Toronto often ranks high in the world’s most livable cities and it’s wonderfully diverse. I grew up here and the neighbourhoods have really changed over the years. Hip cafés and burger joints are now everywhere. West Queen West, a dodgy area in my youth, is now the world’s second coolest neighbourhood according to Vogue. Toronto is huge and spread out. It’s impossible to list everything in this city guide, but I tried my best to narrow it down for first-time visitors, as well as long-time residents looking for new places to check out.

Neighbourhoods

Distillery District / Kensington Market & Chinatown / Ossington / King St. West / Leslieville / Little Italy / Roncesvalles Village / St. Lawrence Market / West Queen West / Yonge & Dundas / Yorkville

Stay

The Drake Hotel / Gladstone Hotel / Hotel Le Germain / The Ivy / Planet Traveler Hostel / Templar Hotel / The Thompson Hotel

Cafés

Balzac’s Coffee / Boxcar Social / Crema / Dineen Coffee / Jimmy’s coffee / Maman / Nohohon Tea Room / Snakes & Lattes / Sublime Cafe / White Squirrel Coffee Shop

Breakfast/Brunch

Aunties & Uncles / Cafe Fiorentina / Colette Grand Café / Emma’s Country Kitchen / Lady Marmalade / The Lakeview / Saving Grace / Starving Artist / The Stockyards

Lunch/Dinner

Alo Restaurant / Bar Raval / Barrio Coreano / Buca / Byblos / Canoe / Fran’s / Fusaros / Hibicus / Khao San Road / Kinka Izakaya / Le Sélect Bistro / Momofuku Daisho / Pukka / Richmond Station / Rock Lobster / Rol San / Triple A Bar / Wilbur Mexicana

Eats under $10

Banh Mi Boys / Buk Chang Dong Soon To Fu / The Burger’s Priest / Burrito Boyz / Mother’s Dumplings / North of Brooklyn / Ravi Soups / Sneaky Dee’s / St. Urbain Bagel Bakery 

 Sweets

Bean and Baker / Bunner’s Bakeshop / Dlish Cupcakes / Ed’s Real Scoop / Glory Hole Doughnuts / Soma Chocolate

Drinks

Barchef / Bellwoods Brewery / The Gaslight / Get Well / The Lockhart / The Roof Lounge / The Three Speed / Voodoo Child / 2Cats

Shop – Style

Augustina / Bluboho / The Cat’s Meow / Convey / Courage My Love / Eaton Centre / Gravity Pope / Haute Classics / Holt Renfrew (Bloor St.) / Jonathan + Olivia / KA Space / Opelle / Pink Tartan (flagship) / The Room at The Bay / Secrets From Your Sister / Shopgirls / Space Vintage / Thursdays / Victoire / V S P / WANT Apothecary / Yorkdale Shopping Centre

Shop – Specialty Stores

Arts Market / Blue Banana / Brika / Eclectisaurus / Ecoexistence / Kid Icarus / Labour of Love / North Standard Trading Post / The Paper Place / Spruce / Type Books

Beautify

Alma Natural Spa / Body Blitz Spa / Consonant / The Detox Market / Her Majesty’s Pleasure / Jacob & Sebastien / Pure + Simple

Visit

The AGO  / Aga Khan Museum / Casa Loma / CN Tower / Design Exchange / Edwards Gardens / The ROM / Trinity Bellwoods Park / Toronto Islands (summer) / University of Toronto

Fun

The Ballroom Bowl (bowling) / Comedy Bar / The Dakota Tavern (live music) / Dovercourt House (Swing Dance) / The Purple Purl (Knitting) / Riddle Room (Games) / Rivoli (Pool Hall) / Rowan (DIY workshops) / Roy Thomson Hall (Classical Music) / Sew Be It / Spin (Ping Pong) / Twister Karoke

Access and save this organized Google Map on your smartphone.

Anything missing on this list? Let me know in the comments below!