Restaurants & Cafés
Cluck, Grunt, and Low Cocktails
in Mason jars and some of the best slow-cooked meat in the city are
available here. Try the wild turkey ice cream for dessert. 362 Bloor St W 416 962 5050
Joso’s Over-the-top
decor (nude busts predominate) sets the tone at this seafood emporium.
Customize your platter with the day’s catch. Fine pastas, risottos, and
meat dishes too. 202 Davenport Rd 416 925 1903
Opus This
refined dining room has one of the best wine lists in the city. Tuna
tartare with caviar, and the roasted meats get top marks. 37 Prince Arthur Ave 416 921 3105
Opus
Splendido Upscale
Italian, with high-end indulgences such as veal and sweetbread.
Excellent fish mains, and an impressive cheese plate. The service in
this handsome dining room is impeccable. 88 Harbord St 416 929 7788
Le Sélect Classic French bistro dishes such as onion soup and cassoulet, and reasonable prix fixe meals. Diners help themselves to bread from the baskets hanging above the tables. 432 Wellington St W 416 596 6405
Queen Mother Café Thai
and Laotian flavors characterize the menu at this established spot;
pictures of the Queen Mum, the decor. Opt for a cozy booth, or ask for
directions to the secluded back patio. Wicked desserts. 208 Queen St W 416 598 4719
The Coffee Mill This unpretentious Hungarian restaurant is a Yorkville mainstay. Tucked away in a mall, it serves goulash soup, Wiener Schnitzel, homemade desserts, and excellent espresso. 99 Yorkville Ave 416 920 2108
7 West Café Warm
and cozy, thanks to a fireplace and numerous rooms, though it can get
crowded. Salads, sandwiches, pastas, and desserts are dished up 24/7. 7 Charles St W 416 928 9041
Bistro 990 French
provincial fare is the specialty in this romantic room. The wine list
and celebrity-spotting opportunities are particularly good. La Palette This
bohemian space tempts with good-value French food, and takes its
pedigree to heart, offering horse tenderloin to adventurous diners.
About 75 types of beers. 256 Augusta Ave 416 929 4900
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All restaurants accept credit cards and serve vegetarian meals unless otherwise stated
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Bars & Clubs
C-Lounge The
spa-inspired C-Lounge’s chic patio attracts a hip crowd who come to sip
cocktails and lounge in the intimate cabanas around the pool. 456 Wellington St W 416 260 9393
This is London An
upmarket club operating a no-jeans policy and catering to young
professionals. There is a full-time make-up artist based in the ladies
room. 364 Richmond St W 416 351 1100
This is London
Avenue Unwind
at the end of a day’s shopping or wheeling-and-dealing as you linger
over a cocktail or glass of crisp chardonnay in this chic bar. High
people-watching factor . The Roof Lounge Snag
a seat on the 18th-floor terrace for the view, or savor the warm
atmosphere inside while watching a master bartender at work . Lula Lounge Sexy salsa gets your hips swaying as rum cocktails loosen you up . 1585 Dundas St W 416 588 0307 Adm
Cameron House Hang
out with the locals and catch great music in this ornate yet very
casual bar. Celebrities, including Prince, sometimes drop by. 408 Queen St W 416 703 0811 Adm to backroom shows
Panorama Not
for acrophobics, this bar’s patios, on the 51st floor of the ManuLife
Centre, are the city’s highest, offering spectacular views. Extensive
cocktail list. 55 Bloor St W 416 967 0000 Adm
Bedford Academy With
18 beers on tap, reasonably priced cocktails, TVs to catch the sports
game, and a lovely patio in summer, it’s no wonder this place is popular
with students from nearby University of Toronto. 36 Prince Arthur St 416 921 4600
Bedford Academy
Souz Dal A
hip crowd sips all manner of martinis to funk beats in this small
candlelit room. Wall hangings and a domed ceiling lend a Middle Eastern
flair. An enclosed “patio” at back adds a few more seats to this tiny
spot. 636 College St 416 537 1883
The Drake Lounge Recline
on a comfy sofa beside the fireplace while taking in the scene,
including the Raw Bar peddling its oysters. Then check out the live
music or art happening downstairs in the Underground. 1150 Queen St W 416 531 5042
Ethnic Eats
Indian Rice Factory North Indian cuisine whets the appetite with chickpea and potato pakoras, then heats things up with spicy vindaloos and other delectable curries. 414 Dupont St 416 961 3472
93 Harbord Meze are updated in this Middle Eastern standout, with addictive hummus and musakhan – a mix of chicken, onions, and pine nuts, and mains that include lamb tagine in a fig and shiraz sauce: divine! 93 Harbord St 416 922 5914
Boulevard Café The city’s oldest Peruvian restaurant offers grilled meats and excellent seafood specialties. Tapas and drinks served in the upstairs lounge; in summer, cool off with a sangria on the large, lovely patio. 161 Harbord St 416 961 7676
Lee Garden This Cantonese restaurant is the place to go for tasty chow mein, barbecued pork, and fresh seafood and vegetable dishes. 331 Spadina Ave 416 593 9524
Banjara Its
unfussy, diner-like interior belies the fine Indian cooking that
Banjara has become famous for. Flavors include hints of tart lemon and
freshly roasted cumin. 796 Bloor St W 416 963 9360
Korea House In the heart of Toronto’s Koreatown, this family-run restaurant cooks up traditional Korean fare, with starters such as kimchee (hot, pickled cabbage) and fish and meat mains. Try the unusual Korean rice wines or soju, strong distilled liquors flavored with fruit or flowers. 666 Bloor St W 416 536 8666
John’s Italian Café Cozy and inviting, with a terrific patio, this café serves Italian classics such as pizza, gnocchi, and simple pastas. 27 Baldwin St 416 596 8848
Sushi Island This lovely Japanese restaurant draws sushi-lovers from all over the city with perhaps the freshest sashimi in town. Noodles, tempura, and hot pots are also favorites. 571 College St 416 535 1515
Sashimi and maki, Sushi Island
Café Diplomatico The patio is the place to be at this Little Italy institution. Panzerotti, pizza, and pasta are on the menu, but it’s the people-watching opportunities that draw the crowds. 594 College St 416 534 4637
Spring Rolls South Asian delights for those on a budget: the Vietnamese pho (noodle soup), Thai curries, and stir-fries are excellent value.
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