Ashley’s guidebook
Best Coffee
Locals only favourite coffee shops :)
Jimmy's is an independent coffee shop that has been slowly expanding throughout the city. You'll probably notice the yellow coffee cup lids in the hands of many locals living in the King West neighbourhood. All of their locations have beautiful interiors with lots of natural light. A local hive of startup professionals often sit themselves down for coffee chats and work sessions.
267 locals raden deze aan
Jimmy's Coffee
107 Portland StJimmy's is an independent coffee shop that has been slowly expanding throughout the city. You'll probably notice the yellow coffee cup lids in the hands of many locals living in the King West neighbourhood. All of their locations have beautiful interiors with lots of natural light. A local hive of startup professionals often sit themselves down for coffee chats and work sessions.
One of my favourite garden patios in Toronto. Good coffee and great carrot cake. They also have a liquor license so come by at night for a drink :)
33 locals raden deze aan
Café Pamenar
307 Augusta AveOne of my favourite garden patios in Toronto. Good coffee and great carrot cake. They also have a liquor license so come by at night for a drink :)
The perfect start to a sunny weekend. Stop by for a nutella cornetto or for their amazing homemade burrata.
126 locals raden deze aan
Bar Buca
2 Portland StThe perfect start to a sunny weekend. Stop by for a nutella cornetto or for their amazing homemade burrata.
Beautiful interior and the best chocolate chip cookies in Toronto! Their brunch is very tasty though portions are a bit on the smaller side. Definitely worth a brunch reservation if you happen to be in town over the weekend.
119 locals raden deze aan
Portland Variety
587 King St WBeautiful interior and the best chocolate chip cookies in Toronto! Their brunch is very tasty though portions are a bit on the smaller side. Definitely worth a brunch reservation if you happen to be in town over the weekend.
My favourite low-key (no reservations needed) brunch spots. Order cafeteria style and the staff will serve you wherever you sit. Baked goods are delicious. Best chocolate chip cookies in Toronto (sister restaurant to Portland Variety). All of their food is delicious - cannot go wrong here.
65 locals raden deze aan
Le Gourmand
152 Spadina Ave.My favourite low-key (no reservations needed) brunch spots. Order cafeteria style and the staff will serve you wherever you sit. Baked goods are delicious. Best chocolate chip cookies in Toronto (sister restaurant to Portland Variety). All of their food is delicious - cannot go wrong here.
You'll never guess there is a cafe hidden in the back of this trendy Queen West boutique. Choose from their amazing selection of tea.
8 locals raden deze aan
Lavish&Squalor x Merchants General
247 Queen St WYou'll never guess there is a cafe hidden in the back of this trendy Queen West boutique. Choose from their amazing selection of tea.
Mentioned in the NYTimes - cutest patio. If it's a bit colder, they will even supply you blankets. They make homemade gelato on site in front of your eyes. Get a table at the bar to watch them work.
10 locals raden deze aan
HotBlack Coffee
245 Queen St WMentioned in the NYTimes - cutest patio. If it's a bit colder, they will even supply you blankets. They make homemade gelato on site in front of your eyes. Get a table at the bar to watch them work.
Commerce Court WEST
140 Yonge StreetBest coffee in the city.
Second best coffee in the city. Get a warmed croissant with your cappuccino!
18 locals raden deze aan
Ricarda's Restaurant | Bar | Cafe
134 Peter StSecond best coffee in the city. Get a warmed croissant with your cappuccino!
A-OK CAFE
50 Bloor St WMy most recent top pick for coffee in Yorkville. Located inside Aritzia :)
Favourite Restaurants
No need to yelp - just consult my guide :)
Favourite restaurant in all of Toronto - get the beef udon! If you have dinner, get a free ice cream scoop. Cheap, good sushi, walk-ins welcome.
41 locals raden deze aan
New Generation Sushi
486 Bloor St WFavourite restaurant in all of Toronto - get the beef udon! If you have dinner, get a free ice cream scoop. Cheap, good sushi, walk-ins welcome.
Not much to look at but wonderfully non-pretentious and delicious. Grab a crepe to go or sit down. They have great drinks specials - check for them online. Walk-ins welcome.
17 locals raden deze aan
Cafe Crepe
246 Queen St WNot much to look at but wonderfully non-pretentious and delicious. Grab a crepe to go or sit down. They have great drinks specials - check for them online. Walk-ins welcome.
Toronto's favourite sushi restaurant. I prefer New Generation. Expect to wait in line! They give you a free ice cream scoop after any dinner. Walk-ins welcome.
94 locals raden deze aan
Sushi on Bloor
525 Bloor St WToronto's favourite sushi restaurant. I prefer New Generation. Expect to wait in line! They give you a free ice cream scoop after any dinner. Walk-ins welcome.
Food is delicious. One of my favourite Italian restaurants for food and the decor is simply gorgeous. Please definitely make a stop. Soppresatta pizza is my favourite. Walk-ins are welcome - they have lots of space.
31 locals raden deze aan
Figo Toronto
295 Adelaide St WFood is delicious. One of my favourite Italian restaurants for food and the decor is simply gorgeous. Please definitely make a stop. Soppresatta pizza is my favourite. Walk-ins are welcome - they have lots of space.
A local chain of Italian restaurants. All their locations are very homey. Get the truffle sausage pasta (it's a bit spicy)! Reserve if you can because they are popular but walk ins are also welcome.
445 locals raden deze aan
Terroni
720 Queen St WA local chain of Italian restaurants. All their locations are very homey. Get the truffle sausage pasta (it's a bit spicy)! Reserve if you can because they are popular but walk ins are also welcome.
One of the most beautiful restaurants in my opinion. If you're in midtown, try to get a seat on their rooftop patio
445 locals raden deze aan
Terroni
720 Queen St WOne of the most beautiful restaurants in my opinion. If you're in midtown, try to get a seat on their rooftop patio
Try for a table but expect to wait ~45 minutes. If you can, I'd recommend going to their sister restaurant, Trattoria Nervosa in Yorkville (same menu, better food quality).
395 locals raden deze aan
Gusto 101
101 Portland StTry for a table but expect to wait ~45 minutes. If you can, I'd recommend going to their sister restaurant, Trattoria Nervosa in Yorkville (same menu, better food quality).
One of the top Italian restaurants in my opinion. If you can get a rooftop seat, you can people watch from one of the best Yorkville patios. Walk ins welcome but don't expect to get in for a long time. 1 hour minimum most likely so ask for a table early.
92 locals raden deze aan
Trattoria Nervosa
75 Yorkville AveOne of the top Italian restaurants in my opinion. If you can get a rooftop seat, you can people watch from one of the best Yorkville patios. Walk ins welcome but don't expect to get in for a long time. 1 hour minimum most likely so ask for a table early.
They aren't usually busy for lunch. Delicious food and great wine list. A bit pricier but hidden in an adorable little walk way.
13 locals raden deze aan
Chabrol
156 Cumberland StThey aren't usually busy for lunch. Delicious food and great wine list. A bit pricier but hidden in an adorable little walk way.
Had one of the best Italian meals here. Their menu changes constantly so check to make sure you like the food available. Beautiful restaurant that faces Trinity Bellwoods Park.
16 locals raden deze aan
Noce
875 Queen St WHad one of the best Italian meals here. Their menu changes constantly so check to make sure you like the food available. Beautiful restaurant that faces Trinity Bellwoods Park.
Sud Forno
716 Queen St WBest bolognese in the city. Caprese is also lovely :)
One of the best restaurants in Toronto for food and service. Book early (like before you even arrive!)
58 locals raden deze aan
Richmond Station
1 Richmond St WOne of the best restaurants in Toronto for food and service. Book early (like before you even arrive!)
Canada's top restaurant. Getting a reservation is near impossible (they book months out) but secret trick is to head up to the bar for drinks and appetizers.
66 locals raden deze aan
Alo
163 Spadina Ave.Canada's top restaurant. Getting a reservation is near impossible (they book months out) but secret trick is to head up to the bar for drinks and appetizers.
Great mediterranean / Italian food option. Gorgeous interior, second best cappuccinos, and best croissants in the city.
18 locals raden deze aan
Ricarda's Restaurant | Bar | Cafe
134 Peter StGreat mediterranean / Italian food option. Gorgeous interior, second best cappuccinos, and best croissants in the city.
Charming Italian spot. Very homey and great service. Less than 5 minutes walking :)
13 locals raden deze aan
Rosalinda Restaurant
133 Richmond St WCharming Italian spot. Very homey and great service. Less than 5 minutes walking :)
Excellent Italian food with spots at the bar typically available for walk-in's. Great wine you can't otherwise buy in store at the LCBO or Wine Rack. Gorgeous interior. A must visit :)
38 locals raden deze aan
Oretta
633 King St WExcellent Italian food with spots at the bar typically available for walk-in's. Great wine you can't otherwise buy in store at the LCBO or Wine Rack. Gorgeous interior. A must visit :)
My number one restaurant in Toronto. Nothing fancy but great service and the best beef udon noodle soup I know of. Veggie options are available.
41 locals raden deze aan
New Generation Sushi
486 Bloor St WMy number one restaurant in Toronto. Nothing fancy but great service and the best beef udon noodle soup I know of. Veggie options are available.
Best Italian restaurant in the city in my opinion. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. Come after a Raptors game and you're likely to see players eating here.
58 locals raden deze aan
Ristorante Sotto Sotto
120 Avenue RdBest Italian restaurant in the city in my opinion. Keep your eyes peeled for celebrities. Come after a Raptors game and you're likely to see players eating here.
Food scene
Delicious burgers by a beloved local entrepreneur. He's worked hard to deliver his customers only the best in burger quality. He used to manage Top Gun and had dreams of opening his own shop. Very proud of this local food lover. Inexpensive and delicious (very heavy though, prepare yourselves). Great spot in Kensington
Ozzy's Burgers
66 Nassau StreetDelicious burgers by a beloved local entrepreneur. He's worked hard to deliver his customers only the best in burger quality. He used to manage Top Gun and had dreams of opening his own shop. Very proud of this local food lover. Inexpensive and delicious (very heavy though, prepare yourselves). Great spot in Kensington
Neighbourhoods
Take a walk through this grunge / glam hipster neighbourhood known for delicious and cheap takeout spots, vegan food, and cute shops. Every Sunday, roads here are closed for pedestrians. Quite safe neighbourhood but don't walk around alone at night because it can be a bit disorienting since it's a mixed residential/commercial area.
1698 locals raden deze aan
Kensington Market
Take a walk through this grunge / glam hipster neighbourhood known for delicious and cheap takeout spots, vegan food, and cute shops. Every Sunday, roads here are closed for pedestrians. Quite safe neighbourhood but don't walk around alone at night because it can be a bit disorienting since it's a mixed residential/commercial area.
You won't miss King West since you're staying right in the heart of it but do make sure to visit the restaurants, cafes, and bars along this street. King has recently been reclaimed by the City to disallow through traffic through most of King and so very pedestrian friendly. Make sure to peruse the the art installations and extended patio seating areas from restaurants. Very safe to walk by yourself and well lit all hours of the day and night.
204 locals raden deze aan
King Street West
King Street WestYou won't miss King West since you're staying right in the heart of it but do make sure to visit the restaurants, cafes, and bars along this street. King has recently been reclaimed by the City to disallow through traffic through most of King and so very pedestrian friendly. Make sure to peruse the the art installations and extended patio seating areas from restaurants. Very safe to walk by yourself and well lit all hours of the day and night.
Yorkville is by far one of the best neighbourhoods to spend a slow weekend morning drinking coffee and people watching. Make sure to window shop or real shop on the Mink Mile and Holt Renfrew to see the latest in the designer boutiques.
651 locals raden deze aan
Yorkville
Yorkville is by far one of the best neighbourhoods to spend a slow weekend morning drinking coffee and people watching. Make sure to window shop or real shop on the Mink Mile and Holt Renfrew to see the latest in the designer boutiques.