Midtown Toronto and beyond
Essentials
Easily within walking distance - a good place to get any essentials you might want for your stay. If you just need a little something (sugar for your tea? a dash of salt?) don't bother buying that - we're happy to provide you with small essentials.
40 locals recommend
Sobeys Urban Fresh Balliol
22 Balliol StEasily within walking distance - a good place to get any essentials you might want for your stay. If you just need a little something (sugar for your tea? a dash of salt?) don't bother buying that - we're happy to provide you with small essentials.
If you don't want to cook and don't want to go out - this Longo's market has plenty of prepared food and smaller portioned fruits, veg, etc. - a more urban (and expensive) grocery with a small liquor store connected to it (half a block away).
70 locals recommend
The Market by Longo's
111 Elizabeth StIf you don't want to cook and don't want to go out - this Longo's market has plenty of prepared food and smaller portioned fruits, veg, etc. - a more urban (and expensive) grocery with a small liquor store connected to it (half a block away).
Liquor / wine / etc. is sold through the LCBO's. This is a HUGE LCBO just a 15 minute walk south into town. If you're looking for souveneirs to take home - ice wine is always a crowd pleaser. Ontario produces some surprisingly fine white wines.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Liquor / wine / etc. is sold through the LCBO's. This is a HUGE LCBO just a 15 minute walk south into town. If you're looking for souveneirs to take home - ice wine is always a crowd pleaser. Ontario produces some surprisingly fine white wines.
Shopper is the Canadian version of Duane Reed or Boots...they have everything from pharma to food.
515 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
388 King St WShopper is the Canadian version of Duane Reed or Boots...they have everything from pharma to food.
Circle K
952 King St WThis is the nearest 24 hour convenience store.
Just 1/2 a block further, and very recently renovated, is a great grocery store for both packaged food and day to day needs. Big organics section.
1112 locals recommend
Loblaws
585 Queen St WJust 1/2 a block further, and very recently renovated, is a great grocery store for both packaged food and day to day needs. Big organics section.
Food Scene
Starbucks
978 Coxwell AveThis is your closest Starbucks and has a small outdoor eating tables.
Aroma is another coffee shop - also with outdoor seating - they have a slightly heartier food menu than Starbucks.
175 locals recommend
Aroma Espresso Bar
430 King St WAroma is another coffee shop - also with outdoor seating - they have a slightly heartier food menu than Starbucks.
Awesome upscale chinese food. Dim sum only served at lunch. The Peking duck at dinner is divine - as is the black miso cod.
Kwan Dim Sum
1496 Yonge StAwesome upscale chinese food. Dim sum only served at lunch. The Peking duck at dinner is divine - as is the black miso cod.
The Pasta Bar @ Scaramouche is the slightly more casual menu than the full Scaramouche, although it's still "business meeting" appropriate and fairly pricey. The view from here is absolutely gorgeous of downtown Toronto and you won't be disappointed with the food. We go here to celebrate family birthdays.
30 locals recommend
Scaramouche Restaurant & Pasta Bar and Grill
1 Benvenuto PlThe Pasta Bar @ Scaramouche is the slightly more casual menu than the full Scaramouche, although it's still "business meeting" appropriate and fairly pricey. The view from here is absolutely gorgeous of downtown Toronto and you won't be disappointed with the food. We go here to celebrate family birthdays.
Awesome modern twist on Indian food - mid range price, outstanding food, not too spicy (but they can add spice if you like!). Be sure to make a reservation. Easy to get to by street car.
39 locals recommend
Pukka
778 St Clair Ave WAwesome modern twist on Indian food - mid range price, outstanding food, not too spicy (but they can add spice if you like!). Be sure to make a reservation. Easy to get to by street car.
Funky tapas based on Indonesian food. You HAVE to try the Rendang tacos (!). If you truly love Indonesian food - do NOT order the nasi goreng, but if you're craving some interesting flavours this place is great. They have a big shared table which can be fun, or cute side-by-side booths for smaller groups.
21 locals recommend
Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar
2031 Yonge StFunky tapas based on Indonesian food. You HAVE to try the Rendang tacos (!). If you truly love Indonesian food - do NOT order the nasi goreng, but if you're craving some interesting flavours this place is great. They have a big shared table which can be fun, or cute side-by-side booths for smaller groups.
Pizzaiolo Gourmet Pizza
550 Yonge StreetThey deliver good, tasty pizza in less than an hour.
This is a real foodies restaurant. Not a place to take the kids - but a great place for couples open to great food, steep-ish prices, fabulous wine list. This is where we go to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
12 locals recommend
Cava Restaurant
1560 Yonge StThis is a real foodies restaurant. Not a place to take the kids - but a great place for couples open to great food, steep-ish prices, fabulous wine list. This is where we go to celebrate our wedding anniversary.
THEY ARE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY and make Montreal style bagels all day and night. Chewy, fresh, gorgeous. They have all the trimmings you might want too. Yum.
14 locals recommend
The Bagel House
1438 Yonge StTHEY ARE OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY and make Montreal style bagels all day and night. Chewy, fresh, gorgeous. They have all the trimmings you might want too. Yum.
Awesome restaurant where the whole family can find something to enjoy. Austrian born chef with years of experience - it's our local "go to" just at the end of our street. Personal favourites include the roast cornish hen, the steak frites, and whatever chef's special is of the day. They have a small outdoor patio. Reservations recommended if it's a weekend evening. Mid-range price.
Barnsteiner's
1 Balmoral AveAwesome restaurant where the whole family can find something to enjoy. Austrian born chef with years of experience - it's our local "go to" just at the end of our street. Personal favourites include the roast cornish hen, the steak frites, and whatever chef's special is of the day. They have a small outdoor patio. Reservations recommended if it's a weekend evening. Mid-range price.
This is a truly unique experience - you eat entirely in the dark! You are served by wait staff who are blind and it's an experience you won't soon forget. Truly appropriate for almost all ages (the youngest we've taken was about 7 years old and loved it - the oldest 75 and he couldn't stop giggling). The menu is very reasonably priced (prix fixe) and reliably good....but this is less about the food and all about the experience of eating entirely in the dark. Do you dare??? Make a reservation (they do two seatings) and bring a sweater as it tends to sometimes be over air-conditioned!
42 locals recommend
Onoir
620 Church StThis is a truly unique experience - you eat entirely in the dark! You are served by wait staff who are blind and it's an experience you won't soon forget. Truly appropriate for almost all ages (the youngest we've taken was about 7 years old and loved it - the oldest 75 and he couldn't stop giggling). The menu is very reasonably priced (prix fixe) and reliably good....but this is less about the food and all about the experience of eating entirely in the dark. Do you dare??? Make a reservation (they do two seatings) and bring a sweater as it tends to sometimes be over air-conditioned!
Live Organic Food Bar
264 Dupont StIf you like raw organic food this is a great spot!
The Hogtown Vegan
1056 Bloor St WGreat vegan hotspot.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a great night out. They have a fairly simple Tex-Mex menu (burritos, tacos, etc.) and then there's a short dance lesson (salsa / merengue / etc.) and then live bands come on and you can salsa the night away.
120 locals recommend
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St WThis is a great night out. They have a fairly simple Tex-Mex menu (burritos, tacos, etc.) and then there's a short dance lesson (salsa / merengue / etc.) and then live bands come on and you can salsa the night away.
Sightseeing
This is an awesome public-private partnership that restored an old brick quarry and factory into a beautiful, natural public space. They have a lovely farmer's market most weekends (even in the winter - but check the website to make sure when, it's usually over pretty early). You can take the ravine system from our local park to get to here if you're adventurous :-) and then an uber home? There are nice trails for kids to run around here.
275 locals recommend
Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview AveThis is an awesome public-private partnership that restored an old brick quarry and factory into a beautiful, natural public space. They have a lovely farmer's market most weekends (even in the winter - but check the website to make sure when, it's usually over pretty early). You can take the ravine system from our local park to get to here if you're adventurous :-) and then an uber home? There are nice trails for kids to run around here.
Lovely restoration of the factories that made booze during prohibition...now a lively and thriving area with restaurants (most with ample outdoor patio seating in good weather), boutiques, an excellent theatre.
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StLovely restoration of the factories that made booze during prohibition...now a lively and thriving area with restaurants (most with ample outdoor patio seating in good weather), boutiques, an excellent theatre.
Yes, of course, you should see Niagara Falls - they are stunning. Sadly, the city of Niagara Falls is a tourist trap so the best thing to do is to go and see the falls and then come back to Toronto or visit Niagara on the Lake and wine country around it. You can see the falls for free by just standing at the back of the visitor center. If you want the full experience - the Maid of the Mist boat trip that takes you into the falls is corny but memorable. The visitor center tour "behind the falls" is a giant tourist trap IMHO.
1604 locals recommend
Niagara Falls
Yes, of course, you should see Niagara Falls - they are stunning. Sadly, the city of Niagara Falls is a tourist trap so the best thing to do is to go and see the falls and then come back to Toronto or visit Niagara on the Lake and wine country around it. You can see the falls for free by just standing at the back of the visitor center. If you want the full experience - the Maid of the Mist boat trip that takes you into the falls is corny but memorable. The visitor center tour "behind the falls" is a giant tourist trap IMHO.
Parks & Nature
Just around the corner from us, this lovely park offers both a playground and a walking path, as well as ample green space to run around. It is a connection point to the David Balfour Park Trail that can take you south to Evergreen Brick Works.
7 locals recommend
David A. Balfour Park
75 Rosehill AveJust around the corner from us, this lovely park offers both a playground and a walking path, as well as ample green space to run around. It is a connection point to the David Balfour Park Trail that can take you south to Evergreen Brick Works.
Arts & Culture
A great little museum - takes about an hour to get through. It is really a museum of shoes. Shoes are a great vehicle for discovering history, nature, culture, etc....really, truly worth the visit.
326 locals recommend
Bata Shoe Museum
327 Bloor St WA great little museum - takes about an hour to get through. It is really a museum of shoes. Shoes are a great vehicle for discovering history, nature, culture, etc....really, truly worth the visit.
Fantastic collection of ceramic and porcelain. What started as a private family collection, is now a stunning museum absolutely worth a visit. Be sure to talk to the lovely volunteers who know many of the quirky histories of the pieces in the collection.
114 locals recommend
Gardiner Museum
111 Queens ParkFantastic collection of ceramic and porcelain. What started as a private family collection, is now a stunning museum absolutely worth a visit. Be sure to talk to the lovely volunteers who know many of the quirky histories of the pieces in the collection.
You can't go wrong visiting the ROM. One of our favourite rooms is the Gems and Stones room. There are often excellent special exhibits worth a look. Check the website to see what's on during your stay. The museum is a nice 20 minute down-hill walk from the house and from here you can easily reach the Bata and the Gardiner museums as well.
2332 locals recommend
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkYou can't go wrong visiting the ROM. One of our favourite rooms is the Gems and Stones room. There are often excellent special exhibits worth a look. Check the website to see what's on during your stay. The museum is a nice 20 minute down-hill walk from the house and from here you can easily reach the Bata and the Gardiner museums as well.
Niagara on the Lake is an idyllic little town, surrounded by wineries and conveniently located for visiting Niagara Falls. There is a yearly theatre festival, great restaurants, good spa's, golf, and did I say wineries? Definitely worth a visit.
628 locals recommend
Niagara on the Lake
Niagara on the Lake is an idyllic little town, surrounded by wineries and conveniently located for visiting Niagara Falls. There is a yearly theatre festival, great restaurants, good spa's, golf, and did I say wineries? Definitely worth a visit.
Getting Around
TTC (Toronto Transit Corp) - this is our subway system. The day pass is a great deal. Yonge and St Clair is our closest subway stop. If you accidentally go to St Clair West - just hop on the street car going west to Yonge & St Clair. There is also a weekly pass that goes from Monday - Friday with unlimited rides.
25 locals recommend
St Clair Station
TTC (Toronto Transit Corp) - this is our subway system. The day pass is a great deal. Yonge and St Clair is our closest subway stop. If you accidentally go to St Clair West - just hop on the street car going west to Yonge & St Clair. There is also a weekly pass that goes from Monday - Friday with unlimited rides.
Bikeshare Toronto is our bike share service in Toronto. There's a stop just around the corner on Rosehill Avenue by the David Balfour park.
53 locals recommend
Bike Share Toronto
Bikeshare Toronto is our bike share service in Toronto. There's a stop just around the corner on Rosehill Avenue by the David Balfour park.