Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Nazareth
969 Bloor Street Westbest Ethiopian in TO
The Slow Room
874 College StFinest coffee in blocks. Try their yummy veggie meatball sandwich.
Hurricanes Roadhouse Restaurant
963 Bloor St WPretty good karaoke bar on Tuesdays
Are you hip? Then you belong here. Personally I am more hip replacement.
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The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College StAre you hip? Then you belong here. Personally I am more hip replacement.
Whole different idea for a public eating space.
Drop-in dinner?
http://thedepanneur.ca/
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The Depanneur
672 College StWhole different idea for a public eating space.
Drop-in dinner?
http://thedepanneur.ca/
Rustic Owl
Great sandwiches. Good coffee. Uncomplicated ambience. Nice staff.
Saving Gigi
859 Bloor St Wfunky coffee bar. rub shoulders with the Y gen.
ok. fight over which you prefer. classic ice cream - homemade. ridiculously sumptuous flavours served, if you like, between home-baked biscuits. Toasted marshmallow tween cinnamon spice cookies. mm
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Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware Aveok. fight over which you prefer. classic ice cream - homemade. ridiculously sumptuous flavours served, if you like, between home-baked biscuits. Toasted marshmallow tween cinnamon spice cookies. mm
right across from Baker Bots ice cream. But this time deeelicious Italian gelato. And good coffee. You can catch a European breakfast here.
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Arte Gelato
946 Bloor St Wright across from Baker Bots ice cream. But this time deeelicious Italian gelato. And good coffee. You can catch a European breakfast here.
The Chicago Don
901 Bloor St WYou into sheesha? We got it here.
Very good Indian cuisine. Decent prices. If you like your Indian rich and creamy this is for you.
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Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WVery good Indian cuisine. Decent prices. If you like your Indian rich and creamy this is for you.
Very modest resto. Not well known but we think the food is very good, well-prepared and fresh. It used to have great koto music but lately features more western classical sounds.
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Rikishi Japanese Restaurant
833 Bloor St WVery modest resto. Not well known but we think the food is very good, well-prepared and fresh. It used to have great koto music but lately features more western classical sounds.
You will feel very well fed. The foods are sumptuous and rich. This isn't grass-grazing this is full-on fare for the hungry.
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The Hogtown Vegan
1056 Bloor St WYou will feel very well fed. The foods are sumptuous and rich. This isn't grass-grazing this is full-on fare for the hungry.
Ok. If you haven't done the gelato at Delaware and Bloor do the gelato at College near Montrose. I like nocciola but I'm a bit nutty.
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Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe
712 College StOk. If you haven't done the gelato at Delaware and Bloor do the gelato at College near Montrose. I like nocciola but I'm a bit nutty.
Tim Hortons
120 Fort York BlvdIf you need your double double it's the closest one.
Many of our guests stumble out into the morning mists in search of eggs, cooked. This is popular if maybe a bit on the 'glossy tiled' side of things. But reliable and very popular with Y Gen.
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Boom Breakfast & Co
1036 St Clair Ave WMany of our guests stumble out into the morning mists in search of eggs, cooked. This is popular if maybe a bit on the 'glossy tiled' side of things. But reliable and very popular with Y Gen.
Well I ain't a real Starbucks person but some people are. This is the closest.
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Starbucks
2210 Bloor St WWell I ain't a real Starbucks person but some people are. This is the closest.
Well only for Seven Inch Samurai nights. Beer is ok but great vibe that night. Google it. More often its heavy rock and punk bands.
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The Smiling Buddha
961 College StWell only for Seven Inch Samurai nights. Beer is ok but great vibe that night. Google it. More often its heavy rock and punk bands.
I've never tasted Pho as good in Toronto as in Vietnam but this place is pretty darn good. And pretty inexpensive. Very popular with locals.
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Pho Tien Thanh
57 Ossington AveI've never tasted Pho as good in Toronto as in Vietnam but this place is pretty darn good. And pretty inexpensive. Very popular with locals.
Ok, it's a bit more of a hike but it's a friendly, funky place where you will get decent brunch. Super popular so be prepared to line up if you slept in.
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Aunties & Uncles
74 Lippincott StOk, it's a bit more of a hike but it's a friendly, funky place where you will get decent brunch. Super popular so be prepared to line up if you slept in.
Really special seafood. The chef does a new menu every night. Rave reviews. A must for seafood foodies.
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Atlantic Restaurant
1597 Dundas Street WestReally special seafood. The chef does a new menu every night. Rave reviews. A must for seafood foodies.
Lightest falafel I've ever tasted. Fabulous cardomon latte. Great ambience and charming staff.
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Arabesque Middle Eastern Foods
1068 College StreetLightest falafel I've ever tasted. Fabulous cardomon latte. Great ambience and charming staff.
Unusual but ultra-tasty dishes. Great brunch spot. My daughter waits there so give her a nice tip.
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Me & Mine
1144 College StreetUnusual but ultra-tasty dishes. Great brunch spot. My daughter waits there so give her a nice tip.
Yummy Persian tapas. Elegant and simple. Perfect answer to 'What do I feel like eating that's not your standard fare?'
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Takht-e Tavoos Restaurant
1120 College StYummy Persian tapas. Elegant and simple. Perfect answer to 'What do I feel like eating that's not your standard fare?'
Cheap and cheerful Vietnamese. Not upmarket but very good pho and traditional Viet dishes. Cash only!!!
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Pho Linh
1156 College StCheap and cheerful Vietnamese. Not upmarket but very good pho and traditional Viet dishes. Cash only!!!
If you're in the neighbourhood this place will provide a very good cup of joe. Like many cafes in this neighbourhood you will see many Y-genners on laptops.
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The Brockton Haunt
1150 College StIf you're in the neighbourhood this place will provide a very good cup of joe. Like many cafes in this neighbourhood you will see many Y-genners on laptops.
One of the better Thai restos in Toronto. Decent size portions. Clean with good staff.
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Sukhothai
1442 Dundas St WOne of the better Thai restos in Toronto. Decent size portions. Clean with good staff.
The name is kind of cute. Store stocking locally grown, organic produce plus dry goods, prepared foods & personal care items. One of the closest health food stores.
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Multiple Organics
1545 Dundas Street WestThe name is kind of cute. Store stocking locally grown, organic produce plus dry goods, prepared foods & personal care items. One of the closest health food stores.
Great staff. Excellent coffee. Nice, light dulces. Good ambience.
Comfy, book-filled coffee house & micro-roastery offering espresso, wraps & pastries baked in-house.
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Full of Beans Coffee
1348 Dundas St WGreat staff. Excellent coffee. Nice, light dulces. Good ambience.
Comfy, book-filled coffee house & micro-roastery offering espresso, wraps & pastries baked in-house.
Stylish spot with an array of wines by the glass, plus Italian small plates & pasta. A bit pricey but very good quality food and service. And a great wine list.
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Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St WStylish spot with an array of wines by the glass, plus Italian small plates & pasta. A bit pricey but very good quality food and service. And a great wine list.
Best burgers in this neighbourhood I think. The patties are ground in-house daily at this snug burger joint with a patio & microbrews on tap.
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BQM Burger and Craft Beer Ossington
210 Ossington AveBest burgers in this neighbourhood I think. The patties are ground in-house daily at this snug burger joint with a patio & microbrews on tap.
Rates along with Pho Linh as a good, solid Vietnamese resto with tasty pho. Not fancy but great value and tasty viet fare.
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Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveRates along with Pho Linh as a good, solid Vietnamese resto with tasty pho. Not fancy but great value and tasty viet fare.
Best Caribbean rotis in the west end. Pam is a delight. Her husband is a...fixture. Try something different in your fillings today! Maybe take-out and eat in Dufferin Grove. Not the best ambience.
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Pam's Caribbean Kitchen
1089 Bloor St WBest Caribbean rotis in the west end. Pam is a delight. Her husband is a...fixture. Try something different in your fillings today! Maybe take-out and eat in Dufferin Grove. Not the best ambience.
Shopping
Excellent artisinal cheeses from Quebec, Ontario, France. Fantastic cornichons. Fresh bread and pastries daily. Robert Burns is very knowledgeable about cheese.
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La Fromagerie
868 College StExcellent artisinal cheeses from Quebec, Ontario, France. Fantastic cornichons. Fresh bread and pastries daily. Robert Burns is very knowledgeable about cheese.
LCBO
2300 Yonge StClosest liquor retailer. Not the widest selection but ok.
is there an upcoming music event in Toronto you need to hit? These guys can hook you up and they don't overcharge. Fine selection of CDs, vinyl etc too. For the connoisseur.
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Soundscapes
572 College Stis there an upcoming music event in Toronto you need to hit? These guys can hook you up and they don't overcharge. Fine selection of CDs, vinyl etc too. For the connoisseur.
Musical instrument junkie? This is mecca for Toronto musicians. Huge selection. Qualified salespeople. An institution.
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Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
925 Bloor St WMusical instrument junkie? This is mecca for Toronto musicians. Huge selection. Qualified salespeople. An institution.
Because sometimes you just want a cupcake. A really good cupcake.
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Bake Shoppe
Dundas Street WestBecause sometimes you just want a cupcake. A really good cupcake.
Featuring locally sourced ingredients, this corner deli serves soups, sandwiches & wraps. You want meat. Here's a good place to pig out!
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The Cure
1484 Dundas Street WestFeaturing locally sourced ingredients, this corner deli serves soups, sandwiches & wraps. You want meat. Here's a good place to pig out!
Everything Else
Comedy Bar
945 Bloor St WHey, it's close and has lots of great acts
Do you like freeform or contact dance? Thursday or Friday 7.30. Fun as hell. Also swing, tango, Lindy etc. Workshops. Great sprung wood floor. Three dance floors.
http://www.dovercourthouse.com/
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Dovercourt House
805 Dovercourt RdDo you like freeform or contact dance? Thursday or Friday 7.30. Fun as hell. Also swing, tango, Lindy etc. Workshops. Great sprung wood floor. Three dance floors.
http://www.dovercourthouse.com/
The park is a great city place. Great for kids. Organic market on Thursday after 3pm. Skating and soccer or hang with some folk and sing songs around a campfire.
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Dufferin Grove
The park is a great city place. Great for kids. Organic market on Thursday after 3pm. Skating and soccer or hang with some folk and sing songs around a campfire.
pick up some ice for practice skating. Patrick Chan started here. There's a pool too - warm water I think.
McCormick Arena
179 Brock Avepick up some ice for practice skating. Patrick Chan started here. There's a pool too - warm water I think.
aka K-Town. Lots of bibim bap, walnut cakes, kimchee etc. Good health supplies stores (Qi).
15 minute walk from our place.
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Koreatown
aka K-Town. Lots of bibim bap, walnut cakes, kimchee etc. Good health supplies stores (Qi).
15 minute walk from our place.
I haven't counted. Must be 500 restaurants and bars in the strip from Bathurst to Dufferin.
Mostly good, some great.
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Little Italy
I haven't counted. Must be 500 restaurants and bars in the strip from Bathurst to Dufferin.
Mostly good, some great.
aka The Dog Park. Featured in the movie. Good space for spot to stretch his limbs. At night it becomes a hyper-cool hangout with drum circles and friendly folk.
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Trinity - Bellwoods
aka The Dog Park. Featured in the movie. Good space for spot to stretch his limbs. At night it becomes a hyper-cool hangout with drum circles and friendly folk.
Need a haircut? We've been going to Albert (Gualberto) for 30 years. Also very good are Luis and Elizabeth. Portuguese and English spoken
Trends In Hair
Need a haircut? We've been going to Albert (Gualberto) for 30 years. Also very good are Luis and Elizabeth. Portuguese and English spoken
Kadampa Meditation Centre Canada
631 Crawford StOur local buddhist temple. quietude, reflection, peace
It's our nearest subway station - Bloor line. but if you have tokens you can enter from Delaware and Bloor. Pretty darn convenient.
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Ossington Station
It's our nearest subway station - Bloor line. but if you have tokens you can enter from Delaware and Bloor. Pretty darn convenient.
Maybe you came to visit for Toronto's excellent Yoga studios. This is one of them.
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Yogaspace
148 Ossington AveMaybe you came to visit for Toronto's excellent Yoga studios. This is one of them.
Essentials
Saturday morning is the farmer's market. Great organics and superlative bread, mushrooms, sprouts. Nice people. Also a gallery space. Not walking distance.
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The Peter MacKendrick Community Gallery
76 Wychwood AveSaturday morning is the farmer's market. Great organics and superlative bread, mushrooms, sprouts. Nice people. Also a gallery space. Not walking distance.
Not easy walking distance but the best large-store produce in the area. Lots of organics. Excellent offering of fungi for the mycellium-adorers out there.
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Fiesta Farms
200 Christie StNot easy walking distance but the best large-store produce in the area. Lots of organics. Excellent offering of fungi for the mycellium-adorers out there.
Metro
2155 St Clair Ave Whandy. produce is pretty good. Wide range of dry goods too.
really good bread. good cheese, artisinal and European..
http://graincurdandbean.com/
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grain, curd & bean
1414 Dundas Street Westreally good bread. good cheese, artisinal and European..
http://graincurdandbean.com/
Entertainment & Activities
Pretty nice pocket-sized pool. Indoor track, yoga, lots of machines, spin classes. Great neighbourhood asset.
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West End YMCA
931 College StPretty nice pocket-sized pool. Indoor track, yoga, lots of machines, spin classes. Great neighbourhood asset.
It's a library. Nice window space and if you didn't bring your laptop you can camp out here for a while.
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Toronto Public Library - Bloor/Gladstone Branch
1101 Bloor St WIt's a library. Nice window space and if you didn't bring your laptop you can camp out here for a while.
If you are visiting with young-ish kids then they can get some energy out by painting you a masterpiece here. They will proved all materials.
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Paintlounge Toronto West
784 College StIf you are visiting with young-ish kids then they can get some energy out by painting you a masterpiece here. They will proved all materials.
Drinks & Nightlife
Folly Brewpub
928 College Stgood tapas-type menu. very nearby.
Want to hit a new bar and immediately feel like a regular? This is the place. Donna, the owner greets you as you walk in and suddenly, you're home. Good beer. Huge scotch selection. Decent grub.
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The Caledonian
856 College StWant to hit a new bar and immediately feel like a regular? This is the place. Donna, the owner greets you as you walk in and suddenly, you're home. Good beer. Huge scotch selection. Decent grub.
Good karaoke on Wednesday. It's a small, dark hipster bar which is either appealing or a turnoff depending on your tastes.
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Bambis
1265 Dundas St WGood karaoke on Wednesday. It's a small, dark hipster bar which is either appealing or a turnoff depending on your tastes.
One of the best folk venues in Toronto - for music that is. Lighting and size leave something to be desired. But it's intimate and hosts some huge talent.
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The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street WestOne of the best folk venues in Toronto - for music that is. Lighting and size leave something to be desired. But it's intimate and hosts some huge talent.
Good music, good sound system. decent space. Rock, folk, roots mostly.
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The Garrison
1197 Dundas St WGood music, good sound system. decent space. Rock, folk, roots mostly.
Tiny wonderful music bar that presses above it's weight. http://www.orbitroom.ca/
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The Orbit Room
580 College StTiny wonderful music bar that presses above it's weight. http://www.orbitroom.ca/
Revival
783 College StGood nightclub. Better for live than DJ IMHO but your call.
Check out the website before you go. This is one of the nightclub gems of Toronto but definitely not everyone's cup of meat. Used to be a fantastic tranny bar. It's a little tamer now.
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El Convento Rico
750 College StCheck out the website before you go. This is one of the nightclub gems of Toronto but definitely not everyone's cup of meat. Used to be a fantastic tranny bar. It's a little tamer now.
White-hot resto nearby. Tapas and good wine list. Check out the menu online. Not your usual fare.
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Bar Isabel
797 College StWhite-hot resto nearby. Tapas and good wine list. Check out the menu online. Not your usual fare.
If you are stunned by the huge selection at The Caledonian then prepared to be knocked athwartships by the Emmet Ray. Good draft and scotch. Fingerfood is ok. Not recommended for a full-on meal.
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The Emmet Ray
924 College StIf you are stunned by the huge selection at The Caledonian then prepared to be knocked athwartships by the Emmet Ray. Good draft and scotch. Fingerfood is ok. Not recommended for a full-on meal.
It's a ten minute walk to the Ossington strip. If you are from out of town and young you probably want to check out the action here. Superb selection of tequila and the occasional wonderful band.
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Reposado
136 Ossington AveIt's a ten minute walk to the Ossington strip. If you are from out of town and young you probably want to check out the action here. Superb selection of tequila and the occasional wonderful band.
70s basement vibe. Good cocktails, decent beer selection. Nice.
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No One Writes to the Colonel
460 College Street70s basement vibe. Good cocktails, decent beer selection. Nice.
Local & international acts for salsa, jazz & world music plus Latin dining & dancing on weekends. If you want salsa they've got salsa. Lessons too if you check their site.
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Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St WLocal & international acts for salsa, jazz & world music plus Latin dining & dancing on weekends. If you want salsa they've got salsa. Lessons too if you check their site.
Arts & Culture
Our local rep cinema. Good folks. Superb sound and seating.
http://www.theroyal.to/schedule/
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The Royal Cinema
608 College StOur local rep cinema. Good folks. Superb sound and seating.
http://www.theroyal.to/schedule/
I've never been there but, really, belly dancing school in our 'hood? Center of the universe baby.
Chemagne Dance
16 York Mills RdI've never been there but, really, belly dancing school in our 'hood? Center of the universe baby.
Good sound. good lighting. Medium-sized venue, some pretty big names play here.
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Mod Club Theatre
722 College StGood sound. good lighting. Medium-sized venue, some pretty big names play here.