Guidebook for Toronto
Drinks & Nightlife
Torontonia at its best! Toronto-themed bar with a cutlery-free snack menu serving until 2am. They will also whip up a cocktail out of your wildest dreams.
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416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst StTorontonia at its best! Toronto-themed bar with a cutlery-free snack menu serving until 2am. They will also whip up a cocktail out of your wildest dreams.
Archive
909 Dundas St WWine bar (over 20 by the glass!) with tasty snacks.
C Lounge
456 Wellington St WThis is a dsst-dsst-dsst club - if that's what you're into.
A lot of my very, very attractive friends frequent this place. Perf if you're looking to pick up.
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2 Cats
569 King St WA lot of my very, very attractive friends frequent this place. Perf if you're looking to pick up.
Half-price wings Sunday-Tuesday. The second oldest bar in the city. This is where you go after watching a baseball game.
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Wheat Sheaf Tavern
667 King St WHalf-price wings Sunday-Tuesday. The second oldest bar in the city. This is where you go after watching a baseball game.
A perfect little nest serving gourmet Italian snacks and cocktails until 2am. ...and such a quick crawl back to the loft.
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Bar Buca
2 Portland StA perfect little nest serving gourmet Italian snacks and cocktails until 2am. ...and such a quick crawl back to the loft.
Are you so, so cool? You're not West-Queen-Quest cool until you're Drake-Hotel-Cool. PATIO.
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The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WAre you so, so cool? You're not West-Queen-Quest cool until you're Drake-Hotel-Cool. PATIO.
I haven't been here in years but it's a cramped watering hole on the corner with pickled eggs and tiny little tables and cheep booze. Who could ask for more?
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Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St WI haven't been here in years but it's a cramped watering hole on the corner with pickled eggs and tiny little tables and cheep booze. Who could ask for more?
Beaconsfield
1154 Queen Street WestThis is a Sunday night go-to for locals. PATIO open till 11pm.
This is a no-brainer. Spanish food with a bustling, cavelike interior. Not a lot of sitting room so be prepared to 'pull up a lean' at the many bar surfaces. RAW/OYSTER BAR.
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Bar Isabel
797 College StThis is a no-brainer. Spanish food with a bustling, cavelike interior. Not a lot of sitting room so be prepared to 'pull up a lean' at the many bar surfaces. RAW/OYSTER BAR.
Be careful - there are $3 drink specials all week in this deep-sea dive bar (see what I did there?). This is the best (worst) place to go if you just got dumped. 21+
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Wide Open Bar
139A Spadina Ave.Be careful - there are $3 drink specials all week in this deep-sea dive bar (see what I did there?). This is the best (worst) place to go if you just got dumped. 21+
Sitting on a picnic table on their patio in the summer feels like you're at someone's backyard bbq. Also, that martini glass as the logo is grossly inappropriate. Imagine a bottle of Labatt 50.
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Ronnie's Local 069
69 Nassau StSitting on a picnic table on their patio in the summer feels like you're at someone's backyard bbq. Also, that martini glass as the logo is grossly inappropriate. Imagine a bottle of Labatt 50.
Excellent wine list - Leah as head chef rocks the small plates - all-around good times and easy on the wallet. Great date spot. PATIO open till 11pm.
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Midfield Wine Bar
1434 Dundas St WExcellent wine list - Leah as head chef rocks the small plates - all-around good times and easy on the wallet. Great date spot. PATIO open till 11pm.
Another guilty pleasure. Beautiful back patio in the summer. Dive bar with all of the "charm" you guys are looking for.
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The Done Right Inn
861 Queen St WAnother guilty pleasure. Beautiful back patio in the summer. Dive bar with all of the "charm" you guys are looking for.
Cabana Poolbar
11 Polson StDay Bar for the tanned, Botox'd and beautiful.
Food Scene
Le Sélect Bistro
432 Wellington St WClassic French cuisine with killer brunch.
Elegant 5- and 7-course tasting menu with Spanish influences. Boozy lunch served on Sundays with half-price bottles of wine. Book ahead.
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Edulis Restaurant
169 Niagara StElegant 5- and 7-course tasting menu with Spanish influences. Boozy lunch served on Sundays with half-price bottles of wine. Book ahead.
Patria
478 King St WSpanish tapas... mmm.
My favourite brunch spot in the city. Line-ups are inevitable, but the Espressado (sounds gross - blended espresso/avocado/condensed milk) is divine.
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Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WMy favourite brunch spot in the city. Line-ups are inevitable, but the Espressado (sounds gross - blended espresso/avocado/condensed milk) is divine.
Sense Appeal Coffee Roasters
96 Spadina AvenueMy favourite coffee spot in the city.
Soho House Toronto
192 Adelaide St WBe super cool - and on the guest list.
Accepts worldwide club members from: The Groucho Club, Norwood, The Hospital Club, Kee, Odessa and The Brody House.
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The Spoke Club
600 King St WAccepts worldwide club members from: The Groucho Club, Norwood, The Hospital Club, Kee, Odessa and The Brody House.
Susur Lee's favourite Chinese restaurant in the city.
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Taste of China Seafood Restaurant
338 Spadina Ave.Susur Lee's favourite Chinese restaurant in the city.
If you are going to eat one single item in Chinatown, make sure it's the Cantonese Noodles at Swatow.
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Swatow Restaurant
309 Spadina Ave.If you are going to eat one single item in Chinatown, make sure it's the Cantonese Noodles at Swatow.
Banh Mi Boys
392 Queen St WDuck. Confit. Banh. Mi.
Bustling Japanese Izakaya with incredible share plates. Communal seating and a more intimate room for dates. So much fun.
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KINKA IZAKAYA ANNEX
559 Bloor Street WestBustling Japanese Izakaya with incredible share plates. Communal seating and a more intimate room for dates. So much fun.
So, so, so good and so cheap. Try the blue crab and corn soup or the lamb shank wrap. Combos ring in at $10 - unbelievable.
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RaviSoups
322 Adelaide St WSo, so, so good and so cheap. Try the blue crab and corn soup or the lamb shank wrap. Combos ring in at $10 - unbelievable.
Take your girl here if she's really into macrobiotics and Gwenyth Paltrow and Calvin Klein is her favourite designer and you forgot her birthday.
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Dandylion
1198 Queen St WTake your girl here if she's really into macrobiotics and Gwenyth Paltrow and Calvin Klein is her favourite designer and you forgot her birthday.
This is a standard take-your-parents-out or second date spot. Excellent food and wine list. GREAT VALUE FOR $$ SPENT. Weekday lunch prix-fixe.
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Richmond Station
1 Richmond St WThis is a standard take-your-parents-out or second date spot. Excellent food and wine list. GREAT VALUE FOR $$ SPENT. Weekday lunch prix-fixe.
The winning ticket if everything else is closed. 24-hour diner. PATIO.
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The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestThe winning ticket if everything else is closed. 24-hour diner. PATIO.
Toronto has so much good Korean food!!! This is cheap and cheery.
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Sunrise House
661 Bloor St WToronto has so much good Korean food!!! This is cheap and cheery.
There are two pho restaurants within a block of one another: Rua Vang and Tien Thanh. Toronto lore states they're owned by former co-workers who are no longer on speaking terms. PATIO!
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Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveThere are two pho restaurants within a block of one another: Rua Vang and Tien Thanh. Toronto lore states they're owned by former co-workers who are no longer on speaking terms. PATIO!
There are two pho restaurants within a block of one another: Rua Vang and Tien Thanh. Toronto lore states they're owned by former co-workers who are no longer on speaking terms.
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Pho Tien Thanh
57 Ossington AveThere are two pho restaurants within a block of one another: Rua Vang and Tien Thanh. Toronto lore states they're owned by former co-workers who are no longer on speaking terms.
If you feel like fancy restaurant pizza but putting pants on is out of the question, call these guys for delivery.
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North of Brooklyn Pizzeria
650 Queen St WIf you feel like fancy restaurant pizza but putting pants on is out of the question, call these guys for delivery.
Meat-atarian cuisine. Brunch is always a zoo. PATIO!
**TUES-FRIDAY 5-7pm $5 snacks, buck-a-shuck, $5 Pimm's Cup/cava/house wine!!**
**WEDNESDAYS all night 1/2 price bottles of wine.**
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The Emerson Restaurant
1279 Bloor St WMeat-atarian cuisine. Brunch is always a zoo. PATIO!
**TUES-FRIDAY 5-7pm $5 snacks, buck-a-shuck, $5 Pimm's Cup/cava/house wine!!**
**WEDNESDAYS all night 1/2 price bottles of wine.**
ODDSEOUL
90 Ossington AveOMG KOREAN CHICKEN WINGS. BE STILL, MY HEART.
Oyster Boy
872 Queen St WFresh seafood and oysters.
It's a trek but I assure you, you will fondly remember your meal here. Retail seafood and oyster/clam counter - there is also table service and daily specials. Open 12pm-8pm with limited seating.
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Honest Weight
2766 Dundas St WIt's a trek but I assure you, you will fondly remember your meal here. Retail seafood and oyster/clam counter - there is also table service and daily specials. Open 12pm-8pm with limited seating.
Bar Isabel's new sister resto - casual pinxtos with limited bar seating and a lovely PATIO. Always packed.
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Bar Raval
505 College StBar Isabel's new sister resto - casual pinxtos with limited bar seating and a lovely PATIO. Always packed.
Vegetarian- and vegan-friendly smoothies, wraps, salads, sandwiches and desserts. SMALL PATIO.
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Fresh on Spadina
5031 Spadina Ave.Vegetarian- and vegan-friendly smoothies, wraps, salads, sandwiches and desserts. SMALL PATIO.
No-frills Mexican joint on King West. Pre-game and line your gut with guacamole at the same time.
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Wilbur Mexicana
552 King St WNo-frills Mexican joint on King West. Pre-game and line your gut with guacamole at the same time.
Every time I try to go to La Carnita it's closed. Catch them if you can.
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La Carnita
501 College StEvery time I try to go to La Carnita it's closed. Catch them if you can.
OH BABY FISH TACOS!!! I love Grand Electric (and so does the rest of the city). Excellent bourbon selection.
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Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St WOH BABY FISH TACOS!!! I love Grand Electric (and so does the rest of the city). Excellent bourbon selection.
Grand Electric's Southern-BBQ sister restaurant serves smoky ribs + cornbread + mint juleps. Expect a line.
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Electric Mud BBQ
5 Brock AveGrand Electric's Southern-BBQ sister restaurant serves smoky ribs + cornbread + mint juleps. Expect a line.
If you absolutely need to have a kangaroo-meat sausage, take a seat at one of the long communal tables at WVRST and tuck in.
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WVRST
609 King St WIf you absolutely need to have a kangaroo-meat sausage, take a seat at one of the long communal tables at WVRST and tuck in.
As a Torontonian, this is very, very much a guilty pleasure of mine. This is a downtrodden bar with a great patio and surprisingly not-terrible food. Good hangover spot.
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Squirly's Bar & Grill
807 Queen St WAs a Torontonian, this is very, very much a guilty pleasure of mine. This is a downtrodden bar with a great patio and surprisingly not-terrible food. Good hangover spot.
Arts & Culture
Day spa with eucalyptus steam room and indulgent services.
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Hammam Spa, Toronto
602 King St WDay spa with eucalyptus steam room and indulgent services.
This is where you go when you want to watch a film, rather than a movie. No stale popcorn smells, no screaming children - all class. See the schedule: http://tiff.net/programming
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TIFF Bell Lightbox
350 King St WThis is where you go when you want to watch a film, rather than a movie. No stale popcorn smells, no screaming children - all class. See the schedule: http://tiff.net/programming
Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Blvd WWater Park / festival venue
I-Enercare Centre
100 Princes' BlvdWalking distance to INDYCAR RACE start/finish line.
I-BMO Field
170 Princes' BlvdCar races
Echo Beach
909 Lake Shore Blvd WConcert venue
Everything Else
SAANA Yoga King West
577 Wellington St WHOT YOGA. PILATES. GOOD TIMES.
I once took my grandma here to watch WWE Live, but they also host other events.
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Coca-Cola Coliseum
45 Manitoba DrI once took my grandma here to watch WWE Live, but they also host other events.
Walk-in clinic open 8am-8pm weekdays and 10am-4pm Saturdays. 416-599-6000. A 6-minute walk from the loft.
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GSH Medical- Liberty Village & Pharmacy
901 King St WWalk-in clinic open 8am-8pm weekdays and 10am-4pm Saturdays. 416-599-6000. A 6-minute walk from the loft.
Centennial Park
50 Martin StPam Am Games BMX Cycling venue.
Venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
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1 Blue Jays Way
Venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games.
Canada’s largest multi-purpose convention facility will transform for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games to host five sport competitions.
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Indawo Yezibonelo
100 Princes' BoulevardCanada’s largest multi-purpose convention facility will transform for the TORONTO 2015 Pan Am Games to host five sport competitions.
In Ontario, you must buy alcohol from specific outlets. Purchase beer here.
MON - SAT: 10am-9pm
SUN: 11am-6pm
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Beer Store
1200 Dundas St WIn Ontario, you must buy alcohol from specific outlets. Purchase beer here.
MON - SAT: 10am-9pm
SUN: 11am-6pm
In Ontario, you must buy alcohol from specific outlets. Purchase wine, spirits and select beer here.
MON - THU: 10am-10pm
FRI: 10am-11pm
SAT: 9:30am-11pm
SUN: 11am-6pm
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LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.In Ontario, you must buy alcohol from specific outlets. Purchase wine, spirits and select beer here.
MON - THU: 10am-10pm
FRI: 10am-11pm
SAT: 9:30am-11pm
SUN: 11am-6pm
Metro Toronto Convention Centre
255 Front St WConferences, festival venue, conventions.
Shopping
Designer consignment and impeccable vintage finds. This is my favourite place in the city for shopping.
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I Miss You Vintage Inc.
63 Ossington AveDesigner consignment and impeccable vintage finds. This is my favourite place in the city for shopping.
Fawn
967 Queen St WBoutique focusing on independent Canadian and international designers.
gravitypope Toronto
1010 Queen St WCanadian-owned designer boutique.
Do you like chocolate? No, do you really, really like chocolate? This is what happens when a group of entrepreneurs are professional chocolate lovers.
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Soma Chocolate Maker
32 Tank House LaneDo you like chocolate? No, do you really, really like chocolate? This is what happens when a group of entrepreneurs are professional chocolate lovers.
Essentials
This is where I normally do my groceries. There are fresh fish/deli/cheese counters and tons of ready-made options.
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Loblaws
585 Queen St WThis is where I normally do my groceries. There are fresh fish/deli/cheese counters and tons of ready-made options.
This is where I go to grab whatever I've forgotten to get at the grocery store. It's pricey but convenient, knawmeen?
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The Kitchen Table
705 King St WThis is where I go to grab whatever I've forgotten to get at the grocery store. It's pricey but convenient, knawmeen?
Entertainment & Activities
No-frills community centre with a modest gym, indoor pool and kids' programming. Daily/weekly passes available.
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Trinity Community Recreation Centre
155 Crawford StNo-frills community centre with a modest gym, indoor pool and kids' programming. Daily/weekly passes available.
I-Aquarium ye-Ripley yase-Canada
288 Bremner BlvdGreat for a rainy day family outing.
Centreville Amusement Park
9 Queens Quay WWater park