Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Widely regarded as the best Vietnamese pho in the city. So many options, you really can't go wrong. Super cheap and generous portions. IG: @goldenturtle.restaurant
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Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveWidely regarded as the best Vietnamese pho in the city. So many options, you really can't go wrong. Super cheap and generous portions. IG: @goldenturtle.restaurant
The actual best pizza I've ever had in Toronto. Huge selection of inspired vegetarian and meat options. On the pricier side and off the beaten path, but they deliver to our address. You won't regret it. IG: @makerpizza
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Maker Pizza
59 Cameron StThe actual best pizza I've ever had in Toronto. Huge selection of inspired vegetarian and meat options. On the pricier side and off the beaten path, but they deliver to our address. You won't regret it. IG: @makerpizza
It's hard to say whether the food or the cocktails are the highlight of this place, or if it's the infamous $200,000 custom carved wood ceiling. Expect tiny sharing plates, a patio right on College, and some of the most talented bartenders in the city. IG: @bar_raval
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Bar Raval
505 College StIt's hard to say whether the food or the cocktails are the highlight of this place, or if it's the infamous $200,000 custom carved wood ceiling. Expect tiny sharing plates, a patio right on College, and some of the most talented bartenders in the city. IG: @bar_raval
On weekdays the wait isn't bad, but be forewarned: there is often a lineup on weekends with a waiting list! The rotating menu is worth it. IG: @savinggraceto
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Saving Grace
907 Dundas St WOn weekdays the wait isn't bad, but be forewarned: there is often a lineup on weekends with a waiting list! The rotating menu is worth it. IG: @savinggraceto
Great for all meals of the day. Vegetarian/vegan/health-conscious meals and smoothies, sit-down or takeaway. My favourite is the All-Star salad with 3-6-9 dressing but you can't go wrong with anything that has their marinated tofu in it. You may or may not see a celebrity - great patio here for keeping an eye out. IG: @freshrestaurants
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Fresh on Crawford
894 Queen Street WestGreat for all meals of the day. Vegetarian/vegan/health-conscious meals and smoothies, sit-down or takeaway. My favourite is the All-Star salad with 3-6-9 dressing but you can't go wrong with anything that has their marinated tofu in it. You may or may not see a celebrity - great patio here for keeping an eye out. IG: @freshrestaurants
Ice cream sandwiches!!! There is almost always a crazy lineup so be prepared to go there as soon as it opens (hours vary depending on the season). People love to Instagram this place. IG: @bangbang_icecream
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Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington AveIce cream sandwiches!!! There is almost always a crazy lineup so be prepared to go there as soon as it opens (hours vary depending on the season). People love to Instagram this place. IG: @bangbang_icecream
WAFFLES! Super close to home, reliably tasty. Vegan and GF options, too! IG: @starving4waffle
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Starving Artist
1078 St Clair Ave WWAFFLES! Super close to home, reliably tasty. Vegan and GF options, too! IG: @starving4waffle
Probably the most popular brunch spot with our friends, some of whom work there. Always on point. IG: @torontofederal
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The Federal
1438 Dundas Street WestProbably the most popular brunch spot with our friends, some of whom work there. Always on point. IG: @torontofederal
Honk if you like sandwiches, 'cause these medianoches are taaaasty! IG: @lacubana_to
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La Cubana
392 Roncesvalles AveHonk if you like sandwiches, 'cause these medianoches are taaaasty! IG: @lacubana_to
Authentic Napoletana pizza cooked in a brick oven, like nature intended. IG: @pizzalibretto
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Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington AveAuthentic Napoletana pizza cooked in a brick oven, like nature intended. IG: @pizzalibretto
Tapas menu (small sharing plates) - the grilled octopus is unbelievable. IG: @bar_isabel
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Bar Isabel
797 College StTapas menu (small sharing plates) - the grilled octopus is unbelievable. IG: @bar_isabel
Parks & Nature
This is where the cool kids hang out. Expect to see the park filled with picnic blankets, bikes, croquet sets and even tightrope walkers on sunny days. Family-friendly with a kids area and close to numerous shops and cafes.
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Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WThis is where the cool kids hang out. Expect to see the park filled with picnic blankets, bikes, croquet sets and even tightrope walkers on sunny days. Family-friendly with a kids area and close to numerous shops and cafes.
Take the ferry to the islands for the day - great for kids, families, and even nudists!
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Toronto Islands
Take the ferry to the islands for the day - great for kids, families, and even nudists!
In May, the cherry blossoms will blow your mind. This is peak tourist season. After that, it's chill vibes and great for jogging or seeing the animals in their small zoo.
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High Park
1873 Bloor St WIn May, the cherry blossoms will blow your mind. This is peak tourist season. After that, it's chill vibes and great for jogging or seeing the animals in their small zoo.
Essentials
24 hour grocery store for anything you need at any time (now sells beer!) and located a short walk diagonally from our home through two safe parks. There is a pharmacy aisle in case the Shoppers Drug Mart next door is closed (it's open until midnight).
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Metro
2155 St Clair Ave W24 hour grocery store for anything you need at any time (now sells beer!) and located a short walk diagonally from our home through two safe parks. There is a pharmacy aisle in case the Shoppers Drug Mart next door is closed (it's open until midnight).
Pharmacy and drugstore for any health, beauty or snack-related emergencies you might have.
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Shoppers Drug Mart
935 Eglinton Ave WPharmacy and drugstore for any health, beauty or snack-related emergencies you might have.
Liquor store - keep in mind in Ontario, alcohol is still only available in very few grocery shops and not in convenience stores, so the LCBO is on everyone's must-shop list.
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LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.Liquor store - keep in mind in Ontario, alcohol is still only available in very few grocery shops and not in convenience stores, so the LCBO is on everyone's must-shop list.
Dollar store for anything you might need, just around the corner from home.
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Dollarama
590 King St WDollar store for anything you might need, just around the corner from home.
7-Eleven
873 Queen St WGood ol' Sev-Elev. Has a post office inside, too.
Best place for cool men's haircuts, if you're looking for the perfect fade. Staff is fantastic and prices are a cut (haha) below the competition.
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Town Barber
1114 Dundas St WBest place for cool men's haircuts, if you're looking for the perfect fade. Staff is fantastic and prices are a cut (haha) below the competition.
Women's (and men's) hairstyling. I designed this place, but I would go there anyway (I did for years before!)
Palm Sunday
384 Harbord StWomen's (and men's) hairstyling. I designed this place, but I would go there anyway (I did for years before!)
Getting Around
Ossington, a 10-15 minute walk north of our house, is the closest subway station. If you're taking public transit from the airport or Union Station, take the 63 South bus from this station and disembark at the Churchill Avenue stop outside our house. From home, the bus to get to Ossington Station (63 North) boards across the street from our house.
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Ossington Station
Ossington, a 10-15 minute walk north of our house, is the closest subway station. If you're taking public transit from the airport or Union Station, take the 63 South bus from this station and disembark at the Churchill Avenue stop outside our house. From home, the bus to get to Ossington Station (63 North) boards across the street from our house.
This is our bus stop on the 63 Ossington route. Push the button/pull the cord here and hop out! You can also take the 63 South from directly outside our door down to Queen Street West or Liberty Village, both just minutes away.
Ossington Ave At Churchill Ave station
This is our bus stop on the 63 Ossington route. Push the button/pull the cord here and hop out! You can also take the 63 South from directly outside our door down to Queen Street West or Liberty Village, both just minutes away.
Shopping
Great for shoes and higher-end brand clothing. Huge space and selection.
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gravitypope Toronto
1010 Queen St WGreat for shoes and higher-end brand clothing. Huge space and selection.
Great for gifts, cards, jewelry, skincare, art prints, and beautifully-designed home goods. Brands include Catbird NYC, Province Apothecary and HAY.
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Get Well
1181 Dundas Street WestGreat for gifts, cards, jewelry, skincare, art prints, and beautifully-designed home goods. Brands include Catbird NYC, Province Apothecary and HAY.
Drinks & Nightlife
Arcade games and North of Brooklyn pizza outpost in the back. IG: @getwellbar
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Get Well
1181 Dundas Street WestArcade games and North of Brooklyn pizza outpost in the back. IG: @getwellbar
Heated patio and bottle shop, plus great sharing food. Great for people watching. IG: @bellwoodsbeer
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Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington AveHeated patio and bottle shop, plus great sharing food. Great for people watching. IG: @bellwoodsbeer
One of the cutest back patios in the city, if you get tired of our own. IG: @bar_neon
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Bar Neon
1226 Bloor St WOne of the cutest back patios in the city, if you get tired of our own. IG: @bar_neon
Two words: FAMOUS NACHOS! Cheap drinks, food options for everyone, venue for bands upstairs. Dress down, lots of crust punks here.
IG: @thesneakydees
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Sneaky Dee's
431 College StTwo words: FAMOUS NACHOS! Cheap drinks, food options for everyone, venue for bands upstairs. Dress down, lots of crust punks here.
IG: @thesneakydees
Arts & Culture
Frank Gehry-designed iconic architecture, and home to the best art collection in the city.
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Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WFrank Gehry-designed iconic architecture, and home to the best art collection in the city.
The best curated artifact collection in Toronto. Situated in Yorkville, it's worth a trip to this neighbourhood (full of luxury shopping) just to photograph the iconic "crystal" addition to the original museum's architecture.
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I-Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkThe best curated artifact collection in Toronto. Situated in Yorkville, it's worth a trip to this neighbourhood (full of luxury shopping) just to photograph the iconic "crystal" addition to the original museum's architecture.