which books up to 2 months in advance) which is upstairs.
35 locals recommend
Aloette Restaurant
163 Spadina Ave.Fancy spot for high-end dining. Belongs to Toronto's fanciest restaurant Alo (which books up to 2 months in advance) which is upstairs.
Great, casual FRENCH spot. Always great for dinner - try the steak frites.
50 locals recommend
Jules Bistro
147 Spadina Ave.Great, casual FRENCH spot. Always great for dinner - try the steak frites.
The Burger's Priest
463 Queen St WYes, go there for hamburgers.
Amazing, authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese food. Try their steamed pork dumplings.
81 locals recommend
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.Amazing, authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese food. Try their steamed pork dumplings.
Peter Pan Bistro
373 Queen St WLovely spot for dinner and brunch. A real local's spot!
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
12 Brant StBest steakhouse in the city - and close to my place :)
Campechano Taquería
504 Adelaide St WLove this taco place!
Ikkousha Ramen Toronto
249 Queen St WExcellent spot for ramen, close to my place.
Shopping
Mall offerings include hundreds of brand name stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
2460 locals recommend
CF Toronto Eaton Centre
220 Yonge StMall offerings include hundreds of brand name stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
Named the second coolest neighbourhood in the world by Vogue magazine, the uber-trendy two-kilometre Queen Street strip between Bathurst and Gladstone is home to some of the city’s most cutting edge boutiques among the art galleries and hip bars and restaurants. Shoppers can be sure that the street style around these parts will be as intriguing as what’s in the stores.
723 locals recommend
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestNamed the second coolest neighbourhood in the world by Vogue magazine, the uber-trendy two-kilometre Queen Street strip between Bathurst and Gladstone is home to some of the city’s most cutting edge boutiques among the art galleries and hip bars and restaurants. Shoppers can be sure that the street style around these parts will be as intriguing as what’s in the stores.
A store that has everything and is a lot of fun to browse around in! Go check it out when you are in Kensington market.
26 locals recommend
Blue Banana Market
250 Augusta AveA store that has everything and is a lot of fun to browse around in! Go check it out when you are in Kensington market.
BRIKA
642 Queen St WVery cute little store that has a bit of everything.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a very fancy place for cocktails... again about only a 5-min walk from my place on Queen West. If you want to have a fancy evening this is your palce!
145 locals recommend
BarChef
472 Queen St WThis is a very fancy place for cocktails... again about only a 5-min walk from my place on Queen West. If you want to have a fancy evening this is your palce!
Think this is a cool spot, 10-min walk from my place. Great place if you like Tequila and Mezcal!
25 locals recommend
El Rey Mezcal Bar
2a Kensington AveThink this is a cool spot, 10-min walk from my place. Great place if you like Tequila and Mezcal!
Fun spot for a casual evening with live music. Very close to my condo!
88 locals recommend
Cameron House
408 Queen St WFun spot for a casual evening with live music. Very close to my condo!
Sooo... this is kinda cool. It is a secret/hidden restaurant (ok, well it is listed on Google, so probably not THAT secret), but still cool to visit because there are no signs outside on purpose. In fact, it will be hard for you to find it at first try. Check it out... it's very hipster!
96 locals recommend
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street WestSooo... this is kinda cool. It is a secret/hidden restaurant (ok, well it is listed on Google, so probably not THAT secret), but still cool to visit because there are no signs outside on purpose. In fact, it will be hard for you to find it at first try. Check it out... it's very hipster!
Neighbourhoods
My amazing neighbourhood - there is so much to explore. Just wander down Queen street from my place towards the west... you can walk and walk and walk and not get bored!
723 locals recommend
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestMy amazing neighbourhood - there is so much to explore. Just wander down Queen street from my place towards the west... you can walk and walk and walk and not get bored!
Ok, so I LOVE Kensington market. Please go to this hipster/hippie area while you're visiting. It's a lot of fun, cute coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall restos and just fun to hang out.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Ok, so I LOVE Kensington market. Please go to this hipster/hippie area while you're visiting. It's a lot of fun, cute coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall restos and just fun to hang out.
Very close to my condo and a TON of authentic Chinese restaurants. My go-to is MOTHER'S DUMPLINGS, close to Spadina and College.
740 locals recommend
Chinatown
292 Spadina Ave.Very close to my condo and a TON of authentic Chinese restaurants. My go-to is MOTHER'S DUMPLINGS, close to Spadina and College.
Great place to spend an afternoon! Excellent Mexican restaurant. During Christmas time they have a beautiful market, but very overpriced and long lines to get in.
1677 locals recommend
Distillery District
Great place to spend an afternoon! Excellent Mexican restaurant. During Christmas time they have a beautiful market, but very overpriced and long lines to get in.
GREAT area for dinner, drinks, brunch, live music, shopping or all of the above!
199 locals recommend
Ossington Avenue
Ossington AvenueGREAT area for dinner, drinks, brunch, live music, shopping or all of the above!
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
Coffee shops
So, let's get real. This is my FAVOURITE coffee shop place in the neighbourhood. They keep winning an award for best chocolate chip cookie of the year (yes, that exists). Must visit!!
They also do a great brunch/lunch menu!
65 locals recommend
Le Gourmand
152 Spadina Ave.So, let's get real. This is my FAVOURITE coffee shop place in the neighbourhood. They keep winning an award for best chocolate chip cookie of the year (yes, that exists). Must visit!!
They also do a great brunch/lunch menu!
HotBlack Coffee
245 Queen St WGreat coffee spot as well - close to my home. Check it out!
Strange Love Coffee
101 Spadina Ave.Also very good coffee - close by!
Pilot Coffee Roasters
50 Wagstaff DrAnother great place for coffee, close to my place.
Sud Forno
716 Queen St WGreat, authentic, Italian coffee shop with delicious pastries.