Hi everyone! I hope you’re having a beautiful week. Today we’re back with another city guide, courtesy of best friends (and Health Gossip alumni), Lu Rey and Victoria Vyraeth. Read on to hear more about their favorite places to dine, dance, and linger…and if you’re new, check out our previous guide to Portland, Oregon here.
City Guide: Toronto
Toronto isn’t always easy to pin down. It constantly changes with you — depending on the season, the people you’re with, or, naturally, your mood. There are so many ways a day in this city can stretch and unfold. Sometimes it’s loud and strange; other times, it’s just you and a corner that feels like a secret.
In this guide, you’ll find places that are special to us, tied to precious memories, celebrations, and moments of quiet rest. We’ve organized the city loosely by categories. Think of it as slipping from morning to night, and you can mix, match, linger, or run. A day in the life, if you will.
Coffee and Tea
VV: The perfect morning in Toronto has to start with meeting a friend for coffee. No exceptions. That is what Lu and I did the first time we met — the first of many coffees! It is a Toronto initiation. And if you’re on your own, a book and a good corner seat feels just as social.
LR: In terms of cafés, I like quiet places that are not too crowded. Pleasant, low-volume music and natural or dim lighting are essential for me to enjoy my time and engage in conversation. Also, I judge a place by their cappuccinos; nobody gets the froth right these days.
Rooster Café across from Riverdale Park
Café
VV: Their café terrace gives you a full skyline view without even trying. Lu and I have spent so much time here this summer. I recommend the olive oil–orange muffin. I like to walk my coffee across the street to Riverdale Park and sit on the grass. The park has a track, tennis courts, a pool, and trails that wind toward the Don Valley. There’s even a calisthenics playground, which I think is pretty cool. It’s my favorite place to spend a day off, and one of the best spots in the city to catch an epic sunset, since it sits on a hill.
“I judge a place by their cappuccinos; nobody gets the froth right these days.” – Lu
The Company We Keep
Café
LR: My go-to spot when I want to get work done. They use Hewitt’s Dairy, which in my opinion, foams deliciously. They also have a great selection of healthy food. My typical order is the smoked trout salad and a double latte, extra foamy.
Bampot House
Tea House
LR: A wholesome, self-proclaimed “anti-café” serving a wide variety of teas. They have low tables and floor seating, so you can take your shoes off and linger over a cup of tea.
Rooms
Café (“They have multiple locations. My personal favorite is 915 Dupont.” – Lu)
LR: Maybe the best quality coffee and matcha I’ve encountered in the city. The space is inviting and tastefully decorated. This specific location closes around 4:30pm, then reopens as a listening lounge + cocktail bar until late, if you’re into that.
Forest Bathing
LR: I don’t think I got to truly love Toronto until I started spending more time in nature. Known as “a city within a park”, Toronto is shaped by a wide network of parks and ravines that weave through the city and make it easy to stay active and grounded. Whether that’s jogging, walking, biking, or meditating under the morning sun. Vic and I can easily spend hours sitting on the grass, moving in-between conversations and quiet moments of parallel play.
VV: The city is home to over 1,500 parks and 160 km of trails, from the ravines that slice through neighborhoods to the waterfront paths along Lake Ontario. Urban forests, secret wetlands, and community gardens are an essential part of how Torontonians live. It reminds me how to breathe. I feel most at home when I am outdoors.
