Guidebook for Toronto
Essentials
St Clair Fish Market
728 St Clair Ave WFresh fish!
Macelleria Atlas
800 St Clair Ave WThe best Italian butcher. They do fresh ground beef, deli meats and sliced cheeses.
Luciano's No Frills
243 Alberta AveHuge grocery store, teeny tiny little prices.
Sunflower Market
910 St Clair Ave WGreat bulk food & specialty/organic goods.
Check out the market for fresh fish, beautiful grains, beans and dried fruit, Mexican specialty products and lots of fresh fruits and veggies.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Check out the market for fresh fish, beautiful grains, beans and dried fruit, Mexican specialty products and lots of fresh fruits and veggies.
Drinks & Nightlife
Neighborhood dive, great music, hip vibe, happy people, cheap and micro-brew beer.
7 locals recommend
Bungalow
273 Augusta AveNeighborhood dive, great music, hip vibe, happy people, cheap and micro-brew beer.
The Red Light
1185 Dundas St WHip crowd, fun times with friends.
The Done Right Inn
861 Queen St WGreat forested patio out back! Nice little backyard vibe.
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street WestAs close to a speakeasy as you'll find in TO. Good luck finding it.
Less cars, more alcohol. Live music! I once saw an awesome bluegrass-y band play here.
6 locals recommend
Ted's Collision and Body Repair
573 College StLess cars, more alcohol. Live music! I once saw an awesome bluegrass-y band play here.
Sweaty Betty's
13 Ossington AveHole in the wall bar that makes you feel welcome.
Our favorite neighborhood dive, great music, hip vibe, happy people, cheap and micro-brew beer.
30 locals recommend
The Gem Bar & Grill
1159 Davenport RdOur favorite neighborhood dive, great music, hip vibe, happy people, cheap and micro-brew beer.
The Piston
937 Bloor St WAnother bar.
Disgraceland
965 Bloor St W$12 Pitchers. Enough said.
Food Scene
Café Pamenar
307 Augusta AveArtsy, great patio, excellent coffee & tea.
Stazione Centrale
820 St Clair Ave WWell made cocktails/apps, nice atmosphere, Italian fare.
Much-talked about BBQ. They deserve every bit of attention they get - awesome spot!
85 locals recommend
The Stockyards Smokehouse & Larder
699 St Clair Ave WMuch-talked about BBQ. They deserve every bit of attention they get - awesome spot!
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WBrunch is best. Healthful, delicious, inviting.
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street West$3 mimosas and cesars, open 24 hours!
The Ace
231A Roncesvalles AveDiner-chic. Great brunch on weekends, close to High Park.
Sam James Coffee Bar
297 Harbord StGreat vibe, passionate people.
The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College StDeja vu & decent coffee.
Manic Coffee
426 College StClose to Kensington, nice vibe.
Ajisen Ramen
332 Spadina Ave.Best ramen spot in town!
House Of Gourmet
484 Dundas St WNoodle soup, BBQ hanging in the window, Chinese beer.
La Carnita
501 College StTacos, tequila.
Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St WTacos, bourbon.
Charcuterie, classic cocktails, wine. (Check out Raw Bar next door for seafood, and the bar across the street for more cocktails).
51 locals recommend
Cocktail Bar
923 Dundas Street WestCharcuterie, classic cocktails, wine. (Check out Raw Bar next door for seafood, and the bar across the street for more cocktails).
Mr Pong's Real Food
Same owners as Cold Tea. More accessible entrance.
Fresh on Crawford
894 Queen Street WestVegan & veggie-friendly goodness!
Right across from a pretty church, conducive to working for long periods of time & just down the street from the library!
(Sister shop by the same name due south a few blocks)
85 locals recommend
The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College StRight across from a pretty church, conducive to working for long periods of time & just down the street from the library!
(Sister shop by the same name due south a few blocks)
Coffee, Cocktail Nights, Pop-Up Events. These guys not only have meticulous handwriting, but they also make pretty impressive coffee.
See voodoochild.ca for more details!
388 College St
388 College StreetCoffee, Cocktail Nights, Pop-Up Events. These guys not only have meticulous handwriting, but they also make pretty impressive coffee.
See voodoochild.ca for more details!
238 Dupont St
238 Dupont StreetRe-purposed furniture & damn fine coffee.
1193 St Clair Ave W
1193 Saint Clair Avenue WestPho!
Arts & Culture
This is a beautifully converted streetcar yard that features live/work artists lofts, various community centers, and public park. Check out the Saturday Morning Farmers Market!
9 locals recommend
The Peter MacKendrick Community Gallery
76 Wychwood AveThis is a beautifully converted streetcar yard that features live/work artists lofts, various community centers, and public park. Check out the Saturday Morning Farmers Market!
Silver Dollar Room
486 Spadina AvenueBig windows, down-time friendly.
A bar, but also a fantastic live venue - Sunday nights are best.
351 locals recommend
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestA bar, but also a fantastic live venue - Sunday nights are best.
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WArt Gallery of Ontario!
Gardiner Museum
111 Queens ParkLearn about the history of porcelain! Take a pottery class!
Toronto Public Library - Davenport Branch
1246 Shaw StBooks & movies & music!
Multidisciplinary studio and gallery space. Lots of local talent on all sides of the art world. Highly recommended!
709 College St
709 College StreetMultidisciplinary studio and gallery space. Lots of local talent on all sides of the art world. Highly recommended!
Pint-sized local gallery space. See website for current events and installations www.whippersnapper.ca
594 Dundas St W
594 Dundas Street WestPint-sized local gallery space. See website for current events and installations www.whippersnapper.ca
Everything Else
The Stop's Green Barn
Community outreach greenhouse and education centre.
Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre
967 College StInviting yoga studio & well-being centre.
Heated-room yoga. Visit their website for scheduling & further info www.st-clair-west.mokshayoga.ca
934 St Clair Ave W
934 Saint Clair Avenue WestHeated-room yoga. Visit their website for scheduling & further info www.st-clair-west.mokshayoga.ca
Sightseeing
A great hangout in the summer; the tree blossoms in the spring are supposed to be phenomenal!
1205 locals recommend
High Park
1873 Bloor St WA great hangout in the summer; the tree blossoms in the spring are supposed to be phenomenal!
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WAn urban oasis with an off-leash dog bowl!
Beautiful beachside boardwalk & a free outdoor pool in the Summertime.
22 locals recommend
Sunnyside Boardwalk
Sunnyside BoardwalkBeautiful beachside boardwalk & a free outdoor pool in the Summertime.
Phil White Arena
443 Arlington AveA forest walk in the city!
This is a something of a "gated community", but no one seems to mind if you pass though. Big boulevards and a wee bit of nature. A nice place to go while on a run or walk through the neighborhood.
29 locals recommend
Wychwood Park
This is a something of a "gated community", but no one seems to mind if you pass though. Big boulevards and a wee bit of nature. A nice place to go while on a run or walk through the neighborhood.
Shopping
Public Butter Vintage
1290 Queen St WVintage clothing.
Robber
Pretty and poised. Beautiful & unique clothing.
Capsule Music
921 Queen St WBest guitar store in town!
Penny Arcade Vintage
1177 Dundas St WThe best finds. Vintage has never looked so modern.
Silver Falls
A vintage shop that pays attention to trends. All very wearable & carefully curated.
Another cool vintage clothing store that mixes high and low fashion.
26 locals recommend
I Miss You Vintage Inc.
63 Ossington AveAnother cool vintage clothing store that mixes high and low fashion.
Looky-loo trendy house plants & cut flowers, gather inspiration or sign up for a class! This is a beautifully curated store.
626 College St
626 College StreetLooky-loo trendy house plants & cut flowers, gather inspiration or sign up for a class! This is a beautifully curated store.
908 St Clair Ave W
908 Saint Clair Avenue WestLiquor store - right across the street!
Nice for gifts, nick-knacks and Canadiana items. Collect trendy presents for your friends back home!
1144 Queen St W
1144 Queen Street WestNice for gifts, nick-knacks and Canadiana items. Collect trendy presents for your friends back home!
Carefully curated book & cookery store. Extensive collection of special interest books & they carry some beautiful Toronto-centric items as well if you're looking for souvenirs.
8 locals recommend
Good Egg
156 Augusta AvenueCarefully curated book & cookery store. Extensive collection of special interest books & they carry some beautiful Toronto-centric items as well if you're looking for souvenirs.