If you’re looking to kick your adrenaline into overdrive this spring and take out a little stress on a slab of wood, two completely upgraded BATL Grounds axe-throwing venues have just opened — in the Toronto Port Lands (33 Villiers St), which is BATL’s oldest location in North America (and located in downtown Toronto near the Harbourfront), and in Pickering (813 Brock Rd). Patrons can enjoy everything from traditional axe throwing to tech-integrated archery and knife throwing, making these venues the perfect spots for families, date nights, team outings, parties, league competitions and more!
As with every BATL Grounds location, axe throwing aficionados can also partake of the full-service bar boasting signature cocktails, munch on bar-side bites, and have expert coaches guide their gameplay if needed (no experience needed).
BATL has upped the food and beverage game
“We’re thrilled to open our doors to the Port Lands community, welcoming everyone to the world of BATL,” Nate Payne, General Manager at BATL Port Lands, said. “From digital and gamified innovations to next-level crafted cocktails, we’re creating more than just a night out, building a destination for Port Land’s most unforgettable moments.”
Even if you’ve visited an axe-throwing experience in the past, the company has reimagined these new experiences from the ground up to deliver more than just axe throwing.
“Whether it’s your first time or your fiftieth, our Pickering and Port Lands venues are a place to let loose, try something new, and create memories with the people you care about” Houman Javidnia, COO of BATL Grounds, said.
BATL Grounds
BATL Grounds was founded in 2006 and has transformed the very niche idea of backyard axe throwing into a global phenomenon, so worth checking out if you stroll through Pickering or visit the Port Lands as the weather heats up.
Ontario is home to plenty of destinations filled with natural beauty that make for stunning spring day trips — but not all of them can claim to have beautiful beaches, all-season activities, a historic lighthouse and shipwrecks nearby. Located a three-hour drive from Toronto, MacGregor Point Provincial Park is the ideal weekend trip for adventurers and nature lovers alike.
An all-season park that is located along a 7 km stretch of the Lake Huron shoreline, there are three campgrounds on site and visitors can choose between yurts and rustic cabins. Activities abound at the provincial park — try biking, canoeing, birding, fishing, hiking, swimming and more depending on what time of year you visit.
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Considered one of the most ecologically diverse natural places along Lake Huron, you may spot creatures including porcupines and the at-risk Eastern Ribbonsnake. However, the park is particularly an attraction for bird watchers — situated on a migratory path called the Huron Fringe, the park attracts hundreds every year for the popular Huron Fringe Birding Festival. Running this year from May 23-26 and May 29-June 1, visitors are guaranteed to spot a huge variety of birds at the end of migration and beginning of nesting season.
But it’s the provincial park’s location that makes it a true hidden gem in Ontario. Less than a half hour’s drive out from the region is the tiny but mighty Chantry Island — home to the historic Chantry Island Lighthouse and its neighbouring light keeper’s cottage. Also less than a half hour from MacGregor Provincial Park are two popular vacation towns: Port Elgin and Southampton.
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How to spend a day at MacGregor Point Provincial Park
Stroll along Tower Trail
The most popular walking trail in the park, you’ll stroll by a wetland and spot all kinds of waterfowl and wildlife. You can also spy birds and overlook the natural areas from a tower on the 3.5 km trail, which provides panoramic views of the wetlands and a bird hide.
Indulge in forest therapy
Macgregor Point Provincial Park is home to the first designated forest therapy trail in Ontario Parks — also along the Tower Trail, you’ll spot a series of mindfulness prompts for restoration, relaxation and a deeper connection within nature and yourself.
Bring your dog to the beach
Two of the beaches at the provincial park are dog-friendly, so bring your furry friend and dip a few toes in the water while they sprint around.
Climb 107 steps up to the top of Chantry Island Lighthouse
Drive along the coast to Chantry Island and join the Marine Heritage Society for a boat tour to the historic lighthouse. Built in 1859, the lighthouse was built after 50 ships were wrecked by the treacherous waters in the lake. Climb to the top of the lighthouse to enjoy panoramic views of the waters, and stop inside the restored light keeper’s cottage. You’ll also spot shipwrecks in the water during the boat tour.
Visit Port Elgin
In June, the Port Elgin Farmers’ Market starts up again — so take a trip over and grab some produce, fresh bread, maple syrup and more. Then, stroll through the charming downtown strip and stop in Books & Strings, Claimed Vintage and Rabbit Dash Coffee House.
Lounge on the beach in Southampton
As the warmer weather comes, beaches will beckon — and nearby Southampton is known for their sandy white beaches and rare dune grass. Take your pick and spend the afternoon lounging, including Southampton Main Beach and South Street Beach.
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Snap a picture of a perfect sunset
MacGregor Point Provincial Park has been known to offer the perfect lookout points to spot the sunset — return to the park before the day ends and prepare to be wowed. You can even follow the Old Shore Road Trail all the way up to the iconic Sunset Point, unsurprisingly known for its incredible views of the horizon.
Book clubs are a tried and true way of making friends as an adult, exercising your intellect and challenging yourself to discover authors and books you wouldn’t have found on your own. But how do you get into one? You could start your own, but there are already a multitude of book clubs in Toronto that anyone can join at any time — and none of them are exactly like any other. So no matter what kind of reader you are (introverted, classics-obsessed, queer, non-fiction focused), there is a club that will welcome you with open arms. Here are 10 book clubs in Toronto for all of your reading needs.
The Toronto Public Library system has a list of book clubs and writer’s groups which take place at different branches. The programs are scheduled for a full calendar year, with meet ups occurring monthly, and books chosen by the respective librarian. The meetings themselves are casual and relaxed, since they take place at the library itself. To register, you have to either visit a branch in person or call, but space is limited so you may end up on a wait list. Some participants recount waiting months before a spot became available, and note that the members tend to be longstanding. Selected reads are often contemporary and include books which have been shortlisted for awards.
Fresh Off The Press is an independent monthly book club hosted by Fanni Friedrich, focusing on new releases and books that spark conversations. Friedrich launched the book club in 2024 after losing the job that had brought her to Canada. At first devastated, she began to read more and more, and realized in doing so that she craved community, so she hosted a book club event, then another one, and another one, until it had become her full-time pursuit. Now multiple events are listed every month on event platform Meetup, typically listed at $25 a ticket. Alternatively you can purchase a passport for $50 on the Fresh Off The Press website, to gain access to unlimited events (as many as five a month). The books are primarily literary fiction, but not strictly since members vote on each month’s reading.
“Our goal is to help book lovers build new relationships, get out of their TBR (‘to be read’) comfort zone, and support indie bookstores through book sales,” reads the event page.
In January, Friedrich also launched Sip And Book Club events, incorporating alcohol into the evenings. The first one kicked off with Intermezzo by Sally Rooney and quickly sold out. On Instagram, Friedrich posts content about her reading journey in Toronto, including ideal places to read and bookstores to visit for fellow readers.
Queer Book Club launched in 2019 in Guelph, before it made its way to Toronto. The queer-faciliated discussion group typically meets on the first Sunday of every month and reads a wide variety of fiction and non-fiction, including a mix of poetry, short stories, graphic novels and YA. The broad agenda is to “read diversely” queer stories, as well as BIPOC authors. To join, you can fill out an application form at the link in their Instagram bio. New members are added multiple times a year depending on capacity and attendance rates, and once you’re added, you’ll receive a welcome email with a Slack link where communications are shared going forward. For instance, book polls are listed in Slack so that members can vote on future reads.
Attendance is taken at meetings, not to create pressure to attend but to determine those who get to pick future books and when that will happen. The book club has also hosted themed events in the past, including book swaps, Books and Bottles (featuring alcoholic beverages), potlucks and a beach reading at Hanlan’s Point Beach.
A non-fiction book club that invites philosophical and cultural discussion, Book Club for Humans involves multiple club meetings take place every month, as coordinated through Meetup. Books of the month are determined by the organizer (though suggestions are welcome), often spanning topics about weird quirks of human behaviour, paradigms, culture and thinking. Readers aren’t obligated to finish the book in order to attend, but are warned they will hear spoilers. They’re also invited to arrive 20 minutes early and stay after the meeting to get to know their peers. Outside of the main book club event, there are variants like Short-Read Socials, which creates space for those looking to have deep conversations with strangers, but who don’t have time to fully commit to a book or philosophy club. A topic is determined, such as mental illness, or financial advice, along with prompting questions to guide discussion, and participants are invited to bring in media related to the topic to discuss. Media links are also shared beforehand to start people off.
The Downtown Toronto Book Club is for Gen X/millennials (individuals aged approximately 29-60), coordinated through Meetup. Club meetings take place once a month at a local pub or bar. Attendance costs $3 to help cover platform costs, with any additional funds being donated to Amnesty International. Books are predetermined but the conversations are “lively, freewheeling, literary and fun,” states the event page. Readers are also invited to join 30 minutes before the event and stay after for a drink to socialize with the group. They also frequently meetup for other activities like sailing, theatre, dinner, spin, yoga, opera and election watch parties. Participants are encouraged to but not obligated to finish the chosen book in order to attend a book club meeting, as long as they don’t mind spoilers. Past books have included The Capital of Dreams by Heather O’Neill, Nocturnes by Kazuo Ishiguro and Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson.
A monthly book club for women that encourages literary discussion and joyful chatter, via Meetup. “This is a place for women to meet and talk, discuss and review fantastic reads. Don’t fret, there is nothing gentle about this group or the books we’ll read!” states the event page. The organizer describes the group as a vibrant and open-minded cohort who enjoy entertaining different perspectives. As such, the selected books feature a versatile line up of style, writing, personality and force, spanning all genres and formats. Previous books have included A Woman is No Man by Etaf Rum, The Book Eaters by Sunyi Dean and The Fifth Season by N. K. Jemisin. Attendance costs $2 to help cover platform costs.
What’s the twist? In this virtual book club, coordinated via Meetup, rather than everyone agreeing to read one book, each participant is invited to bring a book of their choice to share with the group. Readers are also welcome if they don’t have a book, but would like a recommendation for their next read. After discussions ensue, the group votes to determine the book they’re most interested in, and that book gets allocated for further discussion at a subsequent meeting. “The aim here is to establish a group of independent readers in the GTA who are curious about everything. Have you read an interesting book lately? Come and tell us about it!” states the event page. Books span all genres, with past examples including subjects like adventure, history, neuroplasticity, biotechnology, biographies, economics, politics and much more.
This (mostly) monthly book club, coordinated via Meetup, is for lovers of classic literature. The group meets in person to discuss predetermined works of literature, as well as for education about literature, like a presentation on the lifes’ work of Fyodor Dostoevsky. “We will read books together, share book recommendations, discuss the lives of the greatest authors, and analyze the characters we all know and love,” states the event page. Most of the books discussed are fiction, but occasionally a non-fiction book makes it onto the roster, spanning history, art, politics, philosophy and religion. Previous reads have included Dom Casmurro by Machado de Assis and Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. Alternative events have been dedicated to more social gatherings like sharing a book of choice, or participating in a literary quiz. The group is a part of the Lifelong Learning Network which gathers educational groups to facilitate continual education.
The Silent Book Club one is more so a reading club, rather than a traditional book club, since there is no discussion format. Instead, people arrive at a specified location to read their own book, in the quiet company of other readers. There are nearly 1,500 Silent Book Club chapters which exist in over 50 countries around the world, led by local volunteers. A dedicated website features a map with all of the locations, as well as tips on how to start your own chapter. You can join a chapter in your location via the website, or find it on Meetup. In Toronto, you’ll notice that the events occur multiple times per month. There is no assigned reading, so instead participants are encouraged to show up with a piece of literature of their choice (inclusive of eBooks, audiobooks or comic books), order their own food and drinks, share what they are reading and settle in for an hour of independent reading. At the end of the hour, participants are invited to stay and socialize should they choose, but there’s no obligation. The club advertises itself as “introvert happy hour.”
Queen Street book shop Type Books hosts a bi-monthly book club in store that is free to attend. These events are announced on social media, their website and in the Type Books “Type 10” newsletter. In April the book was The Wall by Marlem Haushofer, and on June 22, the book club will read The Day of Abandonment by Elena Ferrante, chosen by Type Bookseller and Pack Animal literary series co-host Emily Wood. Type Books also co-hosts Paradise Book Club, a bi-monthly screening series in partnership with Paradise Theatre on Bloor Street. Hosted by Kevin Greenspan and Claire Foster, Paradise Book Club explores the art of adaptation with a selection of films based on a wide range of novels, short stories and nonfiction. Each of the screened books are available for purchase in the Paradise lobby courtesy of Type. In April the screened film was The Virgin Suicides and in June it will be Querelle. Tickets are approximately $20 and $15 for students.
We already know that Toronto is a top destination for anyone looking to explore delicious cuisine and mouth-watering treats, but a recent study showed that it’s also the best city in Canada to cater to meat-free diets.
An online report looked at the number of vegan- and vegetarian-friendly dining options available in major North American cities and found that Toronto leads the way as the top Canadian city for vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free dining, boasting 1,221 restaurants that cater to these dietary needs (super important, since more than 3.1 million Canadians identify as vegetarians or vegans and as many as 1 in every 100-200 North Americans are affected by celiac disease).
Toronto also offers both variety and accessibility for foodies looking for plant-based or allergen-friendly meals, with 47 such spots per 100,000 residents. Streets of Toronto has covered tons of vegan restaurant options, everything from Mexican flavours to savoury Turkish dishes!
While Ontario stood out as the top province for vegans and vegetarians (home to more than a third of all the featured cities on the list), BC and Quebec also had cities on the list.
In second place is Montreal, which hosts 790 vegan, veggie, and gluten-free eateries! Despite having fewer total options than Toronto, Montreal surpasses it in per capita availability, with 49.4 restaurants per 100,000 people, reflecting the city’s demand for alt diets.
Vancouver takes third place overall but stands out with the highest density in the ranking, with 107.3 vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free restaurants per 100,000 residents. While it has fewer total establishments (644), the city’s per capita rate shows how deeply embedded plant-based and health-conscious eating is in the city.
Of note, Brampton (86), Surrey (114) and Halifax (140) were the cities with the lowest numbers of vegan and vegetarian-friendly restaurants.
The betting site also listed Toronto as one of the top 10 coolest cities in Canada! For this list, in addition to looking at factors like the number of vegan/vegetarian/gluten-free restaurants, the study looked at the number of hidden gem restaurants and bars in the city (66), the median age of residents (39.3 years old), the number of record stores (48), the number of upcoming music events (1,154), and the number of tattoo parlors (113).
Toronto ranked seventh out of 10 on the list, falling behind the likes of Vancouver, BC, Victoria, BC, and Montreal, QC, which ranked first, second, and third.
Click hereto see the wider study and methodology used.
Susie’s Rise and Dine is a new Asian fusion breakfast diner from childhood friends who have turned their memories of grandma’s cooking into Toronto’s warmest brunch spot. Located in the heart of Little Italy, this all-day diner serves up comforting, family-style dishes that blend nostalgic North American classics with bold Asian flavours.
The brainchild of three Asian-Canadian childhood friends from Vancouver—Adam, Matthew and Tyler—who grew up eating around diner tables, each brings years of restaurant experience to the venture.
@susiestoronto
Every corner of the restaurant is steeped in nostalgia, soul, and quiet tribute. The name is a nod to co-owner Adam Lore’s grandmother, whose influence is woven throughout the space—from the menu to the mood. That spirit of comfort, care, and connection is what the trio set out to recreate.
“Growing up all in North America and all Asians, we really wanted to incorporate the flavours that we grew up with,” Lore says. “We ate a lot of diner food together,bwhether it was family gatherings or birthday celebrations. That was close to home for us”
The story behind Susie’s isn’t just told through the food — it’s built into the space itself.
“We all spent time in our grandmothers’ homes, Lore says. “We have floral prints throughout the bathrooms downstairs, and my grandmother wore a jade-green bracelet. That was kind of her staple item—so that set our colour tones. Different shades of green, deeper rich colours, all tied to earth.”
@susiestoronto/Instagram
Much of the menu at Susie’s Rise and Dine comes courtesy of chef Kelvin Ng, whose global culinary background spans acclaimed kitchens in Australia, Hong Kong and New York. Ng was instrumental in translating the owners’ memories and ideas into a cohesive menu that balances innovation with familiarity. Like the trio behind Susie’s, he grew up in a Cantonese household while also loving Western diner fare, making his approach to the kitchen feel both intuitive and heartfelt.
“We’re doing a mapo Frito pie,” Lore says. “Mapo tofu is a traditional chili-braised tofu and pork dish. We kind of did a fun twist on it by making it more meat-forward and with a bag of Frito chips.”
There’s also a fried shrimp sandwich, made in the style of classic Cantonese shrimp patties—breaded, crispy, and reminiscent of a nostalgic filet-o-fish. And then there’s the Big Trouble Breakfast Sandwich, named after the film Big Trouble in Little China.
“That was actually one of the movies my grandmother used to always watch with my brothers and me,” Lore says. “So we kind of paid tribute to her through that breakfast.”
@susiestoronto/Instagram
Their pancakes have already become a crowd favourite: crispy-edged, golden brown and fluffy inside—offering Toronto’s answer to the now-viral search for a dupe of honey butter pancakes at Golden Diner in New York, another Asian-inspired spot that blends cultural roots with diner classics.
At its heart, Susie’s Rise and Dine is built for connection.
“We would love to offer what diners offered their guests back in the ’60s,” Lore says. “Aside from a very nostalgic dining room, we’re playing music that appeals to people who grew up in the ’90s and early 2000s—because that’s what a diner did for the people who grew up pre-’60s.”
The menu, too, is designed with that same spirit in mind.
“We wanted to be that spot, ” Lore says. “A place where everyone can hang out. We have a lunch counter so you can see the chefs preparing your food in front of you. And we wanted to bring that counter banter back to life.”
Toronto loves Masaki Saito. Celebrities love Masaki Saito. The Michelin Guide definitely loves Masaki Saito. And now, the celebrity chef known for his visionary take on Japanese cuisine has quietly — well, as quietly as he ever does anything — opened a ramen shop — Ramen Tabetai.
When Saito, the only two-star Michelin chef in Canada, couldn’t find a bowl of ramen in Toronto that met his standards, he decided to make his own. He had been looking for something rich, hearty, and full of flavour, but nothing quite matched what he was after. Drawing inspiration from Japan’s popular Jiro-style ramen, he began developing his own version, refining the recipe over time through repeated testing and adjustments.
His ramen takes cues from Jiro-style but introduces a deeper layer of umami. According to the Ramen Tabetai. website, it’s “adding that depth of umami that no Jiro has ever reached.” The broth is a rich tonkotsu base, finished with a soy sauce developed by Saito himself.
When Ramen Tabetai soft-launched in Yorkville last week, lines quickly started forming around the block. Part of the draw? Free ramen for students during lunch hours from April 17 to 27. But it wasn’t just the free food — Masaki Saito himself was behind the counter, serving bowls. And for many, that alone was worth showing up for. Add in the appeal of Jiro-style ramen, known for its oversized portions, thick, chewy noodles, and a rich, fatty pork broth that sets it apart from other styles, and it’s not hard to see why the response was immediate.
Located on the second floor of Saito’s more affordable sushi spot, MSSM Yorkville at 154 Cumberland St., the ramen at Ramen Tabetai is topped with thick slices of pork chashu, a mountain of bean sprouts, vegetables, garlic, and pork fat. Diners can elevate their experience with add-ons like spicy tare, Japanese nori, onsen eggs, extra chashu and even cheese.
The Toronto Maple Leafs now have a 2-0 series lead over the Ottawa Senators after Max Domi scored the OT goal in Game 2 of the first round of the Eastern Conference at Scotiabank Arena on Tuesday evening. And out of everyone who decided to show some love to the Leafs, perhaps Snoop Dogg is the most surprising?
Shortly after last night’s win, the rapper re-uploaded a photo he took last year with Leafs forwards Max Domi and Ryan Reaves (Reaves, who wasn’t in last night’s lineup, was cheekily cropped out of the pic, leaving Snoop alongside Domi). Snoop’s support came even after the widely publicized trademark dispute between the Leafs and Snoop a few years back, where the Leafs opposed the rapper’s bid to trademark his new cannabis company.
Perhaps Snoop’s shout-out isn’t that much of a surprise — apparently, he’s a legit hockey fan, and the Leafs aren’t the only Canadian team the rapper has shown interest in.
In December, Complex magazine dropped a behind-the-scenes interview of Snoop and Dre from a documentary filmed in 2022, and fans geeked out over Snoop showing love to the Ottawa Senators! At that time, the rapper was also spotted in the recording studio sporting a shirt that featured a logo that combined the Senators and Death Row Records (a year later, the “O.G.” singer was part of a failed bid to purchase the Sens after losing the bid to Canadian billionaire Michael Andlauer).
Complex dropped some studio footage of Snoop and Dre making their new album together ?
— Ahmed/The Ears/IG: BigBizTheGod ?? (@big_business_) December 16, 2024
Although the Leafs are leading the series, the first two games were played on home turf at Toronto’s Scotiabank Arena. The next two games will be played on Sens grounds at the Canadian Tire Centre, on Thursday and Saturday.
Canadian singer Bryan Adams is heading to Toronto this fall as part of his massive “Roll with the Punches” North America 2025 tour — his largest tour to date. Torontonians who are fans of the “Here I Am” star can catch him on Oct 3, 2025, at Scotiabank Arena. Tickets go on sale on May 2, and additional presales will run the week ahead at BryanAdams.com.
The 40-date arena run kicks off in Canada on Sept 11 with shows in Kamloops, BC, before heading to other parts of BC, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, and then various parts of the U.S.
“I’m so thrilled to be announcing the North American leg of the Roll with the Punches Tour” Adams said in a statement. “We’ll be playing all the classics, some deep cuts, and sharing some brand-new tracks from the forthcoming album.”
The 2025 “Roll with the Punches” tour first launched in New Zealand and Australia earlier this year and heads to the UK and Ireland this May for 12 shows, followed by 35 dates across Europe. The tour is named after Adams’ upcoming 17th studio album, Roll With The Punches, and supports the record’s late summer release.
Special guests Pat Benatar and Neil Giraldo will open for Adams on all U.S. dates, and The Sheepdogs will provide direct support when he plays for most Canada dates, including Toronto!
Streets of Toronto is super familiar with the Juno Award-winning Canadian rock band — The Sheepdogs have been on the scene for more than two decades, and are popular for their blend of Southern rock/bluesy barroom swagger.
The band, which emerged in 2004 from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, features Ewan Currie (vocals, guitar), Ryan Gullen (bass), Sam Corbett (drums), Shamus Currie (keyboard/trombone) and Rick Paquette (guitar). They found mainstream success in 2010 with the release of their platinum-selling third LP, Learn & Burn, and continued to top the Canadian charts with efforts like The Sheepdogs (2012), Future Nostalgia (2015), Changing Colours (2018) and Outta Sight (2022).
The Sheepdogs have always been relatively popular on the Canadian scene, but were pushed into the international spotlight after becoming the first unsigned band to ever grace the cover of Rolling Stone magazine (you can read all about that here).
With glimpses of warm weather already making an appearance, it’s hard not to crave the feeling of a crisp breeze in your hair and a good meal to go with it. Whether you’re ready to soak up the sun or just itching to enjoy some outdoor dining, Toronto’s patios are already welcoming you. Here’s where you can enjoy a bite or a drink al fresco — well before the roof at the Rogers Centre even opens.
This west end bar is known for two things: cheap drinks and a great outdoor space. It opens at 3 p.m. on weekdays, and at 11 a.m. on the weekends, and the good vibes are sure to last all night. 127 Strachan Ave.
The patio at this east end neighbourhood pub has, in fact, been open since March. And there’s no shortage of events to enjoy either, from fundraisers to trivia nights. and it’s a great place to enjoy some springtime sports. 1301 Queen Street E.
Located inside Casa Loma, BlueBlood has arguably one of the prettiest, most picturesque patios in the city. Enjoy a mouthwatering steak on a patio that offers views of one of Toronto’s historical gems. 1 Austin Terrace
Ruby Soho’s west end sister lives in one of the busiest neighbourhoods in the city. Surrounded by more watering holes and an array of good eats, Liberty Soho is a great spot to soak up some sun on the way to some more fun. And don’t miss happy hour. 139 East Liberty St.
Maison Selby is in a 139-year-old historical building, and it boasts multiple levels of experiences, from a speakeasy to a sit-down restaurant. Last summer, it also unveiled a patio, perfect for taking in the stunning exterior. 592 Sherbourne St.
Whether you’re in the mood for a cappuccino or a full-bodied red, you can sip on your beverage of choice at this Ossington Street patio, which offers a perfect perch for reading a book. 162 Ossington St.
The café and wine bar inside The Ritz-Carlton offers a taste of Italy in Toronto, so it’s only natural that it would involve outdoor dining. From sweet treats to shareables and craft cocktails and coffees, there’s something on the menu to spend an entire day outside. 181 Wellington Street W.
The patio at this Parkdale spot is gigantic. Seriously, it’s huge. So pick a corner, grab one of the 25 craft beers on tap, order something from the eclectic menu, and settle in to watch baseball or playoff hockey. 1249 Queen St. W.
In perhaps the perfect follow-up to his role as an bad guy in the ultra-popular Sonic the Hedgehog 3, Keanu Reeves, 60, is set to play another villain — this time in a new mockumentary on the alt-rock-pop-geek band Weezer.
During Weezer’s set from the Mojave stage at Coachella last week, lead vocalist Rivers Cuomo announced that the band is working on a self-titled flick back in L.A. As per TheInSneider, the band first opened for Reeves’s band Dogstar in March 1992 at Raji’s, a once-famous rock and roll nightclub in central Hollywood. The film is reportedly about a fictional rivalry between the two bands, and Reeves will play the main bad guy.
The film is described as a cross between Scott Pilgrim vs. The World and Weird: The Al Yankovic Story. Reeves will be cast alongside Johnny Knoxville, Juliette Lewis, Eric Andre and Ben Schwartz.
The Canadian actor was born in Beirut, Lebanon, but was raised in Toronto and made his acting debut in the Canadian television series Hangin’ In in 1984. Today, he’s most known for playing a legendary assassin in the John Wick franchise and is popular among comic book geeks for voicing the character Shadow, Sonic’s dark antihero counterpart, in Sonic the Hedgehog 3, which has earned more than $491,946,657 worldwide as of publication.
Apparently the franchise is so popular, that Paramount may be looking to develop Sonic spin-off films.
As for Dogstar, the California alt-rock band, composed of guitarist/vocalist Bret Domrose, drummer Rob Mailhouse, with Keanu Reeves on bass, went on a 20-year hiatus after releasing two albums and performing a few shows in the early 2000s.
The band reunited in 2023 as part of a 25-date tour (including a stint in Toronto in 2023 at Lee’s Palace), followed by a Summer Vacation Tour in 2024.
Brunch is undeniably delicious. It’s early enough in the day to indulge in all your heart desires — hello, chocolate chip pancakes —and still have plenty of hours to work it off. Lunch while, maybe not as exciting is gaining traction thanks to the sandwich boom happening in the city — hello Italian!
After reviewing its diner metrics and over 950,000 reviews, here are the 24 Toronto spots that made the cut.
Alder
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Allen’s
@allensdanforth/Instagram
Aloette
Amal
Auberge du Pommier
@aubergedupommier/Instagram
Café Boulud
Chubby’s Jamaican Chicken
Daphne
El Catrin
Gusto 501
Joey King St.
KŌST
Kost on Instagram
La Vecchia – Marine Parade
Le Sélect Bistro
LOUIX LOUIS
louix louis brunch
Miss Likklemores
Old Mill Toronto
@oldmilltoronto/Instagram
ONE Restaurant
Parallel
REIGN
@reigntoronto/Instagram
RH Courtyard Restaurant at RH Toronto
@foodloverstoronto/Instagram
Sassafraz
@thesassafraz/Instagram
Lush walls of living plants, white walls combined with light wood floors, and comfy chairs and sofas make Sassafraz one of the most welcoming and accessible of Yorkville’s high-end restaurants. Not to mention it’s airy, contemporary and truly stunning. Whether you’re dropping in for a cocktail after work, catching a Sunday brunch with the girls, going on an intimate anniversary date, or celebrating your wedding, Sassafraz boasts a high-end menu in an upscale atmosphere.
Organizer Alex Hajjar (far right) performing with Howlin' Circus (L-R: Soren D'Alimonte, Jafar Sandouk, Jeff-Antoine Cote). Photo by Kian Gannon, @kiangannonn/Instagram
An innovative new spin class has come to town, but it’s not about biking or working out at all — instead, it’s a place for local Toronto musicians to thrive. Born and raised Toronto resident Alex Hajjar, bassist for psychedelic rock band Howlin’ Circus, is championing the local music scene with a new monthly listening series titled Spin Class, taking place at Danu Social House every second Sunday of the month.
Four events have taken place so far, with more planned for May. They begin at 6 p.m., when Hajjar starts playing the Spin Class soundtrack, the large playlist of local music that he is continuously curating. At 7 p.m., he plays the full album of the first featured band, followed by the full album of the second featured band, after which he returns to the playlist.
There’s two elements here, the first being the playlist that bookends the evening. Hajjar sources new music for it by browsing Bandcamp, and getting recommendations from social media or other artists. Currently, there are 76 songs on the playlist (and more being added continuously), including songs from roller-skate punk band Shiv and the Carvers, improvised ambient guitar and pedal steel brothers Drones over Dufferin and electronic-rock project Waxlimbs.
The album segment sprang from Hajjar’s realisation that there are very few platforms for an independent band to have their record played in full — outside of their own album release party (and that’s only if they have the resources to host one).
Having grown up in the local music scene, mostly playing in punk bands, Hajjar is more than familiar with the DIY practice of little to no budget for self-promotion.
“Coming up in the music scene of Toronto, I felt that there was a bit of cliquiness and gatekeeping,” he says. “I think it’s hard for new artists and new bands to break into the local scene because it’s siloed in a way. These three bands will play these shows, and these three bands will play shows together, but there’s not much cross pollination.”
L-R: Jafar Sandouk and Spin Class Organizer Alex Hajjar performing as Howlin’ Circus. Photo by Kian Gannon, @kiangannonn/Instagram
With Spin Class, he aims to bridge those siloes by inviting the music community into a space specifically dedicated to discovering new local music. He says that 99.98 per cent of the featured artists are from Toronto (mostly unsigned), while a tiny percentage is reserved for independent bands from other parts of the country.
“They’re people you would work with at a shop on Queen Street, or see at [local music venues] the Baby G or Hard Luck,” says Hajjar.
To allow for intentional listening, he chose a bar with a relatively quiet environment that accommodates conversation but also has the equipment to project a record through the whole space. “This way people can interact and engage with another, and musicians can find new avenues to play with artists they admire,” he says.
At least one member of each band is required to be present, both to engage with the audience and participate in an on-site interview with Hajjar. He notes that because there’s no performances, the artists don’t have to lug gear, and they’re not sweating or too tired to engage with their fans.
The interviews are then featured on Instagram as event promotion. Hajjar makes a point of asking each of the artists to name two other local bands that they admire and want to work with.
“That gives me an opportunity to search out more local music, put them on the playlist, try to get them to come in, and keep growing the Spin Class community,” he says. Hajjar also uses the Instagram page to highlight different local music venues that are valuable to Toronto’s music scene. So far the features have included Hugh’s Room, Handlebar, The Cameron House, Tapestry and more.
“There’s no stopping it; it feels like Spin Class is doing well, it’s getting a lot of positive reactions,” says Hajjar. “And the artists that come affirm exactly what the goal was — that it’s great to meet other artists who they otherwise may not have gotten the opportunity to meet.”
