Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
The coffee is really solid here, but the vibe is next-to-none. A stone's throw from the St. Lawrence Market, it's ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up and a stroll. The treats are also amazing! A+
44 locals recommend
Fahrenheit Coffee
120 Lombard StThe coffee is really solid here, but the vibe is next-to-none. A stone's throw from the St. Lawrence Market, it's ideal for an afternoon pick-me-up and a stroll. The treats are also amazing! A+
This place is super hip, and a great place to hang your hat for a bit, and for wifi/laptop use. It's a Toronto chain full of baked goodies and a really solid brew.
159 locals recommend
Rooster Coffee House
479 Broadview AveThis place is super hip, and a great place to hang your hat for a bit, and for wifi/laptop use. It's a Toronto chain full of baked goodies and a really solid brew.
Another Toronto chain with an amazing vibe. This location is my favourite, always bustling and in the hub of Queen West shops.
188 locals recommend
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave.Another Toronto chain with an amazing vibe. This location is my favourite, always bustling and in the hub of Queen West shops.
Some of the best coffee in the city, in the heart of Little Italy. These folks do cuppings every Sunday and their baristas are incredibly knowledgeable. Great little spot to hang out for a bit too.
12 locals recommend
Lit Espresso Bar
810 College StreetSome of the best coffee in the city, in the heart of Little Italy. These folks do cuppings every Sunday and their baristas are incredibly knowledgeable. Great little spot to hang out for a bit too.
Breakfast sandwiches, empanadas and impressive espresso abound! These folks are serious about their brew and have a great attitude. More food than the average coffeeshop here.
39 locals recommend
Thor Espresso Bar
35 Bathurst StBreakfast sandwiches, empanadas and impressive espresso abound! These folks are serious about their brew and have a great attitude. More food than the average coffeeshop here.
An awesome brother and sister duo whose kindness is matched only by their amazing espresso, this little shop is worth checking out. Lots of tasty treats and always a great conversation. Cash only.
37 locals recommend
Red Line Coffee
354 Queen St EAn awesome brother and sister duo whose kindness is matched only by their amazing espresso, this little shop is worth checking out. Lots of tasty treats and always a great conversation. Cash only.
One of my favourites. Really great place for a meal and a drink, or just drinks. Canadiana-type fare. Great rooftop patio. This is the kind of place you can stay all night.
23 locals recommend
Czehoski
678 Queen St WOne of my favourites. Really great place for a meal and a drink, or just drinks. Canadiana-type fare. Great rooftop patio. This is the kind of place you can stay all night.
Super super tasty tacos. Like, the best. Try the vegetarian one because holy. One of the best Mexican spots in the city and always really packed (but things move quickly, don't worry). Yes. Go.
239 locals recommend
La Carnita
501 College StSuper super tasty tacos. Like, the best. Try the vegetarian one because holy. One of the best Mexican spots in the city and always really packed (but things move quickly, don't worry). Yes. Go.
Some of the best food ever, according to carnivores everywhere. I heard somewhere that this place set out to prove that vegan food doesn't mean healthy food. And boy did they succeed. So good.
76 locals recommend
The Hogtown Vegan
1056 Bloor St WSome of the best food ever, according to carnivores everywhere. I heard somewhere that this place set out to prove that vegan food doesn't mean healthy food. And boy did they succeed. So good.
Brunch: these folks do it. Super well. Outrageously well. If you're going for brunch in Toronto (and we so love our brunch), this is the place to start. The daily specials are always outstanding.
112 locals recommend
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WBrunch: these folks do it. Super well. Outrageously well. If you're going for brunch in Toronto (and we so love our brunch), this is the place to start. The daily specials are always outstanding.
This is chef Jamie Kennedy's baby. It has a wicked Sunday brunch, and really really delicious Canadiana the rest of the week. Dinner is beautifully paired with wine. Very meat-&-potatoes, great steak.
16 locals recommend
Gilead Café & Wine Bar
4 Gilead PlaceThis is chef Jamie Kennedy's baby. It has a wicked Sunday brunch, and really really delicious Canadiana the rest of the week. Dinner is beautifully paired with wine. Very meat-&-potatoes, great steak.
Another great steak place, and outstanding homemade pasta. It's BYOB and they wave the corkage fee on Sundays. Their weekend brunch is incredibly well-priced and so, so good. Mimosas, anyone?
18 locals recommend
Table 17
Another great steak place, and outstanding homemade pasta. It's BYOB and they wave the corkage fee on Sundays. Their weekend brunch is incredibly well-priced and so, so good. Mimosas, anyone?
This place is tied (thai'd?) with Khao San Road as the best Thai in Toronto. Their garlic tofu is something I have had full-on dreams about. Heavenly.
60 locals recommend
sukhoTHAI
460 Front St EThis place is tied (thai'd?) with Khao San Road as the best Thai in Toronto. Their garlic tofu is something I have had full-on dreams about. Heavenly.
This place is tied (thai'd) with Sukho Thai as the best Thai in Toronto. Holy squash fritters. My partner and I routinely order takeout from there and finish the fritters before we get home. So good.
199 locals recommend
Khao San Road
11 Charlotte StThis place is tied (thai'd) with Sukho Thai as the best Thai in Toronto. Holy squash fritters. My partner and I routinely order takeout from there and finish the fritters before we get home. So good.
THE BEST INDIAN. Seriously great value, and seriously delicious. If you like indian and need to get a craving satisfied, this is the place to go.
158 locals recommend
Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WTHE BEST INDIAN. Seriously great value, and seriously delicious. If you like indian and need to get a craving satisfied, this is the place to go.
Ethiopian is so tasty. And Nunu does a great job of capturing the Torontonian vibe while also honouring tradition and making outstanding eats. They also do great cocktails here. Beautiful interiors.
27 locals recommend
Nunu Ethiopian Fusion
1178 Queen St WEthiopian is so tasty. And Nunu does a great job of capturing the Torontonian vibe while also honouring tradition and making outstanding eats. They also do great cocktails here. Beautiful interiors.
This place is touted as some of the best Ethiopian in the city. It's dark and got a bar vibe, while delivering the giant platters of delicious flavours you come to expect from delicious Ethiopian.
71 locals recommend
Nazareth
969 Bloor Street WestThis place is touted as some of the best Ethiopian in the city. It's dark and got a bar vibe, while delivering the giant platters of delicious flavours you come to expect from delicious Ethiopian.
This place has outstanding food and impressive cocktails. Interesting, creative plates. Definitely a hip, laid-back way to spend an evening in a great neighbourhood.
22 locals recommend
Mr. Flamingo
1265 Dundas St WThis place has outstanding food and impressive cocktails. Interesting, creative plates. Definitely a hip, laid-back way to spend an evening in a great neighbourhood.
The Wilco-themed sandwich shop. All of their (incredibly reasonably priced) sandwiches are named after Wilco songs. Bread baked in-house. Not wishful thinking. It's just that simple.
Sky Blue Sky Sandwiches
605 Bloor Street WestThe Wilco-themed sandwich shop. All of their (incredibly reasonably priced) sandwiches are named after Wilco songs. Bread baked in-house. Not wishful thinking. It's just that simple.
Solid brunch spot. But this place really shines for their drunk food (they're open 24hrs). Is that terrible to say? They're always amazing, but getting an A+ meal at 3am never tasted so good.
105 locals recommend
Thompson Diner
550 Wellington St WSolid brunch spot. But this place really shines for their drunk food (they're open 24hrs). Is that terrible to say? They're always amazing, but getting an A+ meal at 3am never tasted so good.
Solid fare and great wine list. It's super warm and inviting, that's not too fancy and very well priced. The service really stands out here; they hire really great people who are super helpful & kind.
22 locals recommend
Harvest Kitchen
124 Harbord StSolid fare and great wine list. It's super warm and inviting, that's not too fancy and very well priced. The service really stands out here; they hire really great people who are super helpful & kind.
The best Greek meal in the city! Great sharing plates, and one of the best places to go with a group. Sometimes they light cheese on fire. Definitely order that. Opa!
39 locals recommend
Mezes
440 Danforth AveThe best Greek meal in the city! Great sharing plates, and one of the best places to go with a group. Sometimes they light cheese on fire. Definitely order that. Opa!
This is a bakery, technically. Such delicious croissants and italian baking, both sweet & savoury. A beautiful communal seating area upstairs. Great spot to stop in during your walk on Queen West.
72 locals recommend
Sud Forno
716 Queen St WThis is a bakery, technically. Such delicious croissants and italian baking, both sweet & savoury. A beautiful communal seating area upstairs. Great spot to stop in during your walk on Queen West.
Although substantially pricier than your average Sushi bar, this is one of the best sushi experiences that you can have in Canada. Sit at the bar, set your price limit, and order chef Hiro's choice.
6 locals recommend
Hiro Sushi
171 King St EAlthough substantially pricier than your average Sushi bar, this is one of the best sushi experiences that you can have in Canada. Sit at the bar, set your price limit, and order chef Hiro's choice.
Go here for dinner. Beautiful, inventive cocktails and tapas, and overall unique dining experience. Great coffee/light baking during the day.
119 locals recommend
Portland Variety
587 King St WGo here for dinner. Beautiful, inventive cocktails and tapas, and overall unique dining experience. Great coffee/light baking during the day.
This is a favourite for sure. Beautiful tapas with an old-world vibe. People seriously swear by this place. It's super lively and fun, and offers BYOB (with a $25 corkage fee). A Toronto must-try.
232 locals recommend
Bar Isabel
797 College StThis is a favourite for sure. Beautiful tapas with an old-world vibe. People seriously swear by this place. It's super lively and fun, and offers BYOB (with a $25 corkage fee). A Toronto must-try.
Drinks & Nightlife
Our favourite bar in the city. With theme nights, an incredible craft beer lineup, and tasty bar snacks, this place is so so solid. It's also in the heart of Kensington Market which doesnt hurt.
27 locals recommend
Handlebar
159 Augusta AveOur favourite bar in the city. With theme nights, an incredible craft beer lineup, and tasty bar snacks, this place is so so solid. It's also in the heart of Kensington Market which doesnt hurt.
Our favourite live venue in the city. Drinks are nothing too special here (some craft, house wine), but this is definitely where you go for a live show. The intimate stage makes for a perfect night.
352 locals recommend
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestOur favourite live venue in the city. Drinks are nothing too special here (some craft, house wine), but this is definitely where you go for a live show. The intimate stage makes for a perfect night.
The perfect quaint little bar to have an awesome conversation. It's truely tiny, but a magical little local that is worth hovering to get a table. Pretty stacked in the spirits department.
93 locals recommend
Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St WThe perfect quaint little bar to have an awesome conversation. It's truely tiny, but a magical little local that is worth hovering to get a table. Pretty stacked in the spirits department.
Tequila bar! This place is a blast. They have a jazz band many nights, and an awesome selection of sipping tequila and mezcal. Definitely the place to go for Tequila in Toronto.
101 locals recommend
Reposado
136 Ossington AveTequila bar! This place is a blast. They have a jazz band many nights, and an awesome selection of sipping tequila and mezcal. Definitely the place to go for Tequila in Toronto.
Loud, fast, and fun. When you go on a busy night (Thu-Sat nights), this place is nuts and a total blast. Yummy beers on tap and full of retro arcade games to keep you busy.
154 locals recommend
Get Well
1181 Dundas Street WestLoud, fast, and fun. When you go on a busy night (Thu-Sat nights), this place is nuts and a total blast. Yummy beers on tap and full of retro arcade games to keep you busy.
Craft beer. This place carries all of them. It's stacked with local craft bottles and Ontario wine and rotate things often to keep things fresh.
45 locals recommend
Bar Volo
582 Church StreetCraft beer. This place carries all of them. It's stacked with local craft bottles and Ontario wine and rotate things often to keep things fresh.
Cute little upscale dive (is that a thing? I'm making it one). Definitely a local watering hole. Great bourbon list and amazing house DJ, with the occasional movie night. This place is just awesome.
14 locals recommend
Hitch Limited
1216 Queen St ECute little upscale dive (is that a thing? I'm making it one). Definitely a local watering hole. Great bourbon list and amazing house DJ, with the occasional movie night. This place is just awesome.
Tiny delicious snacks (really really delicious) and great wine list. Super hip place, with a great vibe. I find this to be a great place to stop in at for a taste of all things yum.
164 locals recommend
416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst StTiny delicious snacks (really really delicious) and great wine list. Super hip place, with a great vibe. I find this to be a great place to stop in at for a taste of all things yum.
Great great vibe. Definitely a cultural hotbed in the city. Trivia on Wednesdays stands out as a really good time. There's always lots going on here.
538 locals recommend
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WGreat great vibe. Definitely a cultural hotbed in the city. Trivia on Wednesdays stands out as a really good time. There's always lots going on here.
This is a great spot to watch the game, or have some super tasty bar food. A way-above-average pub with solid drink offerings. Gets pretty loud later in the evening as things pick up.
352 locals recommend
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestThis is a great spot to watch the game, or have some super tasty bar food. A way-above-average pub with solid drink offerings. Gets pretty loud later in the evening as things pick up.
COCKTAILS. Known for being the hub of molecular gastronomy in Toronto, this place delivers an absolutely unreal cocktail. They will do weird things. You will consume it. And it will be awe-inspiring.
145 locals recommend
BarChef
472 Queen St WCOCKTAILS. Known for being the hub of molecular gastronomy in Toronto, this place delivers an absolutely unreal cocktail. They will do weird things. You will consume it. And it will be awe-inspiring.
Arts & Culture
This is a great spot to catch a film. Lots of indie flicks and the occasional documentary. It's also attached to a couple of amazing restaurants which makes for a great dinner + movie combo.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WThis is a great spot to catch a film. Lots of indie flicks and the occasional documentary. It's also attached to a couple of amazing restaurants which makes for a great dinner + movie combo.
If you love documentaries, you have to stop in at the Hot Docs cinema. They have phenomenal programming and it's a great, cozy theatre. The area is great for a wander and amazing Japanese/Korean food.
161 locals recommend
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
506 Bloor St WIf you love documentaries, you have to stop in at the Hot Docs cinema. They have phenomenal programming and it's a great, cozy theatre. The area is great for a wander and amazing Japanese/Korean food.
The Distillery District is a great place to wander and relax. It combines turn-of-the-century architecture with charming shops, galleries, and restaurants. You can tour Mill St Brewery as well.
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StThe Distillery District is a great place to wander and relax. It combines turn-of-the-century architecture with charming shops, galleries, and restaurants. You can tour Mill St Brewery as well.
Sightseeing
A Toronto gem, Steamwhistle earns its name from doing one thing really really well: beer. The tour of the roundhouse is a fun afternoon activity in the heart of tourist town.
334 locals recommend
Steam Whistle Brewing
255 Bremner BlvdA Toronto gem, Steamwhistle earns its name from doing one thing really really well: beer. The tour of the roundhouse is a fun afternoon activity in the heart of tourist town.