Guidebook for Toronto
Essentials
Excellent large grocery store, has everything you could possibly need. About a 10-15 min walk.
1112 locals recommend
Loblaws
585 Queen St WExcellent large grocery store, has everything you could possibly need. About a 10-15 min walk.
Superb medium-sized grocery store. More of a local vibe, very local clientele, amazing produce section. They stock lots of hard-to-find ingredients. 10-15 min walk.
184 locals recommend
Fiesta Farms
200 Christie StSuperb medium-sized grocery store. More of a local vibe, very local clientele, amazing produce section. They stock lots of hard-to-find ingredients. 10-15 min walk.
If you know about Whole Foods, there's not much more for me to say. Phenomenal grocery store, probably the best around, and certainly the most expensive. But amazing free people watching.
204 locals recommend
Whole Foods Market
1860 Bayview AveIf you know about Whole Foods, there's not much more for me to say. Phenomenal grocery store, probably the best around, and certainly the most expensive. But amazing free people watching.
Fantastic butcher shop. Well stocked, reasonably priced, efficient service, and top quality meats. Chop, chop.
39 locals recommend
Sanagan's Meat Locker
176 Baldwin StFantastic butcher shop. Well stocked, reasonably priced, efficient service, and top quality meats. Chop, chop.
So there's this lady. Her name is Nancy. And this is her cheese shop. A convenient hop, skip and jump down the street from the wine store (LCBO).
Nancy's Cheese
260 Dupont StSo there's this lady. Her name is Nancy. And this is her cheese shop. A convenient hop, skip and jump down the street from the wine store (LCBO).
Everything Else
Wine & liquor store. Conveniently very close. The 'Vintages' section has the better bottles.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Wine & liquor store. Conveniently very close. The 'Vintages' section has the better bottles.
Beer Store
500 Dupont StThe name kind of says it all.
Community centre with a large saltwater indoor pool. Not sure of hours or entry costs. Great facility.
7 locals recommend
Miles Nadal Jewish Community Centre
750 Spadina Ave.Community centre with a large saltwater indoor pool. Not sure of hours or entry costs. Great facility.
Esso
150 Dupont StClosest gas station.
Food Scene
Great neighbourhood coffee shop. Nice pastries as well. Service can be aloof, but the cappuccino is arguably the best within easy walking distance. And hey, you're right beside the liquor store.
51 locals recommend
Ezras Pound
238 Dupont StGreat neighbourhood coffee shop. Nice pastries as well. Service can be aloof, but the cappuccino is arguably the best within easy walking distance. And hey, you're right beside the liquor store.
Our favourite local brunch spot (get there before 10:30-11 or prepare to wait, very popular). Great for dinner as well. Casual, comfy, yummy.
58 locals recommend
Chadwick's Craft Kitchen & Bar
268 Howland AveOur favourite local brunch spot (get there before 10:30-11 or prepare to wait, very popular). Great for dinner as well. Casual, comfy, yummy.
Not as charming nor unique as some of the boutique coffee shops, but not as bland and commercialized as Starbucks. Nice croissants as well. Quite large so good if you have kids in tow.
175 locals recommend
Aroma Espresso Bar
430 King St WNot as charming nor unique as some of the boutique coffee shops, but not as bland and commercialized as Starbucks. Nice croissants as well. Quite large so good if you have kids in tow.
I'm not going to tell you this is the best sushi you'll ever have, but it's very good and extremely popular with locals. Reasonably priced, speedy service, and oh so close.
94 locals recommend
Sushi on Bloor
525 Bloor St WI'm not going to tell you this is the best sushi you'll ever have, but it's very good and extremely popular with locals. Reasonably priced, speedy service, and oh so close.
When I want a supreme cappuccino and have the time to walk or bike to College St, this is definitely where I go.
42 locals recommend
Manic Coffee
426 College StWhen I want a supreme cappuccino and have the time to walk or bike to College St, this is definitely where I go.
Fun little coffee shop in Yorkville. Incredibly friendly Italian owners. It's a tiny place, but we love going with the kids because the owners make such a fuss (in a good way).
24 locals recommend
Zaza espresso bar
162 Cumberland StFun little coffee shop in Yorkville. Incredibly friendly Italian owners. It's a tiny place, but we love going with the kids because the owners make such a fuss (in a good way).
Really fun neighbourhood restaurant. Authentic Mexican cuisine layered with funky decor and memorable margaritas. Good luck remembering them. Reservations essential. Other outle down the street.
43 locals recommend
Playa Cabana
111 Dupont StReally fun neighbourhood restaurant. Authentic Mexican cuisine layered with funky decor and memorable margaritas. Good luck remembering them. Reservations essential. Other outle down the street.
This is the closest place to get Nespresso pods for our coffee maker.
20 locals recommend
Nespresso Boutique-Bar
159 Cumberland StThis is the closest place to get Nespresso pods for our coffee maker.
Arts & Culture
Top notch national art gallery with vast collection of painting & sculpture spanning pretty much every era. Frank Gehry recently renovated parts of it, great building. PHENOMENAL kids play area, free.
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WTop notch national art gallery with vast collection of painting & sculpture spanning pretty much every era. Frank Gehry recently renovated parts of it, great building. PHENOMENAL kids play area, free.
Royal Ontario Museum. A perfect place for a rainy day (doubly so if you have small kids). Lots of dinosaurs, fun kids play area, whacky crystal inspired architecture.
ROM
Royal Ontario Museum. A perfect place for a rainy day (doubly so if you have small kids). Lots of dinosaurs, fun kids play area, whacky crystal inspired architecture.
Cineplex Odeon Varsity and VIP Cinemas
55 Bloor St WThe nearest big movie theatre.
Sightseeing
Toronto's most characterful neighbourhood. A flavourful mix of fruit & veg kiosks, cafes, bike stores, butcher and seafood shops, and lots of other quirky finds. Ethnic bohemiana hipster haven.
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Toronto's most characterful neighbourhood. A flavourful mix of fruit & veg kiosks, cafes, bike stores, butcher and seafood shops, and lots of other quirky finds. Ethnic bohemiana hipster haven.
Toronto's toniest retail neighbourhood. This is where you'll find all the top retail names, and epic people-watching as well. Go on a Saturday for the circling of the Ferraris. Immodest pleasure.
651 locals recommend
Yorkville
Toronto's toniest retail neighbourhood. This is where you'll find all the top retail names, and epic people-watching as well. Go on a Saturday for the circling of the Ferraris. Immodest pleasure.
Just a few streets really, but this dense and convincing area is great for walking around, tucking into dim sum, and/or doing some grocery shopping. Kensington Market is just twenty steps to the west.
740 locals recommend
Chinatown
292 Spadina Ave.Just a few streets really, but this dense and convincing area is great for walking around, tucking into dim sum, and/or doing some grocery shopping. Kensington Market is just twenty steps to the west.
Very touristy, but worth a visit if you have kids who like the idea of roaming around an industrialists faux chateau.
1217 locals recommend
Casa Loma
1 Austin TerraceVery touristy, but worth a visit if you have kids who like the idea of roaming around an industrialists faux chateau.
Mix of art studios, weekend farmers market, and outdoor play area for kids. What was once a derelict train depot (or something like that) is now the heart of the hood.
The Stop's Green Barn
Mix of art studios, weekend farmers market, and outdoor play area for kids. What was once a derelict train depot (or something like that) is now the heart of the hood.
You'll need a car to get here, but totally worth a visit on the weekends, when there always seems to be something great happen. Food & antique markets, festivals, etc. Great walking trails as well.
275 locals recommend
Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview AveYou'll need a car to get here, but totally worth a visit on the weekends, when there always seems to be something great happen. Food & antique markets, festivals, etc. Great walking trails as well.
Shopping
If you like cooking and/or design, and you're strolling around Kensington, definitely poke your nose in this shop. Unlikely to leave empty handed.
8 locals recommend
Good Egg
156 Augusta AvenueIf you like cooking and/or design, and you're strolling around Kensington, definitely poke your nose in this shop. Unlikely to leave empty handed.
If you're into rough luxe vintage-marries-contemporary furniture and interior design, then you're very much in luck. One of Toronto's best and just up the street.
Commute Home Inc
2896 Dundas St WIf you're into rough luxe vintage-marries-contemporary furniture and interior design, then you're very much in luck. One of Toronto's best and just up the street.
Entertainment & Activities
Large, fun, safe park. Perfect for the running of the small children.
15 locals recommend
Vermont Square Park
819 Palmerston AveLarge, fun, safe park. Perfect for the running of the small children.
Fantastic community centre with indoor pool and skating rink. Not sure of hours nor entry costs. NOTE: they have a free weekday drop-in centre for kids aged 0-5. Aka solid gold.
6 locals recommend
St.Alban's Boys and Girls Club
843 Palmerston AveFantastic community centre with indoor pool and skating rink. Not sure of hours nor entry costs. NOTE: they have a free weekday drop-in centre for kids aged 0-5. Aka solid gold.
Toronto's answer to Central Park. Full of tennis players, frisbee throwers, slack line walkers, young and in love pic nicers, and kids going wild in the fantastic park (over on the west side).
743 locals recommend
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WToronto's answer to Central Park. Full of tennis players, frisbee throwers, slack line walkers, young and in love pic nicers, and kids going wild in the fantastic park (over on the west side).
Literally across the street from the apartment, this wonderful neighbourhood park has a great play area for kids and an acre or two of idyllic grass. Washroom and water fountain too.
15 locals recommend
Jean Sibelius Square
50 Kendal AveLiterally across the street from the apartment, this wonderful neighbourhood park has a great play area for kids and an acre or two of idyllic grass. Washroom and water fountain too.