Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
5-10 MIN WALK from house.
Cute place near Withrow Park, they do nice brunch meals too.
35 locals recommend
Riverdale Perk Cafe
5-10 MIN WALK from house.
Cute place near Withrow Park, they do nice brunch meals too.
5 MIN WALK from house - Great BBQ. I (Alan) was just in Texas and I would say that the BBQ was on par, if not slightly better, then where I ate in the South. Get the platter so you can try EVERY meat they make.
19 locals recommend
Greenwood Smokehouse BBQ
673 Danforth Ave5 MIN WALK from house - Great BBQ. I (Alan) was just in Texas and I would say that the BBQ was on par, if not slightly better, then where I ate in the South. Get the platter so you can try EVERY meat they make.
5-10 MIN WALK from house - This is good and affordable Greek food.
I (Alan) always get the lamb gyros.
56 locals recommend
Messini Authentic Gyros
445 Danforth Ave5-10 MIN WALK from house - This is good and affordable Greek food.
I (Alan) always get the lamb gyros.
1 MIN WALK from house - They make their own croissants and other baked goods... it's less then a minute away from the house.
13 locals recommend
The Shmooz
590 Pape Ave1 MIN WALK from house - They make their own croissants and other baked goods... it's less then a minute away from the house.
10-15 MIN. WALK from house - This is a pretty cool Irish Pub. Great food, cool ambiance.
Great backyard patio during the Spring, Summer and Fall.
56 locals recommend
Allen's
143 Danforth Ave10-15 MIN. WALK from house - This is a pretty cool Irish Pub. Great food, cool ambiance.
Great backyard patio during the Spring, Summer and Fall.
CHINATOWN - Dim Sum anyone? I'm Chinese... I like Dim Sum. If you wanna be downtown, in Chinatown this is the place I recommend. The prices are pretty good and if you're there on the weekend BEFORE 11:30am the standard dishes are $2 each (I think... it's been a while), but after 11:30am they go back up to regular price, so get there early if you want to eat rather inexpensively.
And it's on the top floor, so go out on their balcony and see the intersection of Dundas and Spadina from above.
14 locals recommend
Sky Dragon Chinese Restaurant 龍翔酒樓
280 Spadina Ave.CHINATOWN - Dim Sum anyone? I'm Chinese... I like Dim Sum. If you wanna be downtown, in Chinatown this is the place I recommend. The prices are pretty good and if you're there on the weekend BEFORE 11:30am the standard dishes are $2 each (I think... it's been a while), but after 11:30am they go back up to regular price, so get there early if you want to eat rather inexpensively.
And it's on the top floor, so go out on their balcony and see the intersection of Dundas and Spadina from above.
OFF SUBWAY LINE - I've never eaten here... Martini's at the Bar is a must. Depending on the bartender it'll be a great show.
15 locals recommend
Museum Tavern
208 Bloor St WOFF SUBWAY LINE - I've never eaten here... Martini's at the Bar is a must. Depending on the bartender it'll be a great show.
Dumpling House
619 Gerrard St EHas cheap, good dumplings, 10-15 minutes walk from the apartment.
Drinks & Nightlife
10-15 MIN WALK from house - Great Irish Bar. Has live bands Sundays.
Always packed on St. Patty's .
22 locals recommend
Dora Keogh
141 Danforth Ave10-15 MIN WALK from house - Great Irish Bar. Has live bands Sundays.
Always packed on St. Patty's .
ON SUBWAY LINE - Lotz of bars and restaurants in this area.
On the Subway line.
98 locals recommend
The Annex
ON SUBWAY LINE - Lotz of bars and restaurants in this area.
On the Subway line.
Sightseeing
It's a nice market. It's the oldest one in the city.
Go to Carousel Bakery and get a Peameal sandwich and people watch.
In 2012 Natural Geographic rated it the No. 1 Food market in the world
1398 locals recommend
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St EIt's a nice market. It's the oldest one in the city.
Go to Carousel Bakery and get a Peameal sandwich and people watch.
In 2012 Natural Geographic rated it the No. 1 Food market in the world
Kensington Market is one of my favorite places to go in the city just to sit back and watch the scene. Soooo many people to see, so many flavours to sample. It's a true representation of the cities diversity. AND it's in China Town!!
1698 locals recommend
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is one of my favorite places to go in the city just to sit back and watch the scene. Soooo many people to see, so many flavours to sample. It's a true representation of the cities diversity. AND it's in China Town!!
Lotz of good restaurants here too... but if you have the time, try and book a Sake tasting at Ontario Springs the first Sake producers in Eastern Canada.
Get the Arabashiri sake... its soo flavourful!
1704 locals recommend
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StLotz of good restaurants here too... but if you have the time, try and book a Sake tasting at Ontario Springs the first Sake producers in Eastern Canada.
Get the Arabashiri sake... its soo flavourful!
This is tourist central, BUT it's pretty cool. I like hanging out by the water. There's a free gallery and band shell down there.
The place to see the Tall Ships when they're in town.
NOTE: The Rastafarian selling corn chowder is where it's at... or so the say... I think his quality has diminished as his popularity has increased, but I'd still check it out, he may have changed his ways :)
512 locals recommend
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay WThis is tourist central, BUT it's pretty cool. I like hanging out by the water. There's a free gallery and band shell down there.
The place to see the Tall Ships when they're in town.
NOTE: The Rastafarian selling corn chowder is where it's at... or so the say... I think his quality has diminished as his popularity has increased, but I'd still check it out, he may have changed his ways :)
Parks & Nature
Really cool place to go for a walk/bike ride and see the city from a distance.
If you're lucky you can even see beavers in this area OR evidence of them in the area.
106 locals recommend
Tommy Thompson Park
1 Leslie StReally cool place to go for a walk/bike ride and see the city from a distance.
If you're lucky you can even see beavers in this area OR evidence of them in the area.
A great place to get away from the concrete jungle (especially during the summer).
Stunning views and great beaches. The cafe on the island is pretty cool too.
1035 locals recommend
Toronto Islands
A great place to get away from the concrete jungle (especially during the summer).
Stunning views and great beaches. The cafe on the island is pretty cool too.
It's a quieter beach then Asbridges but the sand isn't as nice. It's a great place for BBQs and for a stroll.
On Sundays during the summer there's a rave in the bush - Promise Cherry Beach Sound System... and it's close to Tommy Thompson Park.
174 locals recommend
Cherry Beach Off Leash Dog Park
1 Cherry StIt's a quieter beach then Asbridges but the sand isn't as nice. It's a great place for BBQs and for a stroll.
On Sundays during the summer there's a rave in the bush - Promise Cherry Beach Sound System... and it's close to Tommy Thompson Park.
30-40MIN WALK from house - Great place to see farm animals in the city.
247 locals recommend
Riverdale Farm
201 Winchester St30-40MIN WALK from house - Great place to see farm animals in the city.
Essentials
10 MIN WALK from house - In expensive no thrills grocery store. About a 10min. walk south of the house.
68 locals recommend
Dave & Charlotte's No Frills
449 Carlaw Avenue10 MIN WALK from house - In expensive no thrills grocery store. About a 10min. walk south of the house.
5 MIN WALK from house - Drug store with every day convenience items and groceries.
180 locals recommend
Shoppers Drug Mart
710 Mt Pleasant Rd5 MIN WALK from house - Drug store with every day convenience items and groceries.
5-10 MIN WALK from house - Looking for some organic and ethically sourced food? Looking for a good vegan shopping experience?
I hear that this is the place to be... at least thatz what my friends who are into this scene tell me.
86 locals recommend
The Big Carrot
320 Danforth Ave5-10 MIN WALK from house - Looking for some organic and ethically sourced food? Looking for a good vegan shopping experience?
I hear that this is the place to be... at least thatz what my friends who are into this scene tell me.
10-15 MIN WALK from house - the government controlled alcohol place is actually pretty nice inside (even though the prices suck). You can find all your alcohol needs there: wine, beer and spirits.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.10-15 MIN WALK from house - the government controlled alcohol place is actually pretty nice inside (even though the prices suck). You can find all your alcohol needs there: wine, beer and spirits.
Getting Around
Pape Station
743 Pape Ave5 MIN WALK from house - Subway to the get to around the city
10 MIN WALK from house - Subway stop close to the house... not as close as Pape... but puts you in the centre of Greek Town.
17 locals recommend
Chester Station - Westbound Platform
22 Chester Ave10 MIN WALK from house - Subway stop close to the house... not as close as Pape... but puts you in the centre of Greek Town.
Arts & Culture
The TIFF Lightbox... pretty cool building.
Theaters are nice but they also have a portion of the building that's free to access that talks about the building of the TIFF building and history of TIFF. It's pretty neat... if you're into free history stuff.
582 locals recommend
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WThe TIFF Lightbox... pretty cool building.
Theaters are nice but they also have a portion of the building that's free to access that talks about the building of the TIFF building and history of TIFF. It's pretty neat... if you're into free history stuff.
ON SUBWAY LINE - They have a reduced admission rate Friday's after 4:30pm, but it will increase if there's a special event. Cool place, on the subway line.
After you're all cultured, and need a recharge, go to the bar across the street called Museum Tavern, sit at the bar and get a Martini - enjoy the show.
2332 locals recommend
Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkON SUBWAY LINE - They have a reduced admission rate Friday's after 4:30pm, but it will increase if there's a special event. Cool place, on the subway line.
After you're all cultured, and need a recharge, go to the bar across the street called Museum Tavern, sit at the bar and get a Martini - enjoy the show.
FREE Wednesday Nights 6-9pm (refrain from bringing a backpack so you don't have to check your stuff... unless you want to... but the line-up is killer!)
Pretty cool Canadian art along with some neat contemporary exhibits.
They have Adult Nights the first Thursday of every month - drinks while looking at art and listening to beats, so civilized :)
They also have Family Fun on Sundays from 1-4pm (Nov - Apr)
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WFREE Wednesday Nights 6-9pm (refrain from bringing a backpack so you don't have to check your stuff... unless you want to... but the line-up is killer!)
Pretty cool Canadian art along with some neat contemporary exhibits.
They have Adult Nights the first Thursday of every month - drinks while looking at art and listening to beats, so civilized :)
They also have Family Fun on Sundays from 1-4pm (Nov - Apr)