Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Voted one of the best coffee shops in the city. Not much seating, so its mostly a takeout place, but its right downstairs.
They are also known for their Butter Coffee
456 Ossington Ave
456 Ossington AvenueVoted one of the best coffee shops in the city. Not much seating, so its mostly a takeout place, but its right downstairs.
They are also known for their Butter Coffee
The best Vietnamese Pho soup Toronto has to offer.
It is quite an old restaurant that started when the area used to have a large Vietnamese population.
51 locals recommend
Pho Linh
1156 College StThe best Vietnamese Pho soup Toronto has to offer.
It is quite an old restaurant that started when the area used to have a large Vietnamese population.
In the heart of little Korea, this is a very specialized Soon Tofu restaurant that is rightfully popular.
If you do like Korean food, don't miss it.
74 locals recommend
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
691 Bloor St WIn the heart of little Korea, this is a very specialized Soon Tofu restaurant that is rightfully popular.
If you do like Korean food, don't miss it.
A late night Tex/Mex hangout that has been a Toronto institution for years. (popular with students)
The food is alright, but the atmosphere is VERY rustic, and it has a down and dirty character.
131 locals recommend
Sneaky Dee's
431 College StA late night Tex/Mex hangout that has been a Toronto institution for years. (popular with students)
The food is alright, but the atmosphere is VERY rustic, and it has a down and dirty character.
Tim Hortons
120 Fort York BlvdThis is a 24 hour Donut shop
This is a Korean restaurant good at all around Korean food that I would recommend in Korea town.
25 locals recommend
Sunrise House
661 Bloor St WThis is a Korean restaurant good at all around Korean food that I would recommend in Korea town.
This is a games cafe. You pay a fee per person to stay there, and you can play a variety of games they have with your friends.
Not my thing, but its quite popular and they now have two locations.
77 locals recommend
Snakes & Lattes Annex
600 Bloor St WThis is a games cafe. You pay a fee per person to stay there, and you can play a variety of games they have with your friends.
Not my thing, but its quite popular and they now have two locations.
This is a tiny boutique sweet bakers that is EXTREMELY popular (especially in the summer)
I must admit, even tho I don't have a sweet tooth, I am in love with their cookies!
113 locals recommend
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware AveThis is a tiny boutique sweet bakers that is EXTREMELY popular (especially in the summer)
I must admit, even tho I don't have a sweet tooth, I am in love with their cookies!
This is a large casual self serve cafe (patio has full service), that is open late.
It is one of the best places for people watching.
Not a fan of the food here, but good for coffee and cakes.
43 locals recommend
Future Bistro
483 Bloor St WThis is a large casual self serve cafe (patio has full service), that is open late.
It is one of the best places for people watching.
Not a fan of the food here, but good for coffee and cakes.
I am Iranian background, and to me this is hipster Iranian food.
However its good food, and if you cant make it to North York or Richmond Hill. Then its a worthwhile experience downtown.
32 locals recommend
Pomegranate Restaurant
420 College StI am Iranian background, and to me this is hipster Iranian food.
However its good food, and if you cant make it to North York or Richmond Hill. Then its a worthwhile experience downtown.
Small pub, decent draft selection.
Busy all the time, lots of regular customers during the week.
6 locals recommend
Cloak & Dagger Irish Pub
394 College StSmall pub, decent draft selection.
Busy all the time, lots of regular customers during the week.
This place is famous for their special Vietnamese noodle soup (the kind with two different kinds of noodles).
I would only order that dish which is unique to this restaurant.
Kim Vietnamese Restaurant
546 Dundas St WThis place is famous for their special Vietnamese noodle soup (the kind with two different kinds of noodles).
I would only order that dish which is unique to this restaurant.
24 hours Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto.
I would not go there during normal hours, but the fact that they are 24 hours makes for a great late night choice.
7 locals recommend
Pho Pasteur Restaurant
525 Dundas St W24 hours Vietnamese restaurant in Toronto.
I would not go there during normal hours, but the fact that they are 24 hours makes for a great late night choice.
In my opinion the best BBQ pork and BBQ duck in Chinatown.
Also very reasonably priced, and very authentic.
You can also buy the meat by weight for takeout.
443 Dundas St W
443 Dundas Street WestIn my opinion the best BBQ pork and BBQ duck in Chinatown.
Also very reasonably priced, and very authentic.
You can also buy the meat by weight for takeout.
They are a noddle house where there is a guy making the noodles fresh from scratch.
I have only had the sliced noodle beef soup, and have liked it.
It is always busy, so thats a good sign.
Homemade Ramen
263 Spadina Ave.They are a noddle house where there is a guy making the noodles fresh from scratch.
I have only had the sliced noodle beef soup, and have liked it.
It is always busy, so thats a good sign.
This is a full on cart driven Dim Sum restaurant on the top floor of the Dragon center (take elevator).
I suggest to go on weekends early in the morning (it opens at 9am), and watch it all unfold.
I wouldn't go for dinner
14 locals recommend
Sky Dragon Chinese Restaurant 龍翔酒樓
280 Spadina Ave.This is a full on cart driven Dim Sum restaurant on the top floor of the Dragon center (take elevator).
I suggest to go on weekends early in the morning (it opens at 9am), and watch it all unfold.
I wouldn't go for dinner
One of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Toronto.
Portions are very generous, and food very healthy.
Modest surroundings. I highly recommend it as its well known with the veg heads in TO.
21 locals recommend
Buddha's
666 Dundas St WOne of the oldest vegetarian restaurants in Toronto.
Portions are very generous, and food very healthy.
Modest surroundings. I highly recommend it as its well known with the veg heads in TO.
Oysters, Oysters, Oysters!
For Oysters go here! They ship them in themselves and even supply many other restaurants.
YUM!
74 locals recommend
Oyster Boy
872 Queen St WOysters, Oysters, Oysters!
For Oysters go here! They ship them in themselves and even supply many other restaurants.
YUM!
In my opinion the best beef or chicken shawarma around, and its in our neighborhood!
They sometimes have great specials which makes it even more worthwhile, so ask.
950 Bloor St W
950 Bloor Street WestIn my opinion the best beef or chicken shawarma around, and its in our neighborhood!
They sometimes have great specials which makes it even more worthwhile, so ask.
Cafe Polonez
195 Roncesvalles AveGood Polish food.
Been around for years, and its consistently good.
She makes her own beef patties, which are definitely worth trying.
I did not like her normal Jamaican dishes, so stick to snacking on the patty.
19 locals recommend
Caribbean Queen of Patties
1294 Bloor St WShe makes her own beef patties, which are definitely worth trying.
I did not like her normal Jamaican dishes, so stick to snacking on the patty.
This my favorite Hakka Chinese foods in Toronto. They make their own hot sauce (which I also love). A little far out of the way, but for me worth the trip.
Super Hakka Restaurant
1801 Lawrence Ave EThis my favorite Hakka Chinese foods in Toronto. They make their own hot sauce (which I also love). A little far out of the way, but for me worth the trip.
This is great Yugoslavian food (run by Croatian dude). Consistently good Cevapi, worth the travel out there.
Royal Meats BarBeque
710 Kipling AveThis is great Yugoslavian food (run by Croatian dude). Consistently good Cevapi, worth the travel out there.
Drinks & Nightlife
Standard priced bar in the neighborhood that has live music from time to time.
It is frequented by a number of regulars in the neighbourhood
24 locals recommend
The Emmet Ray
924 College StStandard priced bar in the neighborhood that has live music from time to time.
It is frequented by a number of regulars in the neighbourhood
Hands down the lowest priced bar in the entire neighborhood.
Good jukebox selection. It's a bar with mostly regulars, and 70% of the patrons are Latin background.
Monica's Bar
881 Bloor St WHands down the lowest priced bar in the entire neighborhood.
Good jukebox selection. It's a bar with mostly regulars, and 70% of the patrons are Latin background.
Keep your eye on this place, as they do book some decent bands.
Alcohol is standard priced and I don't find the staff the most friendly, but I do like the down to earth feel of the bar.
10 locals recommend
Fat City Blues
890 College StreetKeep your eye on this place, as they do book some decent bands.
Alcohol is standard priced and I don't find the staff the most friendly, but I do like the down to earth feel of the bar.
This bar usually always has a cover charge, however they are quite consistent with booking good bands as the owners are musicians themselves.
The prices are inline with event type of places.
351 locals recommend
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestThis bar usually always has a cover charge, however they are quite consistent with booking good bands as the owners are musicians themselves.
The prices are inline with event type of places.
Tiny little bar with more character than you can shake a stick at.
Go there for a chill date vibe, or to just sit alone and sit beside other cool cats.
Saturday and Sunday live music at 4/5pm
93 locals recommend
Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St WTiny little bar with more character than you can shake a stick at.
Go there for a chill date vibe, or to just sit alone and sit beside other cool cats.
Saturday and Sunday live music at 4/5pm
Sort of a hidden bar in a back alley of Toronto. The place is large, and attracts a UofT student crowd.
Nice to grab a few drinks with friends. Food sucks.
19 locals recommend
The Green Room
414 College StSort of a hidden bar in a back alley of Toronto. The place is large, and attracts a UofT student crowd.
Nice to grab a few drinks with friends. Food sucks.
Want to feel like you are part of the incrowd and you found a secret bar? Cold tea fits the bill. It gets pretty busy in summer and on weekends.
If there is a lineup, dont bother, its not that cool
96 locals recommend
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street WestWant to feel like you are part of the incrowd and you found a secret bar? Cold tea fits the bill. It gets pretty busy in summer and on weekends.
If there is a lineup, dont bother, its not that cool
I love this bar. It's one of the old Polish bars in the neighborhood.
Google for the pictures inside, its all wood trim, very cool place to hangout for a few drinks.
9 locals recommend
Inter Steer Restaurant
357 Roncesvalles AveI love this bar. It's one of the old Polish bars in the neighborhood.
Google for the pictures inside, its all wood trim, very cool place to hangout for a few drinks.
They book bands here all the time. It's worth sticking your head into if you are passing by.
I am not a fan of the food, so just drink here.
75 locals recommend
The Local Pub
396 Roncesvalles AveThey book bands here all the time. It's worth sticking your head into if you are passing by.
I am not a fan of the food, so just drink here.
Pricey place, but over the past few decades it has established itself as a solid live jazz venue in the city.
25 locals recommend
Gate 403 Bar & Grill
403 Roncesvalles AvenuePricey place, but over the past few decades it has established itself as a solid live jazz venue in the city.
Toronto's one and only Japanese Rockabilly bar!
Old 50's jukebox still only costs a quarter to use.
If you are feeling rich, have shots of the Japanese single malts whiskey they have, wow!
31 locals recommend
Black Dice Cafe
1574 Dundas St WToronto's one and only Japanese Rockabilly bar!
Old 50's jukebox still only costs a quarter to use.
If you are feeling rich, have shots of the Japanese single malts whiskey they have, wow!
Want to visit a true Toronto dive bar? This is one of the last areas in Toronto to be gentrified, and this is one of the last cheap bars that caters to the low income patrons in the neighborhood.
Sun Fa Restaurant
1483 Queen St WWant to visit a true Toronto dive bar? This is one of the last areas in Toronto to be gentrified, and this is one of the last cheap bars that caters to the low income patrons in the neighborhood.
This place books pretty good Jazz and Blues bands. They have early shows many days of the week (especially weekends). Its regular priced for a bar, and often a cover charge.
109 locals recommend
The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar
194 Queen St WThis place books pretty good Jazz and Blues bands. They have early shows many days of the week (especially weekends). Its regular priced for a bar, and often a cover charge.
Essentials
Metro
2155 St Clair Ave WThis is the closest grocery store. It's conveniently open 24 hours.
This is a small boutique butcher shop up the street.
They have worked quite the reputation for themselves.
Feel like cooking some meat? Pick it up from here.
32 locals recommend
Vince Gasparro's Meat Market
857 Bloor St WThis is a small boutique butcher shop up the street.
They have worked quite the reputation for themselves.
Feel like cooking some meat? Pick it up from here.
Everything Else
This is full facility gym.
If you are a YMCA member from another city, you should be able to use the facilities as a guest.
If not I think there is a day visit rate
52 locals recommend
West End YMCA
931 College StThis is full facility gym.
If you are a YMCA member from another city, you should be able to use the facilities as a guest.
If not I think there is a day visit rate
This us a branch of the government run Liquor Store. You can only get spirits and wine from these government run outlets. They also have a good selection of beers.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.This us a branch of the government run Liquor Store. You can only get spirits and wine from these government run outlets. They also have a good selection of beers.
This us a branch of the government run Liquor Store. You can only get spirits and wine from these government run outlets. They also have a good selection of beers.
7 locals recommend
879 Bloor St W
879 Bloor Street WestThis us a branch of the government run Liquor Store. You can only get spirits and wine from these government run outlets. They also have a good selection of beers.