Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College StSmall, casual space with excellent coffee.
A larger, airier space than the original location on College street. Great coffee and tasty croissants. Good place to settle in for a couple hours of work or a meeting.
91 abantu bendawo batusa
The Common
1069 Bloor St WA larger, airier space than the original location on College street. Great coffee and tasty croissants. Good place to settle in for a couple hours of work or a meeting.
Super tasty Persian breakfast/brunch by the same folks who run Pomegranate.
54 abantu bendawo batusa
Takht-e Tavoos Restaurant
1120 College StSuper tasty Persian breakfast/brunch by the same folks who run Pomegranate.
Azteca Restaurant
1115 Bloor St WLatin American groceries and super tasty tacos &c in the back.
The Federal
1438 Dundas Street WestI LOVE the smoked trout sandwich here.
Best-ever ice cream sandwiches, with dairy and gluten free options!
112 abantu bendawo batusa
Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware AveBest-ever ice cream sandwiches, with dairy and gluten free options!
Ella's Uncle
916 Dundas St WDelicious coffee, take-out only.
Top-rated vermicelli dishes, but go down the street to Pho Tien Thanh if you want pho.
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Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveTop-rated vermicelli dishes, but go down the street to Pho Tien Thanh if you want pho.
Pho Tien Thanh
57 Ossington AveMy favourite for pho.
Drinks & Nightlife
In the summer, drinks and especially brunch on the patio are real treats. Dinner menu is not my favourite but good in a pinch if you want a pint with your food.
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The 3 Speed
1163 Bloor St WIn the summer, drinks and especially brunch on the patio are real treats. Dinner menu is not my favourite but good in a pinch if you want a pint with your food.
Impressive wine menu and very tasty snacks, facilitated by very knowledgable and friendly staff. Be prepared to spend around $15/glass.
62 abantu bendawo batusa
Midfield Wine Bar
1434 Dundas St WImpressive wine menu and very tasty snacks, facilitated by very knowledgable and friendly staff. Be prepared to spend around $15/glass.
Henhouse
1532 Dundas St WQueer bar and food, lookout for fun dance parties.
Bar Neon
1226 Bloor St WCocktails and buck-a-shuck oysters.
Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WStellar beer selection.
Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St WIntimate space, if you can score a table!
Shopping
Art Metropole
896 College StreetArt books and magazines, and curated window display.
On the expensive side, but if you need hardware or other home supplies in a pinch and Fine Food Market doesn't have it, Ralph's is your joint.
Ralph's Hardware
840 College StOn the expensive side, but if you need hardware or other home supplies in a pinch and Fine Food Market doesn't have it, Ralph's is your joint.
Essentials
La Fromagerie
868 College StClosest place for impressive cheese selection.
Cheese, meats, coffee, local, fresh-baked bread, and a few other groceries.
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grain, curd & bean
1414 Dundas Street WestCheese, meats, coffee, local, fresh-baked bread, and a few other groceries.
Supermarket with decent selection of fresh veggies & prepared options. Definitely a better range than the supermarket in Dufferin Grove Mall.
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Peter's No Frills
2150 Burnhamthorpe Rd WSupermarket with decent selection of fresh veggies & prepared options. Definitely a better range than the supermarket in Dufferin Grove Mall.
Sunshine Natural Foods
Small selection of organic groceries and freshly pressed juice.
Vince Gasparro's Meat Market
857 Bloor St WSeriously wonderful neighbourhood butcher.
Indo Canadian Foods
922 Bloor St WFresh, organic, dried & bulk. Specializes in Indian groceries.
Everything Else
Sweet community-run park with playground, wood-fired ovens, community garden, fire pits and basketball courts/ice rink. Thursday farmer's market year-round, 4–7PM.
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Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin StSweet community-run park with playground, wood-fired ovens, community garden, fire pits and basketball courts/ice rink. Thursday farmer's market year-round, 4–7PM.
A bunch of clothing & department stores, plus a huge supermarket (but I'd recommend the No Frills on Lansdowne and Dundas over this one), banks &c. If you need those types of things.
289 abantu bendawo batusa
Dufferin Mall
900 Dufferin StA bunch of clothing & department stores, plus a huge supermarket (but I'd recommend the No Frills on Lansdowne and Dundas over this one), banks &c. If you need those types of things.
One of two nearby subway stations on the Bloor line. Use this one if you're heading west.
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Dufferin station
One of two nearby subway stations on the Bloor line. Use this one if you're heading west.
One of two subway stations on the Bloor line. Use this one if you're heading east.
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Ossington Station
746 Ossington AvenueOne of two subway stations on the Bloor line. Use this one if you're heading east.
West End YMCA
931 College StOur local YMCA.
Local yoga studio with in-house cafe. Try their restorative yoga for a rejuvenating experience.
29 abantu bendawo batusa
Octopus Garden Holistic Yoga Centre
967 College StLocal yoga studio with in-house cafe. Try their restorative yoga for a rejuvenating experience.