Bars
Flash
463 Church, at Maitland, 416-925-8363, flashonchurch.com. New self-described “members’ sex club and bar” in the former Bigliardi’s (!) steak house, from the now-defunct George’s Play crew.
Fly
8 Gloucester, at Yonge, 416-925-6222, flynightclub.com. Massive laser-strafed circuit-party-style dance club open Friday and Saturday night. Drink till 2 am, dance till 7 am.
Goodhandy’s
120 Church, at Lombard, 416-760-6514, goodhandys.com. Pansexual playground for T-girls, T-boys, drag kings and their admirers anonymously located upstairs from Spring Rolls’ Go and next door to McVeigh’s Irish pub.
Kokoni Izakaya
459 Church, at Maitland, 647-346-0886. Trendy Guu-style watering hole with tapas-style bits ‘n’ bites.
Pegasus
489B Church, at Wellesley, 416-927-8832, pegasusonchurch.com. This relaxed second-storey space features four pool tables as well as a number of video and pinball games. Regular drink specials and free pizza Fridays.
Remington’s
379 Yonge, at Gerrard, 416-977-2160, remingtons.com. Male strip club in the heart of Yonge Street’s decidedly hetero pseudo-sleaze zone.
Slack’s
562 Church, at Wellesley, 416-928-2151, slacks.ca. Once a slacker named Alice, this neighbourly gastro-pub pulls a mixed crowd for regular live music nights and DJ sets aimed at the ladies in the house.
Tallulah’s Cabaret
12 Alexander, at Yonge, 416-975-8555, buddiesinbadtimestheatre.com. Where “art meets dance culture,” the cabaret space of Buddies in Bad Times Theatre doubles as a retro-themed dance club.
Woody’s/Sailor
467 Church, at Maitland, 416-972-0887, woodystoronto.com. Ever watched Queer As Folk? Then you’ll know what Woody’s looks like from the street. Sadly, inside is nothing like TV. Instead, this rambling room has several stand-up bars and pool tables, and hosts a weekly Best Ass contest.
Zipperz/Cellblock
72 Carlton, at Church, 416-921-0066, zipperzcellblock.com. Two bars in one! Sing along to Broadway show tunes in the old-school piano bar complete with working fireplace, or dance the night away on a stainless steel dance floor in the adjacent disco.
Elsewhere
Andy Poolhall
489 College, at Markham, 416-923-5300, andypoolhall.com. Warhol-themed billiard lounge with DJs on the College strip.z
Annex Wreck Room
794 Bathurst, at Bloor W, 416-536-0346, theannexwreckroom.com. Massive dance club in the Annex across from Honest Ed’s.
Beaver
1192 Queen W, at Gladstone, 416-537-2768, beavertoronto.ca. Cheap drinks, glam-punk DJs and an artsy crowd make Lynn McNeil’s smallish café one of the hottest spots on the alterna Queer West strip.
Bovine Sex Club
542 Queen W, at Bathurst, 416-504-4239, bovinesexclub.com. From the outside, the Bovine looks like the aftermath of an accident in an ironworks. Inside, where it’s dark, down and dirty, DJs spin vintage glam metal or whatever’s loud and happening.
Cadillac Lounge
1296 Queen W, at Grove, 416-536-7717, cadillaclounge.com. Retro 50s-era rocker lounge with huge backyard patio in unpretentious Parkdale.
Cameron House
408 Queen W, at Cameron, 416-703-0811, thecameron.com. Downtown’s original art bar offers live music nightly in two too-cool rooms.
Cloak & Dagger
394 College, at Borden, 416-921-8308, cloakanddaggerpub.com. Eclectic local close to Kensington with an emphasis on suds and alternative programming.
Comfort Zone
486 Spadina, at College, 416-975-0909. Tweaked-out DJs starting at 4 am (!) Sundays and running well into the next day in the basement of the colourful Waverley Hotel. Unlicensed.
Dance Cave
529 Bloor W (2nd floor), at Albany, 416-532-1598, leespalace.com. Cavernous dance club near U of T specializing in retro alternative rock.
Drake Hotel
1150 Queen W, at Beaconsfield, 416-531-5042, thedrakehotel.ca. Swanky supper club, cocktail lounge and basement performance space in trendy west-side boutique hotel.z
El Convento Rico
750 College, at Crawford, 416-588-7800, elconventorico.com. Latino salsa club with late-night drag shows Friday and Saturday.
Footwork
425 Adelaide W, at Brant, 416-913-3488, footworkbar.com. Scaled-down version of a large underground dance club, with a focus on house and techno.
Garrison
1197 Dundas W, at Lakeview, 416-519-9439, garrisontoronto.com. Live alternative music venue close to super-cool Ossington.
Gladstone Hotel
1214 Queen W, at Dufferin, 416-531-4635, gladstonehotel.com. Restored Victorian hotel and arts complex complete with installations, café, live music and karaoke.
Henhouse
1532 Dundas W, at Dufferin, 416-534-5939, henhousetoronto.com. Now under new management, the ‘House shifts the focus from vegan brunch to trashy theme nights.
Laide
138 Adelaide E, at Jarvis, 416-850-2726, laide.ca. Cocktail lounge near the core screens non-stop vintage girl-on-girl porn.
Mod Club Theatre
722 College, at Crawford, 416-588-4663, themodclub.com. Medium-sized live music venue with a raised stage, extended dance floor and elevated seating.
Sister
1554 Queen W, at Fuller, 416-532-2570, thesister.ca. The name might have been altered, but this rockin’ Parkdale resto-bar’s agenda remains the same – cool tunes, reasonably priced suds and veggie-friendly grub.
Wayla
996 Queen E, at Carlaw, 647-938-2524, waylabar.com. Leslieville lounge with weekly parties and DJ residences.
Wrongbar
1279 Queen W, at Brock, 416-516-8677, wrongbar.com. Bare-bones live music and DJ space in Parkdale with an electro bent.
Burgers
Gourmet Burger Company
9 Charles W, at Yonge, 647-351-6408, thegourmetburgerco.com. Ultimate hangover helper: the Aussie burger, 6 ounces of aged lean, never-frozen house-ground Canadian beef topped with bacon, lettuce, tomato, Hellman’s mayo, gooey cheddar, grilled pineapple, honey-poached beets and a runny fried egg. Also: 482 Parliament, at Carlton, 647-344-5103. Unlicensed.
Hero Certified Burgers
77 Wellesley E, at Church, 416-972-9665, heroburgers.com. A greatly improved burger with lots of free toppings and optional gluten-free buns. Unlicensed.
Sizzlers
460 Yonge, at College, 416-966-4714, sizzlerstoronto.ca. Diner-style burgers, French fries and Greek salads on the Yonge Street strip. And they deliver from 5 pm till late!
Cheap
Bonga Buldak (Home of Hot Taste)
710 Yonge, at St Mary, 416-975-0000. You have to be very drunk indeed to eat the house specialty at this student-friendly Korean cantina: Tearful Blazing Chicken, quite possibly the hottest dish in town. Vegetarians, beware: there is nothing for you here!
Como en Casa
565 Yonge, at Wellesley, 647-748-6666. Once home to Pita Break, this Casa specializes in slow-cooked Mexican stews and the inevitable tacos ‘n’ burritos. Unlicensed.
Ghazale
78 Wellesley E, at Church, 416-922-4417, ghazale.ca. Upstairs from a bathhouse, this wholesome family-run Middle Eastern take-away offers an extremely inexpensive and relatively health-conscious card in fast-food-chain digs. Skip the microwaved falafel and dig into mostly veggie nirvana. Unlicensed. Cash only.
Ginger
546 Church, at Wellesley, 416-413-1053, gingercuisine.ca. Dead cheap Vietnamese- and Thai-style veggie-friendly dishes in a casual self-serve cafeteria. Best deal in the village: substantial $3.50 banh mi sandwiches stuffed with grilled pork, beef or chicken or deep-fried tofu dressed with spicy pickled veggies. Also: 695 Yonge, at Charles, 416-966-2424 252 Carlton, at Parliament, 416-923-7979.
Kenzo Ramen
522 Yonge, at Maitland, 647-340-2112, kenzoramen.ca. Massive meal-in-one Japanese noodle soups sided with don’t-miss house-made gyoza dumplings.
Korean Grill House
754 Yonge, at Hayden, 416-922-3328, koreangrillhouse.com. All-you-can-eat Korean barbecue for as little as $9.99.
Ritz Caribbean
450 Yonge, at College, 416-934-1480. Ridiculously affordable jerk chicken with rice ‘n’ peas, massive vegetarian rotis and dinner combos. Unlicensed.
Yummy Bar-B-Q
522A Yonge, at Wellesley, 416-921-5158. No frills food-court-style Korean grilled kalbi ribs and noodle sides. Unlicensed.
Chinese
Cha Lau
476 Yonge, at Alexander, 647-344-6578, chalaudimsum.com. Classy uptown dim sum spot moves downtown, where the rents are cheaper and the students more plentiful.
Crown Princess
1033 Bay, at Irwin, 416-923-8784. Fancy some of the tastiest – and priciest!- dim sum in town in an over-the-top setting that’s best described as Versace does Versailles? Servers in French maid costumes and Strauss waltzes on the sound system only add to the luxury. Show up early or wait in the inevitable queue.
Diner
Church Street Diner
555 Church, at Dundonald, 416-324-8463. Funky luncheonette in the former Five Alarm features inexpensive all-day Molly Wood breakfasts, burgers and hot open-faced sandwiches.
Pizza
Magic Oven
6 Wellesley W, at Yonge, 416-929-7888, magicoven.com. Health-conscious pizza ‘n’ pasta in a cozy room just off Yonge. Pair that gluten-free pie with a gluten-free beer!
Pizzaiolo
461 Church, at Maitland, 416-922-5252, pizzaiolo.ca. Local pizza chain with oodles of optional veggie toppings as well as whole wheat and gluten-free crusts. And they deliver! Other locations: 550 Yonge, at Wellesley, 416-515-9090 707 Yonge, at Charles, 416-966-0555.
Sushi
Toko
637 Yonge, at Isabella, 647-436-9943. This sushi resto brings your supper to table via a 62-metre conveyor belt. Grab whatever you like, stack up the empty colour-coded plates to tally the bill once you’re done and you’re in ‘n’ out for under 20 bucks in less than 30 minutes. Unlicensed.
Veggie-Friendly
Chino Locos
459 Church, at Mailtland, 416-551-7007, chinolocos.com. Ever wondered what would happen if you put jerk chicken and Chinese chow mein noodles in a Mission-style burrito? You do now! Unlicensed.
Crepe It Up
507-1/2 Church, at Wellesley, 416-916-3558, crepeitup.com. After being shuttered for a lengthy renovation, this health-conscious creperie is now twice the size, having expanded into the old Pita Pan space next door. The menu’s larger, too, and currently includes the café’s signature crepes, freshly roasted coffee and house-baked Greek pastries like addictively lickable loukoumades honey balls. Unlicensed.
Crepe Masters Cafe
473A Church, at Maitland, 416-922-8409. French flapjacks, both savoury and sweet. You were expecting Korean tacos? Unlicensed.
Fabarnak
519 Church, at Dundonald, 416-355-6781, fabarnak.com. Stylish new café in the recent 519 addition with a locally sourced and mostly organic contemporary card. Incredible bang for the buck. Best food in the village?
Fickle
507 Yonge, at Grosvenor, 647-351-3529, fickleonline.ca. Pan-Asian grub from all over the map. Think of it as Spring Rolls minus the polish.
Kathmandu Kathmandu
517 Yonge, at Maitland, 416-924-5787, kathmandurestaurant.ca. Friendly all-you-can-eat north Indian lunch buffet right in the middle of the parade.
Regal on Church
491 Church, at Wellesley E, 416-551-4346. Where else can you get har gow, pasta primavera and a grilled steak with Caesar salad?
7 West Café
7 Charles W, at Yonge, 416-928-9041, 7westcafe.com. 24-hour resto-lounge with tiny street-side deck and third-floor rooftop aerie.
Sweet Lulu
471 Church, at Maitland, 416-323-3235, sweetlulu.com. Local pan-Asian mini-chain known for its DIY noodle bowls.
Patios
Acme Burger Company
542 Church, at Wellesley, 647-352-4089. Surprisingly okay burgers with halal options in what used to be Zelda’s.
Bar Volo
587 Yonge, at Gloucester, 416-928-0008, barvolo.com. Cask beer and microbrews for serious beer drinkers and their admirers.
Barn
418 Church, at Granby, 416-593-9696, thebarnnightclub.com. Sweaty three-storey dance palace in an old Victorian with a second-floor chill deck.
Bishop and the Belcher
175 Bloor E, at Church, 416-591-2352, bishopandbelcher.com. Pub grub and combo platters on a wraparound high-rise terrace.
Black Eagle
457 Church, at Maitland, 416-413-1219, blackeagletoronto.com. Toronto’s only leather bar – unless you count the Bovine – attracts the BDSM crowd for cruisy year-round barbecues on the rooftop deck every Saturday and Sunday from 3 pm.
Blake House
449 Jarvis, at Maitland, 416-975-1867, theblakehouse.ca. Bloor East’s Groundhog Pub relocates and rebrands itself on the old Red Lion’s 80-seat terrace, the perfect spot for Sunday night’s $17 prime rib ‘n’ Yorkshire pudding meal deal.
Boutique Bar
506 Church, at Maitland, 647-705-0006, boutiquebar.ca. Swellegant martini lounge with curbside garden at the village’s ground zero (aka across from Woody’s).
Brownstone
603 Yonge, at Gloucester, 416-920-6288, brownstonebistro.ca. Pasta, pizza ‘n’ panini in an informal bistro setting right on the parade route.
Byzantium
499 Church, at Wellesley, 416-922-3859, byz.ca. The upscale cocktail lounge opens to the street, making it one of the village’s prime cruising zones. Unusually good grub for the nabe and a gazillion different types of martoonis.
Café California
538 Church, at Wellesley, 416-960-6161. Tapas and sangria next to the former Zelda’s.
Churchmouse & Firkin
475 Church, at Maitland, 416-927-1735, firkinpubs.com. Pub grub and pints at the centre of the action.
Cocina Lucero
523 Yonge, at Maitland, 416-923-4545, cocinalucero.ca. Mexican restaurant with leafy patio and a front-row view of the parade. If you stand on a ladder.
Crews/Tango
508 Church, at Maitland, 416-972-1662, crewsandtangos.com. Huge new backyard patio with non-stop drag kings ‘n’ queens.
Ethiopian House
4 Irwin, at Yonge, 416-923-5438, ethiopianhouse.com. Incendiary and moderately priced veggie-friendly platters on a curbside patio just off the parade route. Warning: if you don’t like eating with your fingers, remember to BYOF – bring your own fork!
Fire on the East Side
6 Gloucester, at Yonge, 416-960-3473, fireontheeastside.ca. Smart resto-lounge in the former Fenton’s offers brunch Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 am.
Flying Beaver
488 Parliament, at Carlton, 647-347-6567, pubaret.com. Former Slack Alice and Big Mama’s Boy mama Heather MacKenzie and comic Maggie Cassella bring cabaret to Cabbagetown. Jazz brunch Sundays.
Hair of the Dog
425 Church, at Wood, 416-964-2708, hairofthedogpub.ca. Two-storey watering hole across from the former Maple Leaf Gardens (now a Loblaws).
Java Jive
585 Church, at Charles, 416-923-7267. Independent coffee house offers al fresco all-day breakfasts. Unlicensed.
Koyoi
2 Irwin, at Yonge, 647-351-5128, koyoi.ca. Guu-style izakaya right on the parade route. Best food with a front-row view (obscured)?
Lola’s Kitchen
634 Church, at Hayden, 416-966-3991, lolaskitchen.ca. Popular lunch and brunch spot in a rambling Victorian with a curbside deck at the top of the strip. Friday 10 am to 10 pm, Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 10 pm.
O’Grady’s
518 Church, at Maitland, 416-323-2822, ogradyschurch.ca. Formerly Oscar’s, the bar that dared not speak its name, this student-friendly suds parlour has a late-night kitchen serving above-average burgers on a huge multi-level deck.
Pi-Tom’s
6A Alexander, at Yonge, 416-966-1813, pi-tom.com. Pad thai on a curbside garden terrace close to Buddies and the parade.
Second Cup
544 Church, at Wellesley, 416-966-2981, secondcup.com. Remember the Steps? Well, they’re back – except there are no actual steps, but there’s a huge cruisy patio right on the strip instead. Unlicensed.
Smith
553 Church, at Dundonald, 416-926-2501, 553church.com. Formerly the gay bar known as Straight, this classy addition to the village and sister to Wish and 7West puts more emphasis on the food than most.
Spirits
642 Church, at Hayden, 416-967-0001, spiritsbarandgrill.com. Neighbourhood sports bar with two patios.
St Louis
528 Yonge, at Maitland, 416-792-9464, stlouiswings.com. Great patio – remember Hornero? – right on the parade route, suds on tap and some of the most diabolical barbecue in town.
Statler’s
487 Church, at Maitland, 647-351-0957. No longer BLU – or LUB, for that matter – this two-storey show bar features nightly cabaret acts and an upstairs deck with unparalleled sightlines.
Sugo
582 Church, at Dundonald, 416-929-9108, sugotrattoria.ca. No longer the impossible-to-pronounce Voglie, this unexpectedly polished two-storey Italian trat and lounge sports two patios, one up front cheek-to-cheek with the Fuzion cocktail crowd, the second a gargantuan grotto out back.
Urban House
4 Dundonald, at Yonge, 416-915-0113. Rebranded pub close to the parade route in the former Local 4.
Vic Pub
580 Church, at Dundonald, 416-944-9888. No longer Fuzion, this rebranded pub moves slightly downmarket. Translation: goodbye, tapas and cocktails hello, poutine and pints.
Wish
3 Charles E, at Yonge, 416-935-0240, wishintoronto.com. Sister to nearby 7 West and the newly minted Smith, this swanky South Beach-style resto-lounge oozes sophistication on a chic white-on-white curbside terrace. Weekend brunch, too.
Zelda’s Living Well
692 Yonge, at St Mary, 416-922-2526, zeldas.ca. The liquored-up trailer trash queen returns to her original digs with a virtually identical lineup of drag queens, cheap drinks and dirty bingo in an extremely secluded backyard. Pride’s hottest patio?
