Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Little known American style cafe / sports bistro with great waffles, boasting small batch ice cream. My go to for a quiet work scene during the day, but a hub for dessert and dinner at night. Free parking.
Cafe Mirage Grill & Lounge
4841 Yonge StLittle known American style cafe / sports bistro with great waffles, boasting small batch ice cream. My go to for a quiet work scene during the day, but a hub for dessert and dinner at night. Free parking.
At Bloor near Spadina. Very delish, vegetarian foods. Great vibe. Cool hotspot.
135 locals recommend
Fresh on Spadina
5031 Spadina Ave.At Bloor near Spadina. Very delish, vegetarian foods. Great vibe. Cool hotspot.
Best dosas and uthapam in Toronto, in my opinion. This is a South Indian vegetarian restaurant on the north side of Gerrard amidst a sea of sari shops in Little India.
Long hailed as one of the best spots in the neighbourhood, and a destination for the more adventurous vegetarian, Udupi Palace underwhelms with the decor but more than makes up for it with the kitchen.
The scene is basement cafeteria chic. Except maybe without the chic. Sprawling tables are mixed with screaming children out for a mid-week family meal. Waiters stand-by attentively offering quick, helpful service. Flavours vary from spicy to sweet and incredibly aromatic. If I want to carb out, this is the place I go!
42 locals recommend
Udupi Palace
1423 Gerrard St EBest dosas and uthapam in Toronto, in my opinion. This is a South Indian vegetarian restaurant on the north side of Gerrard amidst a sea of sari shops in Little India.
Long hailed as one of the best spots in the neighbourhood, and a destination for the more adventurous vegetarian, Udupi Palace underwhelms with the decor but more than makes up for it with the kitchen.
The scene is basement cafeteria chic. Except maybe without the chic. Sprawling tables are mixed with screaming children out for a mid-week family meal. Waiters stand-by attentively offering quick, helpful service. Flavours vary from spicy to sweet and incredibly aromatic. If I want to carb out, this is the place I go!
El Almacen was once only a yerba mate cafe with an excellent atmosphere, but now they serve authentic Mexican brunch every day of the week.
The cafe starts out wide with big windows at the front and larger tables, and narrows towards the back.
31 locals recommend
El Almacen
1720 Queen St WEl Almacen was once only a yerba mate cafe with an excellent atmosphere, but now they serve authentic Mexican brunch every day of the week.
The cafe starts out wide with big windows at the front and larger tables, and narrows towards the back.
Hands down the best kabobs in Toronto. And the lunchtime lineup shows it! But well worth the wait. Fragrant rice, incredible dip for the nan, and most delicious kabobs with mild to medium spices. Nobody I've ever taken didn't drool after trying it whenever it's mentioned again...
21 locals recommend
Bamiyan Kabob
4205 Keele StHands down the best kabobs in Toronto. And the lunchtime lineup shows it! But well worth the wait. Fragrant rice, incredible dip for the nan, and most delicious kabobs with mild to medium spices. Nobody I've ever taken didn't drool after trying it whenever it's mentioned again...
Emma's Country Kitchen
810 St Clair Ave WBest all day breakfast/ brunch in city with unique menu.
KaKa All You Can Eat
3235 Hwy 7Best sushi place. Very well reviewed. Make a reservation ahead.
A restaurant set up with huge windows that open to let fresh air in. Staff and menu are extremely fresh and authentic. Truly the best hummus after my Lebanese friend's mother's but you'd have to go to Windsor for hers! It's the right mix of ambiance and good eats. On Saturdays I think they have live belly dancers!
13 locals recommend
Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine
810 Queen Street EastA restaurant set up with huge windows that open to let fresh air in. Staff and menu are extremely fresh and authentic. Truly the best hummus after my Lebanese friend's mother's but you'd have to go to Windsor for hers! It's the right mix of ambiance and good eats. On Saturdays I think they have live belly dancers!
I like this cool spot just down the road for a quiet place to write and enjoy a coffee. The staff are super friendly and the side of the restaurant open to overlook the huge, treed property surrounding it. It's a slice of decadence for no more than you pay at starbucks for over roasted coffee! It's a great place to sit and write or read a book.
Westin Prince Hotel
900 York Mills RdI like this cool spot just down the road for a quiet place to write and enjoy a coffee. The staff are super friendly and the side of the restaurant open to overlook the huge, treed property surrounding it. It's a slice of decadence for no more than you pay at starbucks for over roasted coffee! It's a great place to sit and write or read a book.
Very inexpensive produce, butchers, and fresh fish. Great deals and great fun. Very busy, smelly, crowded market that spills out onto the street.
740 locals recommend
Chinatown
292 Spadina Ave.Very inexpensive produce, butchers, and fresh fish. Great deals and great fun. Very busy, smelly, crowded market that spills out onto the street.
Drinks & Nightlife
Dive bar with great live bands and regular salsa dance night. Pubby vibe with a 30's plus crowd.
28 locals recommend
ALLEYCATZ RESTAURANT JAZZ BAR
744 Yonge StDive bar with great live bands and regular salsa dance night. Pubby vibe with a 30's plus crowd.
Very unique and little known bar scene with incredible live cover bands. Age from 20's to 50's and attracts a truly eclectic crowd. Great dance floor for the uninhibited. Best kept secret in Toronto's nightlife. Bring ear buds if you have sensitive ears.
36 locals recommend
The Orbit Room
580 College StVery unique and little known bar scene with incredible live cover bands. Age from 20's to 50's and attracts a truly eclectic crowd. Great dance floor for the uninhibited. Best kept secret in Toronto's nightlife. Bring ear buds if you have sensitive ears.
Parks & Nature
Best beach area with walking paths, very few people, lots of wildlife, beautiful views of the city, and lots of picnic area.
35 locals recommend
Colonel Samuel Smith Park Dr
Best beach area with walking paths, very few people, lots of wildlife, beautiful views of the city, and lots of picnic area.
Sunnybrook Park
1132 Leslie StScarborough Bluffs Park
Beautiful garden scape with many types of plants and various walking paths. Also boasts incredible statues and a little coffee house.
111 locals recommend
Edwards Gardens
755 Lawrence Ave EBeautiful garden scape with many types of plants and various walking paths. Also boasts incredible statues and a little coffee house.
This park boasts a conservatory that is filled with incredible plants. The setting is cool because the park outside has a lot of homeless people connecting and then there is this other world where everything is so beautiful juxtaposed against that. I love it. Also it's free.
268 locals recommend
Allan Gardens
160 Gerrard St EThis park boasts a conservatory that is filled with incredible plants. The setting is cool because the park outside has a lot of homeless people connecting and then there is this other world where everything is so beautiful juxtaposed against that. I love it. Also it's free.
Arts & Culture
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WGreat gallery. Free on Wednesday nights after 6pm.
Kensington Market
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St EAga Khan Museum
77 Wynford DrVery cool gallery, overlooking lovely ravine.
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkMust see.
Essentials
Food Basics
1277 York Mills RdDickie's No Frills
1880 Eglinton Ave EA lot of great fresh produce, including Indian and Chinese staples, with a seafood section, a butcher, and a Halal meat section. Very good prices and discounts on fresh foods regularly. Best for in season and fresh meat.
7 locals recommend
Sunny Foodmart
747 Don Mills Rd.A lot of great fresh produce, including Indian and Chinese staples, with a seafood section, a butcher, and a Halal meat section. Very good prices and discounts on fresh foods regularly. Best for in season and fresh meat.
Getting Around
Subway
42 Eglinton Avenue WestEverything Else
Toronto Public Library - Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge StQuiet and calm.