Director Domee Shi shares her favourite places to go in Toronto

Domee Shi has grown from local Toronto upbringing to become one of the most sought-after directors in the movie business, and while she may have gone Hollywood on us, she clearly hasn't lost touch with her roots in the 416.

In a recent interview with blogTO, the Turning Red director opened up about her favourite things about Toronto, ranging from current hangouts to nostalgic locations that only remain in the history books.

Here are Domee Shi's favourite things about Toronto.

Favourite neighbourhood - Kensington Market

The confluence of gritty and trendy is a favourite Toronto neighbourhood for many, known for its eclectic mix of shops, cafes, and few remaining businesses from the area's heyday as a predominantly food and grocery-oriented market.

Favourite place to get work done - her parents' house

You probably won't be able to share Shi's top spot to catch up on work, naming her parents' house as the place to crunch. "That's all I remember. Doing my homework in my house," said Shi.

Favourite bookstore - The Beguiling

Shi speaks highly of Toronto's coolest comic book store, The Beguiling, on College Street.

Favourite park - High Park

Shi seemed a bit unsure about this one, but noted "I just remember going there as a kid, Easter egg hunting with my parents."

Favourite coffee shop - Tim Hortons

It may raise some eyebrows, but Shi didn't even hesitate on this selection, picking Timmies over the variety of artisanal coffee options in town. Specifically, she shouted out a Sheridan College location, which, yeah, let's put a pin in that one for now.

Favourite event - CNE

The Canadian National Exhibition scored top marks from Shi, noting it was "always a fun thing to do every year" growing up in the city.

Most overrated thing - Casa Loma

Toronto's famous castle on a hill might be a top attraction for tourists, but for locals, it's just another landmark on a long list. Domee Shi, however, doesn't appear to be the biggest fan of Casa Loma, describing it as "kind of like a medium-sized castle," explaining that it's probably not as grand as your default mental image of a castle.

Most underrated thing - the broader GTA

Shi tells people to get outside the core and experience the whole region, saying, "people think of the main core downtown city, but there's lots of cool places in the GTA." One 905 location Shi mentions by name is Pacific Mall in Markham, known for its variety of Asian shops and restaurants.

Favourite local memory - Honest Ed's

Shi says her favourite Toronto memory is "shopping with my parents at Honest Ed's," noting how "there's nothing quite like" this long-lost "kooky" department store — which was closed in the 2010s and redeveloped with a high-rise complex.

@blogto Toronto-born Director and animator Domee Shi shares her best of Toronto 🙌 #toronto #torontolife #ontario #torontotiktok #blogto #canadatiktok #🇨🇦 ♬ original sound - blogTO

Shi's latest film, Disney Pixar's Elio, landed in theatres June 20, 2025.