Guidebook for Toronto

Rob
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.
39 locals recommend
Thor Espresso Bar
35 Bathurst St
39 locals recommend
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.
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.
267 locals recommend
Jimmy's Coffee
107 Portland St
267 locals recommend
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.
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.
13 locals recommend
Cheesewerks
60 Bathurst Street
13 locals recommend
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.
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.
105 locals recommend
Thompson Diner
550 Wellington St W
105 locals recommend
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.
Only open during weekdays - but this is hand's down my fav greasy spoon. Huge cheap breakfasts. Massive corn beef sandwiches Meatloaf. Potatoes. mmmmmmmm
12 locals recommend
Avenue Open Kitchen
7 Camden St
12 locals recommend
Only open during weekdays - but this is hand's down my fav greasy spoon. Huge cheap breakfasts. Massive corn beef sandwiches Meatloaf. Potatoes. mmmmmmmm
Breakfast weekends - right in the heart of King west. Delish!!
14 locals recommend
Zoe's Toronto
548 King St W
14 locals recommend
Breakfast 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
147 locals recommend
Banh Mi Boys
392 Queen St W
147 locals recommend
Taiwanese-Vietnamese sandwiches. Other than their slight identity crisis trying to cater to all lol ... the duck is bliss. all <$10
Pulled Pork Poutine. Open til 4pm Love this place!!!
13 locals recommend
Lou Dawgs on King
589 King Street West
13 locals recommend
Pulled 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)
279 locals recommend
Hunters Landing
82 Fort York Blvd
279 locals recommend
One 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.
131 locals recommend
Canoe
66 Wellington St W
131 locals recommend
One 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.
232 locals recommend
Bar Isabel
797 College St
232 locals recommend
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.
Cheap eats and the best fish tacos in the city. In the coolest area . . . you must take a stroll through Kensington.
115 locals recommend
Seven Lives
72 Kensington Ave
115 locals recommend
Cheap 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!!
292 locals recommend
Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St W
292 locals recommend
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!!
This is the ONLY place in Chinatown to eat. Best time is about 2:30am-4:00am. Pho. Vermicilli. OMG.
9 locals recommend
Pho Xe Lua
254 Spadina Ave.
9 locals recommend
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.
7 locals recommend
VOLOS
133 Richmond Street West
7 locals recommend
Amazing greek seafood cuisine. Get the Grilled Moroccan Octopus. Ask for my buddy Andreas (the 6'7" dude is the owner) for exceptional service.
Best Pho in the city.
119 locals recommend
Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington Ave
119 locals recommend
Best Pho in the city.
The newest cool little french cafe and bakery in King west. Magnifique!!
32 locals recommend
Delysées
131 Ossington Avenue
32 locals recommend
The 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
76 locals recommend
The Kitchen Table
705 King St W
76 locals recommend
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
The big grocery store in the neighbourhood. Anything and everything you need is in here.
1112 locals recommend
Loblaws
585 Queen St W
1112 locals recommend
The 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.
15 locals recommend
Cherry Cola's Rock N' Rolla Cabaret Lounge
200 Bathurst St
15 locals recommend
Red 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.
164 locals recommend
416 Snack Bar
181 Bathurst St
164 locals recommend
A 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
200 locals recommend
Real Sports Bar & Grill
15 York St
200 locals recommend
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
This is where the die-hards watch football. And when I say football, I mean soccer.
11 locals recommend
The Football Factory
164 Bathurst St
11 locals recommend
This 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".
538 locals recommend
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St W
538 locals recommend
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".
Dive bar. Cheap beer. Hot bartender with major attitude. You don't go for the service.
29 locals recommend
Wide Open Bar
139A Spadina Ave.
29 locals recommend
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.
8 locals recommend
The Guvernment Entertainment Complex
132 Queens Quay East
8 locals recommend
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.

Arts & Culture

Always awesome exhibits going on here. http://www.ago.net/whatson
2262 locals recommend
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St W
2262 locals recommend
Always awesome exhibits going on here. http://www.ago.net/whatson
This is the most prominent art museum in Canada. Check it out! http://www.rom.on.ca/en
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).
168 locals recommend
Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts
145 Queen St W
168 locals recommend
Ballet. 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
312 locals recommend
Roy Thomson Hall
60 Simcoe St
312 locals recommend
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

Sightseeing

Free music and events every weekend. http://www.yelp.ca/biz/cherry-beach-toronto
174 locals recommend
Cherry Beach Off Leash Dog Park
1 Cherry St
174 locals recommend
Free 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.
65 locals recommend
Ashbridges Skatepark
1420 Lake Shore Blvd E
65 locals recommend
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.
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)
308 locals recommend
Dundas Square
Dundas Square
308 locals recommend
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)
Historic Casa Loma - http://www.yelp.ca/biz/casa-loma-toronto
1217 locals recommend
Casa Loma
1 Austin Terrace
1217 locals recommend
Historic Casa Loma - http://www.yelp.ca/biz/casa-loma-toronto
http://www.ontarioplace.com/ Concerts and events.
139 locals recommend
Ontario Place
955 Lake Shore Blvd W
139 locals recommend
http://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.
3509 locals recommend
CN Tower
290 Bremner Blvd
3509 locals recommend
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.
Bustling market of fresh foods and crafts ... a must see on your visit.
1398 locals recommend
St. Lawrence Market
93 Front St E
1398 locals recommend
Bustling 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 Rd
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.
You can rent little speed boats here -- http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/boating/?page_id=67
512 locals recommend
Harbourfront Centre
235 Queens Quay W
512 locals recommend
You 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
2460 locals recommend
CF Toronto Eaton Centre
220 Yonge St
2460 locals recommend
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

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.
743 locals recommend
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St W
743 locals recommend
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.
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.
957 locals recommend
LCBO
49 Spadina Ave.
957 locals recommend
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.
You guessed it - BEER. Nothing else. Just BEER.
17 locals recommend
Beer Store 2303
452 Bathurst St
17 locals recommend
You guessed it - BEER. Nothing else. Just BEER.
The closest BEER store - for BEER!
127 locals recommend
Beer Store
1200 Dundas St W
127 locals recommend
The 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 Luz
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
You have to take a picture of this building. It is the box up in the sky on stilts. Incredible.
64 locals recommend
OCAD University
100 McCaul St
64 locals recommend
You 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.
189 locals recommend
Queen's Park
189 locals recommend
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 Street
Check 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.
100 locals recommend
Reposado
136 Ossington Ave
100 locals recommend
Order the spicy grapefruit tequila - the ruby. Hipster chill along Ossington. Quiet back patio.