The Best of Toronto

Before I leave Toronto for the foreseeable future I thought I comment on some of the fantastic finds I’ve had since moving here four years ago.

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Best place to get food at 3AM – While you may assume the only food venues open at this time would be McDonalds and Tim Hortons, you are gravely mistaken. Enter 7 West – a cute cafe open 24 hrs a day 7 days a week. Serving salads, pasta and delicious desserts.

Best place to study – With several libraries on campus a UofT student can be picky about where to study. My personal favourite is Trinity College’s Graham Library. Just the smell of the wood desks and fireplaces makes you feel at home.However Victoria College’s Pratt library is a close second. At Pratt you feel like you are in Ikea.

Best free wifi – Most coffee shops these days have wireless, but most require you to pay. So if you are looking for free access in downtown Toronto look no further than the Toronto Reference Library on Yonge St just north of Bloor.

Best sushi – One thing I miss the most when travelling abroad is the abundance of sushi places here in Toronto. Everyone seems to have their personal favourite. My vote goes to Sushi Club. So good I had them on speed dial!

Best crepes –As a student breakfast often rolls into lunch and as such you come to love brunch food. Crepes-a-go-go makes the best crepes hands down both sweet and savory. They also quite an authentic atmosphere with all of the staff speaking French.

Best place for groceries –After moving south of College Street I discovered the wonders of shopping at Kensington Market for food. Before I had simply frequented the area for clothes and jewelry, but with two bakeries, two cheese stores, a butcher you can’t go wrong for price and quality.

Best place for a selection of tea – While in Kensington Market you can stop in for some loose tea (or a cup of coffee) at Moon Bean.

Best place to hold a party – A great place for a party of any size is Andy Pool Hall. They have a unique decor, DJs and dancing after 11 and of course pool tables. No matter you group’s tastes there is something for everyone here.

Best bet on a Monday night – Looking for something to do on a Monday night? Head over to the Reservoir Lounge and catch a great set (or three) of jazz by Sophia Perlman and the Vipers. I recommend the Reservoir Red if you are craving a martini while you are there!

Best junk food deals – Craving chocolate, candy and other junk food? Don’t pay full price, wait for the day after Easter, Valentine’s day at get it at Shopper’s Drug Mart for half price!

Best ethnic food – One of the most unique experiences I’ve had in Toronto was eating at Ethiopian House. It’s a reasonably priced dining experience if you get bored of sushi and dim sum.

Best way to spend an afternoon – Got 5 hours to kill in Toronto? The AGO recently completed their renovations and is a fantastic art gallery to visit. See my previous post for details.

Best Sunday brunch – My first year in Toronto I had the good fortune of booking my birthday at the Bloor Street Diner for brunch. It is hands down my favourite spot for brunch – but it is only open on Sundays. The chocolate fountain is alone makes it worth the trip!

Best Canadian fine dining – Looking to impress someone? Take them to Canoe not only is the view from the 54th floor of the TD tower impressive but so is the seasonal selection of Canadian food.

Best cheap beer and food – Einstein Pub is the closest pub to my place, but it is also the best deal in the area for cheap house beer and food. If you order the wings get them with the hammered sauce.

Best place for window shopping – The area of Bay and Bloor has undergone lots of renos including the arrival of some of the most expensive stores in Toronto. So if you don’t want to spend any money, but just browse this area is fantastic.

Best martinis – College St between Bathurst and Ossington is known for its quaint cafes and martini bars. Personally I find Souz Dal the most reasonably priced martinis and it also has an extensive list from which to choose.

Best cakes – Although they don’t make their cakes in house, Future Bakery is great spot for dessert and/or coffee. In the summer the patio is a bonus!

Best place for home supplies – Other than Canadian Tire I find myself getting the best deals for home supplies at the local Dollarama. For things where quality is not a big concern you can save a lot of money by shopping here.

Best place to get fit – There is the perennial debate between students about which is a better place to work out – the Athletic Centre (AC) or Hart House. When I lived across the street from Hart House I definitely went there, but after gradually discovering the AC I found it more convenient with more equipment and less people. It is not has ‘hard core’ and intimidating as people think!

Best pad thai – After fencing our standard place to go was the Red Room. Not only are their prices quite cheap but the Pad Thai is unmatched in my humble opinion. The Green Room and Nirvana are owned by the same people and are also worth your time.

Best all nighter – Despite conflicting opinions, one of the best events of the fall is Nuit Blanche. An all night art festival that intrigues and entertains!