Stefana's guide to the 6ix aka Toronto 🚀
Bars
Japanese rockabilly themed bar. Very cozy and includes a juke box. Cash-only.
31 abantu bendawo batusa
Black Dice Cafe
1574 Dundas St WJapanese rockabilly themed bar. Very cozy and includes a juke box. Cash-only.
Grey Tiger
1190 Bloor St WWitchy cocktail bar with very unique menu.
Good food options as well. Slushy alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
56 abantu bendawo batusa
Rhum Corner
926 Dundas St WGood food options as well. Slushy alcoholic and non-alcoholic options.
Good option if you find yourself in Kensington. Local DJs and booth seating.
27 abantu bendawo batusa
Handlebar
159 Augusta AveGood 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 abantu bendawo batusa
The Caledonian
856 College StAll-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 abantu bendawo batusa
Paradise Grapevine
841 Bloor St WWine 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Latin World
1229 Bloor St W$1 taco special during weekdays. Chicken burrito and churros are incredible. This is a low-key, casual and family-run favourite of mine.
Galaxy T&T
1227A Bloor St WTo-go counter with bahn-mi sandwiches, juices and smoothies. Unreal prices.
10 min walk away. Weekly ( every Monday ) from 4pm-7pm. Lots of dogs and children running around. Live local musicians.
31 abantu bendawo batusa
Sorauren Farmers' Market
50 Roncesvalles Ave10 min walk away. Weekly ( every Monday ) from 4pm-7pm. Lots of dogs and children running around. Live local musicians.
Jerk King
522 Bloor St WYou 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware AveI 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 !
Yummy Yummy Dumplings
79 Huron StGreat spot to grab a bite if you’re visiting the AGO.
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.Excellent dumplings!
Superpoint
184 Ossington AveTo-go counter option, or sit down for pizza with a drink.
Bitondo Pizzeria
11 Clinton StCash-only. Truly a Little Italy classic.
P.G Clucks
610 College StExcellent fried chicken sandwiches to go.
Loga's Corner
216 Close AveGet the beef dumplings and mango lassi for just $10
Moonmilk
Great ice cream nearby!
Food scene
Fun and lively atmosphere, no reservations and there’s often a line. The spaghetti and affogato are unreal.
86 abantu bendawo batusa
Sugo
1281 Bloor St WFun 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Pomegranate Restaurant
420 College StTruly 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Ramen Isshin
421 College StDelicious and affordable ramen with outstanding service. No reservations so there can be a line — but definitely worth it. The Black Sesame is my favourite.
The Ace
231A Roncesvalles AvenueHaunted 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 abantu bendawo batusa
The Real Jerk Restaurant
842 Gerrard Street EastThis is where Rihanna and Drake shot the music video for “Work”!
Buk Chang Dong Soon Tofu
691 Bloor St WYummy Korean food!
Himalayan Kitchen
1526 Queen St WTry the chilli fries! Everything is delicious here.
African Palace
977 Bloor St WReally yummy! They also do a traditional coffee ceremony.
Le Swan
892 Queen St WFrench diner in art-deco style. Real cozy.
Relaxed diner with cute decor — good for brunch or dinner.
40 abantu bendawo batusa
Skyline Restaurant
1426 Queen St WRelaxed diner with cute decor — good for brunch or dinner.
My absolutely favourite brunch spot! The specials are always so amazing.
112 abantu bendawo batusa
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WMy absolutely favourite brunch spot! The specials are always so amazing.
Delicious Nicaraguan food, massive portions. Home-cooked quality!
31 abantu bendawo batusa
La Bella Managua
872 Bloor St WDelicious Nicaraguan food, massive portions. Home-cooked quality!
Milou
A cozy restaurant filled with regulars. Excellent choice for brunch or dinner.
Excellent bar with local DJs spinning vinyl on a hi-fi sound system. They also have an exciting food menu!
The Little Jerry
418 College StExcellent bar with local DJs spinning vinyl on a hi-fi sound system. They also have an exciting food menu!
Only 500 metres away, and sporting one of the best sound systems in the city. Local DJs spinning vinyl on the main floor, with a fun bar and great plates to share. Downstairs, the space does after-hours parties.
Sounds Good
Only 500 metres away, and sporting one of the best sound systems in the city. Local DJs spinning vinyl on the main floor, with a fun bar and great plates to share. Downstairs, the space does after-hours parties.
Culture
Excellent selection of festival films and art house films.
582 abantu bendawo batusa
TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WExcellent selection of festival films and art house films.
Very, very close by — 8 min walk.
129 abantu bendawo batusa
Iziko lezobuciko ze-Contemporary Art Toronto Canada
158 Sterling RdVery, very close by — 8 min walk.
The building is incredible architecturally. They always have interesting exhibits of traditional and contemporary Islamic art.
156 abantu bendawo batusa
I-Aga Khan Museum
77 Wynford DrThe building is incredible architecturally. They always have interesting exhibits of traditional and contemporary Islamic art.
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WA classic! Free after 6pm on Wednesdays.
Small contemporary art gallery with reliably good exhibits.
44 abantu bendawo batusa
Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
1286 Bloor St WSmall contemporary art gallery with reliably good exhibits.
Comedy Bar
945 Bloor St WLocal 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 abantu bendawo batusa
The Revue Cinema
400 Roncesvalles AveLegendary 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Sunnyside - Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool
1755 Lake Shore Blvd WFree 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 abantu bendawo batusa
High Park
1873 Bloor St WBeautiful and very large park only a 15 min walk away. Pay-what-you-can live Shakespeare productions running in the summer evenings.
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WLovely park for a picnic.
The ferry is $8 and it’s a very special place to spend the day (great beaches!)
1035 abantu bendawo batusa
Toronto Islands
The ferry is $8 and it’s a very special place to spend the day (great beaches!)
Scarborough Bluffs Park
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 abantu bendawo batusa
Reunion Coffee Roasters
385 Roncesvalles AveThe Alternative or Gold Standard sandwich ($6) and a coffee is a truly perfect way to start the day. Very convenient to walk to.
The Common
1028 Bloor St WCash-only, a Bloordale classic.
SAM JAMES COFFEE BAR - BROCK
I DEAL (COFFEE) ON THE PARK
Capital Espresso
1349 Queen St WNearby! Tables inside (good for doing some work).
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 abantu bendawo batusa
Another Story Bookshop
315 Roncesvalles AveExcellent 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.
Type Books
883 Queen St WReally lovely local bookstore across from Trinity Bellwoods Park.
Tonality Records
2173 Dundas St WNearby 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 abantu bendawo batusa
The Monkey's Paw
1067 Bloor St WVery 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 abantu bendawo batusa
Art Metropole
896 College StreetGreat selection of art books, zines and publications made by artists.
Flying Books
Invisible City Record Shop
222 Spadina Ave.Rotate This
186 Ossington AveIssues Magazine Shop