Toronto from an East York Perspective
In the Neighbourhood
Old's School General Store (www.oldscoolgeneralstore.com): We are lucky to live close to one of the city's most celebrated corner stores. This convenience store has basic groceries, great coffee and ice cream, but also a lot of local made Toronto souvenirs. Old's School is located at the corner of Lumsden Avenue and Westlake.
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Old's Cool General Store
250 Westlake AveOld's School General Store (www.oldscoolgeneralstore.com): We are lucky to live close to one of the city's most celebrated corner stores. This convenience store has basic groceries, great coffee and ice cream, but also a lot of local made Toronto souvenirs. Old's School is located at the corner of Lumsden Avenue and Westlake.
Oak Park Deli (www.oakparkdeli.com): This is a neighbourhood favourite with great sandwiches and pizzas. It's located about 5 houses away, so it's definitely the closest food option. It is located at the corner of Lumsden Avenue and Oak Park Avenue.
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Oak Park Deli
213 213 Oak Park AvOak Park Deli (www.oakparkdeli.com): This is a neighbourhood favourite with great sandwiches and pizzas. It's located about 5 houses away, so it's definitely the closest food option. It is located at the corner of Lumsden Avenue and Oak Park Avenue.
Gledhill Park: This is a very close, very local park with a playground and splashpad. It is good if you have children to entertain. Walk south on Oak Park to get there, the location is at the corner of Epsom Avenue and Gledhill.
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Gledhill Park
125 Gledhill AveGledhill Park: This is a very close, very local park with a playground and splashpad. It is good if you have children to entertain. Walk south on Oak Park to get there, the location is at the corner of Epsom Avenue and Gledhill.
Stan Wadlow Park: This is a large neighbourhood park with a free outdoor pool in the summertime, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, an indoor hockey rink, curling rink, and lots of green space. It also connects to the Taylor Creek Ravine, which is a busy and really nice trail system along the river. To get to the park, walk up Gledhill Avenue. The pool is located at the west side of the park, just north of Cosburn on Cedarvale Avenue.
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Stan Wadlow Park
373 Cedarvale AveStan Wadlow Park: This is a large neighbourhood park with a free outdoor pool in the summertime, baseball diamonds, playgrounds, an indoor hockey rink, curling rink, and lots of green space. It also connects to the Taylor Creek Ravine, which is a busy and really nice trail system along the river. To get to the park, walk up Gledhill Avenue. The pool is located at the west side of the park, just north of Cosburn on Cedarvale Avenue.
Woodbine Beach: Okay this is a bit beyond our neighbourhood, but it's worth mentioning if you're here in the summer. "The Beach" neighbourhood is home to 2.5 km of beautiful sandy beach. There's a boardwalk, a bike trail, lots of parks, a few snack bars, and the beaches are Blue Flag certified so they are certainly swimmable. This is a lively spot in the summer and feels more like a small town than a huge city. To get to the beach, you'll need to take the bus (see information above), bike, or walk 4 km south toward the lake.
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Woodbine Beach
1675 Lake Shore Blvd EWoodbine Beach: Okay this is a bit beyond our neighbourhood, but it's worth mentioning if you're here in the summer. "The Beach" neighbourhood is home to 2.5 km of beautiful sandy beach. There's a boardwalk, a bike trail, lots of parks, a few snack bars, and the beaches are Blue Flag certified so they are certainly swimmable. This is a lively spot in the summer and feels more like a small town than a huge city. To get to the beach, you'll need to take the bus (see information above), bike, or walk 4 km south toward the lake.
Groceries and Pharmacy
Davidson's valu-mart
985 Woodbine AveGood grocery store if on foot from the subway
Sobeys Danforth
2451 Danforth AveClosest grocery store to our place, and open late
Rocca's No Frills
269 Coxwell AvenueCheapest quality groceries in the area, car required
Loblaws
585 Queen St WExcellent, huge grocery store. Sells wine and beer. Car required
FreshCo
22 Northcote AveLarge discount grocery store. Car required
Leslieville Farmers' Market: This is THE farmer's market in East York, usually running Sunday mornings at Greenwood Park (Dundas Street East and Greenwood Avenue). There are lots of fresh groceries and local specialties, but there are also enough to-go food options that you could have lunch there.
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The Leslieville Farmers' Market
150 Greenwood AveLeslieville Farmers' Market: This is THE farmer's market in East York, usually running Sunday mornings at Greenwood Park (Dundas Street East and Greenwood Avenue). There are lots of fresh groceries and local specialties, but there are also enough to-go food options that you could have lunch there.
It's open 24 hours and has a pharmacy and decent grocery selection
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Shoppers Drug Mart
1500 Woodbine AveIt's open 24 hours and has a pharmacy and decent grocery selection
The closest place to buy adult beverages, though they only sell beer. Liquor is provincially regulated, and up to very recently could only be purchased at the Beer Store and the LCBO
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Beer Store
1270 Woodbine AveThe closest place to buy adult beverages, though they only sell beer. Liquor is provincially regulated, and up to very recently could only be purchased at the Beer Store and the LCBO
On Coxwell Avenue at “Downtown East York”, this is the closest liquor store. They have a large selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Best to get there by car.
LCBO
On Coxwell Avenue at “Downtown East York”, this is the closest liquor store. They have a large selection of beer, wine, and spirits. Best to get there by car.
Food scene
Beach Hill Smokehouse (www.beachhillsmokehouse.com): This authentic smokehouse was started by a few guys from Texas, and it is a point of pride for the neighbourhood! There are not a lot of veggie options, and your clothes will smell like smoked meat when you leave, but it's excellent food.
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Beach Hill Smokehouse
172 Main StBeach Hill Smokehouse (www.beachhillsmokehouse.com): This authentic smokehouse was started by a few guys from Texas, and it is a point of pride for the neighbourhood! There are not a lot of veggie options, and your clothes will smell like smoked meat when you leave, but it's excellent food.
The Wren: This trendy restaurant makes excellent Southern food, and is a very popular East York staple. The Wren put this section of Danforth on the map, and though they don't take reservations, there are a lot of good alternatives within a block or two. Try their sister restaurant next door: The Wood Owl.
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The Wren
1382 Danforth AveThe Wren: This trendy restaurant makes excellent Southern food, and is a very popular East York staple. The Wren put this section of Danforth on the map, and though they don't take reservations, there are a lot of good alternatives within a block or two. Try their sister restaurant next door: The Wood Owl.
Tabule (www.tabulequeen.com): We love this restaurant for Middle Eastern cuisine, and usually load up on appetizers when we go. It's a bit of a jaunt to get there, but this section of Queen Street on either side of Broadview Avenue has a lot of great restaurants and bars.
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Tabule Middle Eastern Cuisine
810 Queen Street EastTabule (www.tabulequeen.com): We love this restaurant for Middle Eastern cuisine, and usually load up on appetizers when we go. It's a bit of a jaunt to get there, but this section of Queen Street on either side of Broadview Avenue has a lot of great restaurants and bars.
Sala (www.salakitchen.com): This is a great modern Thai restaurant on the Danforth, good for dining in but they also deliver.
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Sala Modern Thai Kitchen & Bar
1262 Danforth AveSala (www.salakitchen.com): This is a great modern Thai restaurant on the Danforth, good for dining in but they also deliver.
Jatujak (www.jatujak.ca): This place makes "Thai Street Food", and is our go-to when ordering in. The pad thai is great and we always order the mango crispy chicken.
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Jatujak
1744 Victoria Park AveJatujak (www.jatujak.ca): This place makes "Thai Street Food", and is our go-to when ordering in. The pad thai is great and we always order the mango crispy chicken.
Descendant Pizza (www.descendantdsp.com): We usually make our own pizza, so when we order in pizza we like something that is radically different. Descendents makes "Detroit-style" deep-dish pizzas, which are heavy, delicious, and always have leftovers.
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Descendant Detroit Style Pizza
1168 Queen St EDescendant Pizza (www.descendantdsp.com): We usually make our own pizza, so when we order in pizza we like something that is radically different. Descendents makes "Detroit-style" deep-dish pizzas, which are heavy, delicious, and always have leftovers.
Great breweries
Godspeed (www.godspeedbrewery.com): When it was announced that celebrated Montreal brewmaster Luc Lafontaine (of Dieu du Ciel fame) was opening a brewpub in Toronto, and that it would be located in East York, there was a lot of neighbourhood pride. The beer is good, if a bit overpriced, and has some interesting Japanese ingredients.
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Godspeed Brewery
242 Coxwell AveGodspeed (www.godspeedbrewery.com): When it was announced that celebrated Montreal brewmaster Luc Lafontaine (of Dieu du Ciel fame) was opening a brewpub in Toronto, and that it would be located in East York, there was a lot of neighbourhood pride. The beer is good, if a bit overpriced, and has some interesting Japanese ingredients.
Left Field Brewery (www.leftfieldbrewery.ca): This is one of the original east side craft breweries, and they lean into their baseball theme. They often have events happening in their small space, and sometimes it can get busy. It backs on to a residential street so they aren't open late!
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Left Field Brewery
36 Wagstaff DrLeft Field Brewery (www.leftfieldbrewery.ca): This is one of the original east side craft breweries, and they lean into their baseball theme. They often have events happening in their small space, and sometimes it can get busy. It backs on to a residential street so they aren't open late!
Rorschach (www.rorschachbrewing.com): This is a more recent arrival on the craft beer scene, but they have a great location down by the lake, and a large upstairs patio. During the COVID lockdowns, their bottle shop and adjacent green space was one of the few "bars" you could go to.
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Rorschach Brewing Co.
1001 Eastern AveRorschach (www.rorschachbrewing.com): This is a more recent arrival on the craft beer scene, but they have a great location down by the lake, and a large upstairs patio. During the COVID lockdowns, their bottle shop and adjacent green space was one of the few "bars" you could go to.
Steam Whistle (www.steamwhistle.ca): This is a Toronto favourite, located in the old train roundhouse just a few steps from the Rogers Centre. For a long time, they only made a really clean pilsener, but in recent years they have diversified their offerings and enlarged their space.
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Steam Whistle Brewing
255 Bremner BlvdSteam Whistle (www.steamwhistle.ca): This is a Toronto favourite, located in the old train roundhouse just a few steps from the Rogers Centre. For a long time, they only made a really clean pilsener, but in recent years they have diversified their offerings and enlarged their space.
Favourite Toronto Experiences
Brickworks (www.evergreen.ca): This is a former brick factory that has been repurposed into a community and event space. There is a popular Saturday Farmers Market, and other events throughout the year. Be sure to explore the old brick kilns. The quarry behind the buildings have been turned into wetlands and have boardwalk trails and a nice view of the city.
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Skautbrautin á Evergreen Brick Works
550 Bayview AveBrickworks (www.evergreen.ca): This is a former brick factory that has been repurposed into a community and event space. There is a popular Saturday Farmers Market, and other events throughout the year. Be sure to explore the old brick kilns. The quarry behind the buildings have been turned into wetlands and have boardwalk trails and a nice view of the city.
Biking or walking along Harbourfront: On a nice day it's hard to beat walking along shimmering Lake Ontario (anywhere between Sherbourne and Bathurst), there's always lots going on. Watch sugar boats get unloaded at Redpath Sugar, see free art exhibits at The Power Plant/Harbourfront Centre, climb up the Wavedecks, relax in the Music Garden. Combine this with a ferry ride to the Toronto Islands, where you could spend the entire day drinking in great views of the city, biking, swimming, and going on rides at the Centreville amusement park.
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Harbourfront
Biking or walking along Harbourfront: On a nice day it's hard to beat walking along shimmering Lake Ontario (anywhere between Sherbourne and Bathurst), there's always lots going on. Watch sugar boats get unloaded at Redpath Sugar, see free art exhibits at The Power Plant/Harbourfront Centre, climb up the Wavedecks, relax in the Music Garden. Combine this with a ferry ride to the Toronto Islands, where you could spend the entire day drinking in great views of the city, biking, swimming, and going on rides at the Centreville amusement park.
Distillery District (www.thedistillerydistrict.com): The former Gooderham & Worts Distillery has been redeveloped into a lively neighbourhood with great restaurants, bars, and unique stores. There are often events happening in the outdoor space, and the old brick buildings are very photogenic. It's not a huge area, but it's a nice place to visit for an hour or so.
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Brennivínsmiðstöðin
55 Mill StDistillery District (www.thedistillerydistrict.com): The former Gooderham & Worts Distillery has been redeveloped into a lively neighbourhood with great restaurants, bars, and unique stores. There are often events happening in the outdoor space, and the old brick buildings are very photogenic. It's not a huge area, but it's a nice place to visit for an hour or so.
Dream in High Park (www.canadianstage.com): The massive High Park, in the west end of the city, is a great park for all ages (it even has a small zoo). It's a far way to go from our house. However, during the summer they have plays and musical performances outdoors in the evening, and we enjoy doing this once per year.
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High Park
1873 Bloor St WDream in High Park (www.canadianstage.com): The massive High Park, in the west end of the city, is a great park for all ages (it even has a small zoo). It's a far way to go from our house. However, during the summer they have plays and musical performances outdoors in the evening, and we enjoy doing this once per year.
ROM walks (www.rom.on.ca): The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) runs free walking tours of different Toronto neighbourhoods. These can be really long and in depth, but they are a great way to get to know a bit about the city.
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Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens ParkROM walks (www.rom.on.ca): The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) runs free walking tours of different Toronto neighbourhoods. These can be really long and in depth, but they are a great way to get to know a bit about the city.
Borgartillaga
Samgöngur
Subway
Subway (www.ttc.ca): The quickest way around is the subway, which is run by the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC). It runs most days from 6am until 1am (late start on Sunday mornings). We are on "Line 2", which runs east-west across the top of the downtown. If you're heading further south into the core, you'll most likely need to transfer to "Line 1" at Bloor-Yonge Station. The closest subway stop is Woodbine Station, located at the northeast corner of Danforth Avenue and Woodbine, which is about a 10 minute walk from our house. To go downtown, follow signs for "Westbound Trains".
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GO Train
GO Train (www.gotransit.com): We are fortunate to be close to a GO Train stop, which is the network of regional commuter trains. If you are heading to Union Station and the south end of downtown (the CN Tower, Rogers Centre, Ripley's Aquarium, Metro Convention Centre, etc.) it is faster and nicer (but more expensive) to take the GO Train. Trains are scheduled and usually arrive every 30 minutes, but it is recommended to check the schedule. Our GO Train station is called Danforth Station and the entrance is on the east side of Main Street, just south of Danforth Avenue, which is a 15 min walk
Samgöngur
Streetcar
Streetcar: Toronto is serviced by a collection of iconic electric streetcars (also run by the TTC), and it's a worthwhile experience to ride one of these if you are able to get a chance (though they are a bit slower). We are located close to the terminus of the 506 Carlton Streetcar route (SUMMER 2023 UNDER REPAIR), which could be used to get to the middle part of downtown along College Avenue to see attractions like the former Maple Leaf Gardens, the Eaton Centre, etc. You can catch the streetcar at Main Station, located at the northeast corner of Danforth Avenue and Main.
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Bikeshare Toronto
Bikeshare Toronto: Similar to other cities, Toronto has a large network of bikes stationed around the city that can be loaned out and then returned to any other station. Our closest Bikeshare station is at Lumsden Avenue and Cedarvale Avenue. There is a very useful app to help find stations. To borrow a bike, you will just need your credit card to pay for a single use or multi-day pass. The most economical way to use these bikes is to ride for 30 min or less
Samgöngur
Bus
Bus (www.ttc.ca): Toronto has an extensive bus network, which you won't really need during your stay here, unless you are headed to the Beach or the zoo.
For the Beach: Walk to Woodbine Station, pay your fare at the entrance (and obtain proof of payment) and then follow signs for the bus area. To get to Woodbine Beach, take 92 Woodbine South.
For the Zoo: Walk to Woodbine Station or Main Station, and take the subway EAST to the end of the line, Kennedy Station. From there, go upstairs to the bus waiting area. To get to the zoo, take 86A Scarborough. It is a long ride.