Jessica’s guidebook
Drinks and Nightlife
Toronto has a booming brewery scene and lots of fun places to check out at night.
amazing cocktails and the friendly staff will work with you if you are not sure what to order.
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Civil Liberties
878 Bloor St Wamazing cocktails and the friendly staff will work with you if you are not sure what to order.
bar in the front, live performances in the back.good sound system and reasonably priced.
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The Piston
937 Bloor St Wbar in the front, live performances in the back.good sound system and reasonably priced.
Great place for live music. Intimate, yet affordable and the vibe is friendly too. A long standing haunt on the Toronto music scene. Pop upstairs to the Dance Cave where you can drink for cheap and dance away the night in an unpretentious setting.
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Lee's Palace
529 Bloor St WGreat place for live music. Intimate, yet affordable and the vibe is friendly too. A long standing haunt on the Toronto music scene. Pop upstairs to the Dance Cave where you can drink for cheap and dance away the night in an unpretentious setting.
Hip cocktails bar with friendly service. Lots of classics on offer.
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Northwood
815 Bloor St WHip cocktails bar with friendly service. Lots of classics on offer.
This place is a unique boutique/gallery/restaurant/performance space (and hotel). Lots of interesting things offered each night from adult colouring to karaoke. An interesting spot to check out for sure!
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Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen St WThis place is a unique boutique/gallery/restaurant/performance space (and hotel). Lots of interesting things offered each night from adult colouring to karaoke. An interesting spot to check out for sure!
Another interesting spot. Known for great food and often has some sort of live performance (like a DJ and a saxophone player). Hip place to hang out.
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The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St WAnother interesting spot. Known for great food and often has some sort of live performance (like a DJ and a saxophone player). Hip place to hang out.
Very cool looking place that looks a lot like it should be in Spain, and not Toronto. And the cocktails are fitting of the incredibly beautiful decor.
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Bar Raval
505 College StVery cool looking place that looks a lot like it should be in Spain, and not Toronto. And the cocktails are fitting of the incredibly beautiful decor.
If you want to dance on a Saturday night or sing on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, this place is great! The front room is a local hang out bar and the back room has a fun dance night on Saturdays and is home to Choir! Choir! Choir! on Tuesday and Wednesdays (anyone is welcome for Choir! all you have to do is show up ready to learn a song - no musical experience necessary).
The food and the beer are fine too.
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Clinton's Tavern
693 Bloor St WIf you want to dance on a Saturday night or sing on a Tuesday or Wednesday night, this place is great! The front room is a local hang out bar and the back room has a fun dance night on Saturdays and is home to Choir! Choir! Choir! on Tuesday and Wednesdays (anyone is welcome for Choir! all you have to do is show up ready to learn a song - no musical experience necessary).
The food and the beer are fine too.
This is a local brewery with great beer and an interesting atmosphere (you sit right in the brewery amongst the kegs and vats). Very hip place and it's only a ten minute walk away!
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Blood Brothers Brewery Tap Room
165 Geary AveThis is a local brewery with great beer and an interesting atmosphere (you sit right in the brewery amongst the kegs and vats). Very hip place and it's only a ten minute walk away!
If you love to dance and love salsa music/latin influenced jazz, this is the place to go. Many great musicians play here. Check out their website to see who's playing. Sometimes there are dance lessons ahead of the show, or dinner reservations available too.
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Lula Lounge
1585 Dundas St WIf you love to dance and love salsa music/latin influenced jazz, this is the place to go. Many great musicians play here. Check out their website to see who's playing. Sometimes there are dance lessons ahead of the show, or dinner reservations available too.
Get Outside!
Toronto has some amazing outdoor spaces waiting to be explored.
swimming, skating in the winter, splash pad, baseball, soccer, and a great playground. Not to mention pizza in the park and movie nights in the summer. This park is large and full of life.
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Taman Christie Pits
750 Bloor St Wswimming, skating in the winter, splash pad, baseball, soccer, and a great playground. Not to mention pizza in the park and movie nights in the summer. This park is large and full of life.
We love this park. From the play ground with it's snack bar and splash pad for long hot summer days and children's garden to the skate park, skating rink (winter), Friday night dinners (a family favourite for sure), Thursday farmers market and summer theatre performances. This is a favourite for locals for sure.
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Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin StWe love this park. From the play ground with it's snack bar and splash pad for long hot summer days and children's garden to the skate park, skating rink (winter), Friday night dinners (a family favourite for sure), Thursday farmers market and summer theatre performances. This is a favourite for locals for sure.
This is a particular favourite among locals and visitors alike. You can walk through the forest, check out the pond, spend the day at the castle playground and visit the animals in the little zoo. If you're here during the right time of year, there cherry blossoms are pretty incredible too. Also has swimming and skating depending on the season. If it snows enough you will see cross-country skiers here too.
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Taman High
1873 Bloor St WThis is a particular favourite among locals and visitors alike. You can walk through the forest, check out the pond, spend the day at the castle playground and visit the animals in the little zoo. If you're here during the right time of year, there cherry blossoms are pretty incredible too. Also has swimming and skating depending on the season. If it snows enough you will see cross-country skiers here too.
This is a family favourite for outdoors in the nicer weather. Take the ferry from the lakeshore (7 minutes), then rent a bike (built for four or even six or eight people) and bike from island to island (they are all attached) check out the neighbourhoods and visit the playground and the beaches and Franklin's garden. There are no cars on the island so it always feels peaceful.
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Toronto Islands
This is a family favourite for outdoors in the nicer weather. Take the ferry from the lakeshore (7 minutes), then rent a bike (built for four or even six or eight people) and bike from island to island (they are all attached) check out the neighbourhoods and visit the playground and the beaches and Franklin's garden. There are no cars on the island so it always feels peaceful.
Arts and Culture
A great permanent collection and lots of great visiting shows. Redesigned by world renowned architect and local hero, Frank Gehry. Wednesday evenings are free admission.
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Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St WA great permanent collection and lots of great visiting shows. Redesigned by world renowned architect and local hero, Frank Gehry. Wednesday evenings are free admission.
World cultural exhibits, natural history, interactive arts in one of the largest museum's in North America.
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Muzium Diraja Ontario
100 Queens ParkWorld cultural exhibits, natural history, interactive arts in one of the largest museum's in North America.
Great little theatre with a casual yet professional feel. Very reasonably priced tickets, and not far from our place either.
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Tarragon Theatre
30 Bridgman AveGreat little theatre with a casual yet professional feel. Very reasonably priced tickets, and not far from our place either.
If you like live music, this place is unassuming. The food and drinks are nothing special, but they always have a great line-up of live jazz music.
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The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar
194 Queen St WIf you like live music, this place is unassuming. The food and drinks are nothing special, but they always have a great line-up of live jazz music.
Kids and adults alike enjoy this place. Lots of aquatic creatures and some you can touch too.
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Akuarium Ripley di Kanada
288 Bremner BlvdKids and adults alike enjoy this place. Lots of aquatic creatures and some you can touch too.
Where to Explore...
Wondering what areas to check out? Toronto has lots of cool pockets each with a different feel. Here are a few favourites:
This is an interesting neighbourhood filled with loads of great shops, markets and restaurants. It was the landing spot for many of Toronto's immigrant communities over the years and still maintains a piece of each of those communities. Great place to walk around.
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Kensington Market
This is an interesting neighbourhood filled with loads of great shops, markets and restaurants. It was the landing spot for many of Toronto's immigrant communities over the years and still maintains a piece of each of those communities. Great place to walk around.
A bustling and favourite market that has been a part of Toronto's fabric for over 100 years.
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Pasar St. Lawrence
93 Front St EA bustling and favourite market that has been a part of Toronto's fabric for over 100 years.
Full of art galleries and places to eat and drink, this is a great spot to spend an afternoon or evening. There is often some sort of festival being hosted here too so you are likely to see some street performances, find a specialized outdoor market or hear live music here too.
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Distillery Historic District
55 Mill StFull of art galleries and places to eat and drink, this is a great spot to spend an afternoon or evening. There is often some sort of festival being hosted here too so you are likely to see some street performances, find a specialized outdoor market or hear live music here too.
Essentials
Family owned and close by this is a great grocery store with tons of selection in a relatively small space.
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Fiesta Farms
200 Christie StFamily owned and close by this is a great grocery store with tons of selection in a relatively small space.
Lots of parking and can be accessed on foot in about 15 minutes. It's the closest shopping mall to our place.
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Dufferin Mall station
Lots of parking and can be accessed on foot in about 15 minutes. It's the closest shopping mall to our place.
This is a Korean grocer that specializes in Korean and other foods from East Asia - and it's affordable and close too!
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PAT Central
675 Bloor St WThis is a Korean grocer that specializes in Korean and other foods from East Asia - and it's affordable and close too!
This is right at the corner of our street. Typical drug store as well as small grocery.
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Shoppers Drug Mart
710 Mt Pleasant RdThis is right at the corner of our street. Typical drug store as well as small grocery.
George's Coin Laundry
942 Ossington AveWhat to do with Children in the rain...
Toronto has some great (and often free!) things to do with Children, here are a few of the free ideas:
This is a drop in centre with loads of toys and books. You can go and spend the day there while your children (0-6) play. There is also coffee and tea and you can often buy very inexpensive lunch as well. Check the website for hours - they vary.
The Children's Storefront
826 Bloor St WThis is a drop in centre with loads of toys and books. You can go and spend the day there while your children (0-6) play. There is also coffee and tea and you can often buy very inexpensive lunch as well. Check the website for hours - they vary.
This Boys and Girls Club has an early years drop in that happens weekday mornings in the gym for young kids to play. It might also happen on Saturdays. Call the club for hours. The drop in in free. Sometimes there is also family swimming times.
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St.Alban's Boys and Girls Club
843 Palmerston AveThis Boys and Girls Club has an early years drop in that happens weekday mornings in the gym for young kids to play. It might also happen on Saturdays. Call the club for hours. The drop in in free. Sometimes there is also family swimming times.
This school has a parenting centre located inside on the main floor. It's a room in the school full of toys for young children (0-6). There is a snack time (free snack provided) and also a circle time with stories and songs. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 - 2pm (but might vary depending on the time of year).
Essex Junior and Senior Public School
50 Essex StThis school has a parenting centre located inside on the main floor. It's a room in the school full of toys for young children (0-6). There is a snack time (free snack provided) and also a circle time with stories and songs. Hours are Monday to Thursday from 9:30 - 2pm (but might vary depending on the time of year).
If you've got older kids, this place has food/baked goods, coffee/hot drinks and every board game you can think of. Our kids have enjoyed spending time here!
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Snakes & Lattes Annex
600 Bloor St WIf you've got older kids, this place has food/baked goods, coffee/hot drinks and every board game you can think of. Our kids have enjoyed spending time here!
Food
We love to go here for brunch (try the corn cakes) but this place is also amazing for lunch and dinner or just evening drinks.
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The Grapefruit Moon
968 Bathurst StWe love to go here for brunch (try the corn cakes) but this place is also amazing for lunch and dinner or just evening drinks.
Delicious, carefully prepared, locally sourced food that any foodie would LOVE. You usually need a reservation and it is on the quite expensive side, but you will not be disappointed!
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Actinolite Restaurant
971 Ossington AveDelicious, carefully prepared, locally sourced food that any foodie would LOVE. You usually need a reservation and it is on the quite expensive side, but you will not be disappointed!
Make a reservation and enjoy this gem. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and it is super close to lots of fun nightlife on the Ossington strip!
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Enoteca Sociale
1288 Dundas St WMake a reservation and enjoy this gem. The food is delicious, the atmosphere is great and it is super close to lots of fun nightlife on the Ossington strip!
Delicious wood fired pizza. You might have to wait for a table, but put your name on the list, wander into one of the nearby bars for a drink and they will call you when your table is ready.
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Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington AvenueDelicious wood fired pizza. You might have to wait for a table, but put your name on the list, wander into one of the nearby bars for a drink and they will call you when your table is ready.
Such delicious food! The cauliflower is AMAZING! highly recommend.
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Little Sito
840 Bloor St WSuch delicious food! The cauliflower is AMAZING! highly recommend.
The burgers are great and so is the beer.
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Tallboys - Craft Beer House
838 Bloor St WThe burgers are great and so is the beer.
Great place to grab some quick food, and it's close and delicious too. Shwarma and falafel are delicious here.
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Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine
950 Bloor St WGreat place to grab some quick food, and it's close and delicious too. Shwarma and falafel are delicious here.
The Rooster Rotisserie and Grill
942 Bloor Street WestThe place makes great chicken and it's fast a close too.
Our go to Indian food. We love everything about this place. You can also get it for take out.
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Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St WOur go to Indian food. We love everything about this place. You can also get it for take out.
KINTON RAMEN
668 Bloor St WI haven't been, but I've heard great things.
Yummy food and great atmosphere. The ribs are incredible!
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Barrio Coreano
690 Bloor St WYummy food and great atmosphere. The ribs are incredible!
A little local spot that I have only heard great things about.
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Morellina's
146 Christie StA little local spot that I have only heard great things about.
Really delicious Pho - and just like Vietnam in atmosphere too.
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Pho Tien Thanh
57 Ossington AveReally delicious Pho - and just like Vietnam in atmosphere too.
Great pizza, very cool retro arcade upstairs (think pinball machines, bowling and basketball...all for 0.25$) and there is great local beers on tap too. Highly recommend.
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The Greater Good
229 Geary AveGreat pizza, very cool retro arcade upstairs (think pinball machines, bowling and basketball...all for 0.25$) and there is great local beers on tap too. Highly recommend.