The East York directory.

A warm neighbourhood Italian on Bayview in Leaside — house pasta, wood-oven dishes and a friendly room that draws a loyal local crowd.

Local pick: House pasta and a Bayview patio table

A long-running Leaside institution on Laird, regularly named among Toronto's best fish and chips — fresh-battered halibut, haddock and cod.

Local pick: Halibut and chips — one of the city's best

A Thorncliffe Park favourite for South Asian kebabs, biryani, curries and mithai (sweets) — quick, generous and authentic, beside the Iqbal market.

The casual restaurants and takeouts along O'Connor and Pape Village — a multicultural mix of Greek, Caribbean, Filipino, pizza and diners serving classic East York.

A multicultural mix of casual restaurants and takeout near Victoria Park station — Bengali, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Caribbean kitchens serving Crescent Town.

Leaside's walkable main street along Bayview from Davisville to Soudan — restaurants, cafés, bakeries, boutiques and services in one of the east end's most prized retail strips.

Local pick: A stroll along Bayview's shops and patios

Thorncliffe Park's indoor mall on Overlea — a grocery, fashion, services and a food court serving the surrounding high-rise community.

Local pick: The grocery, food and everyday shops

A bustling South Asian halal supermarket on Thorncliffe Park Drive — spices, produce, fresh meat and groceries at the heart of one of the city's most diverse communities.

Local pick: Spices, produce and fresh halal meat

A busy Toronto Public Library branch on St. Dennis Drive — books, computers, newcomer and youth programs for the Flemingdon Park community.

Local pick: Programs and a community hub

The former East York town hall at Coxwell and Mortimer — city services, council chamber, an arena and a popular Tuesday farmers' market.

Local pick: City services and the farmers' market

The everyday plazas around Victoria Park and Danforth serving Crescent Town — grocers, halal butchers, pharmacies, remittance and services for a dense, diverse community.

A well-regarded TDSB public high school (grades 9–12) near Bayview and Eglinton — a major draw for families buying in Leaside.

Local pick: A sought-after Leaside catchment

A TDSB public high school (grades 9–12) on Cosburn, long the community secondary school for the heart of East York.

Local pick: East York's community high school

Leaside's community recreation hub at Laird and Millwood — twin arenas, an indoor pool, curling and an auditorium that anchor neighbourhood sport.

Local pick: Skating, swimming and the curling club

Leaside's beloved central park off Bayview — a top playground, splash pad, wading pool, ball diamond, tennis courts and the TPL Leaside branch.

Local pick: The playground, splash pad and tennis

Thorncliffe Park's central green and gathering place — a playground, splash pad and the summer Thorncliffe Park Women's Committee bazaar and tandoor oven.

A striking white-granite museum of Islamic art and Muslim cultures designed by Fumihiko Maki, with formal gardens, reflecting pools and the adjacent Ismaili Centre.

Local pick: The Islamic art galleries and the formal gardens

A large Don Valley ravine park below Flemingdon — multi-use trails, an archery range, the Charles Sauriol reserve and links along the East Don.

East York's big community park off Cosburn — five ball diamonds, two outdoor pools, a clubhouse, bandshell and the East York Canada Day fireworks.

Local pick: Ball diamonds, the pools and the bandshell

A rambling park by Victoria Park station — a public 18-hole golf course, tennis, sports fields, gardens and trails wrapping the Crescent Town towers.