Neighbourhoods
Queen West
No longer the hippest address in town, the original Queen West is now a retail strip fronting global brands like Zara, H&M and Lululemon mixed with sneaker shops and longtime indie favourites that continue to persevere despite sky-rocketing rents. Things get a bit more interesting and eclectic west of Spadina where locals favour spots like Tequila Bookworm, Fressen and The Cameron House. Not to be missed are the galleries and rooftop garden at nearby 401 Richmond.
Looking for something
specific in Queen West?
3rd Quadrant Comics / Bookstores
3rd Quadrant Comics opened in it's new location on Queen St. West just west of Bathurst (across from the Beer Store) in January of 2008. With a wide-variety of...
416 Snack Bar / Restaurants
416 Snack Bar is an ode to Toronto. With a close eye for detail, owners Adrian Ravinsky and David Stewart have crafted a venue and a menu that pay tribute...
5th Element / Restaurants
5th Element is a contemporary Indian restaurant on Queen West serving up Bombay calamari fritters, chicken tikka and prawn pakoras....
A Space Gallery / Galleries
A Space is an artist-run gallery that features politically engaged issue oriented programming that is inclusive of a wide range of media, disciplines and views. ...
Aboveground Art Supplies / Design Stores
Aboveground Art Supplies just might be the largest art supply store in Toronto. Located steps from OCAD, the store is stocked full of paint, brushes, canvases, paper and other art...
Aeroplane / Fashion Stores
Aeroplane is a vintage-only eyewear shop, showroom, and lens-crafter. Not only do they sell shades, they also design high spec lenses that add unique gradients and hues to any pair...
Affordable Textiles / Design Stores
Affordable Textiles certainly chose their store name well. The space is flooded with fabrics at tremendously low prices from floor to ceiling. Literally. Besides the cavernous atmosphere and the fact...
Aji Sai / Restaurants
Aji Sai is famous for their all you can eat sushi which actually includes a lot more than sushi. Fish is fresh and options include maki, nigiri, sashimi and hand...
Ali Baba's (Peter St.) / Restaurants
Ali Baba's on Peter Street is typically swarming with club-goers in the late hours (or early mornings) of the weekends. The portions are huge and the food is cheap, making...
Americo Original / Design Stores
Americo Original is a Toronto-based fashion and supply store that combines its own line of South American inspired yarns and textiles with ready-to-wear clothing and home accessories...
Analogue Gallery / Galleries
Analogue Gallery is a newish Queen West gallery that aims to exhume from the annals of music history the unpublished images of noted photographers. For music lovers, the small...
Arepa Cafe / Restaurants
Arepa Cafe has a steady stream of customers at the lunch hour. The narrow cafe is well-lit, and bright colours and beautiful, exposed brick walls line the room's length. A...
Aristotelis / Fashion Stores
A perennial favourite at Richmond and Spadina. Aristotelis Koukodimos learned his trade in the Greek army. Augmented by son Larry, who eschewed a career in civil engineering to join the...
Avenue Open Kitchen / Restaurants
Avenue Open Kitchen is a tiny place on a garment district side street and has been left to wave the flag for diners since the Stem closed its doors. The...
Babur / Restaurants
Babur serves up Indian food on Queen West. The best bet is to go for their weekend lunch buffets. ...
Balisi / Fashion Stores
Balisi is one of the better shoe stores in Toronto with three locations including the original on College, this one on Queen West and a brand new shop on the...
Banh Mi Boys / Restaurants
Banh Mi Boys have returned from a hiatus at the corner of Queen and Spadina. It seems the Boys have retreated during their winter break for a complete reno having...
BarChef / Bars
Confession: I went into BarChef with a bad attitude, having already decided that I wouldn't like it. Touted as Toronto's answer to "cocktail culture" (whatever that is) and boasting drinks...
Barreworks / Fitness Clubs
Barreworks studio offers "barre fitness" classes that are based on a popular exercise originating from New York and Los Angeles. Classes here promise dancer-inspired workouts that combine "fitness training, core...
Black Bull / Bars
The Black Bull does ridiculous business during the summer as it's prime Queen Street patio (at Peter street) just packs people in. In addition to the sun and beer there's...
Black Market Vintage / Fashion Stores
Frequent sales and rock-bottom prices make these Queen Street vintage spots a must-see. There's a full range of leather jackets ($79-$200) in maroon, orange, beige, gray, blue, and pink, and...
BLVD Interiors / Design Stores
BLVD Interiors has packed up from its long time home at the north east corner of Queen and Bathurst and moved, uh, a block west to the south side of...
BMV Express / Bookstores
BMV Express recently popped up on Queen West, across the street from the CTV building in the space formerly occupied by St. Patricks convenience store, but just what exactly is...
Boomer / Fashion Stores
Boomer has been selling well tailored men's suits, shirts, pants and coats at the corner of Queen and John for almost ten years. The most prominent brands here are Boss...
Bovine Sex Club / Bars
Rock, punk, and metal bands grace the Bovine Sex Club - a dark, eclectic space on Queen West. A neighbourhood institution since the early 1990's....
BQM Diner / Restaurants
BQM Diner opened last year in the old The Stem location on Queen, causing greasy spoon purists to question whether a local gourmet burger joint would tarnish this once classic...
Branded Boutique / Fashion Stores
Branded Boutique may look like the new kid on the block, but the Spadina Ave. designer outlet has roots in the 'hood. For three years, Branded occupied the space below...
Brandy Melville / Fashion Stores
Brandy Melville caters to the teenybopper crew, and it wasn't just the gaggle of braces and backpacks that greeted me upon entering that led me to that conclusion (but let's...
Burrito Bandidos (Peter St.) / Restaurants
Burrito Bandidos on Peter St. is where Toronto's burrito obsession was born. Formerly Burrito Boyz, the lower level spot still sees long lines after the clubs let out. Go for...
Burro Burrito (Richmond West) / Restaurants
Burro Burrito has opened yet another location, this one on Richmond St. across from 401 Richmond....
C Squared (Queen and Bathurst) / Fashion Stores
C Squared has opened a new, second location just a couple blocks west of its existing location on Queen West. C Squared the original is just east of Spadina, and...
Cabin Five / Bars
Cabin Five bills itself as a "no-nonsense party bar that puts a premium on fun rather than worrying about velvet ropes". It's a lodge-themed club in the Club District that's...
Cafe Crepe / Restaurants
Cafe Crepe, just steps from the corner of Queen and John, serves fresh sweet and savoury crepes. The kitchen is right by the sidewalk so there's ample opportunities to salivate...
Camden Spa / Fashion Stores
Camden Spa recently changed hands, and along with the change in ownership is a change in focus, as the spa concentrates on skin care services. OPEN SINCE 2001, but with a change...
Cameron House / Bars
A former flophouse, the eclectic Cameron House is a cozy bar with an intimate live music venue in the back room. Photo by Kevin Steele on Flickr....
Canadiana Backpackers Inn / Hotels
The Canadiana Backpackers Inn is one of the top 3 youth hostels in Toronto. It's located on a small side street in the shadows of the giant Scotiabank multiplex. It's...
Canon Blanc / Fashion Stores
Canon Blanc brings Parisian fashions to Toronto's streets months before they would have organically arrived. Snagging some superb Queen West real estate just west of Bathurst, the husband and wife team...
CB2 Toronto / Design Stores
CB2 opened its first Canadian store this week in the frame of what was once the Big Bop on Queen West. There are hints here and there of the place that...
Change / Fashion Stores
Scandinavian lingerie mogul Change has opened their own storefront on Queen St W at John. Featuring classy, simply elegant designs (plus, the company managed to secure www.change.com, how impressive...
Cherry Colas / Bars
Cherry Colas Rock & Roll Cabaret Lounge is a hellish new spot with loud music and louder people. On Bathurst just North of Queen, co-owner Glenn Hughes, a former promoter...
Chococrepe / Restaurants
Chococrepe is Queen and Bathurst's newest destination for crepes, crepes and basically, crepes. Did I mention crepes? Okay, they serve a bit more than just the delectable wispy thin pancakes,...
Christine's Fitness / Fitness Clubs
Christine's Fitness has three locations in Toronto including the one pictured above on Richmond Street near Spadina. Christine's is a women-only fitness club which offers weights, cardio, yoga, pilates and...
City Bar / Cafes
City Bar is not your typical indie coffee spot. For one, it's nestled amongst denim cutoffs and Wewood watches that hang off shelves--not off irreverent patrons sipping lattes. You won't...
CJ Lunch Box / Restaurants
CJ Lunch box is a popular lunch time destination near Richmond and Spadina. The place has a cafeteria like feel but for the price you can't beat the quality and...
Club XS / Bars
Club XS is a nightclub at the base of the Scotibank theatre complex at RIchmond and John. It was formerly known as Republik....
Coal Miner's Daughter (Queen St.) / Fashion Stores
The Coal Miner's Daughter's new Queen Street location has been open since April 7th, and is so new that paint cans figure largely into its window display. Co-owner Krysten Caddy...
Come and Get it / Restaurants
Come and Get It is the latest pop up to throw its hat into the "here today, gone tomorrow" restaurant scene. Located at Queen and Spadina, "Get it" is temporally...
Come As You Are / Services
Come As You Are (CAYA) has been Toronto's cooperative sex store for over 15 years, though now, it's offering its organic lubes and Fun Factory Dukes from a little further...
Condom Shack Toronto / Services
The Condom Shack has hours that are spontaneity-friendly, spilling light onto the sidewalk long after most of its Queen Street neighbours have closed shop. Don't judge it by its name,...
Cooney for Hair / Fashion Stores
Cooney for Hair is one salon in Toronto that's consistently looking east for inspiration. While Cooney himself is Chinese, the salon is decidedly Japanese in approach. I've surely past by the...
Core Studio / Fitness Clubs
Core Studio boasts newly renovated studios for hot yoga, mat pilates and machine classes. There's something to be said for atmosphere, and apart from a beach, I can't think of...
Cosmos Records / Services
Cosmos Records on Queen St. is a simple room absolutely full of packed shelves and vinyl up every possible wall. The selection here is heavy on Soul, Hip Hop, Rock...
Cosmos West Records / Services
Cosmos West Records is one of the two Cosmos stores that bookend Bathurst Street; the one on the east side came first, and this one followed when the owner discovered...
Crema Coffee (Spadina) / Cafes
Crema at Spadina and Richmond is a familiar incarnation of its older sister to the west. Not too far west — think Crema at Yonge and Bloor. Again sharing space...
Crispy Roll / Restaurants
Crispy Roll on Queen Street is a casual place to cozy up to some sushi, maki or other Japanese cuisine. ...
Cube Nightclub / Bars
Cube Nightclub is a canvas. A pulsating, high-ceilinged, mirrored canvas, but a mere canvas nonetheless. For those who miss Ultra, Cube will be welcome news - it is its replacement,...
Curry's Artists's Materials / Design Stores
Curry's, along with DeSerres, is Toronto's largest chain of art supply stores. There are locations splattered throughout the downtown core including the one pictured here near OCAD, on Yonge Street...
Cycle Shoppe / Services
The Cycle Shoppe is the older sibling of Cyclemotive, and has been located in and around Queen and Bathurst for 20 years. Unlike the newer shop which is larger and...
Cyclemotive / Services
Cyclemotive is one of those bike stores where you get a bit of everything. Affiliated with the older Cycle Shoppe on Queen West, this larger space around the corner on...
Dance Mac / Restaurants
Dance Mac, the purveyor of all things creamy, crunchy and delicious, is like the saving grace of the entertainment district. What better lunchtime indulgence than a piping hot plate of...
David's Tea / Grocery Stores
I like tea. A lot. It's awesome with my Saturday morning chocolate chip pancakes, and it even makes my Monday morning toast taste better. This is why I was so...
DeSerres / Design Stores
DeSerres is a new name on the Toronto art supply store scene even though the company has been around since 1908. In its former incarnation, it was known as Loomis...
Design Republic / Design Stores
Design Republic is a new furniture shop that opened in the Burroughes Building on Queen West. This welcome addition to the strip sells a wide mix of stools, chairs, sofas,...
Due West / Fashion Stores
Due West stocks international brands like Diesel, J Lindeberg, Energie, Edwin, Seven and G-Star....
Duke's Cycle / Services
Duke's Cycle is back at 625 Queen Street West — where it belongs. After a six-alarm fire destroyed it and nearby buildings in 2008, it's been a long and expensive...
Durumi & Chocolate Shoes / Fashion Stores
Durumi & Chocolate Shoes are two stores sharing a new space on Queen Street just west of Spadina. Though they are two separate businesses, the pretty flats and heels from...
East / Restaurants
East, brought to you by the friendly Spring Rolls restaurant chain, is much like their brethren, a stylish, contemporary (and affordable) spot to dig into some tasty Southeast Asian cuisine. ...
EKO / Fashion Stores
EKO, on Queen between John and Peter Streets, sells unique and one of a kind contemporary jewellery including necklaces, rings and earrings. ...
Elle Hardware / Fashion Stores
Elle Hardware is a boutique jewelry and accessories store where every item comes with a back-story. On Queen Street West near Bathurst, this sister-owned shop has been on the scene...
Ematei / Restaurants
Two summers ago I took a trip to Japan, partly to connect with a family and culture I never really knew I had, but also... to eat tons of amazing...
Epicure Cafe / Restaurants
Tempting French and Italian dishes and an enticing atmosphere. Brunch served Saturday and Sunday....
EuroFab / Design Stores
EuroFab has an extensive selection of high quality, imported fabrics for interior decorating, as well as design consultants to speak with should you need a second opinion on how to...
Everest Restaurant / Restaurants
Everest Restaurant lets you enjoy traditional Tibetan and Indian dishes in a modern setting right in the heart of downtown. Sit in the prime real estate that is their patio...
F As In Frank / Fashion Stores
F As In Frank has arrived from Vancouver, bringing its collection of vintage urban wear and '80s and '90s-inspired design. It's a special moment that first time you see a...
Faces Nightclub / Bars
Faces Nightclub is a three story club on Richmond Street in the Club District that has massive ceilings and an outdoor patio. They strongly recommend table and bottle service so...
Fashion Crimes / Fashion Stores
Fashion Crime's is a fantasy treasure trove for grown-ups who still love to play dress-up. From prom dresses to wedding outfits to outrageous accessories, Pam Chorley's Fashion Crimes and their...
Fashionably Yours / Fashion Stores
Fashionably Yours is consignment shopping at its most couture. All the brands and designers you never thought you could ever afford are suddenly in your price range--and in abundance....
Fifth Grill / Restaurants
The Fifth Grill adds some unexpected elegance to the club district. This rooftop loft restaurant and terrace has been carved out of a former warehouse space. The kitchen turns out...
Five on Queen / Fashion Stores
Five on Queen offers discount prices on the usual Queen West brands like Seven for Mankind, Citizens, Fidelity blah blah blah. Prices are usually cheap enough to make you think...
Football Factory / Restaurants
The Football Factory prides itself as a "true Canadian soccer bar". Flags and banners float proudly alongside Bob Marley paraphernalia. Devotees of Toronto FC congregate here each weekend during regular...
Fraiche / Fashion Stores
Owners Alex and Maria Michot are in their eighth year of business and still deliver quality fashion at affordable prices. The boutique stocks brands from all over the world...
Fresh on Spadina / Restaurants
Fresh on Spadina is the smallest of the three Fresh restaurants in Toronto. Like the Annex and Crawford locations, this Fresh serves up a long list of rice bowls, smoothies,...
Freshii / Restaurants
Lettuce Eatery devotes themselves 100% to making a salad just the way you like it. Choose your greens, your toppings, your toppings' toppings and, of course, your dressing. Five...
Fusaro's Kitchen / Restaurants
Neighbourhood Italian eatery serves grilled panini, pasta, fresh salads & pizza. A great lunch spot....
Fusia Dog / Restaurants
Fusia Dog has set up shop on Duncan and Queen promising a new type of haute dog -- a multicultural one. A distinct change from the usual pizza, shawarma...
Fuzz Wax Bar / Fashion Stores
Fuzz War Bar is to waxing what Blo is to dries or Doll Bar is to extensions. The new, trendy Queen West spot does waxing, and only waxing. Owners Jessica...
FY Ink Tattoos / Services
FY Ink Tattoos has relocated from Yonge St. to Queen St. just east of Bathurst. With the move they changed their name from the short-sighted Forever Yonge Ink to the...
Gafas / Fashion Stores
Gafas carries edgy labels like Dutz, Salt and Chrome Hearts, but made its name with a huge inventory of vintage frames from the '70s and '80s. With over 800 frames...
Gallery 44 / Galleries
Founded in 1979, Gallery 44 is a non-profit artist-run centre that features contemporary photography exhibits. ...
Gallery Moos / Galleries
Contemporary Canadian, American and European painting, sculpture and works on paper....
Gandhi Roti / Restaurants
Who makes Toronto's best roti? Ask most people and they'll say Gandhi at 554 Queen West. The ten-seater roti restaurant has been serving up super-fresh, made-to-order lunches and dinners for...
Gangster Burger / Restaurants
Gangster Burger has been open just under a week on Queen West, taking over the former location of a shawarma spot. It's the brainchild of Lee B. and Will Nguyen...
Get Outside / Fashion Stores
Get Outside is one of the most popular sneaker shops in the city with brands like Adidas, Ben Sherman, Birkenstock, Clarks, Converse, Evisu, Puma, Tsubo and Royal Elastics....
Ginger (Queen West) / Restaurants
Ginger has traditional Vietnamese food with nothing over $10 on the menu. With such low prices for their pho noodle soup or banh-mi Vietnamese subs, you can pay your downtown...
Goorin Bros. / Fashion Stores
Goorin Bros. is not your typical downtown hat store. For one, none of its pieces come with stickers on the brim, nor it is not recommended that you keep tags...
Grasslands / Restaurants
Grasslands is the newest incarnation of the Queen West space that was until recently Fressen, a pioneer vegan destination of 12 years. Although ownership remains the same, everything else (staff,...
Groovy / Fashion Stores
Groovy is one of Toronto's best sneaker stores. They carry stuff that's impossible to find elsewhere in Toronto. There's a good selection of Puma and Adidas sneakers; and there's also...
Hair By David / Fashion Stores
Hair By David (Newman) is tucked into the 477 Richmond Street building (#501). Complimentary consultations. ...
Hero Certified Burgers (Queen and Spadina) / Restaurants
Hero Burger at Queen and Spadina is open 24 hours because some people like to eat goat cheese-topped beef burgers at 7:30 in the morning. More likely for this location,...
Hilton Garden Inn / Hotels
The Hilton Garden Inn is a new hotel located smack-dab in the heart of Toronto's Club District. Stay here if you plan to hit the clubs and are looking for...
Home Craft Decor / Design Stores
Home Craft Decor, having moved one door east into the former space of macFAB fabrics at Queen and Bathurst is a fun, mishmash of furniture and design styles, certain to...
Homebase / Design Stores
Homebase is a mecca for anyone interested in graffiti culture. The little shop on Camden Street near Queen and Spadina can't be easily classified — it's part gallery, part arts...
Horseshoe Tavern / Bars
The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern. Legendary isn't an adjective that one just throws around every day, and yet there it sits comfortably in front of one of Toronto's oldest and most...
HoSu Bistro / Restaurants
I admit that sometimes I order menu dishes just because I find the names intriguing. "Chicken Bibim Bop" sounds more like a (possibly painful) dance move to me, but it's...
I Love Sushi / Restaurants
I Love Sushi is one of the many sushi options on Queen West. Open for lunch and dinner, they also have an AYCE sushi menu....
India Palace / Restaurants
India Palace is one of the many Indian restaurants along Queen between University and John streets....
Ja Bistro / Restaurants
JaBistro opened three weeks ago in the Club District and is announced by a playful, illuminated front sign against blackout windows. At its helm is James HyunSoo Kim, who also...
Jacob & Sebastian / Fashion Stores
Jacob & Sebastian is a Queen West oasis for the under-pampered and overwhelmed. Stepping into the airy bath and beauty shop is a reminder that certainly most of us don't...
Java House / Restaurants
Sitting on the corner of Queen West and Augusta, Java house is a ragged-yet-lovable little cafe/resto hang-out with a big patio, tiny kitchen and cheap eats menu that sees no...
JC Mart / Grocery Stores
JC Mart is a grocery store that also caters to those in need of dry cleaning and sushi. This one stop shop is located in King around the corner from...
Jerk Spot (Peter St.) / Restaurants
This Jerk Spot location in the midst of the Entertainment District is a sure thing if you're looking for late-night Caribbean food. They offer a variety of curries,...
John Fluevog Shoes / Fashion Stores
John Fluevog Shoes on Queen West is the ideal backdrop to display the classic Fluevog style, with contrasting colours, bizarre shapes and stitched leather, against a minimalist black and white...
Jules Bistro & Cafe / Restaurants
Delicious French comfort food in authentic French bistro. 3 course prix fixe $24.95....
Kind Exchange / Fashion Stores
The Kind Exchange helps to solve one of the biggest problems you face when it comes time for that inevitable wardrobe clean out — where to dump the decent clothes...
King Textiles / Design Stores
King Textiles has thrived in the Fashion District for over 20 years. Its size boasts 22,000 square feet, filled with thousands of all kinds of fabrics and fabric-related accessories. And...
Kops Records / Services
Kops Records is committed to keeping 45s in circulation, with boxes of singles in every genre, stocked next to used and new vinyl. Kops has evolved over the years, from...
Korean Grill House (Queen St.) / Restaurants
Korean Grillhouse lets you show off your grilling skills without any of the prep or inclement weather worries. Marinated beef, pork and seafood are ready to grill right at your...
KWT Contemporary / Galleries
KWT Contemporary is the only gallery I know of that's owned by an elected official. Formerly known as XEXE Gallery, active since 2004 and founded by Councillor Kristyn Wong-Tam, the...
La Palette / Restaurants
I've never eaten horse although regrettably fed it to my dog when I was a kid. Like the common terrier, horse falls into a category for me of foods that...
Lamesa Filipino Kitchen / Restaurants
Lamesa Filipino Kitchen serves up modern Filipino cuisine. Current menu highlights include Crispy Pork Belly Adobo and a Jackfruit Crème Brulee....
Lavish and Squalor / Fashion Stores
Lavish and Squalor on Queen west of John stocks men's and women's jeans, tops and other clothing. Brands on the racks include LA Salvage, Chip & Pepper, Hudson and Spy...
Le Gourmand Grocer Cafe / Cafes
Le Gourmand has re-opened its flagship location near Richmond and Spadina after shuttering its doors in the wake of some financial problems. Photo by notpeppermintpatty on Flickr...
Leigh & Harlow / Fashion Stores
I keep thinking it's too early to be daydreaming about the Toronto International Film Festival. The Brange. The parties. The paparazzi. Then I realize it's almost August and the celebrity-filled...
Lisa Marie / Restaurants
Lisa Marie is the newly opened Queen West restaurant from Toronto's pop-up king, Matt Basile. The new restaurant does double duty as a permanent address to find his always inventive...
Little India / Restaurants
Little India restaurant (not to be confused with the Little India neighbourhood on Gerrard Street East), is one of the many Indian restaurants that dot the south side of Queen...
Little Nicky's Coffee / Cafes
Little Nicky's Coffee has a retro feel with muted colours, soft lighting, checkered tiles and glass cookie jars. Owner Renee Bonise opened the Queen and Peter cafe only a few...
Lo Zingaro / Restaurants
Lo Zingaro serves up Roman-style pizzas with a twist. Choose from a wide variety of specials, with plenty of options for those looking for dairy-free, gluten-free or vegetarian options. The...
Loft Hair Lounge / Fashion Stores
Loft Hair Lounge specializes in hair color (starting at $65), extensions and straightening treatments as well as a selection of air brush make-up applications and of course, quality, on-trend hair...
Lomography Gallery Store / Galleries
The Lomography Gallery Store is an interesting proposition - a real world venue for a community of photographers who've shared, shopped and communicated with each other online. As the name...
Lou Lou's Shawarma and Falafel / Restaurants
Lou Lou's Shawarma and Falafel specialized in two things. Can you guess what they are? Both are pretty good and draw regular lunch time crowds. ...
Loving Hut / Restaurants
Loving Hut is a casual vegan restaurant with two locations in Toronto including this one on Richmond St. just west of Spadina. All the items on the menu are vegan,...
Malabar Theatrical Costumes / Fashion Stores
Malabar Theatrical Costumes is one of Toronto's leading costume stores, and has been around for about a century. Although the renowned establishment offers theatrical costumes year round, their Halloween display...
Mama Loves You Vintage / Fashion Stores
Mama Loves You Vintage carries a wide selection of finely curated vintage pieces from the 1900s to the ever-popular 1990s. Mother-daughter duo Melo and Mahro run this shop, combining their...
Mamma's Pizza (Richmond and Spadina) / Restaurants
Mamma's Pizza at Richmond and Spadina has a bit of a hole-in-the-wall feel, but if you're keen on a quick pizza Mamma's certainly delivers (no pun intended). Strategically located by...
Mankind Grooming Studio / Fashion Stores
Mankind Grooming Studio bills itself as an urban salon and spa for men offering modern haircuts, straight razor shaves, skin care, body treatments and massage therapy. ...
Manpuku / Restaurants
It's Friday night, and there's a line of hungry patrons streaming out the door of Manpuku, the new-ish Japanese eatery in the Village Grange complex. I think there's something in...
Marcato / Fashion Stores
Marcato has opened its doors for its second unveiling in less than a year, derailed by plumbing problems that seem to plague this strip of old buildings on Queen West....
Mecha MMA / Fitness Clubs
Mecha MMA at Queen and Bathurst is where aspiring fighters go to train. We're talking serious, champion fighters, specializing in MMA, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Wrestling, Kickboxing and Judo. Mecha gives...
Mission Burrito / Restaurants
Mission Burrito is the latest entrant in the ongoing burrito battle taking over this city, but they're the first burrito place to be as bold as to claim to offer...
Mokuba / Design Stores
Mokuba is Toronto's one-of-a-kind design centre featuring over 27,000 high-end ribbons, trimming and lace....
MOOG Audio / Services
MOOG Audio is the only purely digital age store in Toronto, selling vinyl and DJ discs alongside turntables and studio gear for the "made it on my laptop" artists out...
Morba / Design Stores
It's a furniture store. No, it's a home design store. No, wait - it's a furniture and home design store on drugs, a lot of different drugs at the same...
MoSheTa / Fashion Stores
MoSheTa Salon and Spa does nails, hair, Brazilian waxing and plenty of other spa options inside its salon near Queen and Bathurst....
Mr. Burrito / Restaurants
Mr. Burrito is part of the Quick Pita/King Tut's corner operation on Duncan just south of Queen. ...
Mucho Burrito (Queen St.) / Restaurants
Mucho Burrito on Queen is pretty fair for a chain burrito joint, though some would say charging extra for guacamole pretty much amounts to blasphemy. This location has a prime...
Murrays Sandwich Emporium / Restaurants
Murrays Sandwich Emporium, recently opened at Queen and Bathurst, joins the ranks of a handful of west-end eateries that open not only for lunch hours, but also cater to the...
Music Gallery / Bars
The Music Gallery is one of Toronto most loved venues for live music. Located in an old Church on John Street just north of Queen, The Music Gallery has amazing...
Musideum / Services
Musideum, with its careful displays and dramatic lighting, makes it easy to forget that it's a store, and that the exotic instruments - kotos and koras, shenais, santurs, tablas, hurdy-gurdies,...
Naz's Falafel House / Restaurants
Naz's Falafel House has given themselves a face lift. Their late night falafel destination is popular with club-goers but also does brisk lunch business to those working in the area....
Neurotica / Services
Neurotica is a fixture on Queen St. west of Bathurst. This music store always has cheap vinyl by the door to beckon passerbys inside to take a look at its...
New Tribe Tattoo / Services
New Tribe Tattoo is hard to miss. Sitting across from MuchMusic on Queen West, New Tribe is a 4,000 sq. ft. body art kingdom. And with six full-time tattoo artists,...
New York Subway / Restaurants
You either love or hate New York Subway. Their version of burritos doesn't work for everyone but they still do a brisk lunch business every day. ...
Niche / Cafes
Pardon the pun, but I have to do it: Gail Hawkins has found her niche... in NICHE ESPRESSO BAR, THAT IS. (You can't suppress innate cheesiness, people). Open for about...
Nikolaou Restaurant Equipment / Design Stores
Nikolaou Restaurant Equipment is a jam-packed restaurant supply store with everything you need to prepare for a dinner party or stock one of Toronto's finest restaurants. An outpouring of support...
Nora Shawarma / Restaurants
Nora Shawarma is a casual shawarma and falafel restaurant at the southeast corner of Richmond and Spadina. It's a popular weekday spot for the area's lunch crowd....
North of Brooklyn Pizzeria / Restaurants
North of Brooklyn Pizzeria opened relatively quietly last week on a quiet stretch of Palmerston just north of Queen (don't let the address fool you). A partnership between Halifax-native...
Nota Bene / Restaurants
Nota Bene is the brainchild of Splendido chef David Lee. The menu features a lot of local and seasonal produce and ingredients with recent options like a Yucutan Hot and...
OhSo Nightclub / Bars
OhSo Nightclub opened just over two months ago at 137 Peter Street, a space that was formerly home to Reign (and before that, Budo). Most of the decor in this...
Open Studio / Galleries
Open Studio is one of Canada's leading printmaking centres. Part studio, part gallery space, it's dedicated to the production, preservation and promotion of contemporary original fine art prints. ...
Original / Fashion Stores
Original takes over in the expansive space formerly home to F/X. In fact, the original owner of F/X owns the store and has reinvigorated both the fashions on the racks...
Osmow's (John St.) / Restaurants
Osmow's is a chain of Mediterranean restaurants that first started in Mississauga. Now with five locations, this location in downtown Toronto serves up their popular dishes, such as the ever-popular...
Paddock / Bars
The Paddock has a little something to please everyone. Whether you're looking for a stiff Manhattan or simply a tall cold beer, the tenders of this dark art...
Pamier Kabob / Restaurants
Pamier Kabob is a new Afghan restaurant near Spadina and Adelaide that serves wraps, salads, lamb, beef, fish and chicken kabob....
Pat's Homestyle / Restaurants
Formerly the Albert's Jamaican location near Queen and Bathurst, Pat's Homestyle might be a new name but the food hasn't really changed. Best is their jerk chicken, baked with traditional...
Peach Beserk / Fashion Stores
Peach Beserk is a women's clothing store on Queen where owner Kingi Carpenter and her staff make fun and vibrant dresses, skirts, pants and tops. ...
Peter Pan / Restaurants
After a series of positive food reviews, I was in search of somewhere that couldn't live up to my standards. My standards aren't that high, really... there are just...
Pinky's Nails / Fashion Stores
Pinky's Nails dubs itself "Toronto's first professional nail art studio," and gauging by the wealth of designs on offer--from Movember themes, to feminine prints, to simple nautical accents--they certainly have...
POP Hair / Fashion Stores
POP Hair has moved from its former location on Spadina to an inside corner space set back from Richmond St. But despite the change of address it's still one of...
Product Nightclub / Bars
Product Nightclub is a new addition to the Entertainment District. Owned by Charles Khabouth, the entrepreneur behind the Guvernment, Koolhaus, La Societe, and Weslodge (amongst others), simply having his name...
Proper Barbers / Fashion Stores
Proper Barbers, located at the back of Proper Reserve & Get Fresh Co. on Queen West is an old school barber shop with some serious swagger. Combining classic barber techniques...
Proper Reserve / Fashion Stores
Proper Reserve is men's streetwear boutique located on the north side of Queen at Portland. Here one will find brands like Married to the Mob, 10 Deep, and Acapulco. Along...
Queen Mother Cafe / Restaurants
My friend and I have been having lunch at Queen Mother Cafe for years now. The ritual remains the same each time, as does our order: Ping Gai. The interior...
Quick Pita (Duncan St.) / Restaurants
Quick Pita on Duncan is one of those spots you really need to know about. That said, this shawarma spot has thoroughly been discovered by the weekend clubbing crowd. A...
Red Head Gallery / Galleries
Located inside 401 Richmond, The Red Head Gallery has been presenting challenging contemporary visual art for over seventeen years. ...
Red Star Cafe / Cafes
Red Star Cafe is the new Design Republic-owned coffee shop in The Burroughes Building near Queen and Bathurst. Opened since early July, Red Star has taken over the area inside...
Rivoli / Bars
The Rivoli is one of Toronto's not-so-hidden gems. It stands amidst the sea of chain stores that has become Queen West and offers refuge to anyone with an appetite...
Rivoli (Poolhall) / Bars
On the second floor of the Rivoli, pay by the hour pool tables and accompanying bar with scattered TVs showing the night's sports action....
Sadie's Diner / Restaurants
Breakfast and brunch restaurants have a special place in North American culture. They provide an experience, not to mention a meal, that is of a decidedly different flavour than...
Sauvage / Fashion Stores
Sauvage is unabashedly not about sourcing local. This pop-up-turned-permanent boutique scours the globe for its honed collection of women's clothing and accessories, looking to cities such as Berlin, Paris, and...
Showroom / Fashion Stores
Showroom used to be a hole in the wall on Queen West with crappy change rooms and cluttered shelves. But last year Showroom opened up and now boast a two...
Siam #1s Old School Muay Thai / Fitness Clubs
Old School Muay Thai is really old school but they do it in the most refreshing way. Like the name suggests there is nothing fancy about this gym. It's a...
Sido Shawarma / Restaurants
Sido Shawarma is a Middle Eastern restaurant near Richmond and Spadina. Some of their more popular offerings include shawarmas, pitas, and baklava....
Slinky Music / Services
Slinky Music is a record store nestled amidst Moog Music's selection of synths, samplers and recording gear. Unlike Play De Record's dizzying overstock, Slinky's record bins feel far more curated,...
Smoke's Poutinerie (Queen and Bathurst) / Restaurants
Smoke's Poutinerie at Queen and Bathurst devotes little to ambiance (with just a few stools for seating), and instead focuses on what new terrible-for-your-diet food it can add to your...
So Hip it Hurts / Fashion Stores
So Hip it Hurts holds legend status in Toronto having been around for 20-something years. Like the other classic, long-term shops, So Hip stocks up on the hard-to-get brands and...
Specs & Specs / Fashion Stores
Specs & Specs has been on Queen West for 16 years and selling fashion forward frames to hipsters since grunge still sold records. Their selection of labels avoids the obvious...
Steve's Music / Services
Steve's Music is a Queen West institution with cavernous, guitars hanging in ranks like shiny, multicoloured bats, and amps of every size and wattage squatting beneath them like stalagmites. There...
Sushi Queen / Restaurants
Sushi Queen serves up fresh shashi, generous portions, and real sliced steak in the steak bento box. We'll have a full review soon, but in the meanwhile, add your own...
Sushi Xtra / Restaurants
Sushi Xtra is a casual sushi restaurant near Queen and Spadina that serves up a variety of sushi and sashimi. ...
SVP Sports / Fashion Stores
SVP Sports has resurfaced on Queen West after a 2-3 year hiatus. Inside is sneakers. Lot's of them. All the familiar brand names are here including Puma, Nike and Adidas....
Swipe Books / Bookstores
As I repeatedly circled around Richmond and Adelaide in search of the new location of Swipe Books, I began to wonder how a store so difficult to find could have...
Tattoo Rock Parlour / Bars
Tattoo Rock Parlour opened in late 2007 in the former home of the Left Bank. Check out a slideshow of the mid-January throwdown with MSTRKRFT and Steve Aoki....
TCB Tattoos / Services
TCB Tattoos has walls that are splashed with art. And tattoo designs. That's the first thing I notice. Second thing I notice is that it's a narrow store, but this...
Tequila Bookworm / Cafes
Earlier this month I mentioned that one of Queen West's great cafe's, Tequila Bookworm, had closed its doors and moved to a new location along the strip. While that...
Thai Express (Queen and Bathurst) / Restaurants
One of many Thai Express locations throughout Toronto, this spot at Queen and Bathurst has the reputation for being fairly consistent and efficient. This is not upscale Thai cuisine, mind...
Thai One On (Queen West) / Restaurants
Thai One On looks to put an end to the string of unsuccessful Thai restaurants at 500 Queen St. West. At the same time it's quietly becoming Toronto's foremost Thai...
The Ballroom / Restaurants
The Ballroom is more than just a bowling alley. The former Montana's space has two floors, 52 TVS and an upscale pub fare menu featuring braised pork pot pie, fried...
The Big Fish / Restaurants
The Big Fish serves up a selection seafood dishes, from English style fish and chips to grilled fish sandwiches, with eat-in or take-out options. If seafood isn't your thing, they...
The Cabinet Salon / Fashion Stores
The Cabinet Salon is an old-fashioned style salon in a new-fashion part of town. Young stylists and friends Emma Rose and Alex MacDonald bring their old-fashioned approach to hair...
The Chickery / Restaurants
The Chickery has opened near Richmond and Spadina. Go here for roast bird, sauces made from chef David Adjey's secret recipes and creative sides like steamed squash, collard greens and...
The Fifth Social Club / Bars
The Fifth Social Club (formerly Easy & The Fifth) is part of the same family of venues at Duncan and Richmond street that also includes Cabin Five and The Fifth...
The Healthy Greek / Restaurants
While other similarly named Greek restaurants are busy passing off hot dog buns as bread, Queen Street newbie, The Healthy Greek, is serving up fast, top quality fare for very...
The Jerk Joint / Restaurants
The Jerk Joint is a friendly stall in the Queen Live fresh food market at Queen and McCaul. While they do specialize in jerk chicken and burgers, they have a...
The Office Pub / Restaurants
The Office Pub says they specialize in upscale bistro dining. They have 17 beers on tap and a menu heavy on pub staples like burgers, caesar salad, pasta, pad thai...
The Rex / Restaurants
It's no secret that The Rex Jazz & Blues Bar (Queen & St. Patrick St) is a musical institution in this city. With 2-3 (mostly free) shows every day,...
The Roastery (401 Richmond) / Cafes
The Roastery Coffee House inside the 401 Richmond building is one of two Roastery's in Toronto - the other being in Liberty Village. It's a good, secluded spot near a...
The Store on Queen / Fashion Stores
The Store on Queen (or TSOQ, for short), popped up on a whim. Longtime friends Angela and Valentina spotted a "For Rent" sign in the window of a shop on...
Timeless Apparel / Fashion Stores
Timeless Apparel is CTS reborn, though the new store bears little resemblance to its former vintage nouveau self. CTS on Queen at Spadina, was, for about four years, very much a...
Toika Lounge / Bars
Toika Lounge is located at 471 Richmond Street just west of Spadina. The music is mainly Hip-Hop, R&B, soul, and house depending on the DJ or event going on....
Tone Sushi / Restaurants
Tone Sushi takes over from Sushi 2 Go on Queen west of Spadina. ...
Tortilla Flats / Restaurants
Tortilla Flats has been serving Tex-Mex for 20 years. Famous for their $2.99 Margarita Thursdays....
Tribal Rhythm / Fashion Stores
Tribal Rhythm sells men's and women's vintage clothing on Queen West. They're located right beside the Starbucks across from Much Music....
Trimurti / Restaurants
Trimurti, On Queen west of John has an extensive menu of moderately priced Indian specialties. They also offer a lunch buffet seven days a week. ...
Trinity Square Video / Galleries
Trinity Square Video is Toronto's long-running centre for all things video art. Beginning in a basement in downtown's Trinity Square in 1971, the centre has retained its original name and...
Tryst Lingerie / Fashion Stores
You can now find Tryst at two locations: their original store at 465 Eglinton Ave W., and their new home at 559 Queen Street West. They carry bras...
Tula / Fashion Stores
Tula Spa is attached to the Tula Hot Yoga studio. Now with a Tula West location at Bloor and Ossington. PRICE POINTS Rejuvenating Facial: $65 | 60min Manicure: $25 | ...
Umbra / Design Stores
The Umbra Concept Store opened in June, 2007 on John Street just north of Queen. The massive pink-clad store pays homage to Canadian designer Karim Rashid and features Rashid's creations...
Untitled and Co. / Fashion Stores
Untitled and Co. exists on a mostly unassuming stretch just north of Queen West, and attempts to inject a touch of je ne sais quoi to an immediate area known...
Urbane Cyclist / Services
Urbane Cyclist is the reigning champion in our best bike stores post, and for good reason. Over the 14 years the store has been open, it has attracted a loyal...
Urbanspace Gallery / Galleries
Urbanspace gallery, as its name promises, hosts exhibits that explore urban issues, many of which focus on Toronto in some way. Located on the first floor of the 401 Richmond...
Velvet Underground / Bars
Though not just a haven for the goth crowd anymore, "the Velvet" is still adorned with jagged metal cherub sculptures behind the bar, lest you forget that an alternative-music bend...
Wanda's Belgian Waffles (Queen St.) / Restaurants
Wanda's serves fresh Belgian waffles, Illy espresso, and toasted sandwiches. You can grab a sweet treat on the street that's less than $3, with flavours like vanilla, cinnamon, maple or...
What A Bagel (Spadina) / Baked Goods
The What A Bagel location near Richmond and Spadina gives off a new edge compared to its nine sister locations in Toronto. With ceiling to floor windows overlooking lower Spadina,...
White Crow / Fashion Stores
White Crow, a favourite Toronto-based online boutique, has opened a summer pop-up in the Borroughes Building on Queen West. This isn't the first pop-up venture for White Crow owner Jin Ryu,...
Wide Open / Bars
Wide Open is a local neighbourhood watering hole on Spadina. A good spot to grab a couple of pints on a weekday night....
Wynick/Tuck / Galleries
The Wynick/Tuck is a 2000 square foot contemporary art gallery in 401 Richmond with three separate spaces called the Large Gallery, the Small Gallery, and the Project Room. ...
XEXE Gallery / Galleries
Showcases emerging and established contemporary artists in a variety of styles and media....
Yoga Tree / Fitness Clubs
Yoga Tree has multiple locations in the Toronto area including their newest studio at the corner of Richmond and Spadina....
Neighbourhoods
Other Neighbourhoods
- Annex
- Baldwin Village
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- Bloor West Village
- Bloorcourt
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- 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
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- 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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