30 researched places across 4 pockets — restaurants, shops, schools and parks.
A vibrant Mexican destilería in the Distillery with a mural-backed dining room, one of the city's largest agave lists and a huge heated patio.
Local pick: The patio, a mezcal and the tacos al pastor
A grand Parisian-style bistro and bakery in the Distillery — all-day French classics, a marble bar and an in-house boulangerie.
Local pick: Steak frites and a pastry from the boulangerie
A seafood and oyster house in a soaring Distillery warehouse — raw bar, lobster and a sunny cobblestone patio.
Local pick: A dozen oysters on the patio
The brewpub home of Mill Street Brewery, born in the Distillery — house-brewed beers, a tank-house setting and elevated pub fare.
Local pick: The Organic Lager and a flight
A warm, long-loved Middle Eastern room on Queen East — baba ghanoush, hummus, golden falafel and grilled meats and seafood.
Local pick: The mezze spread and the falafel
The beloved east-end ice-cream maker — small-batch scoops, house chocolate and fudge, with a line out the door all summer.
Local pick: A scoop of London Fog on a summer night
A tiny Leslieville pizzeria famous for thick, square Detroit-style pies — crispy, deep-brown crust with the sauce on top.
Local pick: A square Detroit pie with sauce on top
A Riverside French bakery café and brunch institution — croissants, quiche and pastries that draw a weekend queue along Queen East.
Local pick: A croissant and the weekend brunch line
A Greektown favourite for authentic gyros and souvlaki, wrapped fresh and stacked with fries — a Danforth institution.
Local pick: A loaded gyro on the Danforth
A long-running Danforth taverna built around Greek meze — small plates, grilled octopus and flaming saganaki, with a lively patio.
Local pick: A table of small plates and saganaki
A classic, white-tablecloth Greektown restaurant for grilled lamb, seafood and traditional Greek mains on the Danforth.
Local pick: Lamb chops and a Greek wine
A Beaches landmark since 1986 — all-day breakfast, lunch and dinner and a sunny front patio a few blocks from Kew Gardens.
Local pick: Brunch on the front patio
A beloved Beaches institution since 1952 — Chinese-Canadian comfort food and diner classics under a famous neon 'Good Food' sign.
Local pick: Egg rolls under the neon sign
A pedestrian-only village of restored Victorian distillery buildings — boutiques, galleries, chocolatiers, cafés and the famous winter Christmas Market.
Local pick: The Christmas Market and the galleries
A celebrated bean-to-bar chocolatier and gelato maker in the Distillery — single-origin bars, truffles and a cult Mayan drinking chocolate.
Local pick: The Mayan hot chocolate
Queen East through Leslieville and Riverside — independent design shops, home stores, vintage, cafés and the Sunday Leslieville farmers' market.
Local pick: The design shops and weekend browsing
A Danforth shopping court anchored by The Big Carrot natural food market, with wellness, organic and specialty shops.
Local pick: The Big Carrot natural food market
The Beaches' walkable Queen East main street — boutiques, cafés, bookshops and the summer Beaches International Jazz Festival.
Local pick: A stroll down Queen and the Jazz Festival
A large, well-regarded TDSB JK–8 school in a landmark 1912 building, long serving Leslieville families.
Local pick: A landmark Leslieville school
A TDSB public high school (grades 9–12) founded in 1907, long a cornerstone of the Riverdale community.
Local pick: A storied east-end high school
A consistently top-ranked TDSB elementary in Playter Estates, a major draw for families buying north of the Danforth.
Local pick: A top-rated Playter Estates catchment
A TDSB public high school (grades 9–12) in a stately 1903 building — the Beaches' long-standing community secondary school.
Local pick: The Beaches' historic high school
A well-regarded TDSB elementary just off Queen East — one of the catchments that draws families to the Beaches.
Local pick: A sought-after Beaches catchment
The 18-acre centrepiece of the West Don Lands — a constructed marsh, splash pad, fireplace pavilion and a hill with skyline views.
Local pick: The marsh boardwalk and the city-view hill
A busy Riverside park and recreation centre with a rink, wading pool, playground and year-round community programs.
Local pick: The rink and the wading pool
A sweeping hillside park above the Don Valley with one of the best downtown skyline views, sports fields, a track and a winter toboggan hill.
Local pick: The skyline view from the hill
A leafy 21-acre Riverdale park with ball diamonds, tennis, a wading pool, off-leash area and a Saturday farmers' market.
Local pick: The off-leash bowl and the Saturday market
The Beaches' tree-shaded central park — a playground, wading pool, tennis, an outdoor rink and the gateway to the boardwalk and beach.
Local pick: The playground and the path to the boardwalk
A vast Blue-Flag lakefront beach park — sand, beach volleyball courts, picnic areas, a marina and the start of the Martin Goodman Trail.
Local pick: Beach volleyball and a swim in summer
The 3-km wooden boardwalk along the Beaches lakefront, running from Ashbridges Bay to Balmy Beach beside the sand, dog beach and Martin Goodman Trail.
Local pick: A sunrise walk along the lake