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Toronto has many excellent cafés, restaurants and bars, at a range of budgets.
Note: Many of Toronto's older buildings may not have accessible restrooms or entranceways, with bathrooms frequently located in building basements requiring staircase use. There are a number of websites that can help you navigate accessibility.
Close to the conference hotel (1 km or less):
HotBlack Coffee, 245 Queen W. There’s no shortage of good coffee close to the hotel, but HotBlack has a back patio and is often tagged as one of Toronto’s best.
Sam James, 150 King W (in the PATH). Another much-loved local independent coffee house, Sam James recently opened a spot in the PATH (the underground tunnel network connected to the Sheraton). Note: Don’t feel bad if you get lost in the PATH, it happens to everyone.
Noodle King, 123 Queen W. Known for its Spicy Beef, Noodle King has a cult following and, given that it’s in the Sheraton Hotel’s basement Food Court, it’s hard to beat for convenience.
Chefs Hall, 111 Richmond St W. Offers a different take on the food court idea, with a variety of stalls selling rich and filling food. And it’s just across the street from the Sheraton.
Cubano Kings, 141 Spadina. This hole-in-the-wall not only has some of the city’s top Cuban sandwiches, it also makes killer coffee. Note: Seating limited to small patio. Closes early.
Bao House, 171 Dundas W. This new branch of a Dim Sum institution north of the city was established recently on a part of Dundas West that was once the heart of Chinatown. It’s still one of Toronto’s great eating streets, with plenty of old and new options. Best of all, it’s very close to the conference hotel—just the other side of City Hall.
Forno Cultura, 77 Adelaide W (in the PATH, under First Canadian Place). The best-known Forno Cultura is arguably the location at King and Bathurst, but the closest place to enjoy Forno’s renowned focaccia and other snacks inspired by southern Italian cuisine is this small outpost in the PATH.
PAI, 18 Duncan. Local favourite PAI serves up tasty traditional northern Thai food for both lunch and dinner. Closed Monday lunch.
Aloette, 163 Spadina. There are actually two locations of Aloette (the other one, on Bay, has longer hours). Both offer pretty similar fare, namely haute versions of brasserie and steakhouse classics, such as juicy burgers and wedge salads. On the pricy side.
Wide Open, 139A Spadina. Dive bar aficionados will want to stop by Wide Open after they eat their Pan con Timba from Cubano Kings next door.
Slightly Further Afield (under 2 kms)
Carousel Bakery, 92-95 Front St. E. (inside St. Lawrence Market). Have you even been to Toronto if you haven’t tried a Bacon-on-a-Bun sandwich at St. Lawrence Market? The city’s oldest market also offers less meaty snacks, such as fish and chips, apple fritters, Montreal-style bagels (infinitely superior to New York style) and much more, making is a great place to grab a quick lunch.
Golden Patty Bakery, 187 Baldwin. Toronto’s best Jamaican Patty is endlessly debated and sees people travel far and wide to weigh in. Golden Patty in Kensington Market is one of the standard bearers. Plus, it’s an excuse to go to Kensington.
Juicy Dumplings, 280 Spadina (through the mall). There’s a second entrance to Juicy Dumpling on Dundas West, which can be confusing. Well worth it for these truly juicy dumplings.
416 Snack Bar, 181 Bathurst. This tiny bar just off Queen West offers up spot-on perfect small plates like the renowned Eggplant Sangwich Doubledown (the bread is also made from eggplant) and expertly curated wine and beer to enjoy with the tasty snacks.
Campechano, 504 Adelaide. Toronto’s in the midst of a taco boom, so there’s no shortage of excellent options. Campechano is one of the taco OGs and is still making some of the city’s best. (Note: they have a second location on College near Bathurst.)
Little Sister, 102 Portland Ave. This Dutch Indo Food Bar specializes in rijsttafel style snacks, all of which are attractively priced every day for Happy “Jam” (4:30-6:30pm), as are the smart cocktails.
King’s Noodle. 296 Spadina. If you only do one Cantonese style BBQ pork and duck noodle soup on your visit, this decades-old Chinatown staple is the place to do it.
Barberian’s Steakhouse, 7 Elm Street. Anyone who likes the classic steakhouse vibe will quickly fall in love with this charming, mid-century Toronto institution. Not particularly budget-friendly.
The Shameful Tiki, 777 Queen W. You don’t have to be a tiki enthusiast to get why this bar is so well-loved. Awesome décor, pro bartenders, friendly vibe and a secret room upstairs.
Still close, but further west (less than 4 kms away)
Pompette Bakery, 655 College. Our pick for Toronto’s best croissant. French know-how; local ingredients. Win-win.
Manita, 210 Ossington Avenue. Neighbourhood vibes. Excellent brunch. Lots of veggie options.
Ramen Isshin, 421 College. Known for complex broths, Ramen Isshin also offers Izakaya style comfort food.
Imanishi Japanese Kitchen, 1330 Dundas W. Reservations are a good idea at this popular west-end restaurant that draws on izakaya/ramen house and Japanese home cooking traditions.
Pizza Badiali, 181 Dovercourt. Try to go in the afternoon to avoid the line-up at this ridiculously popular pizzeria. (Second location recently opened on Markham south of Bloor.)
Taverne Bernhardt, 202 Dovercourt. Fancy rotisserie chicken and other fare with great wine in a charming location. Hidden gem. Worth the splurge. Reservations highly recommended.
Pho Tien Than, 57 Ossington. Pho Tien Than opened in 1995 as a rival to the Golden Turtle (125 Ossington) when the Ossington strip was still primarily a Vietnamese business area. Some play favourites but, honestly, you can’t go wrong with either of these soup icons.
Birreria Volo, 612 College St. Since Birreria Volo is on the spendy side of things, it’s worth aiming for its late afternoon “Aperitivo Hour” specials. No matter what time, though, this is one of the best tapas, beer and wine selections in Canada. (Note: Volo also has a slightly hard-to-find sister location on St. Nicholas.)
Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St. It’d be hard to overstate how much Toronto folks treasure the Sneaky Dee’s late-night nachos and beer tradition.
And if you’re in Toronto for a while and hoping to hear a short lecture while you raise a pint, you can check out Brains & Barstools.
Looking to explore a great food area and discover your own hidden gems?
Korea Town: Excellent Korean food can be found on Bloor between Bathurst and Christie
Bloor & Ossington: Some of the city’s best East African restaurants are located on Bloor between Ossington and Crawford in this eclectic hood that’s also home to great wine and cocktail bars.
Little India is definitely worth the trip to the city’s east end (Gerrard, east of Greenwood).
Kensington Market/Chinatown: An eclectic mix of everything from tasty empanadas to trendy and acclaimed new restaurants.
Little Tibet: Parkdale (Queen West West) is home to great Tibetan cuisine and plenty of cool bars.
If you have a break in your conference schedule or a free evening, Toronto’s mix of institutions, architecture, and neighbourhoods offers many ways to experience the city beyond the conference.
But first, two relevant events:
On Thursday, October 8, 7:00 – 8:30 pm, the authors of Against Tech Oligarchy will be hosting “The Trial of Jeff Bezos” at The Garrison. RSVP: https://tinyurl.com/ato-10-08. The organizers write: “Witnesses will present Bezos’ most notable injuries to the working class and together we’ll decide his fate. Join us for an event that is sure to be a boisterous, cathartic celebration of working class solidarity and power.” The jury will include Moira Weigel, Lucy Suchman, and Brett Story.
Hosted at The Parkdale Hall, Dazed and Confused: Divided We Laugh is an interactive night about why we fall for outrage, misinformation, and manipulation (which all make public trust in science ever the more difficult to foster), featuring CBC’s Anthony Morgan (The Nature of Things), comedian Lexa Graham, and researcher Dr. Aviva Philipp-Muller (featured in the Wall Street Journal). Use code 4S15 or this link to get 15% off. Drinks and small snacks are available for purchase at the bar!
Toronto’s neighbourhoods are among its most compelling attractions. Kensington Market is a dense area known for independent shops, vintage stores, and street food, while Chinatown nearby offers everything from bakeries to late-night noodle spots. Little Italy and the surrounding College Street area are lively in the evenings, with restaurants, bars, and small music venues. Queen West and Ossington are known for their galleries, design shops, and creative studios, reflecting Toronto’s part as a city for arts and culture. For those interested in migration, infrastructure, and everyday urban life, these neighbourhoods offer rich sites to explore some of the city’s social and cultural diversity.
The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) anchor the city’s museum landscape, housed in architecturally ambitious buildings that invite critique and reflection. Beyond the obvious, there are many more specialized museums, focusing on material from ceramics and textiles to hockey and television. If the weather is good and you want to be a real tourist, take in panoramic views from the CN Tower. Toronto’s waterfront and park system offer paths, lake views, and public art installations, making it easy to get outside without leaving the downtown area. Or, visitors can explore the historic Distillery District, known for its preserved Victorian industrial architecture, galleries, and cafés.