Agave Y Aguacate
David Sax takes Tony to another hidden gem of Toronto at El Gordo. Recently, El Gordo became the site of half a dozen stalls selling food from Venezuela, Mexico, Colombia and El Salvador, and just opened a wonderful patio for customers out back.
214 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON, Canada
Bacchus Roti
Most of Parkdale’s roti shops compensate for their grungy interiors with their quality roti. Bacchus, which received a makeover in 2008, is refreshingly tasteful in both decor and portion size.
1376 Queen St West
Toronto, ON, Canada
Beast Restaurant
This aptly-named restaurant reflects chef Scott Vivian’s goal to create a seasonal menu consisting of local meats and produce.
96 Tecumseth St
Toronto, ON M6J 2H1, Canada
Bellevue
In Kensington Market, The Bellvue serves up a boozy brunch all day. Sit on the patio and watch the Kensington Crowd flow by as you suck down a mimosa and work off that hangover.
61 Bellevue Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2N4, Canada
Black Hoof Cocktail Bar
Tony, Anthony Rose and Ezra Title saddle up for some high-end classic cocktails before eating dinner across the street. The bar’s exterior is totally ambiguous, save for a small "Cocktail Bar" sign in the window.
923 Dundas St West
Toronto, ON M6J 2P8, Canada
The Burger's Priest
The patties at the Priest are made from freshly-ground beef, pressed thin on a flat-top, seasoned as they cook, topped with American cheese and served on a custom-made bun.
1636 Queen St East
Toronto, ON M4L 1G3, Canada
California Sandwiches
Downtowners have access to California Sandwiches’ original location in Little Italy that has been open since 1967. Some of the locations serve sides, but it's all about the veal sandwich.
244 Claremont St
Toronto, ON M6J 2N2, Canada
Caplansky's Delicatessen
Zane Caplansky is the undisputed king of smoked meat in Toronto, and he is a local icon. Ordering your brisket "fatty" is the only way to go, according to locals.
356 College St
Toronto, ON M5T 1S6, Canada
Carousel Bakery Ltd.
David Sax takes Tony to enjoy a classic Toronto food staple, the peameal sandwich. “Peameal” refers to the historic practice of rolling cured and trimmed boneless pork loin in dried and ground yellow peas, originally for preservation reasons.
93 Front St East
Toronto, ON M5E 1C3, Canada
Cold Tea
Damian Abraham, Jonah Falco and Mike Hailechuk have Tony meet them at a hidden bar called Cold Tea. It is modeled on the principle that a good thing is hard to find -- the bar is at the back of the unassuming Kensington Mall through a secret doorway.
60 Kensington Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2K2, Canada
Comedy Bar
Toronto is known for its comedy scene, and the locals and tourists all head to Comedy Bar to check out up-and-coming acts from all over the world.
945 Bloor St West
Toronto, ON M6H 1L4, Canada
The Dakota Tavern
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 hunting scenes.
249 Ossington Ave
Toronto, ON M6J 3A1, Canada
The Drake Hotel
The Drake is better known for its bars and restaurants than its tiny guest rooms. It's a trendsetter and attracts a stylish and fashionable crowd to its restaurant, rooftop lounge, and the Underground, a live performance venue that draws top names.
1150 Queen St West
Toronto, ON M6J 1J3, Canada
Edulis Restaurant
Edulis is named after what some say is the most versatile mushroom in the culinary world. The changing menu not only features some great ‘shrooms, but also offers an eclectic mix of Spanish, French, Italian and more.
169 Niagara St
Toronto, ON M5V 1C9, Canada
Evergreen Brick Works
Chef Ezra Title spends his Saturdays cooking at this local farmer’s market. He cooks breakfast and lunch using the delectable ingredients from the fabulous producers at the market – including a grilled cheese and an egg sandwich.
550 Bayview Ave
Toronto, ON, Canada
Forest View Chinese Restaurant
Chinese immigrants make up a huge part of the city’s population, hence the numerous Chinese restaurants that range from high-end to low-end. Go to Forest View, a down-and-dirty location for some quick dim sum.
466 Dundas West
Toronto, ON M5T 1G9, Canada
Good Egg
Good Egg is a shop dedicated to those who like to eat and want to find unique items to use in the kitchen – from rare cookbooks to teas imported from Russia.
267 Augusta Ave
Toronto, ON M5T 2M2, Canada
Hits And Misses
Tony heads to Hits & Misses in search of some old records and walks away with a few vinyl gems. The windows are plastered with old punk rock records and patches, and inside there is a massive selection of 7" records -- and even more 12" records.
799 Queen Westa
Toronto, ON M6J 1G1, Canada
Horseshoe Tavern
Since 1947, this much-loved honky-tonk has played a crucial role in Toronto's music community. The Stones had a secret gig here in 1997, and the likes of Los Lobos, Wilco, and local heroes Blue Rodeo have also graced its stage.
370 Queen St West
Toronto, ON M5V 2A2, Canada
House of Poutine
Poutine may be the quintessential Canadian food, a flavorful link that unites the solitudes of French and English Canada. This is the band F***ed Up’s go-to for late night grub, and they recommend ordering the classic with bacon on top.
1112 Queen St West
Toronto, ON M6J 1H9, Canada
Owl Of Minerva
The Owl of Minerva is the perfect place to go for those who seek cheap and delicious Korean comfort food. Head to the one in the heart of Koreatown for all your late-night munchie needs.
5324 Yonge St
Toronto, ON M2N 2N1, Canada
Porchetta & Co.
Tony meets up with Scott Vivan at Porchetta and Co. in Little Italy. They enjoy fantastic handcrafted porchetta sandwiches while discussing the world’s perception of Toronto.
825 Dundas St West
Toronto, ON M6J 1V4, Canada
Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel
This hotel has a view of the Toronto baseball stadium and is a great place to watch the Blue Jays and the CFL team, the Toronto Argonauts.
1 Blue Jays Way
Toronto, ON M5V 1J4, Canada
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto
This luxury property delivers on the brand's reputation for attentive service and excellent amenities. A sleek and slender tower, it’s located smack dab in the middle of the entertainment district and across the road from Roy Thomson Hall.
Wellington St West
Toronto, ON M5V3G7, Canada
Ronnie's Local 069
Tony grabs a beer with David Sax at this unsuspecting little hideaway on Nassau Street. Ronnie's feels like part British pub, part romantic “I-know-a-great-little-spot" destination and part house party.
69 Nassau St
Toronto, ON M5T 1M7, Canada
Sneaky Dee's
Sneaky Dee’s is an iconic Toronto music venue -- they also serve food, but it is all about the concert hall upstairs.
431 College St
Toronto, ON M5T 1T1, Canada
Spin Toronto
Spin takes the classic pool-hall formula and applies it to Ping-Pong. One part bar, one part Ping-Pong stadium, you can drink and play at the same time. Players are given a basket of balls and the staff moves around to collect the wayward shots.
7026 Bathurst St
Toronto, ON L4J 8K3, Canada
Thirsty and Miserable
Tony’s Toronto bar crawl continues to Thirsty & Miserable -- a bar named after a Black Flag song and owned by one Katie G. Warror, guitarist for the beloved hard-core band, Brutal Knights.
Baldwin St
Toronto, ON M5T 1L8, Canada
Toronto Jerk Chicken
Locals know to head to Ellington Avenue late at night to find Jamaican beef patties and jerk chicken served in steel drums. Toronto has a large West Indian Community, and this turns out to be quite the party on weekend nights.
852 Pape Ave
Toronto, ON M4K 3T6, Canada
Tosho Knife Arts
Tony heads to Tosho Knife Arts in Mirvish Village and explores the variety of culinary cutlery they offer. The knives at Tosho start at around $100 and head right up to the $3,000 range.
602 Markham St, Lower Level Mirvish Village
Toronto, ON M6G 2L8, Canada
WVRST
From local Toronto brews like Augusta Ale and Denison's, to European and Japanese imports, the 16 different craft brews on tap are sure to please Toronto's serious beer connoisseurs.
609 King West
Toronto, ON M5V 1M5, Canada