Neighbourhoods
Ossington
Amid auto repair shops and fading karaoke lounges, an influx of bars, restaurants and boutiques has transformed the stretch of South Ossington between Queen and Dundas into Toronto's latest and greatest destination for drinking and dining. Cozy up to locals at Sweaty Betty's, Dakota Tavern or the Crooked Star. Try to get a table at Foxley or Delux or join the weekend revelers at LeVack Block, Reposado or The Ossington. When all else fails there's always the city's best pho (and cheap Tsing Tao) at Golden Turtle.
Looking for something
specific in Ossington?
Academy of Lions / Fitness Clubs
Academy of Lions is a Crossfit affiliated gym on Dundas just west of Ossington. The focus here is all about core stength and conditioning. It's a much different gym experience...
Alex Rei dos Leitoes / Restaurants
With 38 years in the same location, Alex Rei dos Leitoes has watched its fair share of gentrifying upstarts come and go, and has fed them all. The chicken is...
Angell Gallery / Galleries
Angell Gallery was one of the first to set up shop on the now art-centric West Queen West corridor. But having occupied its 750 sq. ft. space just southwest...
AWOL Gallery / Galleries
Established in 1999, AWOL Gallery and Studios was one of the first galleries to open in what is now a hot Toronto Queen West Gallery District. AWOL Gallery and...
Baby Huey / Bars
Baby Huey is THE ultimate underground hipster hangout. I try to stay away from using the word "hipster" as a general rule, but I just can't get around it in...
Boehmer / Restaurants
Boehmer is the first restaurant by Toronto chef Paul Boehmer (ex. Ultra Supper Club, Spoke Club) and finally he has a place he can let his cooking do the talking....
Burger Shoppe Quality Meats / Restaurants
An offshoot of the Burger Shoppe in Riverside, Burger Shoppe Quality Meats is a larger sit down affair on Ossington just south of Dundas. On the menu are all the...
Crafted by Te Aro / Cafes
Crafted By Te Aro is the latest addition to ever growing Lower Ossington. An outpost, if you will, of the popular original Leslieville location, Crafted brings westward a fancy...
Crooked Star / Bars
The Crooked Star doesn't post its name on the door, opting instead for a small red star. I'm known for my directional deficiencies, which always makes finding this cozy little...
Dakota Tavern / Bars
The Dakota Tavern is a subterranean throwback to the dusty saloons depicted in classic American westerns. The walls are littered with guns, mounted horns, boomerangs, band posters, and snowy Canadian...
Delux / Restaurants
Delux, at 92 Ossington Avenue, is in the home of the former Sparrow. The restaurant's been totally made-over and now feature leathers booths, cool lighting fixtures and a menu with...
Fishbar / Restaurants
Fishbar has recently surfaced on bustling Lower Ossington near the corner of Dundas. William Tavares and partner Albino Silva of Salt Wine Bar have created a broad menu of tapas...
Foxley / Restaurants
Foxley Bistro is new, yet it still has a past. The menu is fresh, but not without its own unique history. Foodies all over Toronto are excited about it, but...
Frantic City / Bookstores
Frantic City is located near the foot of Ossington between Queen and Dundas. Although the store's been around for more than four years, as is the case for other...
Gallery at 129 Ossington / Galleries
Contributed by andi argast Another sign of gentrification along the once unloved Ossington Avenue strip, 129 Ossington is helping to make the area a destination for gallery-goers. Located at (surprise, surprise)...
Gallery TPW / Galleries
Vibrant gallery explores the vital role still and moving images play in contemporary culture....
Goed Eten / Restaurants
Goed Eten has resurfaced on Ossington, a year after closing up shop at its original location in Kensington Market. Still on the menu are the goods that made this place...
Golden Turtle / Restaurants
I live near a stretch on Ossington (between Queen and Dundas) overflowing with vietnamese eateries. I'm a regular customer of one of them, a place called Golden Turtle (otherwise known...
I Deal Coffee (Ossington) / Cafes
I Deal Coffee on Ossington is the second location of the popular coffee house. With the original still thriving in Kensington Market, this Ossington outpost also has an under-designed feel...
I Miss You / Fashion Stores
I Miss You is one of those stores that I tend to avoid for fear of dropping mad cash, as the sheer girth of the wad I'm usually tempted to...
Imperial Tattoo / Services
Imperial Tattoo is found in an unassuming black building directly across from CAMH on Queen, just a smidgen north on Ossington. Like most of the city's top custom tattoo joints,...
Interaccess / Galleries
Interaccess is the only gallery and production facility in Ontario devoted exclusively to electronic media art....
Jaiden's Petals / Design Stores
Jaiden's Petals is a small florist on Ossington that creates wonderful arrangements and bouquets; as well as a small selection of pots, vases and other accessories. ...
Jonathan + Olivia / Fashion Stores
Christmas came early this year for me. Each year, when I wing my way back to Vancouver for the holidays, I make sure to set aside an afternoon to visit my...
LAB Consignment / Fashion Stores
LAB Consignment is the landing ground for chic designer fashions, vintage clothing, and special one-of-a-kinds, sourced in large part from owner Lauren Baker's vast network of contacts. So vast, in...
LeVack Block / Bars
Two years ago I often wandered by the corner of Ossington and Humbert to admire an old, near dilapidated three story building. The place was vacant but the building had...
Lush & Lavish / Fashion Stores
Lush & Lavish, the only certified Eminence Green Spa in Toronto, opened a year ago on now-hot Lower Ossington. Co-owner Linh Diep is a mini west-end retail maven, also the...
MKG127 / Galleries
MKG127 might read like a postal code at first glance, but the gallery space actually borrows its initials from its founder Michael Klein and its address at 127 Ossington at...
More than Pasta / Grocery Stores
More Than Pasta tells you all you need to know about its products in its name. With six times the protein of regular pasta and just one third of the...
O'Born Contemporary / Galleries
O'Born Contemporary has all the poise and polish of a regular commercial art gallery, yet it's clear they're determined to do things a little differently. Exhibiting only contemporary works by...
OneTwenty Modern / Design Stores
OneTwenty Modern is a high-end furniture and design store on Lower Ossington. The smallish space is a fun journey into the world of eclectic decor, designer collections and fascinating pieces...
Our House / Bars
Our House is the newest lounge to hit Lower Ossington. With windows blocked by heavy drapes, minimal furniture to allow for max capacity, DJs and occasional cover charges, all indications...
Oz Studios / Galleries
Oz Studios was once a boutique featuring the latest design of Evan Biddell but quickly transformed into a studio space/gallery/special events space run by photographer Joe Fuda....
Painted Lady / Bars
The Painted Lady has been my favourite bar on the Ossington strip this year, which all started when I ended up there on Easter Sunday only to hear a DJ...
Parlour / Fashion Stores
Parlour has opened on Ossington becoming the second salon in as many years to call the strip south of Dundas home. I first discovered it a few weeks back when...
Pho Tien Thanh / Restaurants
The first thing I notice walking into Pho Tien Thanh on a Saturday evening is the crowd: every table is full. The second thing I observe is the hush. Pho...
Pizzeria Libretto / Restaurants
Eating pizza is a lot like having sex: great anytime of the day including first thing in the morning; even if it's bad it's still pretty good; and if...
Reposado / Bars
Reposado on Ossington has just what you'd expect - tequila. But this isn't your run-of-the-mill Mexican themed bar. You won't find any tacky sombreros or other Mexican paraphernalia on the...
Salt Wine Bar / Restaurants
Salt Wine Bar on Lower Ossington has had a long struggle to get up and running but that's a story we've all heard many times. What matters is that now,...
Silver Falls / Fashion Stores
Silver Falls is the newest addition to high end vintage on Lower Ossington. The boutique/art gallery opened a few months ago beside Sweaty Betty's. Silver Falls offers a fine selection...
Sweaty Betty's / Bars
Do not ride your bike over to Sweaty Betty's on a Friday or Saturday night. This place attracts fixie- and cruiser-riders like an indie rock concert, yet there are no...
Telegramme Prints (Ossington) / Galleries
Telegramme Prints, with their new, second location on Lower Ossington, is a one-stop shop for all things art, framing, posters and printing. Without a doubt, it's the premier store for...
Terra Cotta / Fashion Stores
Just north of Queen on Ossington, this easy to miss basement studio boutique is found through a gate and down an alleyway. Featuring women's clothing that can easily be altered...
The Ossington / Bars
In the midst of my weekend shopping a couple months ago I ducked into The Ossington for some sustenance and shelter from the cold. The beautiful barista Danielle warmed me...
Union / Restaurants
After a year of renovating, Union on Ossington has finally opened its doors. The chef behind the restaurant is a lad named Teo Paul, a Toronto native, who spent years...
Venezia Bakery / Baked Goods
Venezia Bakery at the corner of Ossington and Argyle specializes in Portuguese bread and baked treats. It's also a good spot to stop for a morning espresso. ...
Vintage Mix 1 / Fashion Stores
I often walk by Vintage Mix 1 (as it's on the way to a friend's house), and it speaks highly of its wares that I always stop to stare in...
Virginia Johnson / Fashion Stores
I really love prints on fabric. The type that I like the most are usually of the illustrative kind. I have always been in love with illustrations whether it be...
YogaSpace / Fitness Clubs
YogaSpace is a busy studio. They run back-to-back classes daily, filling the common areas with rotating and anxious yogis-in-waiting. I had barely enough time to pack up my mat and...
Yours Truly / Restaurants
Yours Truly isn't just a valediction anymore, but the latest restaurant-cum-bar on Lower Ossington. Chef Jeff Claudio has created a modern-styled daily prix fixe dinner and a small plate menu...
Neighbourhoods
Other Neighbourhoods
- Annex
- Baldwin Village
- Bayview and Leaside
- Beaches
- Bloor West Village
- Bloorcourt
- Bloordale Village
- Cabbagetown
- Chinatown
- Church Wellesley Village
- Corktown
- Corso Italia
- Danforth
- Distillery District
- Dundas West
- East Chinatown
- Eglinton West
- Etobicoke
- Financial District
- Forest Hill Village
- Harbourfront
- Junction
- Junction Triangle
- Kensington Market
- King East
- King West
- Koreatown
- Leslieville
- Liberty Village
- Little India
- Little Italy
- Markham
- Mount Pleasant
- North York
- Ossington
- Pape Village
- Parkdale
- Port Lands
- Queen West
- Richmond Hill
- Riverside
- Roncesvalles Village
- Rosedale
- Scarborough
- St. Clair West
- St. Lawrence Market
- Upper Beaches
- West Queen West
- Yonge & Bloor
- Yonge & College
- Yonge & Dundas
- Yonge & Eglinton
- Yonge & St. Clair
- Yonge & Wellesley
- Yorkville
Community
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