Neighbourhoods
Leslieville
Leslieville, after many years of playing the role of little brother to more developed Riverside, has emerged as Toronto's hippest place to dine, drink, shop and live, or so proclaimed a 2005 article in the New York Times that also anointed the neighbourhood as the new Queen Street West. Historically home to light industry and the Film District, it's now more known as one of Toronto's best brunch destinations and features some great cafes, vintage furniture, fashion and design stores.
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Altitude Baking / Baked Goods
I'd heard of Altitude bakery, but didn't know it was in Leslieville until we were walking past it. It was a rainy day. There were only few people on the...
Amato Pizza / Restaurants
Amato used to be the go-to pizza joint in Toronto with locations sprinkled around the city. But as we've reported, the pizza chain has come under fire for shady labour...
Any Direct Flight / Fashion Stores
Contributed by Natalie Taylor No need to hop a plane but a streetcar will suffice to arrive at the destination of this charming boutique in the far east corner of Leslieville....
B & B Fish & Chips / Restaurants
B & B Fish & Chips is one of the many popular fish and chips spots in Leslieville. Also worth checking out are Reliable Fish 'N Chips and Woodgreen. ...
Baby on the Hip / Fashion Stores
Baby On the Hip is an eco-minded baby boutique in Leslieville that keeps it green. With a focus on environmentally-friendly, locally-sourced and "back to basics" merchandise (they avoid battery-powered baby...
Barrio / Restaurants
Barrio has some seriously good Huevos Rancheros ($9) on their brunch menu that come with baked beans, fried eggs and toasted cornbread. There's also eggs benedict, waffles, buttermilk pancakes, chicken...
Bone House / Services
The Bone House features 85% Canadian made and 100% eco friendly products for pups. This cute little Queen East shop carries a wide range of products from doggie bathrobes to...
Brayham Contemporary Art / Galleries
Brayham Contemporary Art presents an ambitious exhibition program bringing the work of important national and international artists to Toronto, while supporting the local Toronto art scene by providing a venue...
Ceili Cottage / Restaurants
Ceili Cottage has only just opened its doors, but the lively atmosphere and charming surroundings are quickly establishing this "public house" as a favourite among Leslieville locals. Publican Patrick...
Chang'e Studio / Fitness Clubs
Chang'e Studio offers private and group pilates mat and reformer classes, yoga, post-natal and circuit training; as well as registered massage, acupuncture and Chinese medicine....
Chick-N-Joy / Restaurants
Chick-N-Joy has been serving loyal customers in Leslieville since 1977. Family-operated and owned by John Doufekas all these years, Chick-N-Joy is a true pillar in the community. Johnny, as he's...
Chino Locos / Restaurants
Chino Locos finally brings a burrito joint to Leslieville. But what they make at this tiny spot aren't your typical meat and chicken varieties. On the menu here are options...
Cream The Urban Dairy / Restaurants
Cream the Urban Dairy appropriately goes down like a glass of cool, soothing milk. White, white, everywhere; slick, clean and refreshing. Lucky for me, because today I needed it...
CrossFit Toronto / Fitness Clubs
CrossFit in Toronto. It's a beautiful thing. For those familiar with the CrossFit concept, it doesn't get much better than this. This place is fully decked out with everything...
Cry If I Want To / Design Stores
Cry If I Want To offers unique housewares, contemporary rentals, service referrals and products sourcing for entertaining at home....
Curzon / Bars
Any bar that lets me have my say in music is okay in my books. If you're a deejay in Toronto, you've seen my face before. Mine is the face that...
Doll Factory by Damzels / Fashion Stores
A fun store that we'll have more to say about soon. ...
Ed's Real Scoop (Leslieville) / Restaurants
Ed's Real Scoop has expanded to Leslieville. No longer must east enders visit the Beach location for some of the city's best ice cream and gelato because all the same...
Edward Levesque's Kitchen / Restaurants
Edward Levesque's Kitchen has a killer menu. The Sun raves about the brunch here, and judging by the regular weekend lineups so does everyone else. Waffles, banana pancakes, latkes, french...
Ethel 20th Century Living / Design Stores
Ethel 20th Century Living has recently undergone a change in ownership but continues to stock fine, mid-century modern furniture. Services have also been expanded to include interior design and vintage...
Flik and Company / Design Stores
Flik and Company in Leslieville is crammed with rustic, French-influenced vintage furniture finds. ...
Frankly Eatery / Restaurants
Frankly Eatery has added its name to the numerous worthy brunch destinations dotting Queen East in Leslieville. There's really no shortage of places here to get a good fill of...
Gadabout / Fashion Stores
Gadabout houses an extensive collection of vintage clothing, accessories, textiles, ephemera, nostalgia, curios and oddities. Glamour is the name of the game here. The beautiful fifties frocks (including an ivory...
Gale's Snack Bar / Restaurants
Now that the economy's sputtered and stalled worse than your over-heated vintage 1969 PX150, places like Gale's Snack Bar appear less a quaint anachronism or dusty relic than a sanctuary...
Gallery 888 / Galleries
Home of affordable original art by emerging and established Toronto artists....
Gio Rana's Really Really Nice Restaurant / Restaurants
When it's Friday night and a pleasant dinner out is on the menu, optimally, it'd be a combination of great food (of course), a fun atmosphere, brisk service, and not...
Great Burger Kitchen / Restaurants
The Great Burger Kitchen adds another notch to Toronto's bulging burger belt. Launched three weeks ago by The Wine Bar's Ted Koutsogiannopoulos and Jim Gontis of Johnny G's, this labour...
GUFF / Design Stores
Living up to its name, the good used furniture finds at this Leslieville shop have a modernist flair at reasonable prices....
Hanoi 3 Seasons / Restaurants
Hanoi 3 Seasons brings tasty Vietnamese cuisine to Leslieville. Portions here are great and the prices are very reasonable....
Headbones Gallery / Galleries
Don't let the name mislead you. Headbones Gallery, while certainly not your average contemporary art gallery, is not in any way, shape or form an anatomical research centre or artifact...
Inspired Cook / Design Stores
The Inspired Cook is a charming Leslieville shop that feels like a very well appointed home kitchen, featuring knowledgeable staff to help choose the perfect gift. Think housewarmings, weddings -...
It's The Icing on the Cake / Baked Goods
It's The Icing on the Cake in Leslieville bakes custom crafted cupcakes (pictured above), yummy desserts, bread and other baked treats. ...
Joy Bistro / Restaurants
The relaxed atmosphere at Joy Bistro, a popular Leslieville restaurant on Queen East, is immediately welcoming. Chef Bryan Burke's menu, offering French and Italian techniques with Ontario ingredients, is equally...
Kristapsons / Grocery Stores
Kristapsons cures and sells the best smoked salmon in the city. It's cold-smoked to boost omega 3 fatty acids. Visit the Leslieville store to see where it all happens and...
Lady Marmalade / Restaurants
Lady Marmalade, in the former Pulp Kitchen space, ups the ante on standard brunch by offering locally sourced organic food (when possible), and plenty of options for our non-meat eating...
Leonidas / Grocery Stores
Leonidas makes fresh and delicious chocolates with over 70 varieties to choose from. They also sell a variety of fresh gelato....
Leslie Jones / Restaurants
Leslie Jones is definitely on the lunchier side of the brunch spectrum with only a few egg dishes to satisfy the traditionalist. But for late arrivers there are salads and...
Leslieville Cheese Market / Grocery Stores
Leslieville Cheese Market in the east end boasts that "everyone at Leslieville Cheese is a cheese expert". Check in with them in the fall about their cheese night school. Or...
Leslieville Diner / Restaurants
The Leslieville Diner is a cozy breakfast and lunch spot on Queen East. The menu includes standard diner fare like burgers, soup and sandwiches....
Lil' Baci / Restaurants
I grew up with a Nanny and Poppa as opposed to a Nonna and Nonno but just being at Lil' Baci makes me feel like I am part of a...
Lil' Bean N' Green / Cafes
Lil' Bean N' Green is a kid (and mum and dad) friendly cafe in Leslieville. They serve all the usual coffee options, gluten and nut free snacks and have a...
Machine Age Modern / Design Stores
With its fluid lines, Verner Panton's S chair beckons you to sit down. But his Pantonova Dining Set, available at Machine Age Modern for $12500, goes in a slightly different...
Mercury Organic Espresso Bar / Cafes
Mercury Organic Espresso Bar has been doing something right. This bustling cafe near Carlaw and Queen is known for their artfully crafted espresso, lattes and fresh-pressed organic lemonade. They also...
Nathalie Roze and Co / Fashion Stores
I didn't know it at the time, but the day I walked into Leslieville's Nathalie-Roze & Co., they happened to be celebrating their two year anniversary. Practically upon entering the...
Okay Okay / Restaurants
My favourite pancake has a home and it's at 1128 Queen Street East. Hot off the grill and topped with fresh whipped butter, the big fluffy wonders at Okay Okay...
Parts Gallery / Galleries
Parts Gallery is a contemporary art gallery focused on emerging and established local and international artists....
Plan B / Cafes
Plan B cafe can be a bit tough to find. Follow the arrows outside in the loading bay on the corner of Logan and Dundas next to the T-Shirt Guys...
Pulp Kitchen / Restaurants
Pulp Kitchen has re-opened in Leslieville, this time with the original owner back at the helm. On the menu are still all the great vegan brunch and lunch offerings like...
Queen Margherita Pizza / Restaurants
Queen Margherita Pizza recently opened in Leslieville and already it's being positioned as the east end's answer to Pizzeria Libretto. Yes, they too serve napoletana pizza baked in a prized...
Queen Pita / Restaurants
Queen Pita serves up some of the best falafel in the city. They also make juicy shawarma, baklava and fish wrap. ...
Red Rocket Coffee / Cafes
Red Rocket Coffee, named after the streetcar yard directly across the street, has an incredibly long (and tasty) list of fair trade, organic drip and espresso-based coffee drinks. They also...
Reliable Fish 'N Chips / Restaurants
Sometimes the map is the territory. I was prepared to be dazzled-- or in the absence of awe, hoping to at least buoy a Reliable Fish & Chips review...
Soggie Dog / Services
The Soggie Dog is Leslieville's DIY dog washing destination. Or you can get the "Soggie Dog Special" and have staff wash your pooch while you enjoy a complimentary coffee...
Sophie / Cafes
Sophie is a bright and cheery spot in the ever increasingly bright and cheery neighbourhood of Leslieville. Occupying a prime corner location at Queen and Logan, its energy is...
Steeped and Infused / Grocery Stores
Steeped and Infused is a new specialty tea store in Leslieville that offers a huge range of organic and loose leaf teas....
Sushi Marche / Restaurants
Sushi Marche is leaving some serious money on the table. A restaurant that serves raw fish this fresh, and this good could easily fill a large room seven nights a...
Sweet Bliss / Baked Goods
Sweet Bliss in Leslieville makes delicious cinnamon buns, apricot oatmeal squares, spanakopita and other baked treats. ...
Swirl Wine Bar / Bars
Swirl Wine Bar is a unique destination in Leslieville that puts me in mind of first dates. I can't help feeling that it is impressive to know about because it...
Tango Palace Coffee Company / Cafes
Tango Palace is the perfect place to stop in for an afternoon treat. It's got a really neat Art Nouveau style, stained glass lamps, and large comfy chairs at...
Te Aro / Cafes
"Te Aro," as it revealed itself through a Google-mapping, does not mean "I love you" in Spanish after all. Of course, I jest. But I also, upon my first couple...
Telegramme Prints / Galleries
Telegramme Prints in Leslieville specializes in sourcing recently produced, high-quality printed artwork not for sale anywhere else in Canada. Their selection includes: * Limited edition silkscreened gig posters (in the $26-$32...
The Roy / Restaurants
The Roy is a traditional pub that recently opened in Leslieville. The surroundings are pretty basic (but cozy) and attract locals for their pub grub and excellent selection of beers...
The T-Shirt Guys / Fashion Stores
The T-Shirt Guys make custom t-shirts for men, women and kids. ...
The Tulip / Restaurants
Somewhere between Leslieville and The Beaches lies a modest strip of Queen East where The Tulip's big yellow sign (or at least two-thirds of it) light up the street. ...
Thrill of the Find / Fashion Stores
Contributed by Natalie Taylor Remember that episode of Sex and the City where our heroine Ms. Carrie Bradshaw is introduced to the Vogue Accessories closet? A feeling of awe, disbelief and...
Timmie Doggie Outfitters / Services
Timmie Doggie Outfitters is what happens when two graphic designers open a dog boutique. With two Timmie-the-Dog inspired locations on West Queen West and in Leslieville (pictured), Timmie's offers top-notch...
Toast Restaurant / Restaurants
Toast Restaurant, formerly Hello Toast, is a Leslieville brunch fave that plays up its name with autographed toasters scattered throughout. On the menu is eggs florentine, cranberry cream cheese french...
TOMI-KRO Restaurant / Restaurants
After sunset, with candlelight casting interesting shadows in a monochromatic room, and the deep bass of a house dance track playing, Leslieville's TOMI-KRO certainly feels more like a lounge than...
Voulez Vous Cafe / Cafes
Voulez-Vous Cafe, from outside, is about as non-descript as it gets. Tucked away on a quiet stretch of Queen East near Coxwell, it sits unadorned on the end of a...
What Are You Looking At / Bars
What Are You Looking At has the style and colour of the two-page Tokion Magazine spread that was its inspiration. Also called WAYLA, Leslieville's newest spot aspires, like its neighbourhood,...
Zig Zag / Design Stores
Like every other condo-owning museum go-er, you could get a reproduction of Mies van der Rohe and Lilly Reich's Barcelona chair, or, for less money and more backstory, you could...
Neighbourhoods
Other Neighourhoods
- Annex
- Baldwin Village
- Bayview and Leaside
- Beaches
- Bloor West Village
- Bloorcourt
- Bloordale Village
- Cabbagetown
- Chinatown
- Church Wellesley Village
- Corso Italia
- Danforth
- Distillery District
- Dundas West
- East Chinatown
- Financial District
- Forest Hill Village
- Harbourfront
- Junction
- Kensington Market
- King East
- King West
- Koreatown
- Leslieville
- Liberty Village
- Little India
- Little Italy
- Mount Pleasant
- Ossington
- Parkdale
Community
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Know a great local business we should include on the site?
