Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
This is the closest local independent cafe. It is just across the park towards the Thompson Hotel. It is fantastic here ... and they have a quaint little patio too.
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Thor Espresso Bar
35 Bathurst StThis is the closest local independent cafe. It is just across the park towards the Thompson Hotel. It is fantastic here ... and they have a quaint little patio too.
This is the long standing local indy cafe in the hood. They've actually even opened up other locations (check out the one in Kensington market too!!). Great coffee. Aussie baristas sass.
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Jimmy's Coffee
107 Portland StThis is the long standing local indy cafe in the hood. They've actually even opened up other locations (check out the one in Kensington market too!!). Great coffee. Aussie baristas sass.
If you like grilled cheese - then this is your place. They also do mac n cheese, house blend of spicy sriarcha sauce is a must ... and some local beers.
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Cheesewerks
60 Bathurst StreetIf you like grilled cheese - then this is your place. They also do mac n cheese, house blend of spicy sriarcha sauce is a must ... and some local beers.
24/7 diner ... their truffle mac n cheese is pretty good. Overall it is a bit overpriced for breakfast, so unless you really can't make it 2 more blocks to Zoe's or my greasy spoon Avenue Diner.
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Thompson Diner
550 Wellington St W24/7 diner ... their truffle mac n cheese is pretty good. Overall it is a bit overpriced for breakfast, so unless you really can't make it 2 more blocks to Zoe's or my greasy spoon Avenue Diner.
Only open during weekdays - but this is hand's down my fav greasy spoon. Huge cheap breakfasts. Massive corn beef sandwiches Meatloaf. Potatoes. mmmmmmmm
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Avenue Open Kitchen
7 Camden StOnly open during weekdays - but this is hand's down my fav greasy spoon. Huge cheap breakfasts. Massive corn beef sandwiches Meatloaf. Potatoes. mmmmmmmm
Zoe's Toronto
548 King St WBreakfast weekends - right in the heart of King west. Delish!!
Taiwanese-Vietnamese sandwiches. Other than their slight identity crisis trying to cater to all lol ... the duck is bliss. all <$10
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Banh Mi Boys
392 Queen St WTaiwanese-Vietnamese sandwiches. Other than their slight identity crisis trying to cater to all lol ... the duck is bliss. all <$10
Lou Dawgs on King
589 King Street WestPulled Pork Poutine.
Open til 4pm
Love this place!!!
One of only 2 restaurant / bars among 12+ condos ... so it's always bustling. Just walk over the yellow bridge (Puente de Luz)
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Hunters Landing
82 Fort York BlvdOne of only 2 restaurant / bars among 12+ condos ... so it's always bustling. Just walk over the yellow bridge (Puente de Luz)
One of Canada's highest end restaurants with a breathtaking view. $100-150/person.
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Canoe
66 Wellington St WOne of Canada's highest end restaurants with a breathtaking view. $100-150/person.
My buddy Guy Rawlings and his crew whip up some insane dishes here. Bone marrow. Anchovies. Wierd shit ... but the foodies love it. It is the hippest place in t.o. right now.
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Bar Isabel
797 College StMy buddy Guy Rawlings and his crew whip up some insane dishes here. Bone marrow. Anchovies. Wierd shit ... but the foodies love it. It is the hippest place in t.o. right now.
Cheap eats and the best fish tacos in the city. In the coolest area . . . you must take a stroll through Kensington.
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Seven Lives
72 Kensington AveCheap eats and the best fish tacos in the city. In the coolest area . . . you must take a stroll through Kensington.
OK I know I said 7 lives in Kensigton is best - but this is a tie ... and Grand Electric serves beer and seated cool environment. Gorgeous hip staff, music, vibe. Love this place. Spicy octopus!!
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Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St WOK I know I said 7 lives in Kensigton is best - but this is a tie ... and Grand Electric serves beer and seated cool environment. Gorgeous hip staff, music, vibe. Love this place. Spicy octopus!!
This is the ONLY place in Chinatown to eat. Best time is about 2:30am-4:00am.
Pho.
Vermicilli.
OMG.
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Pho Xe Lua
254 Spadina Ave.This is the ONLY place in Chinatown to eat. Best time is about 2:30am-4:00am.
Pho.
Vermicilli.
OMG.
Amazing greek seafood cuisine.
Get the Grilled Moroccan Octopus.
Ask for my buddy Andreas (the 6'7" dude is the owner) for exceptional service.
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VOLOS
133 Richmond Street WestAmazing greek seafood cuisine.
Get the Grilled Moroccan Octopus.
Ask for my buddy Andreas (the 6'7" dude is the owner) for exceptional service.
Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveBest Pho in the city.
The newest cool little french cafe and bakery in King west. Magnifique!!
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Delysées
131 Ossington AvenueThe newest cool little french cafe and bakery in King west. Magnifique!!
Essentials
Just west of Bathurst on the south side - this little grocery store is deceivingly bigger than it looks from the road. Anything you need is in here. A little pricey, but closer than Loblaw's on Queen
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The Kitchen Table
705 King St WJust west of Bathurst on the south side - this little grocery store is deceivingly bigger than it looks from the road. Anything you need is in here. A little pricey, but closer than Loblaw's on Queen
The big grocery store in the neighbourhood. Anything and everything you need is in here.
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Loblaws
585 Queen St WThe big grocery store in the neighbourhood. Anything and everything you need is in here.
Drinks & Nightlife
Red velvet walls. Topless cabaret dancers. Heavy handed bartenders. Let loose here. You'll see red lights and a black door - that's it.
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Cherry Cola's Rock N' Rolla Cabaret Lounge
200 Bathurst StRed velvet walls. Topless cabaret dancers. Heavy handed bartenders. Let loose here. You'll see red lights and a black door - that's it.
A great after work spot to mingle with the locals and enjoy a pint.
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416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst StA great after work spot to mingle with the locals and enjoy a pint.
You should really catch a sporting event on the BIG screens. And when I say big I mean BIIIG. They actually have decent food too. Golf simulator upstairs. ESPN voted best sports bar in North America
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Real Sports Bar & Grill
15 York StYou should really catch a sporting event on the BIG screens. And when I say big I mean BIIIG. They actually have decent food too. Golf simulator upstairs. ESPN voted best sports bar in North America
This is where the die-hards watch football. And when I say football, I mean soccer.
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The Football Factory
164 Bathurst StThis is where the die-hards watch football. And when I say football, I mean soccer.
Hands down my fav bar in Toronto. It is iconic.
Aaron (big black doorman) might let you bypass a line if you drop my name "Dexter".
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The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WHands down my fav bar in Toronto. It is iconic.
Aaron (big black doorman) might let you bypass a line if you drop my name "Dexter".
Dive bar. Cheap beer. Hot bartender with major attitude. You don't go for the service.
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Wide Open Bar
139A Spadina Ave.Dive bar. Cheap beer. Hot bartender with major attitude. You don't go for the service.
The best known night club complex in Toronto. There are actually several different bars, vibes, music going on here. Open late late late. Mainly electronic dance scene.
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The Guvernment Entertainment Complex
132 Queens Quay EastThe best known night club complex in Toronto. There are actually several different bars, vibes, music going on here. Open late late late. Mainly electronic dance scene.
Arts & Culture
Always awesome exhibits going on here. http://www.ago.net/whatson
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Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WAlways awesome exhibits going on here. http://www.ago.net/whatson
ROM
This is the most prominent art museum in Canada. Check it out! http://www.rom.on.ca/en
Ballet. Opera. Symphony.
The newest building (even constructed to displace the vibrations and noise of the subway travelling below).
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Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St WBallet. Opera. Symphony.
The newest building (even constructed to displace the vibrations and noise of the subway travelling below).
The main venue for TIFF (Toronto Int'l Film Festival). This unique round auditorium = incredible acoustics. I sat next to Madonna at in 2011 for her movie debut when she was mean to the volunteers lol
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Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe StThe main venue for TIFF (Toronto Int'l Film Festival). This unique round auditorium = incredible acoustics. I sat next to Madonna at in 2011 for her movie debut when she was mean to the volunteers lol
Sightseeing
Free music and events every weekend. http://www.yelp.ca/biz/cherry-beach-toronto
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Cherry Beach Off Leash Dog Park
1 Cherry StFree music and events every weekend. http://www.yelp.ca/biz/cherry-beach-toronto
This is referred to as "The Beaches". The entire neighbourhood along Queen street has quaint restaurants ... but this place is known for VOLLEYBALL. 200+ courts all summer long.
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Ashbridges Skatepark
1420 Lake Shore Blvd EThis is referred to as "The Beaches". The entire neighbourhood along Queen street has quaint restaurants ... but this place is known for VOLLEYBALL. 200+ courts all summer long.
This is Canada's version of NYC's Times Square. Busy busy. Always free live events and performances on stage. Connected to Eaton's Centre. Big movie theater. Great bars with patios (Shark Club)
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Dundas Square
Dundas SquareThis is Canada's version of NYC's Times Square. Busy busy. Always free live events and performances on stage. Connected to Eaton's Centre. Big movie theater. Great bars with patios (Shark Club)
Casa Loma
1 Austin TerraceHistoric Casa Loma - http://www.yelp.ca/biz/casa-loma-toronto
Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Blvd Whttp://www.ontarioplace.com/
Concerts and events.
You should do the "edge walk" - which is exactly what it sounds like .... or twice/ year (March and October) the Stair Climb. 154 stories or 1776 steps. If you're fit fit fit it'll take 20 minutes.
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i-CN Tower
290 Bremner BlvdYou should do the "edge walk" - which is exactly what it sounds like .... or twice/ year (March and October) the Stair Climb. 154 stories or 1776 steps. If you're fit fit fit it'll take 20 minutes.
Bustling market of fresh foods and crafts ... a must see on your visit.
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Isitolo se-St. Lawrence
93 Front St EBustling market of fresh foods and crafts ... a must see on your visit.
Sailing from here ... ask if my buddy Captian Ken-O is available. He'd probably take you out for a sail. This is just my buddy - not an official tour or anything.
National Yacht Club
1 Stadium RdSailing from here ... ask if my buddy Captian Ken-O is available. He'd probably take you out for a sail. This is just my buddy - not an official tour or anything.
You can rent little speed boats here -- http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/boating/?page_id=67
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I-Centre ye-Harbourfront
235 Queens Quay WYou can rent little speed boats here -- http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/boating/?page_id=67
Shopping
THE mall in Toronto. A must see. For higher end stores, continue up Yonge to Bloor and hang a left. Tiffany's, Holt Renfrew (Cdn Saks), Harry Rosen (Men's high end), Prada, etc etc
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CF Toronto Eaton Centre
220 Yonge StTHE mall in Toronto. A must see. For higher end stores, continue up Yonge to Bloor and hang a left. Tiffany's, Holt Renfrew (Cdn Saks), Harry Rosen (Men's high end), Prada, etc etc
Everything Else
This is where we locals hang out on nice sunny days. Enjoy a picnic. BYOB. Huge off leash dog park here too. Baseball. Tennis. Hipsters.
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Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WThis is where we locals hang out on nice sunny days. Enjoy a picnic. BYOB. Huge off leash dog park here too. Baseball. Tennis. Hipsters.
Known as "The Liquor Store" or "LCBO" (Liquor Control Board of Ontario)....this is where you get alcohol. They also sell wine, beer, coolers, etc.
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LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Known as "The Liquor Store" or "LCBO" (Liquor Control Board of Ontario)....this is where you get alcohol. They also sell wine, beer, coolers, etc.
Beer Store 2303
452 Bathurst StYou guessed it - BEER. Nothing else. Just BEER.
Beer Store
1200 Dundas St WThe closest BEER store - for BEER!
This is supposed to be an art piece. Designed AND manufactured in Chile - which could be why the budget ran up to $12M ... http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/12/puente-de-luz-bridge-re-opens
Puente de Luz
Puente de LuzThis is supposed to be an art piece. Designed AND manufactured in Chile - which could be why the budget ran up to $12M ... http://urbantoronto.ca/news/2012/12/puente-de-luz-bridge-re-opens
You have to take a picture of this building. It is the box up in the sky on stilts. Incredible.
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OCAD University
100 McCaul StYou have to take a picture of this building. It is the box up in the sky on stilts. Incredible.
Our provincial government buildings. Worth a peek. Walk through the U of T campus. Plenty of awesome old architecture.
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Queen's Park
Our provincial government buildings. Worth a peek. Walk through the U of T campus. Plenty of awesome old architecture.
Check this place for special events during your stay. Sometimes arts events. Sometimes after hours all night electronic dance music parties.
99 Sudbury St
99 Sudbury StreetCheck this place for special events during your stay. Sometimes arts events. Sometimes after hours all night electronic dance music parties.
Order the spicy grapefruit tequila - the ruby. Hipster chill along Ossington. Quiet back patio.
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Reposado
136 Ossington AveOrder the spicy grapefruit tequila - the ruby. Hipster chill along Ossington. Quiet back patio.