Guidebook for Toronto
Drinks & Nightlife
It's right downstairs and it is a favourite with many people in the neighbourhood. It's a sports bar named after the pitcher whose claim to fame was throwing a no hitter on acid. The guys who own this place are super friendly and down to earth. Food isn't bad either. Try the chicken sandwich.
25 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
The Dock Ellis
1280 Dundas St WIt's right downstairs and it is a favourite with many people in the neighbourhood. It's a sports bar named after the pitcher whose claim to fame was throwing a no hitter on acid. The guys who own this place are super friendly and down to earth. Food isn't bad either. Try the chicken sandwich.
This place is well known to locals but tourists will have a hard time finding it. It's a hole in the wall at the corner of Dundas and Ossington. What makes it so legendary is the crowd and the staff. Bring your favourite vinyl record for the D-side on the B-side night Mondays, where the patrons will vote whether to flip the record or not. You can make an argument and try to sway the crowd if you lose. There are live music matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. You'll see and hear bartender and musician, play the trumpet, sing and fetch your drinks all at the same time.
93 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St WThis place is well known to locals but tourists will have a hard time finding it. It's a hole in the wall at the corner of Dundas and Ossington. What makes it so legendary is the crowd and the staff. Bring your favourite vinyl record for the D-side on the B-side night Mondays, where the patrons will vote whether to flip the record or not. You can make an argument and try to sway the crowd if you lose. There are live music matinees on Saturdays and Sundays. You'll see and hear bartender and musician, play the trumpet, sing and fetch your drinks all at the same time.
Great bar with amazing food. All you can eat pig roast on the last Sunday of each month. My 3 favourite things about this place: Beer selection, great atomsphere, the Canadiana outdoor decor.
15 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Wenona Craft Beer Lodge
1069 Bloor St WGreat bar with amazing food. All you can eat pig roast on the last Sunday of each month. My 3 favourite things about this place: Beer selection, great atomsphere, the Canadiana outdoor decor.
Food Scene
Famous Neopolitan pizza joint right down the street. Great food and wine at affordable prices. Gets pretty packed but will not take reservations. You can leave your phone number and go for a drink somewhere in the neighbourhood. They'll call or text when there's a free table. Totally worth it.
384 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington AveFamous Neopolitan pizza joint right down the street. Great food and wine at affordable prices. Gets pretty packed but will not take reservations. You can leave your phone number and go for a drink somewhere in the neighbourhood. They'll call or text when there's a free table. Totally worth it.
One of the best Thai restaurants in the city. It's usually packed, but you can also order takeout.
81 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Sukhothai
1442 Dundas St WOne of the best Thai restaurants in the city. It's usually packed, but you can also order takeout.
Great Italian food right downstairs. Very nice patio in the summertime.
104 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St WGreat Italian food right downstairs. Very nice patio in the summertime.
Oh the octopus. Amazing food. You should reserve way in advance unless you don't mind eating at the bar, which is, in my view, the best place to eat at Isabel.
232 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bar Isabel
797 College StOh the octopus. Amazing food. You should reserve way in advance unless you don't mind eating at the bar, which is, in my view, the best place to eat at Isabel.
This is a seafood lover's Disney Land. Make sure to sit at the bar. That's where all the action is.
97 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Rodney’s Oyster House
469 King St WThis is a seafood lover's Disney Land. Make sure to sit at the bar. That's where all the action is.
File this under fast but amazing food category. It's not just soups. Their wraps are also delicious and quite big.
67 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
RaviSoups
322 Adelaide St WFile this under fast but amazing food category. It's not just soups. Their wraps are also delicious and quite big.
Another one for the fast food file. It's mainly a takeout joint, but you can dine in and have a glass of wine with your meal. Great homemade pasta, pizzas to die for and humongous salads.
10 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Levetto
68 Sudbury StAnother one for the fast food file. It's mainly a takeout joint, but you can dine in and have a glass of wine with your meal. Great homemade pasta, pizzas to die for and humongous salads.
Hidden gem on Dovercourt, a 2-minute walk away. Great food and an awesome patio.
37 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Julie's Cuban Restaurant
202 Dovercourt RdHidden gem on Dovercourt, a 2-minute walk away. Great food and an awesome patio.
Another fast food joint you should check out if you're on
Queen West. Vietnamese style sandwiches (Banh Mis), tacos and you won't want to miss the kimchi fries.
147 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Banh Mi Boys
392 Queen St WAnother fast food joint you should check out if you're on
Queen West. Vietnamese style sandwiches (Banh Mis), tacos and you won't want to miss the kimchi fries.
Great fast food in Kensington Market. Hawaiian pokes (po-kay). If you haven't tried them, you should. Sashimi grade fish, served in and with a bowl of fresh ingredients. Try the spam musubi while you're there.
6 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
North Poke
179 Baldwin StGreat fast food in Kensington Market. Hawaiian pokes (po-kay). If you haven't tried them, you should. Sashimi grade fish, served in and with a bowl of fresh ingredients. Try the spam musubi while you're there.
More great fast food at Queen and Bathurst. How can I describe their baos? Think Asian-inspired tacos in a steamed bun. My favourites are Tofu and Enoki Mushrooms, the Pulled Pork and the Chicken baos. Order them spicy. They also have a few dim sum offerings.
27 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mean Bao
753A Carlaw AveMore great fast food at Queen and Bathurst. How can I describe their baos? Think Asian-inspired tacos in a steamed bun. My favourites are Tofu and Enoki Mushrooms, the Pulled Pork and the Chicken baos. Order them spicy. They also have a few dim sum offerings.
Essentials
The cheapest grocery store with the biggest selection around. Comes complete with butcher and seafood counter.
85 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Peter's No Frills
2150 Burnhamthorpe Rd WThe cheapest grocery store with the biggest selection around. Comes complete with butcher and seafood counter.
Pricier than No Frills, but closer and open 24-hours
310 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Metro
2155 St Clair Ave WPricier than No Frills, but closer and open 24-hours
Nearby drug store that is open until midnight.
209 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Shoppers Drug Mart
935 Eglinton Ave WNearby drug store that is open until midnight.
Shopping
Whether you're looking for vintage clothes, fresh produce and meats, sustainable seafood or would just like to take in the scenery, Kensington is the place to be this side of Yonge St. It's also right next to Chinatown where you can find more bargains.
1698 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Kensington Market
Whether you're looking for vintage clothes, fresh produce and meats, sustainable seafood or would just like to take in the scenery, Kensington is the place to be this side of Yonge St. It's also right next to Chinatown where you can find more bargains.
Voted #1 food market in the world by National Geographic and rightly so. A word of warning: Do not go there if you don't want to spend money. You'll find anything you're looking for here and then some. Everything is fresh and delicious with a price tag to match.
It's also a great spot for a quick lunch. Check out Buster's Sea Cove and St. Urbain Bagels for an amazing meal.
1398 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Mercado de San Lorenzo
93 Front St EVoted #1 food market in the world by National Geographic and rightly so. A word of warning: Do not go there if you don't want to spend money. You'll find anything you're looking for here and then some. Everything is fresh and delicious with a price tag to match.
It's also a great spot for a quick lunch. Check out Buster's Sea Cove and St. Urbain Bagels for an amazing meal.
Getting Around
There are bike rental stations across Toronto. It's the best way to get around the city, even on most winter days. Use Google maps to map out your cycling route for the most bike-friendly way of getting from point A to B. I highly recommend this over other methods of getting around.
57 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Bike Share Toronto
There are bike rental stations across Toronto. It's the best way to get around the city, even on most winter days. Use Google maps to map out your cycling route for the most bike-friendly way of getting from point A to B. I highly recommend this over other methods of getting around.
Parks & Nature
We call the south side of the park, closer to Queen St., the Coachella side in the summer time. It's packed with Hipsters, artists and musicians, especially on weekends, often picnicking with barely concealed containers of suspicious looking beverages. It's a great park with an amazing vibe. The dog bowl is the best off-leash park in the city. Beware of dog poop.
743 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
Parque Trinity Bellwoods
790 Queen St WWe call the south side of the park, closer to Queen St., the Coachella side in the summer time. It's packed with Hipsters, artists and musicians, especially on weekends, often picnicking with barely concealed containers of suspicious looking beverages. It's a great park with an amazing vibe. The dog bowl is the best off-leash park in the city. Beware of dog poop.
I've got lost in this park on many occasions. It's pretty huge with enough little parts that can give the impression you're actually out in the woods. Kids will love it. There's a petting zoo, playgrounds and much much more.
1205 Recomendado por los habitantes de la zona
High Park
1873 Bloor St WI've got lost in this park on many occasions. It's pretty huge with enough little parts that can give the impression you're actually out in the woods. Kids will love it. There's a petting zoo, playgrounds and much much more.