Stefana's guide to the 6ix aka Toronto 🚀

Stefana
Stefana's guide to the 6ix aka Toronto 🚀

Bars

Japanese rockabilly themed bar. Very cozy and includes a juke box. Cash-only.
31 locals recommend
Black Dice Cafe
1574 Dundas St W
31 locals recommend
Japanese rockabilly themed bar. Very cozy and includes a juke box. Cash-only.
Witchy cocktail bar with very unique menu.
18 locals recommend
Grey Tiger
1190 Bloor St W
18 locals recommend
Witchy cocktail bar with very unique menu.
Good food options as well. Slushy alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
56 locals recommend
Rhum Corner
926 Dundas St W
56 locals recommend
Good food options as well. Slushy alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Good option if you find yourself in Kensington. Local DJs and booth seating.
27 locals recommend
Handlebar
159 Augusta Ave
27 locals recommend
Good option if you find yourself in Kensington. Local DJs and booth seating.
All-female staff, outstanding whiskey selection with options at every price point.
39 locals recommend
The Caledonian
856 College St
39 locals recommend
All-female staff, outstanding whiskey selection with options at every price point.
Wine bar inside what used to be the beloved Greek dive bar Menalon (they still have the awning in tribute to this past). During warmer weather, features a vine-covered patio behind the bar.
18 locals recommend
Paradise Grapevine
841 Bloor St W
18 locals recommend
Wine bar inside what used to be the beloved Greek dive bar Menalon (they still have the awning in tribute to this past). During warmer weather, features a vine-covered patio behind the bar.

Cheap eats

$1 taco special during weekdays. Chicken burrito and churros are incredible. This is a low-key, casual and family-run favourite of mine.
19 locals recommend
Latin World
1229 Bloor St W
19 locals recommend
$1 taco special during weekdays. Chicken burrito and churros are incredible. This is a low-key, casual and family-run favourite of mine.
To-go counter with bahn-mi sandwiches, juices and smoothies. Unreal prices.
Galaxy T&T
1227A Bloor St W
To-go counter with bahn-mi sandwiches, juices and smoothies. Unreal prices.
Right across the street and every Monday from 4pm-7pm. Lots of dogs and children running around. Live local musicians.
31 locals recommend
Sorauren Farmers' Market
50 Roncesvalles Ave
31 locals recommend
Right across the street and every Monday from 4pm-7pm. Lots of dogs and children running around. Live local musicians.
You just can’t leave Toronto without trying the jerk chicken here.
18 locals recommend
Jerk King
522 Bloor St W
18 locals recommend
You just can’t leave Toronto without trying the jerk chicken here.
I dream about this place every day. The ice cream sandwiches are so so good. The chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and the cinnamon buns are also so wonderful !
113 locals recommend
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware Ave
113 locals recommend
I dream about this place every day. The ice cream sandwiches are so so good. The chocolate cupcakes with cream cheese frosting and the cinnamon buns are also so wonderful !
Great spot to grab a bite if you’re visiting the AGO.
Yummy Yummy Dumplings
79 Huron St
Great spot to grab a bite if you’re visiting the AGO.
Excellent dumplings!
81 locals recommend
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.
81 locals recommend
Excellent dumplings!
To-go counter option, or sit down for pizza with a drink.
43 locals recommend
Superpoint
184 Ossington Ave
43 locals recommend
To-go counter option, or sit down for pizza with a drink.
Cash-only. Truly a Little Italy classic.
30 locals recommend
Bitondo Pizzeria
11 Clinton St
30 locals recommend
Cash-only. Truly a Little Italy classic.
Excellent fried chicken sandwiches to go.
13 locals recommend
P.G Clucks
610 College St
13 locals recommend
Excellent fried chicken sandwiches to go.
Get the beef dumplings and mango lassi for just $10
17 locals recommend
Loga's Corner
216 Close Ave
17 locals recommend
Get the beef dumplings and mango lassi for just $10

Food scene

Fun and lively atmosphere, no reservations and there’s often a line. The spaghetti and affogato are unreal.
86 locals recommend
Sugo
1281 Bloor St W
86 locals recommend
Fun and lively atmosphere, no reservations and there’s often a line. The spaghetti and affogato are unreal.
Truly phenomenal Persian food— huge portions. Cheap house wine and delicious tea and deserts.
32 locals recommend
Pomegranate Restaurant
420 College St
32 locals recommend
Truly phenomenal Persian food— huge portions. Cheap house wine and delicious tea and deserts.
Delicious and affordable ramen with outstanding service. No reservations so there can be a line — but definitely worth it. The Black Sesame is my favourite.
46 locals recommend
Ramen Isshin
421 College St
46 locals recommend
Delicious and affordable ramen with outstanding service. No reservations so there can be a line — but definitely worth it. The Black Sesame is my favourite.
Haunted and cozy diner with delicious food. Brunch and dinner are both great here.
The Ace
231A Roncesvalles Avenue
Haunted and cozy diner with delicious food. Brunch and dinner are both great here.
This is where Rihanna and Drake shot the music video for “Work”!
54 locals recommend
The Real Jerk Restaurant
842 Gerrard Street East
54 locals recommend
This is where Rihanna and Drake shot the music video for “Work”!
Yummy Korean food!
74 locals recommend
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
691 Bloor St W
74 locals recommend
Yummy Korean food!
Try the chilli fries! Everything is delicious here.
6 locals recommend
Himalayan Kitchen
1526 Queen St W
6 locals recommend
Try the chilli fries! Everything is delicious here.
The food and service is so, so wonderful. Try the Indian chain or mango lassi. The butter naan is very good with their eggplant dish, and make sure to grab the yummy rice dish (with peas and cardamom).
27 locals recommend
Om Restaurant
1439 Queen St W
27 locals recommend
The food and service is so, so wonderful. Try the Indian chain or mango lassi. The butter naan is very good with their eggplant dish, and make sure to grab the yummy rice dish (with peas and cardamom).
Really yummy! They also do a traditional coffee ceremony.
12 locals recommend
African Palace
977 Bloor St W
12 locals recommend
Really yummy! They also do a traditional coffee ceremony.
French diner in art-deco style. Real cozy.
7 locals recommend
Le Swan
892 Queen St W
7 locals recommend
French diner in art-deco style. Real cozy.
Relaxed diner with cute decor — good for brunch or dinner.
40 locals recommend
Skyline Restaurant
1426 Queen St W
40 locals recommend
Relaxed diner with cute decor — good for brunch or dinner.
My absolutely favourite brunch spot! The specials are always so amazing.
112 locals recommend
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St W
112 locals recommend
My absolutely favourite brunch spot! The specials are always so amazing.
Delicious Nicaraguan food, massive portions. Home-cooked quality!
31 locals recommend
La Bella Managua
872 Bloor St W
31 locals recommend
Delicious Nicaraguan food, massive portions. Home-cooked quality!
A cozy restaurant filled with regulars. Excellent choice for brunch or dinner.
Milou
A cozy restaurant filled with regulars. Excellent choice for brunch or dinner.

Culture

Excellent selection of festival films and art house films.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St W
582 locals recommend
Excellent selection of festival films and art house films.
Very, very close by — 8 min walk.
129 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada
158 Sterling Rd
129 locals recommend
Very, very close by — 8 min walk.
The building is incredible architecturally. They always have interesting exhibits of traditional and contemporary Islamic art.
156 locals recommend
Aga Khan Museum
77 Wynford Dr
156 locals recommend
The building is incredible architecturally. They always have interesting exhibits of traditional and contemporary Islamic art.
A classic! Free after 6pm on Wednesdays.
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St W
2262 locals recommend
A classic! Free after 6pm on Wednesdays.
Small contemporary art gallery with reliably good exhibits.
44 locals recommend
Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
1286 Bloor St W
44 locals recommend
Small contemporary art gallery with reliably good exhibits.
Local comedy & improv shows every night.
99 locals recommend
Comedy Bar
945 Bloor St W
99 locals recommend
Local comedy & improv shows every night.
Legendary single-screen cinema. Super fun programming! Special shout-out to the Revue Series: Black Belt Cinema and Drunken Cinema.
116 locals recommend
The Revue Cinema
400 Roncesvalles Ave
116 locals recommend
Legendary single-screen cinema. Super fun programming! Special shout-out to the Revue Series: Black Belt Cinema and Drunken Cinema.

Outdoors

Free and open all summer long. Right near the boardwalk on Sunnyside beach.
34 locals recommend
Sunnyside - Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool
1755 Lake Shore Blvd W
34 locals recommend
Free and open all summer long. Right near the boardwalk on Sunnyside beach.
Beautiful and very large park only a 15 min walk away. Pay-what-you-can live Shakespeare productions running in the summer evenings.
1205 locals recommend
High Park
1873 Bloor St W
1205 locals recommend
Beautiful and very large park only a 15 min walk away. Pay-what-you-can live Shakespeare productions running in the summer evenings.
Lovely park for a picnic.
743 locals recommend
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St W
743 locals recommend
Lovely park for a picnic.
The ferry is $8 and it’s a very special place to spend the day (great beaches!)
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
1035 locals recommend
The ferry is $8 and it’s a very special place to spend the day (great beaches!)
Turquoise water, great beach and stunning views.
198 locals recommend
Scarborough Bluffs Park
198 locals recommend
Turquoise water, great beach and stunning views.

Coffee/Light Breakfast

The Alternative or Gold Standard sandwich ($6) and a coffee is a truly perfect way to start the day. Very convenient to walk to.
20 locals recommend
Reunion Coffee Roasters
385 Roncesvalles Ave
20 locals recommend
The Alternative or Gold Standard sandwich ($6) and a coffee is a truly perfect way to start the day. Very convenient to walk to.
Cash-only, a Bloordale classic.
91 locals recommend
The Common
1028 Bloor St W
91 locals recommend
Cash-only, a Bloordale classic.
A lovely selection of cakes and ice cream!
57 locals recommend
Home Baking Co.
1242 Bloor St W
57 locals recommend
A lovely selection of cakes and ice cream!
Ice cream sandwiches! There’s always a line-up!
171 locals recommend
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington Ave
171 locals recommend
Ice cream sandwiches! There’s always a line-up!
SAM JAMES COFFEE BAR - BROCK
I DEAL (COFFEE) ON THE PARK

Books & Music

Excellent book store that specializes in social justice and politics. They have everything! Very cool selection of children’s books in the back if you have children in your life.
18 locals recommend
Another Story Bookshop
315 Roncesvalles Ave
18 locals recommend
Excellent book store that specializes in social justice and politics. They have everything! Very cool selection of children’s books in the back if you have children in your life.
Really lovely local bookstore across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.
44 locals recommend
Type Books
883 Queen St W
44 locals recommend
Really lovely local bookstore across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.
Nearby with a nice selection of vinyl.
Tonality Records
2173 Dundas St W
Nearby with a nice selection of vinyl.
Very unique selection of rare and special edition books. Nowhere else like it in the city. There’s a book vending machine!
24 locals recommend
The Monkey's Paw
1067 Bloor St W
24 locals recommend
Very unique selection of rare and special edition books. Nowhere else like it in the city. There’s a book vending machine!
Great selection of art books, zines and publications made by artists.
15 locals recommend
Art Metropole
896 College Street
15 locals recommend
Great selection of art books, zines and publications made by artists.
Flying Books
Invisible City Record Shop
222 Spadina Ave.
14 locals recommend
Rotate This
186 Ossington Ave
14 locals recommend
Issues Magazine Shop