Cassandra’s guidebook
Restaurants & Cafes
These are some of our favourite neighbourhood spots to wine, dine and brunch.
Authentic Italian food with a local touch, owned and operated by Toronto natives. Delicious pizza, salads and sandwiches. Super affordable.
38 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mattachioni
1617 Dupont StAuthentic Italian food with a local touch, owned and operated by Toronto natives. Delicious pizza, salads and sandwiches. Super affordable.
From the makers of the Drake Hotel, the Drake Commissary is nestled in the industrial vibes of the Junction serving Canadian classics with a twist. Awesome cocktails and bakery goods for break-y.
45 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Drake Commissary
128a Sterling RdFrom the makers of the Drake Hotel, the Drake Commissary is nestled in the industrial vibes of the Junction serving Canadian classics with a twist. Awesome cocktails and bakery goods for break-y.
Yummy local coffee, perfect for a grab-and-go cup.
77 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Wallace Espresso
188 Wallace AveYummy local coffee, perfect for a grab-and-go cup.
Tucked away off Landsdowne, Propeller is another local cafe with a great working space if you need it. Breakfast snacks as well.
51 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Propeller Coffee Co.
50 Wade AvenueTucked away off Landsdowne, Propeller is another local cafe with a great working space if you need it. Breakfast snacks as well.
Local brewery. My fave is Tokyo Rose - a rose infused IPA. There have bar snacks and bottles to go if you prefer.
41 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Halo Brewery
247 Wallace AveLocal brewery. My fave is Tokyo Rose - a rose infused IPA. There have bar snacks and bottles to go if you prefer.
Cheap and cheerful brunch spot 5 minutes from the apartment, right beside Halo Brewery.
67 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cafe Neon
243 Wallace AveCheap and cheerful brunch spot 5 minutes from the apartment, right beside Halo Brewery.
Not-you-typical eatery and so worth it. They have sharing plates and a uniquely curated menu. It's new to Toronto and has gotten rave reviews from the foodies. My favourite is the sausage roll and the oat milk latte (with any of their baked goods).
13 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Donna’s
827 Lansdowne AveNot-you-typical eatery and so worth it. They have sharing plates and a uniquely curated menu. It's new to Toronto and has gotten rave reviews from the foodies. My favourite is the sausage roll and the oat milk latte (with any of their baked goods).
Trendy breakfast/brunch spot. It has limited seating and the hours fluctuate so make sure to check in advance.
37 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Baddies
679 Lansdowne AveTrendy breakfast/brunch spot. It has limited seating and the hours fluctuate so make sure to check in advance.
No fuss and casual, this is another one of our favourite Italian spots. Order the spaghetti and meat balls!
86 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sugo
1281 Bloor St WNo fuss and casual, this is another one of our favourite Italian spots. Order the spaghetti and meat balls!
Delish cocktails and a hidden back patio for those sunny days.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Gaslight
1426 Bloor St WDelish cocktails and a hidden back patio for those sunny days.
Diner-esque space with the best Cuban food. Awesome for lunch or a low-key dinner, but they have brunch as well.
178 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
La Cubana
392 Roncesvalles AveDiner-esque space with the best Cuban food. Awesome for lunch or a low-key dinner, but they have brunch as well.
Local brewery with small eats. Awesome outdoor picnic tables for those sunny days. Also have bottles to go.
94 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bandit Brewery
2125 Dundas St WLocal brewery with small eats. Awesome outdoor picnic tables for those sunny days. Also have bottles to go.
Upscale local brewery with sharing plates, tapas style. Nice ambience for a night out and long list of unique beers. They're infamous for their wine/beer blends.
149 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Burdock Brewery
1184 Bloor St WUpscale local brewery with sharing plates, tapas style. Nice ambience for a night out and long list of unique beers. They're infamous for their wine/beer blends.
Casual neighbourhood place for slow cooked BBQ.
133 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Barque Smokehouse
299 Roncesvalles AveCasual neighbourhood place for slow cooked BBQ.
Ice cream, ice cream! Ed's is a Toronto novelty.
42 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ed's Real Scoop - Roncesvalles
189 Roncesvalles AveIce cream, ice cream! Ed's is a Toronto novelty.
Vegan, vegetarian and healthy eats perfect for grab-and-go or a casual lunch.
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
the Goods
279 Roncesvalles AveVegan, vegetarian and healthy eats perfect for grab-and-go or a casual lunch.
Village Juicery
99 Roncesvalles AveAll things juice cleanse.
Best pho and in the Ossington and Queen West neighbourhood if you're headed that way for some shopping.
119 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pho Rùa Vàng Golden Turtle Restaurant
125 Ossington AveBest pho and in the Ossington and Queen West neighbourhood if you're headed that way for some shopping.
Ice cream sandwich cookies or waffles. Try the Birthday Cake cookie with London Fog ice cream!
170 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery
93A Ossington AveIce cream sandwich cookies or waffles. Try the Birthday Cake cookie with London Fog ice cream!
Wood-fired Neapolitan style pizzas with a low key vibe.
384 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington AveWood-fired Neapolitan style pizzas with a low key vibe.
Upscale Greek food, tapas style. Make sure you have a reservation.
102 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mamakas Taverna
80 Ossington AveUpscale Greek food, tapas style. Make sure you have a reservation.
La Carnita
501 College StMexican street food.
Spanish-influenced, creative plates & craft beers in a cozy space with an old-world vibe.
232 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar Isabel
797 College StSpanish-influenced, creative plates & craft beers in a cozy space with an old-world vibe.
Infamous Italian in the city. Try the burrata to start and the house-made spaghetti all'amatriciana.
43 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Campagnolo
832 Dundas St WInfamous Italian in the city. Try the burrata to start and the house-made spaghetti all'amatriciana.
Rhum Corner
926 Dundas St WChill, rum-centric Haitian cocktail bar with food.
24/7 diner, literally. My fave one in the city, and it's been the set of more movie than you'd think.
351 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street West24/7 diner, literally. My fave one in the city, and it's been the set of more movie than you'd think.
Terroni
720 Queen St WItalian trattoria.
Carmen
922 Queen St WChic Spanish spot for tapas and paella.
Our favourite authentic French patisserie with the best macaroons.
183 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Nadège Patisserie
780 Queen St WOur favourite authentic French patisserie with the best macaroons.
Groceries
Affordable grocery store with all of the everyday necessities.
71 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
FreshCo
2330 Eglinton Ave WAffordable grocery store with all of the everyday necessities.
Rowe Farms - Roncesvalles
105 Roncesvalles AveSpeciality local grocer for a premium.
Everyday grocer with a greater selection of high quality goods.
1110 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Loblaws
585 Queen St WEveryday grocer with a greater selection of high quality goods.
Pharmacy and grocer with an assortment of goods, open late and great for any emergency health related needs.
209 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Shoppers Drug Mart
935 Eglinton Ave WPharmacy and grocer with an assortment of goods, open late and great for any emergency health related needs.
Night Out
Tiki themed to the max, with tropical drinks. Try the epic 20oz Volcano special.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Shameful Tiki Room Toronto
1378 Queen St WTiki themed to the max, with tropical drinks. Try the epic 20oz Volcano special.
PrettyUgly Bar
1237 Queen St WSpeak easy in the front. Party in the back.
Caribbean fusion restaurant with great drinks, trendy setting and good food.
49 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Miss Thing's
1279 Queen Street WestCaribbean fusion restaurant with great drinks, trendy setting and good food.
Looks like a convenience store in the front, with $5 cocktails on tap and some cool photo ops.
19 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Convenience
1184 Queen St WLooks like a convenience store in the front, with $5 cocktails on tap and some cool photo ops.
Otto's Bierhalle
1087 Queen St WGerman inspired beer and food hall.
Camp 4
1173 Dundas St WLow key, indie, casual bar. Definitely a night scene.
Bar. Arcade games. North of Brooklyn Pizzeria inside for late night eats.
153 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Get Well
1181 Dundas Street WestBar. Arcade games. North of Brooklyn Pizzeria inside for late night eats.
Track & Field
582 College StShuffleboard, bocce, booze.
Spanish inspired with my favourite cocktails and tapas plates. Plus the interior is amazing. Try the olive oil cake, it's to die for!
235 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Bar Raval
505 College StSpanish inspired with my favourite cocktails and tapas plates. Plus the interior is amazing. Try the olive oil cake, it's to die for!
Favourite ambience in the whole city. Best pre-dinner or late night cocktails in a quiet, modest bar.
44 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cocktail Bar
923 Dundas St WFavourite ambience in the whole city. Best pre-dinner or late night cocktails in a quiet, modest bar.
Dancing
Latin club. Salsa lessons are sometimes available and they have live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights ($20 cover charge). Such a fun place to try.
120 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St WLatin club. Salsa lessons are sometimes available and they have live entertainment Friday and Saturday nights ($20 cover charge). Such a fun place to try.
The Piston
937 Bloor St WFriday night disco night! ($10 cover)
The Drake Underground has live DJs and is always a good time. ($10 cover)
537 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WThe Drake Underground has live DJs and is always a good time. ($10 cover)
Baby Huey
110 Ossington AveKnown for it's hip-hop nights.
An Ossington staple. Casual bar in the front, with a big dance space in the back.
54 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Ossington
61 Ossington AveAn Ossington staple. Casual bar in the front, with a big dance space in the back.
Thing To Do
If you're looking for something beyond food, drinks and dancing, here are some of our other favourite things to do around the city.
If you're in the mood for a throwback, Revenue is a vintage movie theatre playing new and old releases. Check their website to see what's playing.
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The Revue Cinema
400 Roncesvalles AveIf you're in the mood for a throwback, Revenue is a vintage movie theatre playing new and old releases. Check their website to see what's playing.
You can spend the whole day here for FREE! 400 acres of green space with picnic grounds, a small zoo, canoe/kayak rentals, gardens and parking is available.
1205 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
High Park
1873 Bloor St WYou can spend the whole day here for FREE! 400 acres of green space with picnic grounds, a small zoo, canoe/kayak rentals, gardens and parking is available.
With works from the first century to present day, it's one of North America's largest galleries. It has a permanent collection and rotating exhibits in a space with beautiful architecture and awesome photo ops. ($20)
2262 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WWith works from the first century to present day, it's one of North America's largest galleries. It has a permanent collection and rotating exhibits in a space with beautiful architecture and awesome photo ops. ($20)
A board game cafe (with cocktails if you prefer) where you can spend hours playing at communal tables!
53 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Snakes & Lattes College
489 College StA board game cafe (with cocktails if you prefer) where you can spend hours playing at communal tables!
Tilt Arcade Bar
1255 Dundas St WCheap arcade games and drinks!
Play ping pong, have some drinks, and glow in the dark.
155 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
SPIN Toronto
Play ping pong, have some drinks, and glow in the dark.
Awesome for sunny days, sit on the grass with a picnic or take a small walk. So many cafe's nearby, so grab a coffee and enjoy!
743 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WAwesome for sunny days, sit on the grass with a picnic or take a small walk. So many cafe's nearby, so grab a coffee and enjoy!
Catch a sketch comedy show - they are amazing! Tickets online. ($30)
156 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
The Second City Toronto
110 Mercer StCatch a sketch comedy show - they are amazing! Tickets online. ($30)
Live music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday night at their Melody Bar at 8pm. Karaoke Friday and Saturday nights at 10pm.
194 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen St WLive music every Thursday, Friday, Saturday night at their Melody Bar at 8pm. Karaoke Friday and Saturday nights at 10pm.