Guidebook for Toronto

Zaid & Sofia
Guidebook for Toronto

Food Scene

It's great for a quick bite and very affordable. I recommend the chicken shawarmas - they are big and include a generous serving of chicken.
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Laziza Mediterranean Cuisine
950 Bloor St W
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It's great for a quick bite and very affordable. I recommend the chicken shawarmas - they are big and include a generous serving of chicken.
Great Thai food!
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PAI
18 Duncan St
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Great Thai food!
One of my favorite Thai restaurants. I recommend the Pad Siew
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Thai Elephant
813 Queen St W
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One of my favorite Thai restaurants. I recommend the Pad Siew
I recommend their ice cream cookie sandwiches but the rest of it is also pretty good. Personally, I tend to have the Chocolate Squared flavor.
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Bakerbots Baking
1242 Delaware Ave
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I recommend their ice cream cookie sandwiches but the rest of it is also pretty good. Personally, I tend to have the Chocolate Squared flavor.
Pretty good Italian pizza
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Pizzeria Libretto
221 Ossington Ave
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Pretty good Italian pizza
Enjoy traditional Pakistani food at the (ridiculously decorated Lahore Tikka House) but also walk the streets of the ethnic neighborhood, full of small shops owned by people of Pakistani/Indian origin. You can try places that serve Pakistani dessert (such as kulfi) or Kashmiri chai (pink tea).
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Lahore Tikka House
1365 Gerrard St E
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Enjoy traditional Pakistani food at the (ridiculously decorated Lahore Tikka House) but also walk the streets of the ethnic neighborhood, full of small shops owned by people of Pakistani/Indian origin. You can try places that serve Pakistani dessert (such as kulfi) or Kashmiri chai (pink tea).
North Indian Cuisine
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Banjara Bloor
796 Bloor St W
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North Indian Cuisine
I would try the hot chocolate or the Nutella-Pizza but they generally have really good (and unique) desserts.
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CACAO 70 Eatery
28 Gristmill Lane
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I would try the hot chocolate or the Nutella-Pizza but they generally have really good (and unique) desserts.
This restaurant reminded me of the delicious food I've had in Malaysia - everything that I had there on my one visit was scrumptious. I'd try the nasi goreng (fried rice) for sure besides other dishes.
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Little Sister Indonesian Food Bar
2031 Yonge St
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This restaurant reminded me of the delicious food I've had in Malaysia - everything that I had there on my one visit was scrumptious. I'd try the nasi goreng (fried rice) for sure besides other dishes.
A nice old-school diner that is a good place for brunch as they do pancakes, eggs and have enough choices for burgers, salads and other entrees. Prices aren't bad with meals costing about $10-15 person without tip.
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The Lakeview Restaurant
1132 Dundas Street West
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A nice old-school diner that is a good place for brunch as they do pancakes, eggs and have enough choices for burgers, salads and other entrees. Prices aren't bad with meals costing about $10-15 person without tip.
Indie coffee shop. Sparsely decorated with beige wooden furniture, the shop has a homely feel to it. There are a few tables that are normally hogged by students with their laptops, while the long benches make it a communal space.
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The Common
1028 Bloor St W
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Indie coffee shop. Sparsely decorated with beige wooden furniture, the shop has a homely feel to it. There are a few tables that are normally hogged by students with their laptops, while the long benches make it a communal space.
Portugese bakery. I recommend the brownies and the Nutella tarts. Apparently they have good coffee too.
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Venezia Bakery
114 Ossington Ave
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Portugese bakery. I recommend the brownies and the Nutella tarts. Apparently they have good coffee too.
Not the greatest pizza at all but if you're really tired and are looking for an adequate meal with drinks on a patio, it's not bad as it's right around the corner.
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Fort York Pizzeria
219 Fort York Blvd
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Not the greatest pizza at all but if you're really tired and are looking for an adequate meal with drinks on a patio, it's not bad as it's right around the corner.
This is only included since it's a short minute walk from our place. It has typical cafe food - I recommend their Nutella Crepes (overpriced compared to rest of the city but you pay for convenience). A mini-mart by the same name is located next door - and that too is pricey but useful if you want to grab a quick snack.
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Parisco Cafe
215 Fort York Blvd
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This is only included since it's a short minute walk from our place. It has typical cafe food - I recommend their Nutella Crepes (overpriced compared to rest of the city but you pay for convenience). A mini-mart by the same name is located next door - and that too is pricey but useful if you want to grab a quick snack.
I loved their pancakes! They have an indoor as well as a patio, and serve alcohol. Perfect for a brunch.
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School
70 Fraser Ave
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I loved their pancakes! They have an indoor as well as a patio, and serve alcohol. Perfect for a brunch.
Great sausages and hot dogs, with multiple meat options including rabbit, bison and venison.
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WVRST
609 King St W
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Great sausages and hot dogs, with multiple meat options including rabbit, bison and venison.
A small, intimate restaurant that has a mini outdoor patio. They have a good selection of soft tacos and they are all delicious! http://grandelectrictoronto.com/menu/
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Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St W
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A small, intimate restaurant that has a mini outdoor patio. They have a good selection of soft tacos and they are all delicious! http://grandelectrictoronto.com/menu/
Cheap-drinks and generous serving of nachos
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Sneaky Dee's
431 College St
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Cheap-drinks and generous serving of nachos
Popular Egyptian brunch place in the east-end. I recommend the Mind Blowing Chicken (sandwich) but the other choices are also very good.
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Maha's
226 Greenwood Ave
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Popular Egyptian brunch place in the east-end. I recommend the Mind Blowing Chicken (sandwich) but the other choices are also very good.
Good Mexican food
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La Carnita
501 College St
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Good Mexican food
This is my favorite place for smoothies. They also have pretty nice bagel sandwiches and some good salads. I'd try the "He must workout" smoothie - peanut/almond butter, regular/almond milk, oatmeal, vanilla protein and maple syrup.
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What A Bagel
130 Spadina Ave.
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This is my favorite place for smoothies. They also have pretty nice bagel sandwiches and some good salads. I'd try the "He must workout" smoothie - peanut/almond butter, regular/almond milk, oatmeal, vanilla protein and maple syrup.
Slightly pricey but has some great Indonesian/Pan-Asian food. I recommend the Char Kway Tweo (rice noodles). Some of the other dishes are not as consistent though which is probably why it has a 3.8 rating on Google
Matahari Grill
39 Baldwin St
Slightly pricey but has some great Indonesian/Pan-Asian food. I recommend the Char Kway Tweo (rice noodles). Some of the other dishes are not as consistent though which is probably why it has a 3.8 rating on Google
Their ramen noodles are amazing!
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Ryu's Noodle Bar
33 Baldwin Street
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Their ramen noodles are amazing!

Parks & Nature

It has breathtaking views of Lake Ontario. If you're adventurous, you might want to go close to the edge of the cliff and perhaps go for a hike.
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Scarborough Bluffs Park
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It has breathtaking views of Lake Ontario. If you're adventurous, you might want to go close to the edge of the cliff and perhaps go for a hike.
On first sight, Trinity Bellwoods is only a park. Upon closer inspection, in the summer Trinity represents urban Toronto. The park is abuzz with people of all shapes and sizes - playing sports (tennis, volleyball etc.), doing yoga or engaging in a plethora of other summertime activities. The park is big enough to accommodate everyone - from the little kids taking their first laps in the pool to the veterans playing badminton on the volleyball courts (because why not?) to the hipster smoking weed..to the homeless who sleep on the park benches. The park represents downtown Toronto even if it isn't always pretty (I mean, no one should be homeless. Wtf Toronto?).
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Trinity - Bellwoods
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On first sight, Trinity Bellwoods is only a park. Upon closer inspection, in the summer Trinity represents urban Toronto. The park is abuzz with people of all shapes and sizes - playing sports (tennis, volleyball etc.), doing yoga or engaging in a plethora of other summertime activities. The park is big enough to accommodate everyone - from the little kids taking their first laps in the pool to the veterans playing badminton on the volleyball courts (because why not?) to the hipster smoking weed..to the homeless who sleep on the park benches. The park represents downtown Toronto even if it isn't always pretty (I mean, no one should be homeless. Wtf Toronto?).

Arts & Culture

You can get lost in the museum for hours!
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Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens Park
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You can get lost in the museum for hours!
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Art Gallery of Ontario
317 Dundas St W
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Over a 100 years old, Revue Cinema is a designated heritage site. They often show old classics that you obviously wouldn't be able to see in mainstream cinemas. For instance, they recently aired Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas!
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The Revue Cinema
400 Roncesvalles Ave
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Over a 100 years old, Revue Cinema is a designated heritage site. They often show old classics that you obviously wouldn't be able to see in mainstream cinemas. For instance, they recently aired Fear & Loathing in Las Vegas!

Essentials

It has higher prices than Walmart but is far more accessible. Shoppers has numerous outlets all over Toronto and is very convenient to shop at even if it is the evil, corporate branded store that is probably driving out mom & pop convenience stores. But it does have everything from toilet paper to soap to chocolates and bread and milk and ice cream...and everything in between.
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Shoppers Drug Mart
388 King St W
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It has higher prices than Walmart but is far more accessible. Shoppers has numerous outlets all over Toronto and is very convenient to shop at even if it is the evil, corporate branded store that is probably driving out mom & pop convenience stores. But it does have everything from toilet paper to soap to chocolates and bread and milk and ice cream...and everything in between.

Getting Around

The intersection of Fort York and Fleet is where the Harborfront 509 Streetcar stops. The streetcar goes all the way to Union station, which connects to Line 1 (Yonge/University/Spadina Line). To connect to Line 2 (Bloor/Danforth), take the Bathurst 511 bus to Bathurst station from the same intersection (but across the street). Both 509 and 511 are very frequent - running at about 5-6 minute intervals. The 121 Fort York/Esplanade Bus stops at the same intersection, before going along Fort York towards Union. The bus runs every 15 minutes but goes to St. Lawrence Market and Distillery District - both tourist hotspots.
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Fort York
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The intersection of Fort York and Fleet is where the Harborfront 509 Streetcar stops. The streetcar goes all the way to Union station, which connects to Line 1 (Yonge/University/Spadina Line). To connect to Line 2 (Bloor/Danforth), take the Bathurst 511 bus to Bathurst station from the same intersection (but across the street). Both 509 and 511 are very frequent - running at about 5-6 minute intervals. The 121 Fort York/Esplanade Bus stops at the same intersection, before going along Fort York towards Union. The bus runs every 15 minutes but goes to St. Lawrence Market and Distillery District - both tourist hotspots.

Sightseeing

Numerous reasons. The place is bubbling with life and character. You'll find an area of Toronto that is gradually being gentrified but still retains much of its old charm. It has restaurants, bars, coffee shops, a park but most of all Kensington is home to the eccentrics, the oddballs and the people who don't conform to society's norms. You will see artists and musicians and all kinds of people...in a word, it's eclectic.
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Kensington Market
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Numerous reasons. The place is bubbling with life and character. You'll find an area of Toronto that is gradually being gentrified but still retains much of its old charm. It has restaurants, bars, coffee shops, a park but most of all Kensington is home to the eccentrics, the oddballs and the people who don't conform to society's norms. You will see artists and musicians and all kinds of people...in a word, it's eclectic.
From Wikipedia: The Distillery District is a commercial and residential district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located east of downtown, it contains numerous cafés, restaurants, and shops housed within heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The 13 acres (5.3 ha) district comprises more than forty heritage buildings and ten streets, and is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.
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Brennivínsmiðstöðin
55 Mill St
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From Wikipedia: The Distillery District is a commercial and residential district in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Located east of downtown, it contains numerous cafés, restaurants, and shops housed within heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The 13 acres (5.3 ha) district comprises more than forty heritage buildings and ten streets, and is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America.
An open public square that hosts an ice skating rink in the winter and features the iconic Toronto sign in giant letters.
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Nathan Phillips Square
100 Queen St W
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An open public square that hosts an ice skating rink in the winter and features the iconic Toronto sign in giant letters.
From See Toronto Now: Toronto is home to Canada’s largest gay community and welcomes visitors from all walks of life. The Gay Village, or “The Village” as the locals call it, is a predominantly gay neighbourhood nestled within Toronto’s downtown core. Centred at the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets, the area is packed with cafés, restaurants, gay-oriented shops and a vast array of hot bars and nightspots. http://www.seetorontonow.com/explore-toronto/neighbourhoods/the-gay-village/#sm.000080i0zdotnd1drdr1tgcxsr6d5
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Chelsea Area
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From See Toronto Now: Toronto is home to Canada’s largest gay community and welcomes visitors from all walks of life. The Gay Village, or “The Village” as the locals call it, is a predominantly gay neighbourhood nestled within Toronto’s downtown core. Centred at the intersection of Church and Wellesley Streets, the area is packed with cafés, restaurants, gay-oriented shops and a vast array of hot bars and nightspots. http://www.seetorontonow.com/explore-toronto/neighbourhoods/the-gay-village/#sm.000080i0zdotnd1drdr1tgcxsr6d5
From Wikipedia: St. Lawrence Market is a major public market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Front St. East and Jarvis St in the Old Town district of Toronto. There are three buildings in the complex, each having a different purpose. St. Lawrence Market North, on the north side of Front St, hosts weekly farmer's markets and antique markets. A public market has been held on the north building site since 1803.
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St. Lawrence markaðurinn
93 Front St E
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From Wikipedia: St. Lawrence Market is a major public market in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It is located at Front St. East and Jarvis St in the Old Town district of Toronto. There are three buildings in the complex, each having a different purpose. St. Lawrence Market North, on the north side of Front St, hosts weekly farmer's markets and antique markets. A public market has been held on the north building site since 1803.
http://www.blogto.com/libertyvillage/ Liberty Village is condo central - so not the place if you really want to get a sense of what Toronto's like. However, it has a lot of places to eat, drink and shop, and is a very walkable neighborhood. You should check it out if you don't want to go too far (as LV is within walking distance from my place) and want to have a relaxing evening, but ultimately it's an enclave for condo-dwellers who IMO live in a bubble (literally, even if they are otherwise the most well-informed people on earth). Don't expect to encounter Toronto's famed diversity.
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Liberty Village
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http://www.blogto.com/libertyvillage/ Liberty Village is condo central - so not the place if you really want to get a sense of what Toronto's like. However, it has a lot of places to eat, drink and shop, and is a very walkable neighborhood. You should check it out if you don't want to go too far (as LV is within walking distance from my place) and want to have a relaxing evening, but ultimately it's an enclave for condo-dwellers who IMO live in a bubble (literally, even if they are otherwise the most well-informed people on earth). Don't expect to encounter Toronto's famed diversity.
http://www.blogto.com/koreatown/
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Koreatown
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http://www.blogto.com/koreatown/
The islands are located south off the coast of Toronto, and can be accessed via a short but scenic ferry ride (from Queens Quay Station). The islands - which are a car-free zone, offer a great place for picnics, and to laze around in the ample green space. Center Island (the most popular destination) can get busy but still has quiet spots. There is an amusement park for kids and a small water strip for canoeing/paddling. The only downside is the limited food options as the restaurant is overpriced and has bland food, while Subway and Pizza Pizza are perfunctory.
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Toronto Islands
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The islands are located south off the coast of Toronto, and can be accessed via a short but scenic ferry ride (from Queens Quay Station). The islands - which are a car-free zone, offer a great place for picnics, and to laze around in the ample green space. Center Island (the most popular destination) can get busy but still has quiet spots. There is an amusement park for kids and a small water strip for canoeing/paddling. The only downside is the limited food options as the restaurant is overpriced and has bland food, while Subway and Pizza Pizza are perfunctory.
One of Toronto's old neighborhoods that hasn't quite faced the scourge of gentrification and does not host a Tim Horton's every three blocks. It instead houses more indie places including multiple bars, cafes and restaurants as well as the historic Revue Cinema. Relatively quaint compared to a lot of downtown spots, which makes it a great spot to walk around and hang out.
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Roncesvalles Village
147 Roncesvalles Ave
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One of Toronto's old neighborhoods that hasn't quite faced the scourge of gentrification and does not host a Tim Horton's every three blocks. It instead houses more indie places including multiple bars, cafes and restaurants as well as the historic Revue Cinema. Relatively quaint compared to a lot of downtown spots, which makes it a great spot to walk around and hang out.

Drinks & Nightlife

Nice patio that can be covered with a transparent roof in case of rain. In Yorkville, an upscale part of downtown Toronto.
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The Pilot
22 Cumberland St
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Nice patio that can be covered with a transparent roof in case of rain. In Yorkville, an upscale part of downtown Toronto.
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Hemingway's Restaurant
142 Cumberland St
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Unique cocktails - even if they are a bit pricey
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BarChef
472 Queen St W
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Unique cocktails - even if they are a bit pricey
Has multiple bars including a roof-top patio that is frequented by a younger crowd.
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The Drake Hotel
1150 Queen St W
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Has multiple bars including a roof-top patio that is frequented by a younger crowd.
A trendy bar in the heart of downtown Toronto that appears to be frequented mainly by a young crowd. On Wednesdays and Fridays it sells local beers for only $2.5 that easily offsets the $5 cover charge.
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Crocodile Rock - Bar - Night Club
240 Adelaide Street West
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A trendy bar in the heart of downtown Toronto that appears to be frequented mainly by a young crowd. On Wednesdays and Fridays it sells local beers for only $2.5 that easily offsets the $5 cover charge.
A multi-level bar where each floor is divided into several compartments. On a given night, you could listen to live music on one floor, have dinner on the patio upstairs (in the summer), play pool on another floor, encounter another live performance on a different floor and then find a spot for a quiet conversation. Note: The crowd is young and seems to be mainly populated by UoT students.
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Madison
14 Madison Ave
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A multi-level bar where each floor is divided into several compartments. On a given night, you could listen to live music on one floor, have dinner on the patio upstairs (in the summer), play pool on another floor, encounter another live performance on a different floor and then find a spot for a quiet conversation. Note: The crowd is young and seems to be mainly populated by UoT students.
- Outdoor patio - Decent food - Affordable drinks with a decent selection of craft beer - In Kensington Market
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Trinity Common
303 Augusta Ave
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- Outdoor patio - Decent food - Affordable drinks with a decent selection of craft beer - In Kensington Market
Upscale bar with a good selection of wines aside and Italian cuisine.
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Cibo Wine Bar King St West
522 King St W
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Upscale bar with a good selection of wines aside and Italian cuisine.