Guidebook for Toronto
Essentials
Cheap and good selection for a Chinatown Grocery store. I shop here for fruits/veggies and other basics.
29 locals recommend
Lucky Moose Food Mart
393 Dundas St WCheap and good selection for a Chinatown Grocery store. I shop here for fruits/veggies and other basics.
One of the closer grocery stores in the area. Small, but just enough of everything for the things you'll need
17 locals recommend
Longo's
9200 Weston RdOne of the closer grocery stores in the area. Small, but just enough of everything for the things you'll need
Loblaws
585 Queen St WBiggest proper supermarket in the area
Convenient grocery store within 10-minute walk. You'll find most of what you'd need here without having to go to a larger grocery location.
56 locals recommend
Mike's Independent City Market Toronto
111 Peter StConvenient grocery store within 10-minute walk. You'll find most of what you'd need here without having to go to a larger grocery location.
Arts & Culture
Best Art Gallery Around! It is so worth a visit (make sure you head up to the Gallery Italia for a coffee as well as it's a great place to enjoy the architecture from the inside).
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WBest Art Gallery Around! It is so worth a visit (make sure you head up to the Gallery Italia for a coffee as well as it's a great place to enjoy the architecture from the inside).
Scotiabank Theatre
259 Richmond St WA local megaplex movie theatre- lots of new releases here
Food Scene
Go here for a quick lunch! It's so good- get a steamed bao sandwich (or two!), the pork belly is awesome or even better ask for "the club" from the secret menu
147 locals recommend
Banh Mi Boys
392 Queen St WGo here for a quick lunch! It's so good- get a steamed bao sandwich (or two!), the pork belly is awesome or even better ask for "the club" from the secret menu
Another great lunch spot for an oh-so-good and greasy burger. Have it with a milk shake for best results. Cash only.
154 locals recommend
The Burger's Priest
463 Queen St WAnother great lunch spot for an oh-so-good and greasy burger. Have it with a milk shake for best results. Cash only.
Baldwin Street is a hidden gem lined with restaurants and patios to check out. Also a great health-food store there if you're looking.
23 locals recommend
Baldwin Village
Baldwin Street is a hidden gem lined with restaurants and patios to check out. Also a great health-food store there if you're looking.
Neighbourhood go-to. I have lots of lunch meetings here- the food's good and not expensive and there's a great back patio tucked away.. plus always a great selection of desserts.
27 locals recommend
Queen Mother Cafe
208 Queen St WNeighbourhood go-to. I have lots of lunch meetings here- the food's good and not expensive and there's a great back patio tucked away.. plus always a great selection of desserts.
On a nice sunny day you should really grab lunch and a treat from here.. eat in or take it to go and hang out in Trinity Bellwoods Park right next door.
183 locals recommend
Nadège Patisserie
780 Queen St WOn a nice sunny day you should really grab lunch and a treat from here.. eat in or take it to go and hang out in Trinity Bellwoods Park right next door.
Terroni
720 Queen St WGreat Italian restaurant with an exceptional back patio.
Tucked away amidst the high-rises is this gem of a seafood restaurant. Be prepared to drop more than a few pennies, but it's worth it for the atmosphere and dining quality.
John & Sons Oyster House
56 Temperance StTucked away amidst the high-rises is this gem of a seafood restaurant. Be prepared to drop more than a few pennies, but it's worth it for the atmosphere and dining quality.
Great patio amidst the towers of the financial district. And the best pizza around!
40 locals recommend
Pizzeria Libretto University
155 University AveGreat patio amidst the towers of the financial district. And the best pizza around!
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
215 Spadina Ave.One of Toronto's best coffee stops
Best tacos in Toronto found here! It's a small shop, may be standing room only. Make a quick lunch stop while exploring eclectic Kensington Market
115 locals recommend
Seven Lives
72 Kensington AveBest tacos in Toronto found here! It's a small shop, may be standing room only. Make a quick lunch stop while exploring eclectic Kensington Market
Awesome vegetarian spot for lunch or dinner. No meat & no gluten- neither will be missed here!
21 locals recommend
Kupfert & Kim (Spadina)
140 Spadina Ave.Awesome vegetarian spot for lunch or dinner. No meat & no gluten- neither will be missed here!
New addition to the neighbourhood. Great coffee, excellent treats and juices as well. Hangout for a few chill minutes on the fantastic back patio.
10 locals recommend
HotBlack Coffee
245 Queen St WNew addition to the neighbourhood. Great coffee, excellent treats and juices as well. Hangout for a few chill minutes on the fantastic back patio.
New trendy diner with great food and cocktails. No reservations needed, just walk in for a booth or bar seat. If there's a wait ask to head upstairs to the bar at Alo for a drink while you wait.
35 locals recommend
Aloette Restaurant
163 Spadina Ave.New trendy diner with great food and cocktails. No reservations needed, just walk in for a booth or bar seat. If there's a wait ask to head upstairs to the bar at Alo for a drink while you wait.
Drinks & Nightlife
If you want an upscale hangout try the lobby lounge at the Shangri-La or the bar at Bosk right next to it. Live music and warm fireplace are highlights.
26 locals recommend
Shangri-La Hotel Toronto
188 University AveIf you want an upscale hangout try the lobby lounge at the Shangri-La or the bar at Bosk right next to it. Live music and warm fireplace are highlights.
Toronto's preeminent live jazz and blues venue. Right at the bottom of St.Patrick, live music pretty much every night.
109 locals recommend
The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar
194 Queen St WToronto's preeminent live jazz and blues venue. Right at the bottom of St.Patrick, live music pretty much every night.
Coffee, bars, restaurants, markets, bohemian, hip, vintage, artsy... this is a great area for a summer afternoon. Stroll through and find a place with a little patio to have a drink or a bite.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Coffee, bars, restaurants, markets, bohemian, hip, vintage, artsy... this is a great area for a summer afternoon. Stroll through and find a place with a little patio to have a drink or a bite.
One of the old-faithfuls of the Ossington strip. Reposado is probably the quieter haunt on the street. Head to this area for bars, clubs, music, dancing, live music, good times...
100 locals recommend
Reposado
136 Ossington AveOne of the old-faithfuls of the Ossington strip. Reposado is probably the quieter haunt on the street. Head to this area for bars, clubs, music, dancing, live music, good times...
West Queen West's original night-life anchor. The upstairs patio at the Drake is still fantastic. DJs and live events downstairs and lots in the area if the Drake isn't putting out.
538 locals recommend
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WWest Queen West's original night-life anchor. The upstairs patio at the Drake is still fantastic. DJs and live events downstairs and lots in the area if the Drake isn't putting out.
Looking for a evening or late-night activity? Why not combine drinking and bowling at the somewhat trendy, albeit a bit corporate, local bowling alley.
88 locals recommend
The Ballroom
145 John StLooking for a evening or late-night activity? Why not combine drinking and bowling at the somewhat trendy, albeit a bit corporate, local bowling alley.
Located in Toronto's club district is a little underground ping-pong bar. Make a reservation if you don't want to wait for a table. Or if you like 'clubbing' anywhere on this King West strip will do
155 locals recommend
SPIN Toronto
Located in Toronto's club district is a little underground ping-pong bar. Make a reservation if you don't want to wait for a table. Or if you like 'clubbing' anywhere on this King West strip will do
Great, cozy bar (especially for those cold winter days) with a huge selection of great beers.
27 locals recommend
Sin & Redemption
136 McCaul StGreat, cozy bar (especially for those cold winter days) with a huge selection of great beers.
Entertainment & Activities
Toronto's premier cinema experience. Check the listings for obscure re-releases, great foreign selection as well as lots of Canadian possibilities.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WToronto's premier cinema experience. Check the listings for obscure re-releases, great foreign selection as well as lots of Canadian possibilities.
AMC Yonge & Dundas 24
A local megaplex movie theatre- lots of new releases here
Guaranteed night of laughter. Tickets aren't too expensive and it's full of great sketch comedy and improv. You may even be able to get same-day tickets if lucky
156 locals recommend
The Second City Toronto
110 Mercer StGuaranteed night of laughter. Tickets aren't too expensive and it's full of great sketch comedy and improv. You may even be able to get same-day tickets if lucky
Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema
506 Bloor St WThis cinema is dedicated to documentary films!
Shopping
Closest neighbourhood drug store- also has some basic grocery items as well as a Canada Post Office inside on the 2nd floor
515 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
388 King St WClosest neighbourhood drug store- also has some basic grocery items as well as a Canada Post Office inside on the 2nd floor
Our booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The LCBO is the stop for wine, liquor, beer, etc.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Our booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The LCBO is the stop for wine, liquor, beer, etc.
Our booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The LCBO is the stop for wine, liquor, beer, etc.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Our booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The LCBO is the stop for wine, liquor, beer, etc.
Our booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The Beer Store is.. well, it's called the beer store for a reason.
127 locals recommend
Beer Store
1200 Dundas St WOur booze shopping is government regulated, but don't let that stop you from having a good time. The Beer Store is.. well, it's called the beer store for a reason.
Head west beyond Spadina and Bathurst on Queen St West and you'll find the boutiques and shops the strip is known for (maybe not quite as far west as the marker on the map)
723 locals recommend
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestHead west beyond Spadina and Bathurst on Queen St West and you'll find the boutiques and shops the strip is known for (maybe not quite as far west as the marker on the map)
Everything Else
Queen Street Warehouse
232 Queen St WSometimes you just need to get some dry-cleaning done..