Guidebook for Toronto
Food Scene
Great lunch and brunch spot w/ fresh, hearty, healthy food (chili, burritos, soups, salads, and paninis). Friendly, unpretentious service. And they steam scrambled eggs using the espresso machine!
38 locals recommend
Beaver Cafe
1192 Queen St WGreat lunch and brunch spot w/ fresh, hearty, healthy food (chili, burritos, soups, salads, and paninis). Friendly, unpretentious service. And they steam scrambled eggs using the espresso machine!
Amazing new kid on the block. They serve juices, smoothies, salads and grain bowls for delicious and healthy (vegan) takeout. Please try the lemon tart smoothie. And the Vitamin Sea Bowl!
1170 Queen St W
1170 Queen Street WestAmazing new kid on the block. They serve juices, smoothies, salads and grain bowls for delicious and healthy (vegan) takeout. Please try the lemon tart smoothie. And the Vitamin Sea Bowl!
This is my usual morning coffee stop! These guys know coffee. They're serious about it. The place is kid-friendly, and has a big toy box in the front window. Lots of hipsters on their laptops, too.
103 locals recommend
Capital Espresso
1349 Queen St WThis is my usual morning coffee stop! These guys know coffee. They're serious about it. The place is kid-friendly, and has a big toy box in the front window. Lots of hipsters on their laptops, too.
The Gladstone Hotel Cafe has great food, drinks + atmosphere. A sunny office with wifi during the day, an elegant bar at night. Also an art gallery and karaoke bar + more. Check for upcoming events!
194 locals recommend
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen St WThe Gladstone Hotel Cafe has great food, drinks + atmosphere. A sunny office with wifi during the day, an elegant bar at night. Also an art gallery and karaoke bar + more. Check for upcoming events!
Simple, special, delicious Italian food. Pizzas made on open-fire stone deck oven. Family friendly, laidback, and just right for an easy get together with friends.
7 locals recommend
Piola
1165 Queen St WSimple, special, delicious Italian food. Pizzas made on open-fire stone deck oven. Family friendly, laidback, and just right for an easy get together with friends.
A local hideaway that you'll love for brunch! Feel like a local and walk down Pearson Ave until you see it. If there's a lineup, just get a coffee + chat with the neighbours while you wait!
86 locals recommend
Mitzi's Cafe
100 Sorauren AvenueA local hideaway that you'll love for brunch! Feel like a local and walk down Pearson Ave until you see it. If there's a lineup, just get a coffee + chat with the neighbours while you wait!
This is a magical little tea, scone, and preserves shop. They also do pour-over coffees. There are two tiny tables inside, and it's just quaint. Pick up a jar of jam with a silver spoon!
20 locals recommend
Kitten and the Bear
1414 Dundas St WThis is a magical little tea, scone, and preserves shop. They also do pour-over coffees. There are two tiny tables inside, and it's just quaint. Pick up a jar of jam with a silver spoon!
Sweet little hideaway coffee shop where the locals go. Quiet and neighbourhoody and quaint (and great coffee, too). Check out the cowgirl cookies.
7 locals recommend
Balluchon
221 Sorauren AveSweet little hideaway coffee shop where the locals go. Quiet and neighbourhoody and quaint (and great coffee, too). Check out the cowgirl cookies.
Bacchus Roti Shop
1376 Queen Street WestThe best roti this side of the city!
Handmade gelatos in wonderful flavours, like rosemary, Ontario peach, sea salt and olive oil, and salted caramel. There is always vegan gelato offered too!
20 locals recommend
Boreal Gelato
1312 Queen Street WestHandmade gelatos in wonderful flavours, like rosemary, Ontario peach, sea salt and olive oil, and salted caramel. There is always vegan gelato offered too!
Our newest coffee shop serves gorgeous French pastries, and wonderful lattes served in big bowls.
51 locals recommend
The Tempered Room
1374 Queen St WOur newest coffee shop serves gorgeous French pastries, and wonderful lattes served in big bowls.
Shopping
Go here for staples, fruits, vegetables and even deli items for a quick meal. Even though it's a co-op, you don't have to be a member to shop here! They're open 7 days a week + late on weeknights.
49 locals recommend
West End Food Co-op
1229 Queen Street WestGo here for staples, fruits, vegetables and even deli items for a quick meal. Even though it's a co-op, you don't have to be a member to shop here! They're open 7 days a week + late on weeknights.
Fashion by local and Canadian designers. Plus they sell Yoga Jeans here! (If you haven't tried them, just go and do it).
12 locals recommend
Shopgirls Gallery Boutique
1342 Queen St WFashion by local and Canadian designers. Plus they sell Yoga Jeans here! (If you haven't tried them, just go and do it).
Everything Else
The Liquor Control Board of Ontario - aka, the liquor store! Conveniently located around the corner (easy to walk - take the stairs at the end of the street and turn right).
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.The Liquor Control Board of Ontario - aka, the liquor store! Conveniently located around the corner (easy to walk - take the stairs at the end of the street and turn right).
For beer, obviously! Easy to walk - take the stairs at the end of the street and turn right.
28 locals recommend
Beer Store
For beer, obviously! Easy to walk - take the stairs at the end of the street and turn right.
If you need a great salon for a mani pedi, haircut, or brow touch up -- ask for Priscilla! She's the bomb.
West Salon And Spa
If you need a great salon for a mani pedi, haircut, or brow touch up -- ask for Priscilla! She's the bomb.
A great place to book a massage. A number of registered massage therapists work here, and the treatment room is clean, tranquil, and professional.
The Well
1344 Queen St WA great place to book a massage. A number of registered massage therapists work here, and the treatment room is clean, tranquil, and professional.
Drinks & Nightlife
The glam cocktail bar that changed our neighbourhood! Red carpet line ups at night for special events, the best rooftop patio in the city, and a funky cafe. Pricey. Worth it for people watching alone.
538 locals recommend
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WThe glam cocktail bar that changed our neighbourhood! Red carpet line ups at night for special events, the best rooftop patio in the city, and a funky cafe. Pricey. Worth it for people watching alone.
The Caddy has a huge open patio in the summer - it's the place the locals hang out. Live music most nights. This is where you go if The Drake Hotel weirds you out - this is the original Parkdale!
54 locals recommend
Cadillac Lounge
1296 Queen St WThe Caddy has a huge open patio in the summer - it's the place the locals hang out. Live music most nights. This is where you go if The Drake Hotel weirds you out - this is the original Parkdale!
Another old Parkdale gem. If you're a beer aficionado, go just to sample the beer menu. It's extensive. This is not a romantic dinner out or anything, but fun and laidback.
94 locals recommend
The Rhino
1249 Queen St WAnother old Parkdale gem. If you're a beer aficionado, go just to sample the beer menu. It's extensive. This is not a romantic dinner out or anything, but fun and laidback.
Entertainment & Activities
This is where you'll find the Sorauren Farmer's Market on Mondays, from 3-7pm! Also a skating rink in the winter. A playground for kids is right across the street.
FUN WITH MUSIC TOGETHER
50 Wabash AveThis is where you'll find the Sorauren Farmer's Market on Mondays, from 3-7pm! Also a skating rink in the winter. A playground for kids is right across the street.