Toronto – Around Town – Downtown (part 4) – Restaurants & Cafés, Bars & Clubs

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Restaurants & Cafés

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. Bistro 990

    French
    provincial fare is the specialty in this romantic room. The wine list
    and celebrity-spotting opportunities are particularly good.

    • 990 Bay St

    • 416 921 9990

  10. 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


All restaurants accept credit cards and serve vegetarian meals unless otherwise stated

Bars & Clubs

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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 .

    • 21 Avenue Rd

    • 416 964 0411

  4. 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 .

    • 4 Avenue Rd

    • 416 324 1568

  5. Lula Lounge

    Sexy salsa gets your hips swaying as rum cocktails loosen you up .

    • 1585 Dundas St W

    • 416 588 0307

    • Adm

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. 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

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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

  7. 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

  8. 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

  9. 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

  10. Spring Rolls

    South Asian delights for those on a budget: the Vietnamese pho (noodle soup), Thai curries, and stir-fries are excellent value.

    • 693 Yonge St

    • 416 972 7655