7 h. ago Toronto store around for 12 years gets new start after forced closure for condos

A local, affordable grocer forced out by a condo development this past summer is preparing for a long-awaited comeback just a few steps from its former home.Residents around Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue voiced their concerns over the summer as a block of neighbourhood shops on the northeast corner was vacated to make way for a new condo project.The abrupt clearance swept out several long-standing businesses, including two budget-friendly grocers, namely Fruits Basket and Fresh Buy Market, as well as a neighbourhood sports bar.The project sparked frustration among local residents, many of whom pointed out that the two grocers were vital for some community members, including seniors, who relied on the walkable stores in place of farther, and higher-priced chains like Metro.Among the business casualties was the decades-old sports bar, Kramer's Bar & Grill, which, aside from its staple chicken wings and pints, became known for its community events, like triv...

Culture

7 h. ago Everything happening at CF Toronto Eaton Centre this holiday season

November in Toronto marks the beginning of the holiday season, when the city comes alive with festive vibes and magic.To help make the city shine extra bright, CF Toronto Eaton Centre is launching a whole spectrum of holiday programming. From the beloved Christmas tree light and snow shows to live musical performances and all of your shopping needs, this is where you'll want to be this season.Grab your Santa hat and check out what holiday programming is happening at the CF Toronto Eaton Centre.Indoor holiday tree light and snow showsEveryone knows that Toronto's holiday season doesn't officially start until the CF Toronto Eaton Centre Christmas tree is glowing bright. Check out the annual tradition where the awe-inspiring 114-f00t-tall tree has already made its debut.Four festive animated light shows will rotate daily on the tree with accompanying music to get you in a holly jolly mood. Presented by PayPal Pay in 4, the light and s...

Society

8 h. ago Huge crowds descended on Imperial Pub's last call after over 80 years in Toronto

Masses came out to support a Toronto pub on its final weekend in business after 81 years serving up thirsty patrons.It has been a year of heartbreaking restaurant and bar closures in Toronto, but few losses resonated with the public quite like the news that the Imperial Pub's taps would run dry after generations at Dundas St. E. and Victoria in downtown Toronto.Last call for the Imperial finally arrived this past weekend, and throngs of the pub's loyal patrons flooded the bar to celebrate its longevity and get one last pint in before the doors closed for good at the end of a raucous Saturday night.Damn... pic.twitter.com/ZlKG1E8ZWI— Karon Liu (@karonliu) November 14, 2025Long lines snaked around the block.If you're planning to say goodbye to the Imperial Pub today, we suggest going early, these were the scenes last night. pic.twitter.com/bSXQcAjExe— West End Phoenix (@westendphoenix) November 15, 2025The bar and surrounding businesses are destined to be demol...

Other

41 h. ago Ontario dessert shop known for beautiful cakes opening first Toronto location

A dessert shop in Ontario that's gained a cult following thanks to its visually stunning sweets is about to open a location in downtown Toronto.I'm a salty girl myself, but even for those of us who would reach for a savoury snack over a sweet one ten times out of ten, there's something about a dessert that's as beautiful to look at as it is delicious that no one can resist.Though the urge to pick up a sweet treat dons on me very rarely, when it does, very little can be done to satiate it, barring getting in the car and driving myself directly to the source of my craving. Sometimes it just needs to be done.If there's one bakery in the GTA that can always get me in the mood for something sugary, even by merely seeing photos of its confections, it's Markham's I Am A Cake.Bearing a comically literal name and an appropriately dry sign (all lowercase, in a sans-serif red font), the desserts on offer at the bakery are far from boring. Maybe the name and the sign...

Other

65 h. ago 5 new Japanese restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once

New Japanese restaurants in Toronto are proving that the country has a whole lot more to offer in the culinary realm than sushi and miso soup.... Not that there's anything wrong with sushi and miso soup, of course.From swanky celebrity chef-helmed ventures serving up cuisines rarely found elsewhere in the city to not-so-hidden gem yakitori spots that allow you to eat your fill of grilled skewers, it's a bright time for Japanese cuisine in Toronto, indeed.Here are my picks for the five new Japanese restaurants in Toronto you need to try at least once.

Other

4 d. ago First Canadian location of popular New York bar concept opens in Toronto next year

A bar concept that's been making a splash in major cities like London and New York is finally landing in Toronto. The in-progress Mirvish Village development at the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst may have only come at the expense of the iconic Honest Ed's discount store, but, on the bright side, it's already shaping up to be a pretty sweet place to be.Word on the street is that the development, which will add a swath of mixed-use retail and residential units to the block of Bloor West between Bathurst and Markham Streets, will be home to Pizzeria Badiali's second location, which is exciting enough on its own, but there's even more good news about the development to deliver.Taking over one of the development's restored heritage homes on Markham Street, at the western edge of the complex, a brand-new concept called Book Bar will soon be joining the community.Book lovers across the city have been mourning the loss of a go-to social space ever s...

Other

4 d. ago Staple Toronto restaurant closes permanently after over 25 years

A Toronto restaurant that has been a neighbourhood staple for the past 25 years has officially closed for good.There was a time when Little Portugal, the strips of Dundas West and College between Dovercourt and Lansdowne, was, more or less, the only place in the city where you could find great Portuguese food.That was decades ago, mind you, and, in the years since, Portuguese cuisine, much like every other global influence in the city, has outgrown the bounds of its historic enclave and planted roots in nearly every neighbourhood. Now, you don't have to look farther than a few blocks in any given corner of the city to sink your teeth into simmering fish stews or salty sardines; the city is rife with stalwart institutions that do Portuguese cuisine proud.In the case of the Junction Triangle, one such staple, since 1998 anyway, has been Piri Piri Grill.Fittingly named for Portugal's most ubiquitous culinary export, piri piri chicken, the restaurant has been a le...

Other

5 d. ago One of Canada's best restaurants is coming to Toronto but there's a catch

One of the best restaurants in Canada is coming to Toronto this month, but there's a small catch: it'll only be here for one night.Toronto is home to no small number of the country's top restaurants. In fact, according to the 2025 list of Canada's Top 100 Restaurants, we're home to 29 of them.Still, once you've knocked the local heavy hitters off your list, it's normal to get curious about what's cooking elsewhere in the country — especially when you don't have the time, funds or driver's license to make a trip outside of the GTA to do so.Luckily for those in Toronto who've been curious about one such celebrated restaurant (or who've already been and have been dreaming of a second chance ever since), we'll soon have the opportunity to get a taste right here on home turf.For one night only on Nov. 29, Chef Zach Smith of St. Catharines' Fat Rabbit will be in the kitchen at 1 Hotel's 1 Kitchen, serving a special menu cre...

Other

5 d. ago A Toronto neighbourhood's most iconic restaurant may be gone for good

A Toronto restaurant that defined its neighbourhood may have closed its doors permanently after being kicked out by its landlord.Kensington Market is known for a lot of things: thrifting, colourful community atmosphere, tacos, to name only a few. But, for me and plenty of others, at least, it's always been the scent of jerk chicken getting charred on an outdoor grill drifting up and down Kensington Avenue, embedding itself into my hair and clothes on sticky summer days.The source of the aroma? None other than Rasta Pasta, a stalwart on the strip for over a decade, beloved for its dual concept serving an affordable menu of Caribbean classics, traditional Italian pastas and, best of all, fusion dishes that blend the two.There's nary a soul that has visited Kensington Market and hasn't eaten at Rasta Pasta or, at the very least, been intrigued by its name and enticed by the fragrant air it emits.That's what makes it particularly heartbreaking to deliver t...

Other

5 d. ago Famous Filipino cafe is coming to Toronto this week with the help of a local restaurant

An ultra-popular cafe based in the Philippines is soon setting up shop in Toronto for a limited time with the help of an equally celebrated local restaurant.As far as coffee shops in Makati City (a small city in the Philippines within the Metro Manila area) go, they don't come much cooler than Annex House.Located in the stylish Poblacion neighbourhood — described to me by Annex House's Toronto team as the "Queen West of Manila" — the cafe-by-day, bar-by-night concept comes by its name quite literally, located in a former home.Nowadays, rather than housing locals, the two-storey building houses a bar, coffee shop, design studio and a to-die-for alley patio, cementing it as a home for local creatives to work, play and connect.It's the stuff that urban foodie dreams are made of, hindered only by its location halfway across the world. Until this week, that is.As of Thursday, Nov. 13, people in Toronto will be able to experience the magic of An...

Other

5 d. ago Famous Filipino cafe is comes to Toronto for the first time this week

An ultra-popular cafe based in the Philippines is soon setting up shop in Toronto for a limited time with the help of an equally celebrated local restaurant.As far as coffee shops in Makati City (a small city in the Philippines within the Metro Manila area) go, they don't come much cooler than Annex House.Located in the stylish Poblacion neighbourhood — described to me by Annex House's Toronto team as the "Queen West of Manila" — the cafe-by-day, bar-by-night concept comes by its name quite literally, located in a former home.Nowadays, rather than housing locals, the two-storey building houses a bar, coffee shop, design studio and a to-die-for alley patio, cementing it as a home for local creatives to work, play and connect.It's the stuff that urban foodie dreams are made of, hindered only by its location halfway across the world. Until this week, that is.As of Thursday, Nov. 13, people in Toronto will be able to experience the magic of An...

Other

5 d. ago Famous Filipino cafe comes to Toronto for the first time this week

An ultra-popular cafe based in the Philippines is soon setting up shop in Toronto for a limited time with the help of an equally celebrated local restaurant.As far as coffee shops in Makati City (a small city in the Philippines within the Metro Manila area) go, they don't come much cooler than Annex House.Located in the stylish Poblacion neighbourhood — described to me by Annex House's Toronto team as the "Queen West of Manila" — the cafe-by-day, bar-by-night concept comes by its name quite literally, located in a former home.Nowadays, rather than housing locals, the two-storey building houses a bar, coffee shop, design studio and a to-die-for alley patio, cementing it as a home for local creatives to work, play and connect.It's the stuff that urban foodie dreams are made of, hindered only by its location halfway across the world. Until this week, that is.As of Thursday, Nov. 13, people in Toronto will be able to experience the magic of An...

Other

6 d. ago 5 places to eat in and around the Toronto Eaton Centre that aren't the food court

Food in and around the Toronto Eaton Centre extends far beyond the tried-and-true food court classics.I'm not too proud to admit it: I love a mall food court as much as the next person.Walnut shrimp and chow mein that's been sitting under a heat lamp since 8 a.m. just has a certain sparkle to it, but when you're in the mood to treat yourself to something a little more elevated (especially in the throes of holiday shopping), I've got your back.Here are some of the best places you can eat in and around the Eaton Centre on your next shopping trip: 

Other

6 d. ago A single recipe has kept this Toronto company in business for over 40 years

Yes, there really was a Mary Macleod. Today, her cookies pretty up the shelves at myriad retailers, finding their way into gift baskets and the mouths of the sweet-toothed masses. Founded in Toronto more than four decades ago, her company is a testament to the power of family, loyalty and, clearly, really good cookies. Of all the possessions that Mary Macleod brought to Canada when she arrived here from Scotland in 1957, her grandmother's shortbread recipe would end up being one of the most valuable.In 1981, that recipe became the backbone of Canada's first shortbread-only cookie shop, a company she named simply, Mary Macleod's Shortbread.     View this post on Instagram           A post shared by Mary Macleod's Shortbread (@mmshortbread)"She needed to support herself and her two sons," explains Sharon Grewal-Macleod, President of Mary Macleod's Shortbread and...

Economics

6 d. ago Chocolate shop popular in malls getting its first Canadian on

An iconic European chocolate company that's already made its way into several local malls is gearing up to open its first Canadian brick-and-mortar location in Toronto.You may still be more likely to stumble upon a Laderach location while you amble the streets of a European city than one in Canada, but the decades-old chain has made major moves towards North American expansion in the past year.Founded in the 1960s in the small town of Glarus, Switzerland, Laderach has spent the past six decades making its name ubiquitous with luxury Swiss chocolate.Having remained in the same family ever since its foundation, Laderach may no longer be solely produced at its original Glarus factory, but its reputation remains, spreading farther and farther across the globe.After opening its Toronto flagship at the Eaton Centre in 2019, the chocolate chain, which currently boasts over 200 locations in 25 countries worldwide, has since expanded to six locations in Toronto and one at B.C.'s Rich...

Other

6 d. ago Divisive Toronto restaurant from celebrity chef closes after under a year

A Toronto restaurant from celebrity chef Matty Matheson that made a huge splash upon opening in late 2024 appears to have already closed.Being a big name on the Toronto restaurant scene is about as sure a golden ticket to city-wide notoriety as any, but, as Matty Matheson's ill-fated Bar Clams is seemingly proving this week, it's not a promise of longevity.It was ambitious to open an East Coast-style diner with a menu that featured items like gravy-smothered open-faced turkey sandwiches, donair and all manner of sea creatures battered and deep-fried, sure, but Matheson has never been the type to blend in.And, ostensibly, he was on to something. Folks flocked to the restaurant the moment it officially opened for business in December 2024, perfectly willing to drop $20 on a relatively meagre serving of fish and chips or a duo of taco-sized donairs (the real Nova Scotian deal comes in the size of your head for under $10). The more folks who visited the restaurant...

Other

7 d. ago Toronto coffee shop permanently closing after landlord refuses to renew lease

A neighbourhood coffee shop in Toronto is gearing up to close its doors next year after its landlord decided not to renew its lease. Coco's Neighbourhood Coffee Shop, a cozy café in Little Italy known for staples like espresso-based drinks, matcha lattes, and apple cider, plus a variety of baked treats, will serve its last customers in January.In a heartbreaking announcement shared on Instagram, the coffee shop's owner, Nicole, revealed that Coco's landlord declined to renew their lease. Although they were reassured that they were perfect tenants, the landlord has decided to hand over the space to his sister, who will open a homeopathy clinic in place of the cafe. Unfortunately, the news came after the coffee shop had invested heavily in the space, including adding a new patio. While Nicole shared that the business has been trying to find a new location, working under a limited budget and a short timeline meant that Coco's was ultimately un...

Other

8 d. ago Toronto just got a breathtaking new event venue 68 storeys above the city

Perched high above the traffic-riddled streets of Toronto's Financial District is the city's newest private event venue, a breathtaking space on the top floor of Scotia Plaza at 40 King St. W.A powerhouse collaboration between real estate developer heavyweights KingSett Capital and Oliver & Bonacini (O&B), the hospitality company behind some of Toronto's best-known restaurants, like Aera and Auberge du Pommier, the new venture positions itself, quite literally, high above all other event venues in the city.The aptly-named SixtyEight takes over the 68th floor of Scotia Plaza, a sleek 20,000 sq. ft. space that offers sweeping views of the city skyline and the buzz far, far below, offering itself up for everything from private parties to corporate conferences.Talk about the height of luxury.The space includes a 10,000 sq. ft. meeting and event room that's available both to the building's tenants and outside parties, and another equally sized space exclu...

Other

9 d. ago Food festival celebrating Canada's favourite dessert lands in Toronto next month

Believe it or not, the holiday season is right around the corner, and, being that consuming your annual fill of baked goods is the real reason for the season, there's no better way to celebrate than at a holly-jolly butter tart festival in Toronto.Gotta Luv Butter Tarts, the team behind the annual Oakville Butter Tart Festival, is making its grand return to once again feed the sweet tooths of butter tart fanatics across the GTA this December with a special holiday-themed festival.Rather than relegating all the sticky-sweet fun to Oakville, this time, the festival is setting up shop in Etobicoke.Taking inspiration from major spring and summer butter tart festivals like Ontario's Best Butter Tart Festival in Midland and the Caledon Butter Tart FestivalSure, someone could argue that one butter tart festival per province is more than enough, but I'd argue that, seeing as the iconic dessert was actually invented in Ontario, there's no such thing as too many.Gotta Luv Butt...

Culture

1 week ago Toronto burger restaurant forced to close to make way for condos

A Toronto burger restaurant that serves some of the city's favourite cheap eats will soon be closing its doors to make way for a construction project.Toronto has no shortage of smash burger joints — that much goes without saying — but for whatever reason (maybe because they're delicious), the city never seems to tire of them.While a few chains have managed to rise to the top of the pack — think Burger Drops, Matty's Patty's, RUDY — there's still always a place for the little guys. Since 2023, Yonge and Dundas' Mayday Burger has been one such independent with a cult following.A self-described "minimalist burger shop," Mayday Burger specializes in no-frills, classic burgers, fries, milkshakes and all manner of other things fried, griddled and delightfully greasy.Unfortunately, it looks like Mayday Burger's tenancy in the heart of downtown Toronto is fated to be a short and sweet one, as the burger shop announ...

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