The best new bakeries in Toronto from 2011 might be churning out the same old things as ever, but they are, however, doing it remarkably well. There's nothing new about a shop devoted to cupcakes, the perfect French baguette, or classic homestyle baking. There are even more than a few options for gluten-free baking in Toronto.

The best new fashion stores in Toronto from 2011 pull from a variety of styles, trends, regions, and even decades. Some of the best of the new boutiques of 2011 source from as far as Korea, Italy, and France, while others stick to merchandise that can be shipped via TTC. Curation and selection is obviously key, as these shop owners strive to keep stock low so that you, beloved customers, can maintain that air of originality.

The best new brunch restaurants in Toronto carry on the glorious tradition of finding bigger and better things to do with hollandaise. With so many brunch options in the city already, the best of the new offerings have to get more creative than the typical bacon and eggs. For some restaurants that means adding a little pumpkin spice to their waffles or frying up a duck hash, and for more than a few it translates to whipping up their own ketchup and preserves.

The best new bars to open in Toronto in 2011 continue to parallel Toronto's ascent up the cultural stratosphere. None of these places are merely neighbourhood locals — they're destinations. Whether it's for a calculated cocktail, dizzying live music or just an invigorating atmosphere, these are all establishments of merit, worthy of a streetcar or taxi ride. And if any of these happen to be your local? Well, the neighbourhood just got that much better.

The best new design stores in Toronto give merit to the saying that what's old is new, and what's new is.. well.. probably hand-selected and imported from overseas. Vintage as a design concept certainly hasn't become dated, as evidenced by the shops cropping up on College, in Leslieville, and in the Distillery District in 2011.

The best new cafes in Toronto in 2011 offered great atmosphere as much as quality espresso. With more and more independent cafes popping up around the city, the best of the bunch were able to deliver that intangible "it" factor (and others, laundry drop-off services, stocked bookshelves, and of course, free WiFi).

As well as new arrivals pulling their inaugural shots in 2011, the year saw the opening of new locations of popular cafes; Crema on Spadina and the Danforth, Bulldog at Yonge and Eglinton, and TAN in Baldwin Village, to name a few.