Toronto Guidebook
Nomnomnomnom
The Toronto food scene is incredibly diverse! In this list I’ve tried to include the best options from every type of cuisine we have. Check out the “in the neighbourhood” sections for places close to home!
Unbelievably good sandwiches! My favourite snack for an afternoon in Bellwoods park!
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Porchetta & Co
825 Dundas St WUnbelievably good sandwiches! My favourite snack for an afternoon in Bellwoods park!
For those with a sweet tooth - some of the city’s best pastries and desserts 🧁
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Nadège Patisserie
780 Queen St WFor those with a sweet tooth - some of the city’s best pastries and desserts 🧁
Tibetan restaurant in Parkdale. Momos best served on a snowy winter day!
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Om Restaurant
1439 Queen St WTibetan restaurant in Parkdale. Momos best served on a snowy winter day!
Delicious Iranian food & really nice family vibes. Super close as well!
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Pomegranate Restaurant
420 College StDelicious Iranian food & really nice family vibes. Super close as well!
Cash only & quick service. The best pho in the city IMO. There can sometimes be a bit of a wait for a table.
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Pho Linh
1156 College StCash only & quick service. The best pho in the city IMO. There can sometimes be a bit of a wait for a table.
Traditional Filipino fare. If you’re up for it I recommend the Boodeli tasting menu, served on banana leaves.
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iSLAS FILIPINO BBQ & BAR
1690 Queen St WTraditional Filipino fare. If you’re up for it I recommend the Boodeli tasting menu, served on banana leaves.
You didn’t know you wanted Jamaican Italian fusion food but here it is! A takeout counter in Kensington Market.
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Rasta Pasta
61 Kensington AveYou didn’t know you wanted Jamaican Italian fusion food but here it is! A takeout counter in Kensington Market.
Traditional polish food. The service is a bit slow but the servings are big and hearty. Come hungry!
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Cafe Polonez
195 Roncesvalles AveTraditional polish food. The service is a bit slow but the servings are big and hearty. Come hungry!
Bustling eatery serving small Japanese plates and sake.
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Guu Izakaya
1314 Queen St WBustling eatery serving small Japanese plates and sake.
Serving up delicious Aboriginal dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
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Tea N Bannock
1294 Gerrard St EServing up delicious Aboriginal dishes made with locally sourced ingredients.
This tiny Italian restaurant is so good people will wait in line for an hour for it. Get there right when they open to avoid the line!
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Sugo
1281 Bloor St WThis tiny Italian restaurant is so good people will wait in line for an hour for it. Get there right when they open to avoid the line!
Guaranteed to leave extremely full and with leftovers
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Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WGuaranteed to leave extremely full and with leftovers
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.Chinatown classic for dumplings!
Honest Weight
2766 Dundas St WFish counter with intimate lunch and dinner menus.
Nicaraguan home style meals made simple and with care
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La Bella Managua
872 Bloor St WNicaraguan home style meals made simple and with care
Ramen Isshin
421 College StA perfect bowl of ramen close to home!
Intricate Greek dishes served in a beautiful setting
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Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossington AveIntricate Greek dishes served in a beautiful setting
RUDY
619 College StReally really really good burgers 🍔
In the neighbourhood
Places and things within a 15 minute walk from the apartment
Cafe by day, cocktail bar by night, and my favourite place in the whole city. The owners Alison & Sunny are the loveliest of people, the snacks are delicious, the drinks to die for. Walking into this place is like coming home ❤️
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The Walton
607 College StCafe by day, cocktail bar by night, and my favourite place in the whole city. The owners Alison & Sunny are the loveliest of people, the snacks are delicious, the drinks to die for. Walking into this place is like coming home ❤️
Local coffee shop w excellent pastries and sandwiches. Note there is no wifi at this place, better suited for some chit chat or a good book.
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Manic Coffee
426 College StLocal coffee shop w excellent pastries and sandwiches. Note there is no wifi at this place, better suited for some chit chat or a good book.
Everything you need & on budget. It is open from 7AM-12AM daily.
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FreshCo
22 Northcote AveEverything you need & on budget. It is open from 7AM-12AM daily.
This is where you buy alcohol! My favourite local craft breweries are Woodhouse and Great Lakes.
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LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.This is where you buy alcohol! My favourite local craft breweries are Woodhouse and Great Lakes.
Tucked away on a side street this tiny Vietnamese snack bar has the best ceviche in the city and excellent cocktails.
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Pinky's Ca Phe
50c Clinton StTucked away on a side street this tiny Vietnamese snack bar has the best ceviche in the city and excellent cocktails.
Perfect for a rainy afternoon or the gaming enthusiast. A whole row of pinball machines and tons of other arcade classics. 5$ entry gets you free play all night. If you find yourself in the mood for some junk food the pogo stick is out of this world so-bad-for-you-but-sooooo-good.
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Tilt Arcade Bar
1255 Dundas St WPerfect for a rainy afternoon or the gaming enthusiast. A whole row of pinball machines and tons of other arcade classics. 5$ entry gets you free play all night. If you find yourself in the mood for some junk food the pogo stick is out of this world so-bad-for-you-but-sooooo-good.
Fried chicken counter. Sandwiches are the best bang for your buck!
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P.G Clucks
610 College StFried chicken counter. Sandwiches are the best bang for your buck!
Virtuous Pie
611 College StGreat vegan 🍕
Right across the street! Late night snacks & possibly every board game ever made. 5$ entry
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Snakes & Lattes College
489 College StRight across the street! Late night snacks & possibly every board game ever made. 5$ entry
Neighbourhood breakfast staple. Get there early to avoid the line and remember it’s cash only!
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Aunties & Uncles
74 Lippincott StNeighbourhood breakfast staple. Get there early to avoid the line and remember it’s cash only!
If my research is correct then this 9$ shawarma wrap is almost guaranteed to ward off a hangover after a night of drinking 😎
Istanbul Shawarma
430 College StIf my research is correct then this 9$ shawarma wrap is almost guaranteed to ward off a hangover after a night of drinking 😎
What an institution! Legendary nachos & legendary grunge!
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Sneaky Dee's
431 College StWhat an institution! Legendary nachos & legendary grunge!
I refuse to go to any other theatre! Great programming, cool events & extra butter!
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The Royal Cinema
608 College StI refuse to go to any other theatre! Great programming, cool events & extra butter!
Paaarrrrtttttyyyy
Get lit 🔥
Latin club couple blocks away. There’s a drag show at midnight and then it’s back to non stop dancing. Line gets very long after 11 so try to get there before that. 15$ cover
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El Convento Rico
750 College StLatin club couple blocks away. There’s a drag show at midnight and then it’s back to non stop dancing. Line gets very long after 11 so try to get there before that. 15$ cover
A Village Institution! Multiple rooms and a main stage with drag shows all night long. 10$ cover.
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Crews & Tangos
508 Church StA Village Institution! Multiple rooms and a main stage with drag shows all night long. 10$ cover.
Rotating art exhibits, dancing, comedy, etc etc etc! Check their calendar to see what’s going on.
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Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen St WRotating art exhibits, dancing, comedy, etc etc etc! Check their calendar to see what’s going on.
I think everyone in this city has a story about this pub! Multiple levels all with a different vibe (dancing, pool, etc). Pretty chill on weekdays and pretty wild on the weekend!
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Madison
14 Madison AveI think everyone in this city has a story about this pub! Multiple levels all with a different vibe (dancing, pool, etc). Pretty chill on weekdays and pretty wild on the weekend!
Comedy Bar
945 Bloor St WGo to for comedy in Toronto!
The pool is cheap, the beers are cold and it’s kinda falling apart but that’s the charm of it eh?
Annex Billiards Club
507 Bloor St WThe pool is cheap, the beers are cold and it’s kinda falling apart but that’s the charm of it eh?
Free Stuff
Sometimes you just don’t wanna spend money!!
The conservancy is the perfect humid pit stop on a winter afternoon. To be honest the southeast end of this park borders on a rough neighbourhood so I would stick to the conservancy and find a different park to explore!
Allan Gardens
160 Gerrard Street EastThe conservancy is the perfect humid pit stop on a winter afternoon. To be honest the southeast end of this park borders on a rough neighbourhood so I would stick to the conservancy and find a different park to explore!
The perfect place for a sunny lazy afternoon. Grab a beer and a sandwich and enjoy the people watching. (Note drinking in parks is technically illegal but no one is enforcing it). Feel free to borrow a blanket from under the couch seat!
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen Street WestThe perfect place for a sunny lazy afternoon. Grab a beer and a sandwich and enjoy the people watching. (Note drinking in parks is technically illegal but no one is enforcing it). Feel free to borrow a blanket from under the couch seat!
Unfortunately not an amusement park anymore, just a regular park! There are usually some events going on in and around this park to check out!
Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Boulevard WestUnfortunately not an amusement park anymore, just a regular park! There are usually some events going on in and around this park to check out!
Right on the beautiful lakeshore this venue often has rotating museum exhibits, music events, markets, etc!
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Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay WRight on the beautiful lakeshore this venue often has rotating museum exhibits, music events, markets, etc!
^ the photos here really don’t do this park justice. It has a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline (perfect for a photo!) and it’s the perfect place to watch the sun set. If you’re feeling up for the walk I would do here and to the other side of the park and check out Riverdale farm!
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Riverdale Park
425 Carlton St^ the photos here really don’t do this park justice. It has a beautiful view of the Toronto skyline (perfect for a photo!) and it’s the perfect place to watch the sun set. If you’re feeling up for the walk I would do here and to the other side of the park and check out Riverdale farm!
Sightseeing
Ok so Toronto isn’t exactly known for its architecture (unless you love concrete from 1979 and glass from 2013) but the UofT campus is stunning.
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Università ta 'Toronto
27 King's College CirOk so Toronto isn’t exactly known for its architecture (unless you love concrete from 1979 and glass from 2013) but the UofT campus is stunning.
Summertime classic! Take the ferry (8.19$ - highly recommend taking a look at the schedule and buying your ticket online to skip the massive line) across the water to the island. You’ll get a great photo opp with the skyline in the background. Once on the island there’s a small amusement park, restaurants, and beaches.
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Toronto Islands
Summertime classic! Take the ferry (8.19$ - highly recommend taking a look at the schedule and buying your ticket online to skip the massive line) across the water to the island. You’ll get a great photo opp with the skyline in the background. Once on the island there’s a small amusement park, restaurants, and beaches.
This neighbourhood is right out of a movie! Lovely converted factories. There are often festivals, markets, shows going on.
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Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StThis neighbourhood is right out of a movie! Lovely converted factories. There are often festivals, markets, shows going on.
*An alternative to the CN tower*
Hear me out. For about the same price as the CN tower you can have lunch in this beautiful skyscraper restaurant. The views are *almost* as good and you can skip the line and screaming kids. (Reservation recommended)
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Canoe
66 Wellington St W*An alternative to the CN tower*
Hear me out. For about the same price as the CN tower you can have lunch in this beautiful skyscraper restaurant. The views are *almost* as good and you can skip the line and screaming kids. (Reservation recommended)
A cute little park, perfect for a quick sit down if you’re walking through downtown (financial district & st Lawrence market)
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Berczy Park
35 Wellington St EA cute little park, perfect for a quick sit down if you’re walking through downtown (financial district & st Lawrence market)
Bars & Breweries
Toronto sure loves to drink!
My favourite craft brewery in Toronto! Snacks are as interesting and unique as their beers. They also have one of the best music halls in the city and it’s always worth it to see who’s playing.
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Burdock Brewery
1184 Bloor St WMy favourite craft brewery in Toronto! Snacks are as interesting and unique as their beers. They also have one of the best music halls in the city and it’s always worth it to see who’s playing.
Well rounded and unique cocktail list. They bring in Vietnamese snacks from a great place called Vit Beo.
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Civil Liberties
878 Bloor St WWell rounded and unique cocktail list. They bring in Vietnamese snacks from a great place called Vit Beo.
Quaint cocktail bar with great wine & beer. Minimal snacks but lots of charm.
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Northern Belle
913 Dundas St WQuaint cocktail bar with great wine & beer. Minimal snacks but lots of charm.
Delicious snacks and a great beer list. The patio is a great place to be in the summer!
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Bandit Brewery
2125 Dundas St WDelicious snacks and a great beer list. The patio is a great place to be in the summer!
Made Toronto craft beer famous. It’s usually pretty busy but the bottle shop is always open!
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Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveMade Toronto craft beer famous. It’s usually pretty busy but the bottle shop is always open!
In the chichi Yorkville neighbourhood but mostly pretentious free. One of the only places to get a perfect cask ale!
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The Oxley Public House
121 Yorkville AveIn the chichi Yorkville neighbourhood but mostly pretentious free. One of the only places to get a perfect cask ale!
Slinging sliders n beer. Yellow will be you’re favourite colour by the time you leave!
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Pennies
127 Strachan AveSlinging sliders n beer. Yellow will be you’re favourite colour by the time you leave!
The novelty is all you need! Oh and a bunch of rum!
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The Shameful Tiki Room Toronto
1378 Queen St WThe novelty is all you need! Oh and a bunch of rum!
Wine bar down the street. Super interesting wine list that delights. They bring in very very good DJs most nights.
The Little Jerry
418 College StWine bar down the street. Super interesting wine list that delights. They bring in very very good DJs most nights.
Shopping
Treat yourself (or your loved ones)!
Miss Pippa's
1158 College StWine and cheese bar that also sells a selection of unique and curated gifts.
You could spend all day in this store and still not see it all!
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Ransack The Universe
1207 Bloor St WYou could spend all day in this store and still not see it all!
Books books books more books and then a lot of records. Highly recommend if you’re strolling through the Annex!
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BMV
Spadina AvenueBooks books books more books and then a lot of records. Highly recommend if you’re strolling through the Annex!