Guidebook for Toronto
Parks & Nature
Beautiful park includes a playground, a farmers market on Thursdays (3pm-7pm), a skating rink, fire pits (permit required), and lots of activity (maybe you'll catch a game of bike polo in the hockey rinks during the summer!)
208 locals recommend
Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin StBeautiful park includes a playground, a farmers market on Thursdays (3pm-7pm), a skating rink, fire pits (permit required), and lots of activity (maybe you'll catch a game of bike polo in the hockey rinks during the summer!)
This is the closest park. It includes a baseball diamond, free first-come-first-served tennis courts, a playground with wading pool, fire pits (permit required) and lots of dog walkers.
23 locals recommend
Dovercourt Park
This is the closest park. It includes a baseball diamond, free first-come-first-served tennis courts, a playground with wading pool, fire pits (permit required) and lots of dog walkers.
High park is a gigantic park. It's got trails to walk in the woods, a great adventure playground for kids, dog walking areas, a little lake, running trails, a little zoo (kind of), and a restaurant. It's 3 km to the main entrance of the park, but if you'd rather do your walking IN the park rather than TO it, you can take a subway four stops west from Dufferin station to High Park station.
1205 locals recommend
High Park
1873 Bloor St WHigh park is a gigantic park. It's got trails to walk in the woods, a great adventure playground for kids, dog walking areas, a little lake, running trails, a little zoo (kind of), and a restaurant. It's 3 km to the main entrance of the park, but if you'd rather do your walking IN the park rather than TO it, you can take a subway four stops west from Dufferin station to High Park station.
Food Scene
Mazz Sushi
993 Bloor St WOur favourite place for sushi in the neighbourhood. Closed on Sundays.
The Common
1028 Bloor St WOne of the many hipster coffee shops nearby.
Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WBanjara is our favourite Indian restaurant in the neighbourhood.
You'll probably have to line up for this popular Ethiopian restaurant. There are others like Lalibela (beyond Ossington St) without the lineups.
71 locals recommend
Nazareth
969 Bloor Street WestYou'll probably have to line up for this popular Ethiopian restaurant. There are others like Lalibela (beyond Ossington St) without the lineups.
It's after dinner and you are craving an ice cream sandwich made with two freshly baked cookies? Try Bakerbots Baking. You're not the only one... there may be a lineup.
113 locals recommend
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware AveIt's after dinner and you are craving an ice cream sandwich made with two freshly baked cookies? Try Bakerbots Baking. You're not the only one... there may be a lineup.
The Hogtown Vegan, as the name suggests, is vegan. And hip and yummy. It slants more towards decadent fried food than fresh stuff, but it's worth a visit.
76 locals recommend
The Hogtown Vegan
1056 Bloor St WThe Hogtown Vegan, as the name suggests, is vegan. And hip and yummy. It slants more towards decadent fried food than fresh stuff, but it's worth a visit.
This is a hip little restaurant/bar with a patio out back. Small menu but good food.
165 locals recommend
The 3 Speed
1163 Bloor St WThis is a hip little restaurant/bar with a patio out back. Small menu but good food.
La Bella Managua
872 Bloor St WWe enjoy the carne asada at this local Nicaraguan restaurant.
Another nice local coffee shops steps from our place. This one has a patio out front if the weather is nice.
28 locals recommend
Field Trip Cafe
3 Westmoreland AveAnother nice local coffee shops steps from our place. This one has a patio out front if the weather is nice.
Shopping
Malls are yucky, but this one is certainly handy. There's a Walmart, a Winners, a Toys 'R Us, a beer store, a wine store, and No-frills which is a big cheap grocery store, and lots more.
289 locals recommend
Dufferin Mall
900 Dufferin StMalls are yucky, but this one is certainly handy. There's a Walmart, a Winners, a Toys 'R Us, a beer store, a wine store, and No-frills which is a big cheap grocery store, and lots more.
This local butcher shop is just around the corner. It also carries some other groceries and dry goods, but no produce.
18 locals recommend
Nosso Talho
1042 Bloor St WThis local butcher shop is just around the corner. It also carries some other groceries and dry goods, but no produce.
Zoinks is a small book and music store, but it's very well curated so there's always lots of good stuff to browse through.
7 locals recommend
Zoinks Music and Books
1019 Bloor St WZoinks is a small book and music store, but it's very well curated so there's always lots of good stuff to browse through.
Essentials
Our favourite of the many produce stores within easy walking distance.
28 locals recommend
Bloor Court Village Market
868 Bloor St WOur favourite of the many produce stores within easy walking distance.
Shoppers Drug Mart
2223 Bloor St WPharmacy which also carries groceries and produce.
This is the 'Nice' grocery store. It's a little farther to walk to then the No-Frills at Dufferin Mall, and more expensive, but it's got lots of organics and healthy products and lots of people prefer it.
184 locals recommend
Fiesta Farms
200 Christie StThis is the 'Nice' grocery store. It's a little farther to walk to then the No-Frills at Dufferin Mall, and more expensive, but it's got lots of organics and healthy products and lots of people prefer it.
Canada Post / Postes Canada
25 Great Lakes DrThe local Post Office is located at the back of Bloorcourt Stationary.
Joe's No Frills
900 Dufferin StNo Frills is a big budget grocery store located in Dufferin Mall.
879 Bloor St W
879 Bloor Street WestThe LCBO is the place to buy liquor, wine, and beer.
Getting Around
Ossington Subway Station. If you're getting off here, use the Delaware St exit and you'll pop out two blocks closer to us than if you leave by the Ossington St exit! Unlike Dufferin Station (one station west) Ossington Station does not have an elevator so if you're carrying heavy luggage then you may prefer Dufferin Station instead.
66 locals recommend
Ossington Station
Ossington Subway Station. If you're getting off here, use the Delaware St exit and you'll pop out two blocks closer to us than if you leave by the Ossington St exit! Unlike Dufferin Station (one station west) Ossington Station does not have an elevator so if you're carrying heavy luggage then you may prefer Dufferin Station instead.
Dufferin Station is the closest one to us by a tiny bit, and it includes an elevator so if you're arriving with luggage this one is best.
84 locals recommend
Dufferin station
Dufferin Station is the closest one to us by a tiny bit, and it includes an elevator so if you're arriving with luggage this one is best.
Arts & Culture
Nicely renovated library good place to chill out with a book or magazine or to use a computer if you'd like.
34 locals recommend
Toronto Public Library - Bloor/Gladstone Branch
1101 Bloor St WNicely renovated library good place to chill out with a book or magazine or to use a computer if you'd like.
Sightseeing
Kensington is a bustling, ramshackle neighbourhood full of markets, restaurants, and shops that feels like it doesn't quite belong in North America.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Kensington is a bustling, ramshackle neighbourhood full of markets, restaurants, and shops that feels like it doesn't quite belong in North America.