Toronto/Yorkville and the Annex

The Annex

The Annex is one of Toronto's oldest neighbourhoods and its first streetcar suburb, characterized by its distinctive tall narrow houses, lively community along Bloor Street, and indeed its name. Considered a food and shopping mecca, this district is well known by Torontonians as one of the friendliest neighbourhoods in the city. Due to the proximity of the neighbourhood to the University of Toronto and Central Technical School with its famous art school The Art Centre - there is a large population of students and faculty, the commercial strip along Bloor Street has quite the feel of a college neighbourhood (albeit an affluent one). Most of the commercial activity in the neighbourhood takes place along Bloor St, which is filled with small restaurants, pubs and bookshops. The side streets are mostly residential, with long, narrow townhouses to the south of Bloor and large, stately mansions to the north. The borders of the neighbourhood are, to some extent, debatable, however, less so than many other neighbourhoods in the city. The eastern and western boundaries are generally agreed to be Avenue Road and Bathurst Street respectively and the southern boundary is generally agreed to be Harbord Street. The northern boundary is generally considered to be Dupont Street.

Yorkville

During the 1960s, Bloor-Yorkville served as the centre of Toronto's hippie culture. After large scale development in the 1980s and 1990s, it has become Toronto's upscale shopping district, containing boutiques dedicated to haute couture. It has also become a focal point during the Toronto International Film Festival, making the area "ground-zero" for celebrity watching.
Along the narrow Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue, between Bay Street and Avenue Road, you will find smaller but expensive independent clothing stores. Near the corner of Yorkville Avenue and Hazelton Avenue, you will also find a number of private art galleries with more on Dupont Street near the northern end of Hazelton Avenue.
In 2018, the Yorkville is being redeveloped again as condo towers are beginning to replace the low-rise buildings that give the neighbourhood it's character.

The Mink Mile

Bloor Street from Yonge Street to Avenue Road is known as the "Mink Mile" for its pricey, high-end stores such as Tiffany and Holt Renfrew.

Discovery District

Much of the district is synonymous with being Toronto's Discovery District, so named as it contains many of Toronto's most important centres of education, such as the University of Toronto (U of T), the Royal Conservatory of Music and the Royal Ontario Museum. Canada's foremost centres of medical research are also located in this neighbourhood, with several of Canada's most prestigious hospitals arranged in a row along University Avenue between College and Dundas Streets.

Yorkville and the Annex are within walking distance of many major attractions and a central point for the Toronto's subway system. Streetcar and bus connections link the subway stations to the surrounding neighbourhoods.

By car

From the Don Valley Parkway: exit at Bloor Street, follow Bloor Street West to Spadina.
From the 401: exit at Allen Road. Follow Allen Road south until Eglinton. Turn left on Eglinton, and right on Bathurst. Follow Bathurst to Bloor. Or: Exit the 401 at Avenue Rd., proceed south to Bloor St, where you make a right turn and continue until you reach spadina.
From the Gardiner Expressway: exit at Spadina. Follow Spadina north until Bloor St.
Parking: Finding a parking space on Bloor Street or any of the side streets is extremely difficult at the best of times and basically impossible during regular business hours. There is one parking lot in the neighbourhood, a commercial one just off Bloor Street, on Lippincott Street, one block east of Bathurst Street.

By subway

The neighbourhoods are well-served by the subway. Subway line 1 (Yonge-University) runs to Spadina Station; the St George Station on the same line is several blocks east of the Annex. Museum and Queens Park stations provide access to the University campus and some of the museums.
Subway line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) runs underground immediately north of Bloor Street, it stops at Spadina Station and Bathurst Station, on either end of the Annex, while the Bay and Yonge-Bloor stations access Yorkville. The Spadina and Bathurst stations have transfer-free connections to 510 and 511 streetcars respectively.

By streetcar

The 510 Spadina LRT Streetcar runs from Union Station south to Queen's Quay in the Harbourfront neighbourhood, along which it runs west to Spadina, it then runs north on Spadina to Spadina Subway Station where it connects to the Bloor-Danforth line. The 510 runs entirely in its own right-of-way. The 511 Streetcar runs from Exhibition Place in the Harbourfront neighbourhood, along Fleet Street to Bathurst, it then runs north on Bathurst to Bathurst Subway Station. The 511 runs with traffic for most of its route.
Route 506 runs along College, Carlton and Gerrard Streets from High Park to the west to Main Street station to the east. It runs across the southern edge of the University of Toronto and connects with the subway line 1 (Yonge-University) at College Park and Queen's Park.

By bus

Route 94 runs along Wellesley, Hoskin and Harbord from Castle Frank station to Ossington station and connects with the Yonge line at Wellesley station. It runs straight through the U of T campus and stops at the north end of Queen's Park.
Route 5 runs along University Avenue and Avenue Road from the coach terminal to Eglinton station, connecting with the University-Spadina line at Queen's Park and Museum. This route runs straight through Queen's Park.
Route 6 runs along Bay Street from Queen's Quay to Yorkville, stopping at Union station and Bay station as well as the coach terminal. This route runs along the eastern edge of the U of T campus.

By bike

There are bike lanes running east-west on Harbord and College Streets. Bloor St is also quite bike friendly despite not having a bike lane. There are poles reserved for bike locking along all major streets, including Bloor.

This area is very walkable and cyclists can easily navigate around the neighbourhoods. It is well served by public transit. Driving is not advised due to expensive parking, many one-way streets and turn restrictions. Park your car and walk.

• Bata Shoe Museum

  phone: +1 416-979-7799
  address: 327 Bloor St W
  One of Toronto's more unusual attractions, this offbeat museum is devoted to shoes and footwear. Exhibits include Napoleon Bonaparte's socks and footwear from cultures all over the world. Also interesting is the building's unique deconstructivist architecture, meant to resemble an opening shoe box.

• Gardiner Museum of Ceramic Art

  phone: +1 416-586-8080
  address: 111 Queens Park
  Galleries featuring a collection of rare ceramics, 18th-century yellow European porcelain and Chinese white and blue porcelain. Free guided tours take place daily at 2PM.

• Hazelton Avenue, YorkvilleHazelton Avenue is a beautiful residential street within Yorkville lined with older houses with small but very attractive front yards. There are private art galleries at the south end of the street. Sometimes, a sculpture is displayed in front of the art gallery.

• Heliconian Hall

  phone: +1 416-922-3618
  address: 35 Hazelton Ave
  The Heliconian Hall was built as a church in 1875, when this part of Toronto was still rural. The Heliconian Club, an association of women involved in the arts and letters, acquired the building in 1923. (The club was formed because the all-male Arts and Letters Club denied membership to women at that time.) The hall has "Carpenter's Gothic" architecture with a board and batten exterior, intricate trim, a carved rose window and a wooden spire. The hall's vaulted ceiling provides excellent acoustics, making the club ideal for musical and dramatic presentations. See the club's website for events open to the public. The hall is a designated National Historic Site of Canada; it is the only wooden church structure remaining in Toronto today.

• Mary Pickford Memorial

  address: 555 University Ave
  Silent film star Mary Pickford, known as "America's Sweetheart", was born in Toronto in 1892. A bust and historical plaque marks her birthplace, now the site of the Hospital for Sick Children. The plaque was unveiled by her third husband (of 42 years) Buddy Rogers in 1973. The bust by artist Eino Gira was added ten years later. There is also a plaque for Mary Pickford on Canada's Walk of Fame on Simcoe Street just south of King Street.

• Mural about Portuguese exploration of the New WorldThis ceramic tile mural, a gift from the Government of Portugal, is located within the fare-paid area of the subway station mezzanine level. The mural's theme is Portuguese exploration of the New World.

• Museum Subway StationIn order to evoke exhibits at the neighbouring Royal Ontario Museum, the supporting columns along the platforms of Museum Station were modelled to resemble the ancient Egyptian deity Osiris, Toltec warriors, Doric columns found in the Parthenon, China's Forbidden City columns, and First Nations house posts. This makes Museum the most impressive station on the subway system.

• Queen's ParkQueen's Park is an urban park in Downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Opened in 1860 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII), it was named in honour of Queen Victoria. The grounds are a pleasant place to stroll or people-watch. The park's centrepiece structure is the Ontario Legislative building.

• Ontario Legislative Building

  phone: +1 416-325-7500
  address: Queen's Park
  This grand Victorian building is home to Ontario's provincial legislature. Tours are offered every weekday year-round and on weekends during the summer.

• Statue of Queen VictoriaThe seated figure of Queen Victoria is facing south towards University Avenue. To Queen Victoria's left is a small grove of cherry trees that bloom in early May.

• Statue of Edward VIIThe equestrian statue of Edward VII first stood in India, but was moved to Canada after 1969, when India became a Commonwealth republic.

• Royal Ontario Museum

  phone: +1 416-586-8000
  address: 100 Queens Park
  One of the larger museums in North America, and the largest in Canada. Thousands of artifacts and specimens are featured in over 20 exhibits; including dinosaurs, Ancient China, native Canadians, Canadian furniture, medieval Europe, art deco, ancient Egypt, textiles, middle east, India and Pacific islanders. The world's largest totem pole, which is over 100 years old, is also housed in a place of honour. The original building was built in 1910, and is a handsome romanesque revival, with many carvings of people and events. The newer addition is a large deconstructivist crystal, made of steel and glass.

• Trinity-St. Paul's United Church

  phone: +1 416-922-8435
  address: 427 Bloor Street West
  Trinity-St. Paul's is a landmark in the Annex completed in 1889. The church has advocated for same-sex marriage, fair trade and improved conditions for the homeless.

• Toronto Fire Station 312

  address: 34 Yorkville Ave
  This is one of the city's oldest active fire halls, built in 1878 for the Yorkville Fire Department before the City of Toronto annexed Yorkville in 1883. The two-storey structure has a five-storey clock tower with three bays (there used to be only two), and it has a coat of arms from the old Yorkville Town Hall. This is probably the cutest looking fire hall still in operation in Toronto. It's archectural style is "Victorian Gothic".

• Toronto Fire Station 315

  address: 132 Bellevue Ave
  Built in 1875, this is one of the city's oldest fire halls. It is a two-storey structure with an eight-storey clock tower. It has three bays, only one from the original building. The current tower was partially rebuilt in 1972, after a fire set by an arsonist. The tower's clock was not salvagable, and a replica replaced the original when the tower was rebuilt from 1972 to 1973. Both Stations 312 and 315 are examples of "Victorian Gothic" architecture but have a much different style of tower. Fire Station 315 is a landmark building and can be easily seen from Spadina Avenue.

University of Toronto

The University of Toronto St George Campus lies immediately south of Yorkville and The Annex. With its green spaces and many interlocking courtyards, the campus forms an urban park of . Most buildings on the eastern and central portions of the campus were built between 1858 and 1929 using a combination of Romanesque and Gothic Revival architecture.

Central campus

The central campus lies between Queens Park Crescent and St George Street, and can be reached by taking the 506 Streetcar to McCaul St. The courtyards within the surrounding walls of the University College and Knox College buildings may make you feel that you are within Harry Potter's Hogwarts.

• Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular & Biomolecular Research

  address: 160 College St
  The building features a 4-metre high bamboo grove just inside the main entrance. Effectively, it is a small interior park with benches within the bamboo grove.

• Front Campus

  address: King’s College Circle
  The Front Campus, the traditional heart of the university, is focused on the oval lawn enclosed by King's College Circle. It is dominated by University College on its north side.

• University College

  phone: +1 416-978-7516
  address: 15 Kings College Circle
  University College, an eclectic blend of Richardsonian Romanesque and Norman architectural elements, is the centrepiece of the University of Toronto's beautiful campus. It was built in 1857, when the surrounding area was hinterland to the north of the town. Both the university and the city have grown all around it, but the building remains important both academically and architecturally. The building was declared a National Historic Site of Canada in 1968. Take a look at the building's front lobby and take a look at the woodwork along the corridors. If you go to second floor above the lobby, you might be able to peek into a quaint old-fashioned lecture hall. Also, look at the courtyard and the fanciful architecture surrounding three of its sides. The simplest way into the courtyard is from an entrance through the western side of the building, which in itself is worthy to see.

• University of Toronto Art CentreThis gallery has several rooms and two types of exhibits. Most rooms contain changing exhibits of contemporary art. There is also the permanent Malcove Collection containing Byzantine and Eastern Orthodox religious art plus some Greco-Egyptian-Roman items dating from as early as the first century.

Convocation Hall

address: 31 King’s College Circle

Built in 1907, Convocation Hall is recognizable for its domed roof and Ionic-pillared rotunda. Besides the annual convocation ceremonies, the building serves as a venue for academic and social events throughout the year. Its design includes neoclassical features from both the Greek and Roman periods including columns, the building's entablature, and its domed roof. There is an emphasis on principles of proportion, symmetry, geometry and uniformity of parts.

Sandford Fleming Building

address: 10 King's College Road

The Sandford Fleming Building is the traditional centre of activity in the University of Toronto Faculty of Applied Science & Engineering. The building was built in 1907 originally for the physics department. It is named after Sir Sandford Fleming, the chief engineer of the Intercolonial Railway of Canada, the chief engineer on Canadian Pacific Railways surveys, and is famous for helping to establish a standardized 24-hour system of international time zones.

Knox College

address: 59 St George St

The sandstone buildings of Knox College epitomizes the North American collegiate Gothic design, with its characteristic cloisters surrounding a secluded courtyard. Knox College is a postgraduate theological college founded in 1844 and today is affiliated with the Presbyterian Church in Canada. The college moved into its current building in 1915. Take a look at the building's lobby on the eastern side of the building. It has a castle atmosphere. Pass through the lobby to the courtyard surrounded on all four sides by impressive, old-fashion architecture.

Hart House & Soldiers' Tower

address: 7 Hart House Circle

Hart House is a Gothic-revival student centre complex overlooking a lawn within Hart House Circle. Among its many common rooms, the building's Great Hall is noted for large stained-glass windows and a long quotation from John Milton's Areopagitica that is inscribed around the walls. The adjacent Soldiers' Tower stands tall as the most prominent structure in the vicinity, its stone arches etched with the names of university members lost to the battlefields of the two World Wars. The tower houses a 51-bell carillon that is played on special occasions such as Remembrance Day and convocation.

• Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

  phone: +1 416-978-8398
  This small gallery has two rooms displaying contemporary Canadian art. The exhibits change monthly.

Trinity College

address: 6 Hoskin Ave

The main building of Trinity College displays Jacobethan Tudor architecture, while its chapel was built in the Perpendicular Gothic style of Giles Gilbert Scott. The chapel features exterior walls of sandstone and interiors of Indiana Limestone, and was constructed by Italian stonemasons using ancient building methods. The building's cornerstone was laid on April 30, 1851. Trinity College was incorporated as an independent university in 1851, and a charter was granted by Queen Victoria the following year. Trinity College was originally an arts and divinity institution but, by the end of the 19th century its scope included medicine, law, music, pharmacy and dentistry. The college admitted its first female students in 1884. In 1904, Trinity College became part of the University of Toronto. Be sure to see the courtyard, with its geometric patterns, between the wings of the building.

Philosopher's WalkPhilosopher's Walk is a scenic footpath that follows a meandering, wooded ravine linking Trinity College to Bloor Street on the west side of the Royal Ontario Museum.

• Queen Alexandra GatewayThe Bloor Street entrance to the Philosopher's Walk was built in 1901 to commemorate the visit of the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall and York. It was moved to its current location from the corner of Bloor Street and Avenue Road in 1962.

• AmphitheatreThe small amphitheatre midway along the Philosopher's Walk was designed to be acoustically vibrant for lectures and performances.

Art Museum at the University of Toronto

phone: +1 416-978-1838

address: 15 King’s College Circle

One of the largest visual art exhibitions with rotating exhibitions.

• Justina M. Barnicke Gallery

  phone: +1 416-978-8398
  address: 7 Hart House Circle
  An extension of the Art Museum at the University of Toronto.

Eastern campus

The eastern campus lies on the east side of Queens Park separating it from the rest of the university. It contains two colleges with several older buildings. Museum Subway Station is adjacent to the eastern campus.

• Victoria College

  address: 73 Queens Park Cres E
  Victoria college, founded in 1836, features several older buildings.

• Old VicBuild in 1896, "Old Vic" is the main building and an example of Richardsonian Romanesque architectural style.

• Annesley Hall

  address: 95 Queen's Park
  Built in 1903 in the Queen Anne style, Annesley Hall is the first university residence built for women in Canada. It is the oldest residence within the college and is a National Historic Site of Canada.

• Burwash HallBurwash Hall is the second oldest of the residence buildings at Victoria, being completed in 1913. The building is an extravagant Neo-Gothic work with turrets, gargoyles, and battlements. The portion of the building opposite St. Mary Street is called the Gate House with a attractive oval portal under a castle-like tower.

St. Michael's CollegeSt. Michael's College, founded in 1852, is an undergraduate college for liberal arts and sciences within the University of Toronto. It has a Roman Catholic affiliation.

• St. Basil's ChurchConsecrated in 1856, St. Basil's Church is the oldest building at the University of Toronto in continuous academic use. It serves the college parish.

Western campus

The western campus lies between St. George Street and Spadina Avenue and contains a mix of old and modern buildings. It can be reached by the 506 streetcar at Beverley Street or St George Street, or by the 510 streetcar to Willcocks Street.

• Robarts Library

  phone: +1 416-978-8450
  address: 130 St George St
  The most significant example of Brutalist architecture is the massive Robarts Library complex, built in 1972 and opened a year later in 1973. It features raised podia, extensive use of triangular geometric designs and a towering fourteen-storey concrete structure that cantilevers above a field of open space and mature trees.

• Thomas Fisher Rare Book LibraryThe largest repository of publicly accessible rare books and manuscripts in Canada, the library is several stories high with shelves around an open atrium. The old books give the place a noticeable musty smell. Behind the entrance and one floor below is an area for changing exhibits.

• Cherry tree blossomsThere is a grove of Japanese cherry trees on the SW side of the Robarts Library. The trees bloom in late April or early May (depending on weather) and blooming lasts for only one or two weeks. There is a web page to find more precise information about when cherry trees bloom in Toronto.

• John H. Daniels Building, Faculty of Architecture

  address: 1 Spadina Crescent
  The John H. Daniels Building was built in the Gothic Revival style in 1875 and a highly visible landmark along Spadina Avenue. The building was used originally for Knox College until the college moved to the central campus in 1914. During World War I, it was used as a military hospital where once Amelia Earhart worked as a nurses aide. It became a medical research lab in 1943. It again became an academic building in 1972 for the Faculty of Arts and Science. Today, it is used by the Faculty of Architecture, Landscape and Design, and has a modern extension on its north side. The grounds are nicely landscaped. Pedestrian access is on the east side of the building.

• Annex Neighbourhood Stroll. If you're interested in Victorian architecture, the Annex is a great place to just wander. The area includes countless detached and semi-detached homes, most built in the elegant Victorian style at the turn of the century. North of Bloor are the mansions, south of Bloor are the rowhouses; both are equally worth a look. Admiral Road and Elgin Avenue are particularly attractive.

• Bloor Hot Docs Cinema

  phone: +1 416-637-3123
  Restored 1913 movie theatre that screens documentaries and independent film festival fare, and often features classic favourites. Definitely the place to go if you feel like watching Dr. Strangelove on the big screen. If you're in town for Halloween, the midnight screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show is recommended.'

• The Fringe Theatre Festival

  phone: +1 416-966-1062
  address: 720 Bathurst St
  One of the city's cultural highlights, the Fringe Festival is an annual summer event featuring comedy, drama, dance, and a range of other independent productions put on in and around the Annex. 11 days in early July. It was founded in 1988.

• Snakes & Lattés Annex

  phone: +1 647-342-9229
  address: 600 Bloor St W.
  Board game café; a $5 cover charge gives access to a huge library of games.

• Snakes & Lattés College

  phone: +1 647-342-9229
  address: 489 College St
  Board game café with over 1000 board and card games.

The Annex

True to its bohemian character, The Annex is dotted with small bookshops and independent record stores centred around Bloor and Bathurst. You'll find the predictable headshops and ethnic/tribal stores, but there are also some truly exceptional places to shop.

• Asiallery Studio

  phone: +1 416 616-5431
  address: 1069 Bathurst St
  Carries hand-made, unique and exquisite fashion accessories at excellent prices.

• BMV Books

  phone: +1 416 967-5757
  address: 471 Bloor St W
  Carries a formidable selection of new and second-hand books on two storeys in subjects ranging from literature and spirituality to self-help and travel books. Their DVD selection caters to an impossibly wide range of taste, and is a real steal at around $5 each. Also has bargain-priced, slightly out-of-date travel books (though they don't yet stock the excellent Wikivoyage brand).

• The Green Beanery

  phone: +1 416 588-7700 ext 249
  address: 565 Bloor St W
  Cafe & roastery housed in a former bank (the vault still remains) selling an array of coffee gear. A fair-trade, non-profit organization that offers a mind-boggling selection of coffees and teas.

• Five flower shops

  address: 126, 128, 130, 132 & 136 Avenue Rd
  Five flower shops (Grower's Flower Market & Gifts, Jong Young Flower Market, Ken's Flowers On Avenue, Yang's Flower & Fruit Market, Kay & Young Florist) form a "flower district" competing side-by-side with each other within the same block on Avenue Road.

Bloor-Yorkville

Bloor Street between Avenue Road and Yonge Street is often called "the Mink Mile" because of its cluster of expensive, high-end stores. Along Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue, one and two blocks north of Bloor Street respectively, there are rows of shops, restaurants and art galleries.

• Holt Renfrew

  phone: +1 416-922-2333
  address: Holt Renfrew Centre, 50 Bloor St W
  High-end department store with provision for valet parking at the front door.

• Hudson's Bay

  phone: +1 416-972-3333
  address: Hudson's Bay Centre, 44 Bloor St E
  Department store. There is an even larger Bay store further downtown.
• The

  Hudson's Bay Centre

  address: 2 Bloor St E
  The start of a small network of tunnels lined with shops and connecting to two other malls: Cumberland Terrace (at Bay St with a tunnel to Bay Subway Stn) and Manulife Centre (south of Bloor St). It also connects to the Hudson's Bay and Holt Renfrew stores. It's similar to the downtown PATH but much shorter.

• Tiffany & Co.

  phone: +1 416-921-3900
  address: 150 Bloor St W
  High-end American retailer known for fine jewellery, china & silver.

• William Ashley

  phone: +1 416-964-2900
  address: 131 Bloor St W
  Upscale store offering high-end porcelain, china, crystal & luxury items. The merchandise displays are very colourful, and are worth seeing even if you have no room in your baggage for a new set of china. There actually was no real person named William Ashley; the founder of the store was a woman, Tillie Abrams, who felt that a masculine moniker would give the retailer credibility as, at that time in 1947, "gentlemen ran businesses, not ladies".

The Annex

The Annex has more restaurants packed in per square metre than any other part of the city. Keeping true to Toronto's multicultural flavour, you're likely to find sushi restaurants, pizzerias and falafel stands within a few steps of each other. Whatever you crave, you can find it in the Annex.

Budget

• Annapurna Vegetarian Restaurant

  phone: +1 416-537-8513
  address: 1085 Bathurst Street in The Annex
  Vegetarian & vegan. South Indian dishes.

• By The Way Cafe

  phone: +1 416-967-4295
  address: 400 Bloor St W
  Middle Eastern cuisine with a Latin influence. Very popular patio weather-permitting, as well as good food with daily specials at decent prices. The weekend brunch specials are especially good and you can stuff yourself on a specialty omelette with all the sides for under $10. $10-20.

• Cora Pizza

  phone: +1 416-922-1188
  address: 656 Spadina Ave
  Popular among the thin crust crowd. Specialty pies. Late-night delivery, takeout & counter seats.

• Fresh on Bloor

  phone: +1 416-599-4442
  address: 326 Bloor Street West
  A large menu of modern vegetarian & vegan dishes plus made-to-order juices in a lively eatery.

• Future Bakery & Cafe

  phone: +1 416 922-5875
  address: 483 Bloor St W
  Popular among students. Famous for excellent bread, delectable cakes (try the strawberry-mango cheesecake) and friendly staff. Also serves a complete cheap breakfast all day which is even cheaper for University of Toronto students.

• Ghazale Restaurant

  phone: +1 416-537-4417
  address: 504 Bloor St. W
  Excellent Middle Eastern food for incredibly affordable prices. Not so much a restaurant as a counter and a lineup, the staff is friendly and quick, and there's always some interesting conversations waiting in the line. Many vegetarian options. $5-10.

• Harbord Fish & Chips

  address: 147 Harbord St
  This friendly hole-in-the-wall serves up fish and chips wrapped in newspaper the old fashioned way. Portions are generous and tasty. Haddock/salmon meals for one come with freshly-cut chunky fries, a soft drink and coleslaw. Dining space is limited to two picnic benches on the outside and a few stools inside. Meals start at around $8.

• LG Amato Pizza

  phone: +1 416-972-6286
  address: 380 College St
  Offering thin-crust pizzas & Italian dishes with the widest selection of toppings.

• New Generation Sushi

  phone: +1 416-963-8861
  address: 493 Bloor Street West
  M-Th noon-1AM, F Sa noon-2AM, Su noon-midnight. The Bloor Street West strip between Spadina and Bathurst plays host to no fewer than five sushi restaurants. All are quite popular and have their own devotees. $5-24.

• Sneaky Dee's

  phone: +1 416-603-3090
  address: 431 College St
  Open M Tu 11AM-3AM, W Th 11AM-4AM, F 11AM-4:30AM, Sa 9AM-4:30AM, Su 9AM-9PM. Inexpensive yet tasty Tex-Mex fare and cheap pitchers of beer. Particularly popular among the post-bar crowd, due to its absurdly late closing time. Live music can be heard upstairs, catering to the punk orientated. $8-15.

• Starbucks

  address: 765 Yonge St
  The former Albert Britnell Book Shop is now a Starbucks outlet but retains some of its quaint old book shop atmosphere. The small building was built in 1928.

• Swiss Chalet Rotisserie & Grill

  phone: +1 416-260-8574
  address: 700 University Ave
  A popular Canadian chicken chain famous for their "Chalet Sauce".

Mid-range

• Aunties & Uncles

  phone: +1 416-324-1375
  address: 74 Lippincott St
  Located at the extreme south end of the Annex, this jam-packed little cafe is very popular with the younger crowd for it's simple yet sophisticated meals. Also a very popular weekend brunch spot. Space is extremely limited and the restaurant closes for all long weekends, so it's best to call ahead.

• Country Style

  phone: +1 416-536-5966
  address: 450 Bloor St W
  Not to be confused with the donut chain, Country Style has been serving up Austro-Hungarian dishes for decades and has become somewhat of a legend for the warm atmosphere and old-country authenticity served up by the couple who've run the place from the start. The schnitzels are the biggest in town and are quite tasty, and with generous sides of rice, beets, or potato dumplings. If you have room, crêpes are a good choice for desert. For the truly gluttonous, the "wooden plate" special, piled high with about as many different meats as can be imagined, will have you thankful for all of the heart research going on nearby. Unfortunately, prices aren't what they used to be. $15-40 for more than you could hope to eat.

• Dynasty Chinese Cuisine

  phone: +1 416-923-3323
  address: 69 Yorkville Ave
  Canotonese cuisine. Better quality than in Chinatown but also more expensive.

• Free Times Cafe

  phone: +1 416-967-1078
  address: 320 College St
  Offers a fabulous brunch from 11AM-3PM every Sunday featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet of traditional Jewish dishes (bagels, assorted fish dishes, French toast, croquets, blintzes, Danish, pickled salads, etc.). Very popular, costs $24.95 per person. Arrive early if you don't want to wait, reservations essential for groups larger than 4. Don't eat the night before, and wear loose pants. Meals from $15.

• Harbord Bakery

  address: 115 Harbord St
  Very popular for breads, and their famous quiche.

• Live Organic Food Bar

  phone: +1 416-515-2002
  address: 264 Dupont St in The Annex
  Raw & cooked vegan fare. Freshly squeezed juices accompany complete meals that cost $35.

Splurge

The expensive restaurants tend to be found in Yorkville just north of the Mink Mile.

• One Restaurant

  address: 116 Yorkville Ave
  Eclectic dishes by celebrity chef and restauranteur Mark McEwan.

• Sassafraz

  phone: +1 647-560-2003
  address: 100 Cumberland St
  This fashionable restaurant, located in an array of Victorian rowhouses, serves French-inspired Canadian cuisine. During the Toronto International File Festival many celebrities visit Sassafraz making it a magnet for celebrity spotters.

• Einstein Cafe & Pub

  phone: +1 416 597-8346
  address: 229 College St
  Although it is run independently of the university, it is very much a student bar, offering food, drinks and good times. On Thursdays, their home brew is $8.50 a pitcher before 9PM. Fridays and Saturdays are also quite busy. Wednesday is open mic night, you've been warned.

• Madison Avenue Pub

  phone: +1 416-927-1722
  address: 14 Madison Ave
  A very popular meeting place and singles bar populated by young professionals, frat boys, and preppy students. They also serve food but do not expect to find a table if you do not arrive early, despite several floors and an extensive patio. Pricier than most Annex options.

• Labyrinth Lounge

  phone: +1 416-925-7775
  address: 298 Brunswick Ave
  A small bar attached to Future's Bakery (see Eat section). A more subdued place that stands in stark contrast to the often-raunchy Brunswick House across the street. Drink prices are comparable to other bars in the area. Live music on Tuesday nights.

• Lee's Palace and the Dance Cave

  phone: +1 416-598-0720
  address: 529 Bloor St W
  Lee's is one of the premier performance venues for current live music, catering to a wide range of tastes. Bands play almost every night of the week and ticket prices at the door range from $2-25, depending on who's playing. The Dance Cave, upstairs from Lee's, is a club that runs almost every night of the week, leaning towards house/goth/industrial music. Of note is that the age range in the Cave is unusually broad, so if you are 19 or approaching 40 and like to dress up in black and go dancing, you won't be entirely out of place.

• The One Eighty

  address: 51st Floor, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor St W
  A restaurant and lounge on the 51st floor of the Manulife Centre offers a great view of the downtown Toronto skyline. They have a patio as well which is open in the summer.

Budget

• College Hostel

  phone: +1 416-929-4777
  address: 280 Augusta Ave
  In Kensington Market. Great location. Private and communal rooms available. $17-42.

• The Planet Traveler

  phone: +1 647 352-8747
  address: 357 College St
  Eco-friendly hostel at the north end of Kensington Market. Features a laundry room, kitchen, rooftop bar, free wi-fi, and free computer terminals.

Mid-range

• Castlegate Inn

  address: 219 Spadina Rd
  Thirty-four rooms all have private baths, Wifi access as well as mini fridges and cable TVs. Bit of a walk to other sights in Toronto though.

• Philomena and Dave Bed & Breakfast

  address: 31 Dalton Rd
  Cheerful B&B, while although basic, still serves up a free breakfast each morning as well as hospitable hosts who speak French, German and Italian for their international visitors. Built in 1910, the B&B still contains some of its original fixtures, such as oak doors and trim and large stained-glass bay windows.

• Rose Garden B&B

  phone: +1-416-992-0746
  address: 1030 Bathurst Street
  Fairly low prices, well-regarded hosts, and service in English, French, or Mandarin. Parking next door for a fee. Breakfast and wifi included.

• Suite Dreams Toronto B&B

  phone: +1 416-898-8461
  address: 390 Clinton St
  Very nice suites with friendly atmosphere.

Splurge

• Four Seasons Hotel Toronto

  phone: +1 461-964-0411
  address: 60 Yorkville Ave
  A five-star hotel with 259 rooms on offer. Spa, large indoor pool, and a world-class restaurant with international chef Daniel Boulud.

• Toronto Marriott Bloor Yorkville Hotel

  phone: +1 416-961-8000
  address: 90 Bloor St E
  4-star hotel with direct access to subway lines 1 and 2, features Matisse Restaurant and Bar.

• InterContinental Toronto Yorkville

  phone: +1 416-960-5200
  address: 220 Bloor Street West, Toronto, ON M5S 1T8

• Internet Minimart

  phone: +1 416-818-6246
  address: 519 Bloor St W
  Internet Cafe

• FedEx

  phone: +1 416-928-0110
  address: 459 Bloor St W
  FedEx has a number of Internet-connected computers as well as fax machines and photocopiers. FedEx packages can also be sent from and received there.

• The Wicket - Canada Post Outlet

  phone: +1 416-923-8532
  address: 55 Bloor St W
  Stamps, shipping services, money orders.

Here is a list of adjacent districts:

• Downtown East: Church-Wellesley Village, Cabbagetown.
• Kensington-Chinatown: Kensington Market, Chinatown, Art Gallery of Ontario.
• Midtown: Casa Loma
• West End: Koreatown, Little Italy, High Park
• Yonge-Dundas: Yonge-Dundas Square, City Hall