All my favourite places... in one little book
Sightseeing
Here are the top things to see in Toronto... in my humble opinion. Normally if people ask me about sightseeing I say that there aren't that many great sights, but there is amazing opportunity to try authentic cuisine from all over the world and sip some lovely cocktails! ;)
I think this is the one true attraction in Toronto. Must do, so you can say you've been up there. :) You can also make a reservation and have dinner in the revolving restaurant on top!
3509 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
IThawa ye-CN
290 Bremner BlvdI think this is the one true attraction in Toronto. Must do, so you can say you've been up there. :) You can also make a reservation and have dinner in the revolving restaurant on top!
A Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto that is now a historic house museum
1217 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Casa Loma
1 Austin Terrace A Gothic Revival style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto that is now a historic house museum
Open 365 days a year - 20,000 aquatic animals.
2071 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Aquarium ye-Ripley yase-Canada
288 Bremner BlvdOpen 365 days a year - 20,000 aquatic animals.
Lovely place to check out if you'd like to go to a museum!
2332 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
I-Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkLovely place to check out if you'd like to go to a museum!
Great area to visit for an afternoon. You can browse all the shops, have great coffee at Arvo and grab a beer at Mill Street brewery. Also has a GREAT Mexican restaurant called El Catrin
1704 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StGreat area to visit for an afternoon. You can browse all the shops, have great coffee at Arvo and grab a beer at Mill Street brewery. Also has a GREAT Mexican restaurant called El Catrin
Parks & Nature
A mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo.
1205 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
High Park
1873 Bloor St WA mixed recreational and natural park, with sporting facilities, cultural facilities, educational facilities, gardens, playgrounds and a zoo.
The park sits atop the now buried Garrison Creek and features three ball diamonds, eight tennis courts, two volleyball courts, an artificial ice rink, a dog off-leash area, a picnic area, a wading pool and a children's playground. Located in the south-west section of the park is the Trinity Community Recreation Centre.
743 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St WThe park sits atop the now buried Garrison Creek and features three ball diamonds, eight tennis courts, two volleyball courts, an artificial ice rink, a dog off-leash area, a picnic area, a wading pool and a children's playground. Located in the south-west section of the park is the Trinity Community Recreation Centre.
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
1035 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toronto Islands
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
Food & Restaurants
Here are my favourite restaurants for you :) Enjoy!
An excellent Thai place in the neighbourhood. Very busy, but excellent food and only 5 minutes from my place. NO reservations, sadly.
266 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
PAI
18 Duncan StAn excellent Thai place in the neighbourhood. Very busy, but excellent food and only 5 minutes from my place. NO reservations, sadly.
Mmmm...if you want simple but amazing Italian food. This is the place to go on Queen West!
445 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Terroni
720 Queen St WMmmm...if you want simple but amazing Italian food. This is the place to go on Queen West!
Cheap but very good sushi spot. Perfect for take-out!
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kibo Sushi King
36 Charlotte StCheap but very good sushi spot. Perfect for take-out!
Casual and great VEGAN restaurant that I love going to. Try the quinoa onion rings - sooo good.
135 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Fresh on Spadina
5031 Spadina Ave.Casual and great VEGAN restaurant that I love going to. Try the quinoa onion rings - sooo good.
Fancy spot for high-end dining. Belongs to Toronto's fanciest restaurant Alo (which books up to 2 months in advance) which is upstairs.
35 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Aloette Restaurant
163 Spadina Ave.Fancy spot for high-end dining. Belongs to Toronto's fanciest restaurant Alo (which books up to 2 months in advance) which is upstairs.
Great, casual FRENCH spot. Always great for dinner - try the steak frites.
50 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jules Bistro
147 Spadina Ave.Great, casual FRENCH spot. Always great for dinner - try the steak frites.
The Burger's Priest
463 Queen St WYes, go there for hamburgers.
Amazing, authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese food. Try their steamed pork dumplings.
81 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Mother's Dumplings
421 Spadina Ave.Amazing, authentic, hole-in-the-wall Chinese food. Try their steamed pork dumplings.
Lovely spot for dinner and brunch. A real local's spot!
14 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Peter Pan Bistro
373 Queen St WLovely spot for dinner and brunch. A real local's spot!
Best steakhouse in the city - and close to my place :)
138 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse
12 Brant StBest steakhouse in the city - and close to my place :)
Campechano Taquería
504 Adelaide St WLove this taco place!
Excellent spot for ramen, close to my place.
7 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ikkousha Ramen Toronto
249 Queen St WExcellent spot for ramen, close to my place.
Shopping
Mall offerings include hundreds of brand name stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
2460 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
CF Toronto Eaton Centre
220 Yonge StMall offerings include hundreds of brand name stores, restaurants, and entertainment.
Named the second coolest neighbourhood in the world by Vogue magazine, the uber-trendy two-kilometre Queen Street strip between Bathurst and Gladstone is home to some of the city’s most cutting edge boutiques among the art galleries and hip bars and restaurants. Shoppers can be sure that the street style around these parts will be as intriguing as what’s in the stores.
723 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestNamed the second coolest neighbourhood in the world by Vogue magazine, the uber-trendy two-kilometre Queen Street strip between Bathurst and Gladstone is home to some of the city’s most cutting edge boutiques among the art galleries and hip bars and restaurants. Shoppers can be sure that the street style around these parts will be as intriguing as what’s in the stores.
A store that has everything and is a lot of fun to browse around in! Go check it out when you are in Kensington market.
26 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Blue Banana Market
250 Augusta AveA store that has everything and is a lot of fun to browse around in! Go check it out when you are in Kensington market.
BRIKA
642 Queen St WVery cute little store that has a bit of everything.
Drinks & Nightlife
This is a very fancy place for cocktails... again about only a 5-min walk from my place on Queen West. If you want to have a fancy evening this is your palce!
145 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
BarChef
472 Queen St WThis is a very fancy place for cocktails... again about only a 5-min walk from my place on Queen West. If you want to have a fancy evening this is your palce!
Think this is a cool spot, 10-min walk from my place. Great place if you like Tequila and Mezcal!
25 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
El Rey Mezcal Bar
2a Kensington AveThink this is a cool spot, 10-min walk from my place. Great place if you like Tequila and Mezcal!
Fun spot for a casual evening with live music. Very close to my condo!
88 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cameron House
408 Queen St WFun spot for a casual evening with live music. Very close to my condo!
Sooo... this is kinda cool. It is a secret/hidden restaurant (ok, well it is listed on Google, so probably not THAT secret), but still cool to visit because there are no signs outside on purpose. In fact, it will be hard for you to find it at first try. Check it out... it's very hipster!
96 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Cold Tea
1186 Queen Street WestSooo... this is kinda cool. It is a secret/hidden restaurant (ok, well it is listed on Google, so probably not THAT secret), but still cool to visit because there are no signs outside on purpose. In fact, it will be hard for you to find it at first try. Check it out... it's very hipster!
Neighbourhoods
My amazing neighbourhood - there is so much to explore. Just wander down Queen street from my place towards the west... you can walk and walk and walk and not get bored!
723 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Queen Street West
Queen Street WestMy amazing neighbourhood - there is so much to explore. Just wander down Queen street from my place towards the west... you can walk and walk and walk and not get bored!
Ok, so I LOVE Kensington market. Please go to this hipster/hippie area while you're visiting. It's a lot of fun, cute coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall restos and just fun to hang out.
1698 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Kensington Market
Ok, so I LOVE Kensington market. Please go to this hipster/hippie area while you're visiting. It's a lot of fun, cute coffee shops, hole-in-the-wall restos and just fun to hang out.
Very close to my condo and a TON of authentic Chinese restaurants. My go-to is MOTHER'S DUMPLINGS, close to Spadina and College.
740 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Chinatown
292 Spadina Ave.Very close to my condo and a TON of authentic Chinese restaurants. My go-to is MOTHER'S DUMPLINGS, close to Spadina and College.
Great place to spend an afternoon! Excellent Mexican restaurant. During Christmas time they have a beautiful market, but very overpriced and long lines to get in.
1677 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Distillery District
Great place to spend an afternoon! Excellent Mexican restaurant. During Christmas time they have a beautiful market, but very overpriced and long lines to get in.
GREAT area for dinner, drinks, brunch, live music, shopping or all of the above!
199 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Ossington Avenue
Ossington AvenueGREAT area for dinner, drinks, brunch, live music, shopping or all of the above!
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
1035 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Toronto Islands
Nice for an afternoon out and about. You have to take the ferry there.
Coffee shops
So, let's get real. This is my FAVOURITE coffee shop place in the neighbourhood. They keep winning an award for best chocolate chip cookie of the year (yes, that exists). Must visit!!
They also do a great brunch/lunch menu!
65 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Le Gourmand
152 Spadina Ave.So, let's get real. This is my FAVOURITE coffee shop place in the neighbourhood. They keep winning an award for best chocolate chip cookie of the year (yes, that exists). Must visit!!
They also do a great brunch/lunch menu!
Great coffee spot as well - close to my home. Check it out!
10 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
HotBlack Coffee
245 Queen St WGreat coffee spot as well - close to my home. Check it out!
Strange Love Coffee
101 Spadina Ave.Also very good coffee - close by!
Another great place for coffee, close to my place.
40 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Pilot Coffee Roasters
50 Wagstaff DrAnother great place for coffee, close to my place.
Great, authentic, Italian coffee shop with delicious pastries.
72 icetyiswa ngabantu basekuhlaleni
Sud Forno
716 Queen St WGreat, authentic, Italian coffee shop with delicious pastries.