Senses

Rated this place:

318 Wellington St. W., Toronto, ON, M5V 3T4

pastries and croissants: Located inside the posh Soho Metropolitan Hotel, this place is a good place to spot celebrities. It's also a good cafe to visit in the morning for their freshly brewed coffee and butter croissants, that are always fresh, light, flaky, and very buttery. The cakes, pastries and mini desserts, such as cheesecakes and tarts, are also delicious and so beautiful to look at. Bring a friend or co-worker for an afternoon break and enjoy a cappuccino along with one of these sweet indulgences.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Butter Croissant

Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe

Rated this place:

712 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1C3

dessert place: The fresh waffles and crepes topped with homemade ice cream and all the sweet fixings like whip cream and chocolate shavings is a dessert lover's dream. They serve large portions too. Order the flavour Baci if you love chocolate as much as I do. The big sidewalk patio is great in the summer, when you can enjoy your decadent dessert while people watching. You might have a hard time getting a seat though, because all the restaurant and cafe patios along College fill up fast when it's warm outside.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• dessert place

John's Italian Caffe

Rated this place:

27 Baldwin St, Toronto, ON, M5T1L1

tiramisu cake and sidewalk patio: They have the best tiramisu in the city. It's the restaurant's own homemade recipe. The Italian food here is also very good. It's rustic cooking, with pizza, panini, pasta and vino on the menu. The cafe's sidewalk patio is also great during the warmer months. Tucked away on Baldwin (just off of McCaul St. by the Art Gallery of Ontario), the peaceful patio is removed from traffic. This street is also where you'll find a slew of other restaurants, featuring a variety of different cuisines from French to Mexican.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• tiramisu cake

Dolce Gelato E Cafe

Rated this place:

697 COLLEGE ST., Toronto, ON, M6G1C2

cafe and gelato: Dolce (which means "sweet" in Italian) is really raising the bar when it comes to authentic gelato in the city. The café and gelateria serves some of the creamiest gelato around and all the best traditional flavours like Tiramisu, Nocciola and Limone. It's definitely the best gelato on College St. (Little Italy) and many others seem to agree as this place is always packed on a hot day. The gelato is homemade on site and sells fast, so you can be sure that it's always fresh. I also recommend you order an espresso or a cappuccino. The specialty coffees here are so much better than Starbucks down the street. Dolce has a superior coffee machine. Also, if you're not in the mood for a cold treat they have a small selection of Italian pastries including sfogliatelle and canoli. I visit this café regularly and you should too. It’s a great place to go for dessert after you’ve had dinner at one of the restaurants along College St.

Old York Bar & Grill

Rated this place:

167 Niagara St, Toronto, ON, M5V1C9

hidden cafe: Old York Restaurant & Tavern is located on a quiet side street at the corner of Niagara and Wellington. It's a local hangout that serves diner style food like burgers and fries, along with an excellent weekend brunch menu. I always order their big gourmet omelettes (and add a bit of Old York's homemade sauce). I love the quaint patio, especially on a sunny day or warm evening. It's a great spot to relax and enjoy a few beers with friends.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• hidden cafe

Madeleines, Cherry Pie and Ice Cream

Rated this place:

1087 Bathurst Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 3G8

desserts and cakes: If you love sweet treats - pie, cookies, chocolates, cake, ice cream, tarts - you'll find it here. The owner is a pastry chef and everything is homemade on the premises. The desserts are beautiful looking and even better tasting. Coffee, tea, lattes and other hot drinks are also very good. I suggest having your dessert here because of the quaint and charming atmosphere. The cafe also sells chocolates, candies and giftware. You can even order wedding cakes, and they do catering. I attended a bridal shower here during the summer and we ate outside on the backyard patio. It was beautifully lit up with white lights, and the hors d'oeuvres and cupcakes served were absolutely delicious.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• desserts

Fusaro's Kitchen

Rated this place:

147 Spadina Ave #108, Toronto, ON, M5V2L7

Lunch spot: Everything here is always fresh. Try the panini and pasta specials. They are usually delicious and cost around 10 bucks with a drink. It's also best to get there early before the lunch crowd packs in. I find just before noon is a good time to head over. While you're waiting you can enjoy free pizza bites and other food samples that the staff puts out daily.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Lunch Spot

Nervosa Cafe

Rated this place:

75 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1B8

Casual Italian dining: I love the food. It's simple, yet delicious. Another good reason to come here is for the al fresco dining. The sidewalk patio is great for people watching and the rooftop patio is nice if you want a little more privacy. Some of my favourite items on the menu include the Orecchiette alla Barese and the Montanara pizza. The owners and staff are also very friendly. A great place all around.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• casual italian dining

Body Blue

Rated this place:

724 Queen Street West, Toronto, ON, M6J 1E8

designer jeans and cute tops: This well-edited boutique features a selection of high-end denim and clothing. Jean labels include Seven for All Mankind, Citizens of Humanity, Diesel, Earnest Sewn, True Religion and Mavi. There's also plenty of casual tops, shoes and accessories like leather belts and bags. I like that they carry pieces from James Perse's line of very comfortable cotton tops and T-shirts. The staff is very knowledgeable and helpful. They will bring a variety of styles for you to try on and seem to offer truthful advice on how the clothes fit you. The prices aren't that great though. I find this place a little pricier than it's competitors.

TNT Woman

Rated this place:

87 Avenue Rd. (Hazelton Lanes), Toronto, ON, M5R 3L2

hottest designers: TNT stands for "The New Trend", so it's not a surprise that this place carries just that - the latest and hottest international and local designers. The look is young and modern, but women of all ages can shop here. They carry a lot of clothes from popular women's line Theory, as well as Pink Tartan, Red Valentino, Vivienne Westwood, Dsquared and more. It's also refreshing to walk into a shop that is sorted so well, separating casual and evening wear, grouping clothing by colour scheme (blacks and whites, brights, blues etc.) and organizing accessories by type.

Covet + Crave

Rated this place:

789 King Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M5V1N4

premium denim and tees: This small boutique stocks designer jeans, cotton tops, T-shirts and accessories for the fashion-conscious crowd. The owner carefully selects pieces based on the hottest trends and most coveted designers. Denim brands at this shop include Rich & Skinny, J Brand, Hudson and Fidelity. I also love the stylish tanks and tees from popular L.A. labels like Ella Moss, Graham & Spencer and Velvet. The shop also sells fedora hats, belts, Hunter wellies and jewelry by Biko designs, a local company that creates handcrafted earrings and charm necklaces in silver and gold.

Michael Kors

Rated this place:

3401 Dufferin Street (Yorkdale Shopping Centre), Toronto, ON, M6A 3A1

shoes and handbags: About 75 per cent of this store is dedicated to Kors' shoes, handbags and accessories (including watches and sunglasses). The other 25 per cent is women's clothing. Michael Kors is one of the best designers to come out of the U.S. He's known for his all-American style that's sporty, simple and chic. If you own something from Michael Kors you'll likely have it for a long time because it's a classic piece. I adore his luxurious soft leather shoulder bags and totes. They go with everything. I also love Kors' shoes because they instantly add style to any outfit and plenty of height. You'll always see stacked heels and wedges in every collection. I can't resist walking into this store.

Mendocino

Rated this place:

131 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON, M5S 1R8

fashionista favourite: Every girl that loves fashion knows Mendocino is a must-visit shop for the latest trends. This store could be on Robertson Boulevard in Los Angeles, but Bloor Street West will do just fine for me. The buyers for Mendocino travel to L.A., New York and Europe in search of the next hot thing, so you don't feel so jipped if you miss out on a shopping trip across the border. The shop carries a variety of designer brands including Rich & Skinny, Karl Lagerfeld, Rebecca Taylor, Jbrand, William Rast, Velvet, Language, Mackage and Soia & Kyo. Also, this is a great place to find cocktail dresses and party outfits.

Pistachio

Rated this place:

3401 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6A 2T9

eco-friendly products and gifts: Pistachio, part of the Indigo and Chapters' empire, sells green lifestyle products. Everything in this store is eco-friendly. Items include stationery and greeting cards, home and garden accessories, toys and baby gifts, skincare and bath products. I especially like the invitations made from recycled paper -- they are as nice as custom made ones. For baby gifts check out the selection of wooden toys, clothing and baby books. And for adults, the Apothecary section features exclusive skincare lines like Jurlique from Australia, made from pure plant-based ingredients. You'll also fine Mrs. Meyers biodegradable household cleaning products, great for moms who want to keep a green environment in the home.

Kit Kat Italian Bar & Grill

Rated this place:

297 King St W, Toronto, ON, M5V1J5

Italian restaurant: This restaurants serves authentic southern Italian cuisine in a casual atmosphere. You really can't get anything that tastes bad at this restaurant, but I love the rigatoni with Bolognese sauce. It's great every time. I would also try the cappuccino because they make a good one -- enjoy it with chocolate raspberry tartuffo (ice cream).

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• italian restaurant

Over The Rainbow

Rated this place:

101 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1C1

brand name jeans: They have all the best brands at Over the Rainbow and the best selection of jeans in the city. You'll know what I"m talking about when you see the huge wall of stacked jeans. There's also racks of tops and casual clothes throughout the store, for men and women. I also like what they have for accessories and fashion jewelry because the pieces are always in season, trendy and inexpensive. Some brands you'll find here include Seven for All Mankind, Juicy Couture, Ben Sherman, Michael Stars, James Perse and Ella Moss. The sheer selection of designer duds and latest styles available at Over the Rainbow is why this store has so many loyal customers.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• jeans

Pusateri's Fine Foods

Rated this place:

1539 Avenue Rd #202, North York, ON, M5M3X4

gourmet food store and lunch spot: I love this gourmet shop because it reminds me of the food vendors along the beach in Italy. This place sells specialty Italian foods that I can't find anywhere else. The desserts and lunch choices here are also amazing. There's a huge selection of prepared salads and paninis, sushi and pastas. For dessert, try one of the many mini tarts, cookies and pastries, or bring a cake home, like LaRocca Cakes' strawberry shortcake. I think it's the best I have ever tasted. It's light, fluffy, topped with fresh strawberries and real cream....yummy.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• gourmet food store
• Strawberry Shortcake

Aritzia

Rated this place:

280 Queen W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A1

designer denim and trendy clothing: I shop here a lot and have for years. I love this store because they carry unique and fashion-forward labels like See by Chloe and Marc by Marc Jacobs. Plus, many of the lines found here, including TNA, Talula Babaton and Wilfred, offer XXS sizes -- perfect for small girls like me. The majority of the clothing is designer denim and casual pieces like hoodies, T-shirts and fashionable tops. I should also mention this place is a bit pricey, but the sales are great, with markdowns up to 70 per cent off.

H&M

Rated this place:

1 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON, M5G 1Z3

Cheap fashion: It's a tough tie breaker between Forever 21 and H&M, but the Swedish retailer wins, delivering a high-fashion look for less, and catering to teens, ladies and gents. I always find something I want at this massive store. It's a great place to shop when you want to add current pieces to your wardrobe without spending a lot of cash. H&M also invites some of the world's best fashion designers to design inexpensive collections for the retail chain. Past designers featured include Stella McCartney, Victor & Rolf and Roberto Cavalli.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Cheap Fashion

Hero Certified Burgers

Rated this place:

650 1/2 Queen St. W., Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1E4

burger place: Quality meat, great toppings like Shiitake mushrooms and marinated eggplant, and an excellent special sauce combine to make the perfect burger. The fries are also very good.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• burger place

La Paloma Authentic Gelateria & Cafe

Rated this place:

3175 Rutherford, Vaughan, ON, L4K5Y6

wide variety of gelato flavours: There's over 50 flavours at La Paloma, and it's just as good as the gelato in Italy. This place is a Toronto landmark, having been around for over 40 years and still attracting new and loyal customers. The gelato is made from the owners' family recipes. I recommend the Nocciola and Limone -- my favourite flavours since childhood. It's a little pricier than your regular ice cream shop but it's well worth it -- every bite. I visit this place on a monthly basis in the summer, because it's that good.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Ice cream

Black Camel

Rated this place:

4 Crescent Rd., Toronto, ON, M4W1S9

pulled pork sandwiches : This place is mouth-watering delicious and definitely one of my favourite lunch spots in the city. It's located right next to the Rosedale subway station. I usually get a pulled pork sandwich with Black Camel's special BBQ sauce and caramelized onions. The pork is very tender and the bun tastes like it just came from the bakery. I also really like the coleslaw because it's always fresh and not too creamy. Drinks include Orangina, Brio, mineral water, juice, tea, coffee, espresso, latte and cappuccino. They also serve Portuguese custard tarts, which I love. I find the service to be fast and the staff is very friendly.

Fashionably Yours

Rated this place:

632 Queen St. W., Toronto, ON, M6J 1E4

consignment boutique: Save cash (or make some cash) at Fashionably Yours, a high-end consignment shop on Queen West. They do a great job of choosing gently used designer clothing, accessories and shoes to re-sell in the boutique. I was amazed at the amount of inventory and brands they carry, and it's all in great shape. There's also a huge selection of dresses from top designers like BCBG, Marc Jacobs and D&G. I found shoes from Seychelles and Steve Madden that looked like they have never been worn and Coach bags marked down to 70 per cent off. The shop also offers personal styling and wardrobe consulting. And if you're not sure what's valuable and what isn't, the staff will visit your home and find the gems you might not have known you had.

Lux Spa

Rated this place:

25 Bellair Street, Toronto, ON, M5R 3L3

quick manicures: Lux Spa specializes in manicures and pedicures and offers a wide range of treatments from paraffin masques for your hands to the ultimate in pampering for your feet. I like coming here for the mini-manicure that costs $30. It's quick and fast, and I'm always happy with the results. Lux also offer a sports mani that's basically a manicure without the polish, as well as a polish change for $18. Located in Yorkville, it’s a good place to stop when you want to take a break from shopping, or treat yourself.

MAC Cosmetics

Rated this place:

220 Yonge Street, Toronto, ON, M5B 2H1

mineral blush and eyeshadow: MAC offers high quality cosmetics at reasonable prices, and the staff is extremely knowledgeable about the product and in helping customers determine what's best for their complexions. The mineral blush works wonders. You only need to use a little to get a punch of colour on the cheeks and it's so sheer you can reapply throughout the day. I really like the shade of blush called Love Joy. The mineralize eyeshadow duos are also great -- soft colour with a touch of shimmer. I find the mineral shadow in the shade Earthly Riches is perfect for creating a smoky eye.