The Drake Hotel

Rated this place:

1150 Queen Street West, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1J3

Lounge: I love The Drake’s new look and it’s guaranteed to be busy there. Plus, when you walk down the stairs from the upstairs patio, check out the creepy looking sculpture of the back of a man’s head and back – apparently, it’s made with human hair. It’s eerily lifelike.

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

P J O'Brien The City Pub

Rated this place:

39 Colborne St, Toronto, ON, M5E1E3

Irish meal, Irish pub: Guinness Stew and Corned Beef and Cabbage... need I say more? They also pour an incredible Guinness.

I love this place and not just because I’m an Irish descendant but because the live Celtic bands are out of this world, the crowds are chatty and the owners are two of the sweetest people you’ll ever meet.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Irish Pub
• Irish meal

Horseshoe Tavern

Rated this place:

368 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A2

Queen street bar: It was one of the first bars I hung out at when I moved to T.O. I know, the sound isn’t the greatest, but I have spent many a New Year’s Eve there watching The Sadies and it has a special place in my heart.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Queen Street bar

Collision

Rated this place:

573 College St, Toronto, ON, M6G1B2

College street bar: There may be little bit of attitude at times and it can be on the grungy side, and that’s precisely why I go there to escape the regular College Street crowds.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• College Street bar

The Press Club

Rated this place:

850 Dundas St. W., Toronto, ON, M4M3G4

Dundas west bar: It’s not just because I’m a journalist, but because you won’t believe how many brands of international beer can fit in this tiny little bar. And I love the old smoking chairs and typewriters… ok, that’s the romantic journalist in me.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Dundas West bar

XO Music Studio

Rated this place:

693 Bloor W, Toronto, ON, M6G1L5

Karaoke bar: Of the private rooms, it’s cheap, generally filled with wild and crazy people, is open all night and is located right across from Christie subway station so it’s easy to get to – and drag people to.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Karaoke Bar

Auld Spot Pub

Rated this place:

347 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K1N7

Danforth bar: Amazing staff, good beer selection and the tastiest coleslaw on earth -- as well as the biggest pepper mill you’ll ever see.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Danforth bar

Big Carrot Natural Food Market

Rated this place:

348 Danforth Ave #209, Toronto, ON, M4K1N8

Natural foods store: They've just expanded and they have a huge selection of organic foods, natural products, cosmetics, recipe books and dried fruits and grains in bulk.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Natural Foods Store

Book City

Rated this place:

348 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K 1N8

Bookstore: They're small, open late and their staff are usually very knowledgeable. They seem to have a real love of books and I've always enjoyed their recommendations.

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

Lick's Homeburgers & Ice Cream

Rated this place:

3315 Fairview, Burlington, ON, L7N3N9

Veggie burger: I know it's cliche... but it's true. I've eaten a lot of veggie burgers in this city and still, I'd have to say Lick's.

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

Strictly Bulk

Rated this place:

2436 Danforth Av, Toronto, ON, M4C1K9

Bulk food store: Think of any natural cleaners, cereals and bulk foods you can find at Loblaws or commercial supermarkets and then knock at least three dollars off of the price for each. It's cheap.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Bulk Food Store

Burger Shoppe

Rated this place:

688 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M1G9

Burger place, Veggie burger: They have delicious gourmet organic burgers for less than $10, cute mini burgers, real malt milkshakes and more! It's an upscale burger joint.

This veggie burger is not only the best I've had in the city -- it's a hot pink colour too! All of the Burger Shoppe's burgers are gourmet and some are even organic. It's out of this world.

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

Prohibition

Rated this place:

696 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M 1G9

Riverside bar: This new bar is a lot of fun and they have yummy oysters and food. Plus, they actually have a service switch in each booth so you can summon your server. Crazy!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Riverside bar

Selsi Sea Rocks

Rated this place:

92 Front St. E., lower floor, Toronto, ON, M5E 1C4

Gourmet salt: They have lots of colourful gourmet salts and peppers to choose from, including pretty pink Hawaiin salt and my personal fave, Salish smoked salt from B.C. It smells and tastes like a campfire. We threw a pinch on some grilled salmon and couldn't believe the taste!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gourmet Salt

Active Surplus Electronics

Rated this place:

347 Queen St W, Toronto, ON, M5V2A4

Everything shop: Everything's cheap, still new and if you can think of it, it's there.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Everything Shop

Asuka Japanese Restaurant

Rated this place:

108 Yorkville Ave, Toronto, ON, M5R1B9

Sushi: Their white tuna is to die for and I crave their seaweed salad ALL the time.

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

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

Rated this place:

4 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON, M5R2E8

Romantic spot: They have a beautiful fireplace that actually smells like a real fireplace and if you're lucky, you can snag a spot on the couch beside it and cozy up to your sweetheart.

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

Perola supermarket

Rated this place:

247 Augusta Ave, Toronto, ON, M5T2L8

Latin supermarket: Fresh cactus! I searched long and hard for it and finally found it! Besides my beloved cactus, they have very inexpensive produce and bulk beans, spices and tortillas.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Latin supermarket

Bill's Garden Ctr

Rated this place:

903 Pape Ave, East York, ON, M4K3V1

Gardening store: It's close to home, has an amazing selection of plants and patio accessories and smells amazing!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Gardening store

Silk Road Cafe

Rated this place:

341 Danforth Ave, Toronto, ON, M4K1N7

Chinese food: Their Buddha's Delight soup is the heartiest, most delicious soul food ever. If you make it spicy, it can cure a cold in no time flat!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Chinese food

Commercial Camera Repair

Rated this place:

111 Church St., Toronto, ON, M5C 2G5

Camera repair store: Henry's and Vistek have 4-6 week turnarounds because cameras are fixed offsite, but these guys do it right there. I had my camera fixed in under two hours yesterday!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Camera repair store

Long & McQuade

Rated this place:

925 Bloor St. W., Toronto, ON, M6H1L5

Music store, Place to kill time: My boyfriend makes me leave my wallet at home before I go there. They have every instrument you could dream of!!!

I could play in their guitar shop for hours. And, when you get bored of one store, you can walk two doors over to the drum/band/mic shop and play some more!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Music store
• Place to kill time

Nathalie-Roze & Co.

Rated this place:

1015 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M 1K3

Clothing boutique: They have really funky designs and unique clothes, from scarves, purses and dresses made out of ties to neat buttons and accessories.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• clothing boutique

Six Shooter Records Store

Rated this place:

1118 Queen St. E., Toronto, ON, M4M 1K8

Independent record store: They not only sell albums by Six Shooter artists, but almost every indie label in Canada. CDs are organized by record label so artists are easy to find. If you want more than music, check out their purses and painted cowboy boots by a local artist.

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• Independent record store

The Central

Rated this place:

603 Markham Street, Toronto, ON, M6G 2L7

New annex patio: The Victory Cafe's patio can be packed, and this new two-level patio is a bit calmer, with the same amazing Markham Street vibe. Plus, you can listen to live music!

• favourite thing(s) at this place:
• new Annex patio