Guidebook for Toronto

Phuong
Guidebook for Toronto

Entertainment & Activities

Concerts
110 locals recommend
The Danforth Music Hall
147 Danforth Ave
110 locals recommend
Concerts
When you’re looking for some real bowling — i.e. lots of tacky shoes, flashing fluorescent lights, greasy food and inappropriate bowling names, look no further than Danforth Bowl. It has some great old-school 5 pin bowling lanes and a surprisingly well stocked bar to make your night complete.
8 locals recommend
Danforth Bowl
1554 Danforth Ave
8 locals recommend
When you’re looking for some real bowling — i.e. lots of tacky shoes, flashing fluorescent lights, greasy food and inappropriate bowling names, look no further than Danforth Bowl. It has some great old-school 5 pin bowling lanes and a surprisingly well stocked bar to make your night complete.
Monarch Park Ice Rink
On the site of the Riverdale Zoo, where from 1888 to 1974 prairie wolves howled at night and spooked the Cabbagetown kids, Riverdale Farm is a downtown rural oasis. Now a working farm and museum, it has two barns, a summer wading pool, and pens of feathered and furry friends. Kids follow the farmers around as they do their daily chores, including milking goats and collecting eggs. Visitors can learn about a particular animal during the daily 'Farmer Demo' at 11:30am. From June to October there's also a Tuesday farmers market from 3pm to 7pm.
247 locals recommend
Riverdale Farm
201 Winchester St
247 locals recommend
On the site of the Riverdale Zoo, where from 1888 to 1974 prairie wolves howled at night and spooked the Cabbagetown kids, Riverdale Farm is a downtown rural oasis. Now a working farm and museum, it has two barns, a summer wading pool, and pens of feathered and furry friends. Kids follow the farmers around as they do their daily chores, including milking goats and collecting eggs. Visitors can learn about a particular animal during the daily 'Farmer Demo' at 11:30am. From June to October there's also a Tuesday farmers market from 3pm to 7pm.
Famed for the transformation of its once-deteriorating heritage buildings into a prime location for all things geotourism, this dynamic, LEED-certified environmental center and park hosts interactive workshops and community festivals on the themes of ecology, technology and the environment. There's a garden market, an ice rink and lots of nature trails, which can be explored on foot or by bike (rentals are available). Check the website to see what's going on. Take the free shuttle bus from Broadview subway station. If you're traveling with little ones, don't miss the Children's Garden, a wonderful hands-on area where kids can garden, build using repurposed materials or just play in the water and sand features. For food, stop in at the coffee shop or the restaurant, specializing in local and organic food.
275 locals recommend
Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview Ave
275 locals recommend
Famed for the transformation of its once-deteriorating heritage buildings into a prime location for all things geotourism, this dynamic, LEED-certified environmental center and park hosts interactive workshops and community festivals on the themes of ecology, technology and the environment. There's a garden market, an ice rink and lots of nature trails, which can be explored on foot or by bike (rentals are available). Check the website to see what's going on. Take the free shuttle bus from Broadview subway station. If you're traveling with little ones, don't miss the Children's Garden, a wonderful hands-on area where kids can garden, build using repurposed materials or just play in the water and sand features. For food, stop in at the coffee shop or the restaurant, specializing in local and organic food.
In an idyllic setting by the Don River, Todmorden Mills is a late-18th-century grist mill turned saw mill, then brewery and distillery, then paper mill. Historical relics are on display inside. Enthusiastic guides show visitors around old millers' houses and the petite Don train station. To get here, take the subway to Broadview station, then board any bus. Alight at Mortimer/Pottery Rd (Dairy Queen), turn left and walk down Pottery Rd. The renovated Papermill Theatre and Gallery showcases the work of local and emerging artists. Nature paths start near the bridge and wind back to the secluded Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve (www.hopscotch.ca/tmwp), 9 hectares of wildflowers growing on former industrial wasteland, complete with boardwalks and viewing platforms.
10 locals recommend
Todmorden Mills Heritage Site
67 Pottery Rd
10 locals recommend
In an idyllic setting by the Don River, Todmorden Mills is a late-18th-century grist mill turned saw mill, then brewery and distillery, then paper mill. Historical relics are on display inside. Enthusiastic guides show visitors around old millers' houses and the petite Don train station. To get here, take the subway to Broadview station, then board any bus. Alight at Mortimer/Pottery Rd (Dairy Queen), turn left and walk down Pottery Rd. The renovated Papermill Theatre and Gallery showcases the work of local and emerging artists. Nature paths start near the bridge and wind back to the secluded Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve (www.hopscotch.ca/tmwp), 9 hectares of wildflowers growing on former industrial wasteland, complete with boardwalks and viewing platforms.
Commanding heavenly views of the lakefront from a priceless slab of real estate, the elegantly proportioned RC Harris Water Treatment Plant is an art-deco masterpiece that has appeared in countless movies and TV shows. Originally disparagingly dubbed the 'Palace of Purification' due to hefty construction costs during the Great Depression, the fully operational plant is rarely open to the public – try during Doors Open – but it makes a great photographic subject.
38 locals recommend
R.C. Harris Water Treatment Plant
2701 Queen St E
38 locals recommend
Commanding heavenly views of the lakefront from a priceless slab of real estate, the elegantly proportioned RC Harris Water Treatment Plant is an art-deco masterpiece that has appeared in countless movies and TV shows. Originally disparagingly dubbed the 'Palace of Purification' due to hefty construction costs during the Great Depression, the fully operational plant is rarely open to the public – try during Doors Open – but it makes a great photographic subject.
359 locals recommend
Woodbine Beach
1675 Lake Shore Blvd E
359 locals recommend

Getting Around

25 locals recommend
Donlands Station
25 locals recommend
58 locals recommend
Pape Station
743 Pape Ave
58 locals recommend

Shopping

Essentials, Household items
87 locals recommend
Dollarama
590 King St W
87 locals recommend
Essentials, Household items
Personal care/Post Office/Pharmacy
180 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
710 Mt Pleasant Rd
180 locals recommend
Personal care/Post Office/Pharmacy

Parks & Nature

73 locals recommend
Withrow Park
725 Logan Ave
73 locals recommend
Phin Park
115 Condor Ave
Park
Kempton Howard Park
150 Blake St
Park
231 locals recommend
Riverdale Park
425 Carlton St
231 locals recommend
A leafy, 6.5-hectare park fronting the like-named beach, Kew Gardens is a popular spot year-round, with facilities such as tennis courts and an Olympic-size public swimming pool as well as an ice-skating rink and a beachfront fire pit that's lit on winter weekends (December to March). It's also a nice place for picnic, with lots of shade trees and green expanses. There are restrooms and snack bars, too. The Martin Goodman Trail, a 56km path that follows Toronto's waterfront, runs along the southern edge of the park.
75 locals recommend
Kew Gardens
2075 Queen St E
75 locals recommend
A leafy, 6.5-hectare park fronting the like-named beach, Kew Gardens is a popular spot year-round, with facilities such as tennis courts and an Olympic-size public swimming pool as well as an ice-skating rink and a beachfront fire pit that's lit on winter weekends (December to March). It's also a nice place for picnic, with lots of shade trees and green expanses. There are restrooms and snack bars, too. The Martin Goodman Trail, a 56km path that follows Toronto's waterfront, runs along the southern edge of the park.

Groceries

104 locals recommend
Foodland - Toronto
623 Danforth Ave
104 locals recommend
14 locals recommend
Masellis Supermarket
906 Danforth Ave
14 locals recommend
68 locals recommend
Dave & Charlotte's No Frills
449 Carlaw Avenue
68 locals recommend
Liquor
74 locals recommend
LCBO
3111 Danforth Ave
74 locals recommend
Liquor
Before there was Whole Foods there was the Big Carrot in Toronto. Like many staples on the Danforth, this institution has been open for almost 30 years and has become a true part of the Danforth community. The Big Carrot is a co-op meaning the employees are usually co-owners, and also usually super friendly to all customers. They also offer series of classes and seminars on food and food related issues.
86 locals recommend
The Big Carrot
320 Danforth Ave
86 locals recommend
Before there was Whole Foods there was the Big Carrot in Toronto. Like many staples on the Danforth, this institution has been open for almost 30 years and has become a true part of the Danforth community. The Big Carrot is a co-op meaning the employees are usually co-owners, and also usually super friendly to all customers. They also offer series of classes and seminars on food and food related issues.

Bars/Pubs/Coffee

What began more than 35 years ago as a bohemian sandwich counter has morphed into one of the city’s finest beer emporiums. Behind a graffiti-muralled Danforth storefront, a snug backyard patio courts hops aficionados from both sides of the DVP. They come for the colossal list of 230 bottles and cans, 25 rotating beers on draft, including special nitro taps, at least one cask-conditioned ale and Ontario ciders.
69 locals recommend
Big Picture Cinema and Stage
1035 Gerrard St E
69 locals recommend
What began more than 35 years ago as a bohemian sandwich counter has morphed into one of the city’s finest beer emporiums. Behind a graffiti-muralled Danforth storefront, a snug backyard patio courts hops aficionados from both sides of the DVP. They come for the colossal list of 230 bottles and cans, 25 rotating beers on draft, including special nitro taps, at least one cask-conditioned ale and Ontario ciders.
Billiards Academy & Sports Bar
485 Danforth Ave
34 locals recommend
The Auld Spot Pub
347 Danforth Ave
34 locals recommend
Greek bar
7 locals recommend
Logo Bar & Café
505 Danforth Ave
7 locals recommend
Greek bar
Gastropub
24 locals recommend
Morgans On The Danforth
1282 Danforth Avenue
24 locals recommend
Gastropub
22 locals recommend
Dora Keogh
141 Danforth Ave
22 locals recommend
This legendary spot is known to provide a ‘touch of New York in Toronto; and has done so for over 25 years. Allen’s is really known for two things: their amazing burger and their great patio. What more could you want for summer? Be sure to also check out their sister spot Dora Keogh.
56 locals recommend
Allen's
143 Danforth Ave
56 locals recommend
 This legendary spot is known to provide a ‘touch of New York in Toronto; and has done so for over 25 years. Allen’s is really known for two things: their amazing burger and their great patio. What more could you want for summer? Be sure to also check out their sister spot Dora Keogh.
This calm and modern coffee shop serves up some of the best coffee beans on the Danforth…and you would never know that for two decades it was an adult entertainment store! There’s now a constant stream of locals to this spot, and often out of the door just highlighting the quality of this local spot.
24 locals recommend
Broadview Espresso
817 Broadview Ave
24 locals recommend
This calm and modern coffee shop serves up some of the best coffee beans on the Danforth…and you would never know that for two decades it was an adult entertainment store! There’s now a constant stream of locals to this spot, and often out of the door just highlighting the quality of this local spot.
Christina's on the Danforth has all the bases covered: enjoy the delightful Mediterranean cuisine, live music, belly dancing, and Toronto's largest year-round heated patio.
13 locals recommend
Christina's
492 Danforth Ave
13 locals recommend
Christina's on the Danforth has all the bases covered: enjoy the delightful Mediterranean cuisine, live music, belly dancing, and Toronto's largest year-round heated patio.
Bar Hop Session
681 Danforth Ave
Toronto doesn’t get more Irish than this. Pull up a wee stool (or grab one of the snugs, if you’re lucky), order a pint of Guinness (delight in the bartender’s brogue while you’re there) and let the fiddle music transport you to County Cork.
22 locals recommend
Dora Keogh
141 Danforth Ave
22 locals recommend
Toronto doesn’t get more Irish than this. Pull up a wee stool (or grab one of the snugs, if you’re lucky), order a pint of Guinness (delight in the bartender’s brogue while you’re there) and let the fiddle music transport you to County Cork.
Erin Gamelin and Craig Abbot, who also co-own the nearby Stout Irish Pub, oversee this massive brewpub on the Danforth. The 24 taps are divided between house beers and ones from Ontario craft mainstays like Great Lakes, Cameron’s and Nickel Brook. Beer cocktails, classic mixed drinks and house-made root beer are also available.
33 locals recommend
Louis Cifer Brew Works
417 Danforth Ave
33 locals recommend
Erin Gamelin and Craig Abbot, who also co-own the nearby Stout Irish Pub, oversee this massive brewpub on the Danforth. The 24 taps are divided between house beers and ones from Ontario craft mainstays like Great Lakes, Cameron’s and Nickel Brook. Beer cocktails, classic mixed drinks and house-made root beer are also available.
106 locals recommend
The Wren
1382 Danforth Ave
106 locals recommend
The coffee at this pretension-free shop packs a serious punch. A large version of the signature Red Rocket blends espresso, chocolate sauce and dark-roast drip—three uppers in one cup. There are four house blends—Deep Space is dark, Lift Off is light, Red Phoenix is extra-dark and Zero Gravity is decaf—made with fair-trade organic beans from Oakville’s Reunion Island.
58 locals recommend
Red Rocket Coffee
1364 Danforth Ave
58 locals recommend
The coffee at this pretension-free shop packs a serious punch. A large version of the signature Red Rocket blends espresso, chocolate sauce and dark-roast drip—three uppers in one cup. There are four house blends—Deep Space is dark, Lift Off is light, Red Phoenix is extra-dark and Zero Gravity is decaf—made with fair-trade organic beans from Oakville’s Reunion Island.

Salons

TIPS NAIL BAR® | danforth ave
848 Danforth Ave
Nail salon
If you haven’t heard of isolation tanks, float tanks, sensory deprivation tanks, or whatever they are calling them now, time to get out from under your rock. The newest form of relaxation can be experienced at this Danforth location where customers float in complete darkness in a sealed pod full of salt water to experience ultimate relaxation and calm. We are intrigued and also terrified.
H2O Float Studio
25 Mill St
If you haven’t heard of isolation tanks, float tanks, sensory deprivation tanks, or whatever they are calling them now, time to get out from under your rock. The newest form of relaxation can be experienced at this Danforth location where customers float in complete darkness in a sealed pod full of salt water to experience ultimate relaxation and calm. We are intrigued and also terrified.