Guidebook for Toronto

Sarah
Guidebook for Toronto

Food Scene

Cheap + cheerful Indian roti! Embarrassingly, the guy @ the counter knows my order by heart.
37 locals recommend
Mother India
1456 Queen St W
37 locals recommend
Cheap + cheerful Indian roti! Embarrassingly, the guy @ the counter knows my order by heart.
The huevos divorciados are muchos buenos. This place gets busy in the late morning, so definitely go early ... which should be easy, given that it's directly across the street from my place.
57 locals recommend
Easy Restaurant
1645 Queen St W
57 locals recommend
The huevos divorciados are muchos buenos. This place gets busy in the late morning, so definitely go early ... which should be easy, given that it's directly across the street from my place.
My favourite local coffee shop + bakery!
9 locals recommend
Seventh Sister Bakery
53 Roncesvalles Avenue
9 locals recommend
My favourite local coffee shop + bakery!
Bar/restaurant created from a well-preserved Chinese restaurant. It's dimly lit and lovely. Brunch is reasonably priced and extremely good.
91 locals recommend
The Ace
231A Roncesvalles Ave
91 locals recommend
Bar/restaurant created from a well-preserved Chinese restaurant. It's dimly lit and lovely. Brunch is reasonably priced and extremely good.
Great Korean in Koreatown. There are other outposts of this mini-chain around the city, too.
Ka-Chi
Great Korean in Koreatown. There are other outposts of this mini-chain around the city, too.
Chilean empanadas in a cheap + cheerful spot!
14 locals recommend
Jumbo Empanadas
245 Augusta Ave
14 locals recommend
Chilean empanadas in a cheap + cheerful spot!
A Toronto institution. Not-so-authentic (in a good way, not a terrible way) Mexican dive-y restaurant.
8 locals recommend
La Hacienda Restaurant
640 Queen St W
8 locals recommend
A Toronto institution. Not-so-authentic (in a good way, not a terrible way) Mexican dive-y restaurant.
The food isn't particularly spectacular, but it's a hidden neighbourhood gem. Dark, cozy, and wonderful.
47 locals recommend
Old York Bar & Grill
167 Niagara St
47 locals recommend
The food isn't particularly spectacular, but it's a hidden neighbourhood gem. Dark, cozy, and wonderful.
Pretty much the dictionary definition of cheap + cheerful. Toronto's cheap sushi phenomenon is out of control: 5.99 lunch specials, etc.
9 locals recommend
Simon Sushi
3399 Lake Shore Blvd W
9 locals recommend
Pretty much the dictionary definition of cheap + cheerful. Toronto's cheap sushi phenomenon is out of control: 5.99 lunch specials, etc.
This place is ridiculous: overcrowded, college-y, and cheap. Their maki sets are hilariously big. Generally referred to as NewGen.
41 locals recommend
New Generation Sushi
486 Bloor St W
41 locals recommend
This place is ridiculous: overcrowded, college-y, and cheap. Their maki sets are hilariously big. Generally referred to as NewGen.
Breakfast diner in Leslieville. Cute and cheap, but line-up-y.
22 locals recommend
Ok Ok Diner
1128 Queen St E
22 locals recommend
Breakfast diner in Leslieville. Cute and cheap, but line-up-y.

Drinks & Nightlife

The best dive bar ever ... complete with lion fish aquarium. Note: this is a dive bar, not a "dive bar."
7 locals recommend
The Mezz
1546 Queen St W
7 locals recommend
The best dive bar ever ... complete with lion fish aquarium. Note: this is a dive bar, not a "dive bar."
New cute bar. It's chill + they have truffle-flavoured popcorn + good beer on tap.
30 locals recommend
The Yukon
1592 Queen Street West
30 locals recommend
New cute bar. It's chill + they have truffle-flavoured popcorn + good beer on tap.
Board game cafe! Good americanos! And a LOT of games.
Seventeen Eighteen
1718 Queen St W
Board game cafe! Good americanos! And a LOT of games.
AMAZING beer selection + summer patio.
94 locals recommend
The Rhino
1249 Queen St W
94 locals recommend
AMAZING beer selection + summer patio.
I have an unhealthy obsession w their mac + cheese. Good beer selection, too, and one of Toronto's best summer patios.
32 locals recommend
Victory Cafe
440 Bloor St W
32 locals recommend
I have an unhealthy obsession w their mac + cheese. Good beer selection, too, and one of Toronto's best summer patios.
Dark, lovely bar in the west end.
165 locals recommend
The 3 Speed
1163 Bloor St W
165 locals recommend
Dark, lovely bar in the west end.
Dark + lovely bar. A Dundas/Ossington original.
93 locals recommend
Communist's Daughter
1149 Dundas St W
93 locals recommend
Dark + lovely bar. A Dundas/Ossington original.
Yet another dark and lovely one. Across from Trinity Bellwoods, which is a bonus.
16 locals recommend
Squirly's Bar & Grill
807 Queen St W
16 locals recommend
Yet another dark and lovely one. Across from Trinity Bellwoods, which is a bonus.

Essentials

Best + friendliest greengrocer!
135 locals recommend
Roncesvalles Village
147 Roncesvalles Ave
135 locals recommend
Best + friendliest greengrocer!
Local cheeeeese shop. The roaring forties blue cheese is the stuff dreams are made of.
26 locals recommend
Thin Blue Line Cheese
93 Roncesvalles Ave
26 locals recommend
Local cheeeeese shop. The roaring forties blue cheese is the stuff dreams are made of.
All things Polish + delicious!
12 locals recommend
Benna's Bakery & Deli
135 Roncesvalles Ave
12 locals recommend
All things Polish + delicious!

Shopping

Cute clothes!
16 locals recommend
Frock
97 Roncesvalles Ave
16 locals recommend
Cute clothes!
... this has relocated to the former Goodwill farther south on the W side of the street. Great vintage stuff!
Mrs. Huizenga
28 Roncesvalles Ave
... this has relocated to the former Goodwill farther south on the W side of the street. Great vintage stuff!
Wonderbar vintage store!
Stella Luna
1627 Queen St W
Wonderbar vintage store!
ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and movies, too.
7 locals recommend
The Film Buff (Closed)
73 Roncesvalles Ave
7 locals recommend
ICE CREAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Oh, and movies, too.

Sightseeing

Free summer swimming!
34 locals recommend
Sunnyside - Gus Ryder Outdoor Pool
1755 Lake Shore Blvd W
34 locals recommend
Free summer swimming!
The beach/waterfront is easily accessible from the pedestrian bridge over the Gardiner—it starts @ the corner of Queen, King, and Roncesvalles.
22 locals recommend
Sunnyside Boardwalk
Sunnyside Boardwalk
22 locals recommend
The beach/waterfront is easily accessible from the pedestrian bridge over the Gardiner—it starts @ the corner of Queen, King, and Roncesvalles.

Arts & Culture

One of Toronto's two big non-commercial contemporary galleries. A quick, good visit.
129 locals recommend
Museum of Contemporary Art Toronto Canada
158 Sterling Rd
129 locals recommend
One of Toronto's two big non-commercial contemporary galleries. A quick, good visit.
Toronto's best contemporary space, I think.
Power Plant-Contemporary Art Gallery at Harbourfront Centre (The)
Toronto's best contemporary space, I think.
Mostly conceptual stuff ... one of Toronto's better spaces, for sure.
44 locals recommend
Mercer Union, a centre for contemporary art
1286 Bloor St W
44 locals recommend
Mostly conceptual stuff ... one of Toronto's better spaces, for sure.

Everything Else

Another of the Queen West dives. Wonderful.
24 locals recommend
The Done Right Inn
861 Queen St W
24 locals recommend
Another of the Queen West dives. Wonderful.
My favourite local convenience store. I'm on a first-name basis w the owner. He knows all about my predilection for Vanilla Coke.
First Convenience Store
My favourite local convenience store. I'm on a first-name basis w the owner. He knows all about my predilection for Vanilla Coke.