Guidebook for Fun, Food + Art in Toronto's West End

Katie & Philippe
Katie & Philippe
Guidebook for Fun, Food + Art in Toronto's West End

Essentials

Closest grocery store. Affordable, but limited selection.
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Price Chopper
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Closest grocery store. Affordable, but limited selection.
Bread, cheese, coffee
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grain, curd & bean
1414 Dundas Street West
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Bread, cheese, coffee
A go-to neighbourhood spot for baked goods, coffee, sandwiches and pantry staples alike. Irresistibly located steps from the park + sunny summer afternoons spent relaxing on a picnic blanket.
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The Lucky Penny General Store and Cafe
189 Shaw St
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A go-to neighbourhood spot for baked goods, coffee, sandwiches and pantry staples alike. Irresistibly located steps from the park + sunny summer afternoons spent relaxing on a picnic blanket.

Entertainment & Activities

- Farmer's market (Thursdays 3-7pm) - Great kids play area
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Dufferin Grove Park
875 Dufferin St
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- Farmer's market (Thursdays 3-7pm) - Great kids play area
- Farmer's market (Tuesdays 3-7pm) - Kids play area
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Trinity Bellwoods Park
790 Queen St W
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- Farmer's market (Tuesdays 3-7pm) - Kids play area
Pursuit is an indoor play space and cross-training facility just one block to the west of our house. It's a bright, fun and exuberant place that opens its doors to kids on Sunday mornings (our kids love the giant ball pit). Book early -- space is limited!
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Pursuit OCR
75 Westmore Drive
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Pursuit is an indoor play space and cross-training facility just one block to the west of our house. It's a bright, fun and exuberant place that opens its doors to kids on Sunday mornings (our kids love the giant ball pit). Book early -- space is limited!
Ripley's is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. Highlights include a native species exhibit and a crawl-through shark tank.
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Ripleys Aquarium von Kanada
288 Bremner Blvd
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Ripley's is a fun activity for kids and adults alike. Highlights include a native species exhibit and a crawl-through shark tank.
Our neighbourhood YMCA is a 12 minute walk from the house. The Y has many activities and classes, and several cardio areas with all the usual equipment. Our kids love the ~40 ft play structure and bouncy castle on weekends. Day passes are available.
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West End YMCA
931 College St
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Our neighbourhood YMCA is a 12 minute walk from the house. The Y has many activities and classes, and several cardio areas with all the usual equipment. Our kids love the ~40 ft play structure and bouncy castle on weekends. Day passes are available.

Shopping

- Unique fabrics, notions and patterns - 'Sew-by-the-hour' sewing machine rental
The Workroom
207 Queen St W
- Unique fabrics, notions and patterns - 'Sew-by-the-hour' sewing machine rental

Food Scene

Casual vegan fare; great lunch stop while checking out Kensington market
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Urban Herbivore
64 Oxford St
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Casual vegan fare; great lunch stop while checking out Kensington market
Event space and artist-designed hotel with a good cafe and restaurant. Bluegrass brunch on Sundays is kid-friendly and fun.
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Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen St W
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Event space and artist-designed hotel with a good cafe and restaurant. Bluegrass brunch on Sundays is kid-friendly and fun.
Friendly owner and staff, and a great place to pick up a coffee and croissant on the way to Dufferin Grove park.
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The Common Espresso Bar
1071 College St
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Friendly owner and staff, and a great place to pick up a coffee and croissant on the way to Dufferin Grove park.
Tasty & health-conscious food in a great location. Vegan-friendly.
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Fresh on Crawford
894 Queen Street West
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Tasty & health-conscious food in a great location. Vegan-friendly.
Fantastic fusion resto with a great patio. Mouth watering onion glazed ribs and a variety of tasty ceviches keep us coming back here time and again.
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Foxley
207 Ossington Ave
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Fantastic fusion resto with a great patio. Mouth watering onion glazed ribs and a variety of tasty ceviches keep us coming back here time and again.
Fresh, local and ever-changing menu options have us coming back time and time again. Lovely backyard patio to boot. Check out the take-away and butcher shop up the street at 130 Ossington.
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Union
72 Ossington Ave
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Fresh, local and ever-changing menu options have us coming back time and time again. Lovely backyard patio to boot. Check out the take-away and butcher shop up the street at 130 Ossington.
Tasty, authentic tacos. Try the fish! Delicious!
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Grand Electric Parkdale
1330 Queen St W
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Tasty, authentic tacos. Try the fish! Delicious!
Sister resto to Grand Electric, this casual spot serves fantastic southern fare. Try the fried chicken, ribs and crack buns!
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Electric Mud BBQ
5 Brock Ave
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Sister resto to Grand Electric, this casual spot serves fantastic southern fare. Try the fried chicken, ribs and crack buns!
French pastries and cakes. Arguably the best croissants in the city. Lovely location next to Trinity Bellwoods park.
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Nadège Patisserie
780 Queen St W
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French pastries and cakes. Arguably the best croissants in the city. Lovely location next to Trinity Bellwoods park.
A bit of Spanish atmosphere and finesse in downtown Toronto! This place exudes charm and the food doesn't disappoint.
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Bar Isabel
797 College St
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A bit of Spanish atmosphere and finesse in downtown Toronto! This place exudes charm and the food doesn't disappoint.
Reminiscent of a '50-era lunch counter, with a distinctly Cuban twist. Excellent brunch and lunch options.
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La Cubana
392 Roncesvalles Ave
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Reminiscent of a '50-era lunch counter, with a distinctly Cuban twist. Excellent brunch and lunch options.
Great coffee and local pastries. A spare, but cozy place to read the paper and chat with locals.
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Sam James Coffee Bar OZ
1000 Queen Street West
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Great coffee and local pastries. A spare, but cozy place to read the paper and chat with locals.

Drinks & Nightlife

Small, friendly wine bar with good small plates. Well-priced and tasty dinner specials on Sunday nights!
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Midfield Wine Bar
1434 Dundas St W
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Small, friendly wine bar with good small plates. Well-priced and tasty dinner specials on Sunday nights!
Very popular local brewery. Try the Porter (if you can get at seat!).
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Bellwoods Brewery
124 Ossington Ave
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Very popular local brewery. Try the Porter (if you can get at seat!).

Arts & Culture

The Science Centre is a massive complex with exhibits and activities for all ages. Don't miss the IMAX theater or the kids area, if you have small children.
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Ontario Science Centre
770 Don Mills Rd.
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The Science Centre is a massive complex with exhibits and activities for all ages. Don't miss the IMAX theater or the kids area, if you have small children.
An iconic museum in the heart of the downtown core -- with temporary exhibits and permanent collections focused on various facets of the natural world, it's always are always worth seeing what's on at the ROM. Dino fans take note!
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Royal Ontario Museum
100 Queens Park
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An iconic museum in the heart of the downtown core -- with temporary exhibits and permanent collections focused on various facets of the natural world, it's always are always worth seeing what's on at the ROM. Dino fans take note!