Niagara, King/Queen West
Food Scene
Freshly baked simit (reminiscent of a Montreal-style bagel), coffee, snacks, fresh-squeezed juices, tons of gluten-free/hippy/healthy options. A local baby-haver favourite spot; prepare for a sea of strollers.
17 locals recommend
Simit & Chai Co.
787 King St WFreshly baked simit (reminiscent of a Montreal-style bagel), coffee, snacks, fresh-squeezed juices, tons of gluten-free/hippy/healthy options. A local baby-haver favourite spot; prepare for a sea of strollers.
Book ahead. One of the top-rated restaurants in Canada. On Sundays, 5-course lunch for $50 with 1/2 price wine!
51 locals recommend
Edulis Restaurant
169 Niagara StBook ahead. One of the top-rated restaurants in Canada. On Sundays, 5-course lunch for $50 with 1/2 price wine!
I included this spot because there is a beautiful, sprawling back patio and you would never guess from the storefront. Inexpensive and laid-back Portuguese chicken and cheap beer.
62 locals recommend
Bairrada Churrasqueira Grill
1000 College StI included this spot because there is a beautiful, sprawling back patio and you would never guess from the storefront. Inexpensive and laid-back Portuguese chicken and cheap beer.
Locavore neighbourhood spot with a cute front patio.
Modays-Wednesdays 5-7pm buck-a-shuck, $5 drink specials and $5 snacks.
Wednesdays all night 1/2 price wine.
Hugely popular brunch on the weekends (prepare for a lineup).
152 locals recommend
The Emerson Restaurant
1279 Bloor St WLocavore neighbourhood spot with a cute front patio.
Modays-Wednesdays 5-7pm buck-a-shuck, $5 drink specials and $5 snacks.
Wednesdays all night 1/2 price wine.
Hugely popular brunch on the weekends (prepare for a lineup).
Tiny brunch spot that can literally do whatever the fuck they want and people will line up out the door to eat it. You'll believe the hype. Get the espressado (trust me), but share it. Double check the hours because they're inconsistent.
112 locals recommend
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WTiny brunch spot that can literally do whatever the fuck they want and people will line up out the door to eat it. You'll believe the hype. Get the espressado (trust me), but share it. Double check the hours because they're inconsistent.
Drinks & Nightlife
Located just south of King Street, Bar Buca is often overlooked by tourists. Old-school Italian fare with an excellent wine list. Kitchen open until 2am. Then get up the next morning and grab a double espresso and a cornetto at the standing bar, just like in Italy. They'll even pour you tiny glasses of sparkling water to wash it all down.
126 locals recommend
Bar Buca
2 Portland StLocated just south of King Street, Bar Buca is often overlooked by tourists. Old-school Italian fare with an excellent wine list. Kitchen open until 2am. Then get up the next morning and grab a double espresso and a cornetto at the standing bar, just like in Italy. They'll even pour you tiny glasses of sparkling water to wash it all down.
Old York Bar & Grill
167 Niagara StLocal bar & pub-grub. Great ribs and burgers.
If it's too loud you're too old to be in here.
Tiny, but hugely popular local spot with cutlery-free snacks available until 2am. Great cocktails served at a u-shaped bar (see & be seen).
164 locals recommend
416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst StIf it's too loud you're too old to be in here.
Tiny, but hugely popular local spot with cutlery-free snacks available until 2am. Great cocktails served at a u-shaped bar (see & be seen).
One of the oldest bars in the city. Cheap and cheery with a wraparound patio overlooking both Bathurst and King streets. 1/2 price wings Sunday to Tuesday. Go here to watch a sports game or after going to the SkyDome.
65 locals recommend
Wheat Sheaf Tavern
667 King St WOne of the oldest bars in the city. Cheap and cheery with a wraparound patio overlooking both Bathurst and King streets. 1/2 price wings Sunday to Tuesday. Go here to watch a sports game or after going to the SkyDome.
I love this joint. Cheap booze and surprisingly good food (grilled chicken salads are $12). Back patio.
16 locals recommend
Squirly's Bar & Grill
807 Queen St WI love this joint. Cheap booze and surprisingly good food (grilled chicken salads are $12). Back patio.
Parks & Nature
On a sunny afternoon, it seems like the entire city is chilling in Trinity Bellwoods with a tall can and their dog.
743 locals recommend
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WOn a sunny afternoon, it seems like the entire city is chilling in Trinity Bellwoods with a tall can and their dog.
King Street cuts through Stanley Park, so on the north side there are ping-pong tables, a basketball court and a playground. On the south side, there's an enclosed dog park, a small swimming pool and a baseball diamond.
39 locals recommend
Stanley Park
890 King St WKing Street cuts through Stanley Park, so on the north side there are ping-pong tables, a basketball court and a playground. On the south side, there's an enclosed dog park, a small swimming pool and a baseball diamond.
Catch the tiki taxi to the island and then take the ferry back to the city (it's free on the way back).
Keep an eye out for a lady in a mesh shirt selling boozy popsicles and GET ONE. They are delicious. Flavours like cucumber/gin/rosemary and bourbon/marshmallow.
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
Catch the tiki taxi to the island and then take the ferry back to the city (it's free on the way back).
Keep an eye out for a lady in a mesh shirt selling boozy popsicles and GET ONE. They are delicious. Flavours like cucumber/gin/rosemary and bourbon/marshmallow.
Essentials
There's a coin machine and packets of Tide are available. Wash & Fold also available!
10 locals recommend
Queen Street Laundry
713 Queen St WThere's a coin machine and packets of Tide are available. Wash & Fold also available!
Can be $$$ but open until 2am and opens again at 6am. Convenient.
76 locals recommend
The Kitchen Table
705 King St WCan be $$$ but open until 2am and opens again at 6am. Convenient.
Large grocery store with a fresh fish counter and a host of other large scale grocery amenities.
1112 locals recommend
Loblaws
585 Queen St WLarge grocery store with a fresh fish counter and a host of other large scale grocery amenities.
This LCBO is noteworthy because it's one of the few that is open until 11pm every night except for Sunday/Monday. SUN 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM MON 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM TUE 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM WED 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM THU 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM FRI 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM SAT 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.This LCBO is noteworthy because it's one of the few that is open until 11pm every night except for Sunday/Monday. SUN 11:00 AM - 6:00 PM MON 9:30 AM - 9:00 PM TUE 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM WED 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM THU 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM FRI 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM SAT 9:30 AM - 11:00 PM
Entertainment & Activities
No stale popcorn smell here. See all the Palme D'Or films and have a cocktail when it's over.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WNo stale popcorn smell here. See all the Palme D'Or films and have a cocktail when it's over.
Ripley's Aquarium of Canada
288 Bremner BlvdTHE JELLYFISH !!!
Arts & Culture
Check out AGO's First Thursdays, a monthly art party with live acts and catered fare.
Wednesdays 5pm-close free entrance.
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WCheck out AGO's First Thursdays, a monthly art party with live acts and catered fare.
Wednesdays 5pm-close free entrance.
Getting Around
Budget Car Rental
161A Bay StGo in during office hours and sometimes you get a discount on a yearly membership. Book cars by the minute on the app.
12 locals recommend
car2go
240 Richmond Street WestGo in during office hours and sometimes you get a discount on a yearly membership. Book cars by the minute on the app.