Bricco is the new enoteca from local boy Eric Gennaro, former sommelier at the city's Crush Wine Bar. The glass-fronted façade and Scandi-chic, mid-century interiors - Gennaro sourced pieces around town and from Scandinavia - are as comforting as the Italian food, which includes Nova Scotia scallops with bacon sofrito and ricotta ravioli. The design incorporates art installations by Brothers Dressler and a stunning tiled bar. (+1 416 901 4536; www.briccowinebar.com). Dinner about £65 for two with wine
The Passenger has the same owners as nearby veggie restaurant The Beet, but is not cut from the same hippy cloth. Its look is slightly distressed Art Deco and there are bistro favourites such as steak frites and mussels on the menu, as well as a must-try starter platter that follows the current trend for Fifties-style hors d'oeuvres with devilled eggs and bacon-wrapped dates. The impressive classic cocktail menu includes a take on the Prohibition-era Sidecar. (+1 416 762 0777). Dinner about £45 for two with beer
Noted for the premium quality of ingredients used, the Indie Ale House gastropub is your go-to place for freshly brewed small-batch beers. You won't find any pilsners or lagers, as their specialized menu consists solely of ales. Try their rare Belgian Sour or a hefty Double IPA. With an interior boasting a unique industrial appeal featuring a pressed-tin ceiling, bare brick walls and furniture sourced from local salvage shops like Smash and Forever Interiors, the place radiates an authentically rustic vibe. For more details, you may contact them on (+1 416 760 9691; or visit their website www.indiealehouse.com).
Despite its small size, the Hole In The Wall bar, managed by sibling duo Ben and Jack Wilkinson, is oozing with character and offbeat charm. The establishment presents an impressive selection of craft beers numbering to ten and a whiskey menu of over 75 varieties. Food lovers can enjoy burgers made with Mennonite beef or delight in the extremely well-priced 'buck-a-shuck' oysters exclusively available on Tuesdays. The place is also known for live musical performances five times a week, with the promise that the music won't overpower your conversations about Zulu beer pots or Louis XVI doorknobs - fairly customary discussion topics for patron of Junction's reclamation shops. For further inquiries, you can reach out to them on (+1 647 350 3564; or check their website www.theholeinthewallto.com).
Gastropub Indie Ale House serves beers brewed in small batches using high-quality ingredients. There are no lagers or pilsners here, only ales: sample a hard-to-find Belgian Sour or Double IPA. The industrial decor features a pressed-tin ceiling and stripped brick walls, with furnishings from nearby salvage stores Smash and Forever Interiors. (+1 416 760 9691; www.indiealehouse.com)
Run by brothers Ben and Jack Wilkinson, the tiny Hole In The Wall bar is a little scruffy but loaded with charm. Go for one of the 10 craft beers or pick from the 75-strong whiskey list to wash down burgers made from Mennonite beef, or the fabulous buck-a-shuck oysters, available every Tuesday. There is live music five nights a week, but the sound level never gets so loud you can't discuss ancient Zulu beer pots or Louis XVI doorknobs from the Junction's reclamation shops. (+1 647 350 3564; www.theholeinthewallto.com)
As much a gallery as retail space, Smash's showroom of slightly off-kilter, repurposed objects has a distinctly steampunk flavour. The centrepiece is an oversized, carved banquet table topped with old lab beakers, tarnished silver trays and a medical- school dissection dummy. You can pick up anything from an 18th-century desk with secret compartments to a gutted Eero Aarnio ball chair. Smash hosts art parties and basement supperclub events using rare silverware and china from the store. (+1 416 762 3113; www.smash.to)
Post and Beam is a treasure-trove of unusual reclaimed architectural details and fixtures. Doug Killaly sources vintage bath taps, stained glass and early-20th-century park benches, making this a key destination for the city's interior decorators. (+1 416 913 4243; www.pandb.ca)
Wearing his own pair of original 1980s glasses, owner Jordan Paul is Opticianado's best house model. The store sells used and new specs, along with some of the coolest vintage frames in North America, including rare 1960s Persols (beloved by JFK) as well as regulation 1950s NHS frames. Newer labels include Yellows Plus and Savile Row. The boutique also holds monthly concerts by local musicians. (+1 416 604 2020; www.opticianado.com)
Smash is both a showroom and retail experience, teeming with an eclectic collection of items, expressing a poignant steampunk ambiance. At the heart of it all, you'll find a gargantuan hand-carved banquet table crowned with pieces such as vintage laboratory glassware, antiquated silver trays, and an intriguing dissection model from a medical school. Among the unique items on offer are a secretive 18th-century desk and a creatively reworked Eero Aarnio ball chair. Smash is also known for hosting artistic gatherings and unique dinner events in its basement, adding a cherry on top of its charm with antique silverware and china sourced from within the store. (+1 416 762 3113; www.smash.to)
Fusing together the charm of the past with the aesthetics of the present, Post and Beam are a hidden gem filled with architectural relics and novelties. Its proprietor, Doug Killaly, is renowned for curating things such as vintage bath taps, preserved stained glass, and ageless park benches from the early 20th century, making it a prominent spot for the city's interior design enthusiasts. Do you know, it is the first store to be open 24 hours a day in the Junction. (+1 416 913 4243; www.pandb.ca)
Specializing in spectacles is Opticianado, where owner and de facto model, Jordan Paul, services customers while donning his personal pair of classic 1980s glasses. This outlet offers an enticing mix of vintage and new spectacles, featuring one of the most extensive collections of classic frames across North America. Among the standout pieces are rare 1960s Persols, a favourite of JFK, and the time-tested1950s NHS frames. They also stock modern collections from Yellows Plus and Savile Row. Besides, what sets Opticianado apart is its commitment to local culture by hosting monthly concerts for local musicians. A unique blend of style and community! (+1 416 604 2020; www.opticianado.com)
Husband and wife John Baker and Juli Dauost set up their design store Mjölk with its considered collection of Scandinavian and Japanese pieces after noticing the influence the two aesthetics have on each other. The couple will take time to talk stock with you, pointing out favourites such as a Pia Wallen cross blanket or a tea ceremony by Japanese ceramist Masanobu Ando. (+ 1 416 551 9853; www.store.mjolk.ca)
Among the Junction fashion boutiques vying for attention, Gerhard Supply menswear stands out. Owner Langton Willms's streamlined space stocks Philip Sparks tailored Oxford shirts, slim 18 Waits trousers and other essentials for the male creative. Enduring style, high quality and 'Made in Toronto' (except for the Italian and Spanish handmade shoes) are the store's leitmotivs. (+1 416 797 1290; www.gerhardsupply.com)
In the heart of Toronto's buzzing Junction neighborhood, the duo John Baker and Juli Dauost operate their beloved design showcase, better known as Mjölk. The pairing of Scandinavian and Japanese aesthetics in their curation of arty pieces sets them apart, stemming from their own fascination with the synergy between these two styles. Engaging in discussions about their inventory is a regular affair, with items like the mesmerizing Pia Wallen cross blanket or the stunning Masanobu Ando tea ceremony commanding special interest. (Reach them at + 1 416 551 9853 or visit www.store.mjolk.ca)
Amidst the fashionable retail players in the Junction, the menswear boutique Gerhard Supply captures significant attention. Langton Willms, the visionary behind the operation, delivers a curated collection including pieces like Philip Sparks' impeccably tailored Oxford shirts and slimline trousers from 18 Waits, essentials for every fashion-forward gentleman. The store is a testament to enduring elegance and stellar quality, proudly supporting Toronto-made goods, with a few exceptions of importing bespoke footwear from Italy and Spain. (For more information or shopping enquiries, call +1 416 797 1290 or visit www.gerhardsupply.com)
When the expansion of the West Toronto Railpath is completed in 2016, a brief 20-minute bicycle journey will lead you to The Drake. In the interim, take a taxi to reach this eclectic urban refuge affectionately known as a cultured hotspot where guestrooms are fondly tagged as crashpads. The lure of the establishment is amplified by a perpetual rooftop garden and hallways lined with William Morris wallpaper. You can reach them at (+1 416 531 5042) or visit their site at www.thedrakehotel.ca. Room rates for double occupancy start from £100.
Soon to be accessible via a 20-minute bike ride following the completion of the West Toronto Railpath extension in 2016, you'll find The Drake. This eclectic boutique hotel and cultural focus hub is well worth the taxi ride in the meantime. Known for their uniquely termed 'crashpads', or hotel rooms, it boasts a verdant roof garden that is maintained all year round. The hallways are adorned with William Morris wallpaper, bringing an old-world charm to the space. But if you are looking to extend your Canadian adventure further, there are more extraordinary hotels to explore. You can plan your visit to the North York area and book one of the many Ontario hotels in North York. Each of these accommodations offers a unique experience in one of Toronto's most vibrant neighbourhoods. So, whether it's The Drake or somewhere new, you are guaranteed a memorable stay in Ontario.
Contact The Drake at (+1 416 531 5042;www.thedrakehotel.ca). Starting prices for a double room are £100.
Locomotive is one of several excellent espresso bars in the neighbourhood, and its owners have embraced the railway theme of The Junction's history, with a reclaimed buffet-car counter, and a huge cowcatcher by the door. Along with expertly brewed coffee, they make glorious sandwiches using brined or cured meats and special marinades.(+1 416 769 6989; www.locomotive)coffee.com))
Sitting on authentic Eames chairs (rescued by owner Chris Brown from a basement at Toronto's Trinity College), Full Stop customers tap on their computers in unison while munching on curried apple-bran muffins. Although the interior is great (one wall has a massive vinyl stencil of an airplane; another features a Lego installation), the outdoor terrace is the big draw on sunny days. 2948 Dundas Street West
You might be tempted to bypass Crema Coffee Co, as its logo looks slightly corporate, generic and out of place among The Junction's other indie cafés. But inside, everything is groovy, its espresso is perhaps the best on the strip, and the Glory Hole doughnuts are legendary. (+1 416 767 3131; www.cremacoffee.ca)
Locomotive is one of several excellent espresso bars in the neighbourhood, and its owners have embraced the railway theme of The Junction's history, with a reclaimed buffet-car counter, and a huge cowcatcher by the door. Along with expertly brewed coffee, they make glorious sandwiches using brined or cured meats and special marinades.(+1 416 769 6989; www.locomotive)coffee.com))
Sitting on authentic Eames chairs (rescued by owner Chris Brown from a basement at Toronto's Trinity College), Full Stop customers tap on their computers in unison while munching on curried apple-bran muffins. Although the interior is great (one wall has a massive vinyl stencil of an airplane; another features a Lego installation), the outdoor terrace is the big draw on sunny days. 2948 Dundas Street West
You might be tempted to bypass Crema Coffee Co, as its logo looks slightly corporate, generic and out of place among The Junction's other indie cafés. But inside, everything is groovy, its espresso is perhaps the best on the strip, and the Glory Hole doughnuts are legendary. (+1 416 767 3131; www.cremacoffee.ca)
Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister initially presented their vegan-friendly baked goods, including brownies and cookies to customers at local farmer's markets. They've since opened Bunner's, a compact store that has captivated not only those with dietary restrictions but also traditional food lovers. Their gluten-free, egg-free, dairy-free, nut-free, and soy-free products, particularly the sticky cinnamon buns smothered in vegan buttercream frosting, have proven to be a crowd-pleaser. Want to recreate these tasty treats at home? Their freshly released cookbook will be your guide. For inquiries: +1 647 352 2975; visit their website: www.bunners.ca
Handcrafted organic Fair Trade chocolates are the specialty of Delight. It's not just their taste that will enchant you, but also their aesthetic appeal, as they are as beautiful as the charming storefront where they are showcased. Using seasonal and local ingredients, they offer unique flavors like dark chocolate truffles filled with Quebec blue cheese and spiced Ontario plum. Their offerings also extend to ice cream for a wholesome dessert experience. Call them at +1 416 760 9995; check out their website: www.delightchocolate.ca
Initiated by Ashley Wittig and Kevin MacAllister, Bunner's was born from a simple venture of selling vegan desserts at local farmers' markets. Their innovative approach to baking satisfies even those with food sensitivities, offering delights free from gluten, egg, dairy, nuts, and soy. Nonetheless, their delectable creations, like the vegan buttercream frosted cinnamon buns, have managed to win the hearts of staunch gluten enthusiasts. Keen to share their unique recipes with the world, they have recently published a cookbook. (+1 647 352 2975; www.bunners.ca)
Delight, another gem of the neighborhood, is renowned for its hand-painted, organic, Fair Trade chocolates. As exquisite as their storefront, these chocolates use seasonal, locally sourced ingredients. Their inventive offerings include dark chocolate truffles with Quebec blue cheese filling, proving that cheese and chocolate can be a match made in heaven. They even offer an ice-cream version! Also, try their spiced Ontario plum, a regional treat. (+1 416 760 9995; www.delightchocolate.ca)