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 BakeryÂ
 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
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