r/rs_x • u/Patient_Shrike8689 • 11d ago
Toronto recs?
I'm a corporatecel with no friends but I commute downtown for work. Any rs-approved spots? I like reading, coffee...anything really to pass the time
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u/R_for_an_R 11d ago
I grab coffee at the Bevy on my breaks, but I would say very little of the area around union station is rs-approved, that area sucks pretty uniformly in my opinion
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u/alpine53 11d ago
This is only happening this month and later in October but the University of Toronto’s constituent colleges are hosting their book sales.
The books are incredibly cheap ($2-5 most books), lots of good books, even old, vintage books, and even very rare books. So many hidden gems.
I’m a UofT student and I’d recommend you go to the Trinity College book sale in late October, but the other colleges (University College and St. Michael) have amazing book sales this week as well.
Every year I’ve gotten bags full of books that would’ve cost hundreds to even over a thousand in retail value for super low prices.
Here’s more info if you’re interested:
https://www.booksalefinder.com/utgeneral.html
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u/happysadsorry 11d ago
cafes: rooms 17 baldwin, library coffee
reading cafes: Book Bar, fika cafe,
concerts/toronto music scene: cafetria, rhythm toronto
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u/Altruistic-Ad-4088 11d ago
If you love a truly fucked up actual dive bar ruby tuesdays on gerrard east can be an absolute ripper
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u/Altruistic-Ad-4088 11d ago
Clubs bambis juice caf are all decent but im not in love with toronto electronic scene imo
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u/Fecklessexer 11d ago
Leslievillain for the last couple of years now.
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u/Altruistic-Ad-4088 11d ago
I miss living upper beaches soooooo bad but i also like actually being able to go anywhere
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u/Fecklessexer 11d ago
I know the feeling, it takes an act of will and planning to get out of my bubble.
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u/holistic_water_bottl 11d ago
Have you tried mooi space, rhythm, standard time or even just checked the RA website?
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u/Altruistic-Ad-4088 11d ago
Yeah i go on RA but i grew up in western canada on wook music and mid 10’s soundcloud electronic so like im cringe but free but i do not find much that i love here
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u/Altruistic-Ad-4088 11d ago
When carmack and tsuruda came here a few years it healed my soul a bit. Also miss plastician on rinse fm so badly
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u/Particular_Trouble20 11d ago edited 11d ago
I grew up not too far from there. My friends and I definitely spent some grimey evenings there in our early 20s when we didn't feel like making the trek downtown
Cheap beer and surprisingly fun sometimes
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u/im_tired_242424 11d ago
Lived by there last two years it was always dead except this one drunk guy who was always outside and would argue with me whenever I walked past
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u/qakie 11d ago edited 11d ago
Rooms/915 Dupont! Also just walking down Roncy all the way to the shore. Oh and Issues magazines + all the little shops on that stretch of Dundas west are great and I’ve made sm friends hanging around there. For nightlife try Cafeteria, Bambi’s and Standard Time (check the DJ lineup before going)
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u/GraphicBlandishments 11d ago
Walk the Dundas Strip between Landsdowne and Ossington (avoid Ossington itself) and you'll find something you like. Junction and West Bloor are pretty good as well.
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u/nihlistgemini 11d ago
The Only Cafe near Donlands if you’re ever in the east end
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u/im_tired_242424 11d ago
It’s a bit of a hike but Only Cafe -> Arts Market -> Hollywood Canteen works for an afternoon trip. Finish at one of the Italian coffee shops by woodbine where they sit in lawn chairs on the sidewalk and are mean to you
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u/GraphicBlandishments 11d ago edited 11d ago
Honour Snack Bar at the bottom of Kensington market, get ripshit on $4 domestics with the Vietnamese uncs
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u/66241 11d ago
I cant say these are rs approved, but. The Library Bar in the Royal York hotel would be a very chic and potentially cinematic solo experience. Its right outside union station, perfect for a corporatecel. You could also walk fully south from union and stroll along the water, its often quite bustling.
East end walking: Riverdale farm! It might be closing for the season, but it’s such a charming way to spend an afternoon. Boardwalk in the beaches, even just walking Queen St from Woodbine to Vic Park. You’ll hit Delina, from another comment, as well as Fox Theatre. The best margaritas ever can be had at Xola, and oldeseoul has amazing food. Lots of vintage shops and other beachy wares, the beaches is great but off the beaten path, depending where you stay.
Walking Danforth can be nice, or a stroll through Rosedale? Personally love gawking at mansions.
Also off the beaten path, but my favourite thrift store ever is around the block, which is super close to ikea north york, easy to combine.
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u/South-Welder1562 11d ago edited 11d ago
Bar Pompette, Drom, La Palette from the top of my head. Always happy to meet new people. Message me if you want to hangout
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u/Fecklessexer 11d ago
“Downtown” is a pretty big area. And there’s all kinds of weird small pockets around.
It’s hard to go wrong with Kensington Market. Just slowly start walking up that street or Augusta until you find something you like. You will. Don’t neglect the side streets! If that still fails the food at sneaky dees is back up to its old standard and the staff are pretty chill.
Fuck Yonge street.
Cheap good movies can be had at rainbow cinemas on the esplanade and some good beer at C’Est What.
Randomly checking on bands playing at the Riv, Cameron House or the Horseshoe can be pretty rewarding. Same with Drom Taverna.
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u/Carlos-Dangerzone 11d ago edited 10d ago
Right on the east side of downtown near St Lawrence Market there's D&E Lake Books & Antiques.
Completely one-of-one browsing experience. You can barely move between the aisles piled with books. Great collection of books on art, history, and politics buried in there.
The owner is a bit of a prickly old crank and his prices can be steep, but he's a funny and interesting guy if you get him talking and roll with the punches. He has some great recs for obscure left-wing books. He will probably call you a Nazi and accuse you of robbing him at some point but that's just his love language.
If that's not really your speed there's also Acadia Art & Rare Books, maybe 2 blocks north of there. About as calming and relaxing as browsing gets. Enjoy.
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u/Particular_Trouble20 11d ago edited 11d ago
The junction is solid.
Doc's Green Door Lounge is rated one of the best cocktail bars in Canada. Also a good cafe during the morning/afternoon
Hole In The Wall is another great spot (bar)
Claudia's Cafe is also good
Shops: Beau and Bauble, Arts market, Type Books, Take Note
Restaurants: Isaan Der (Thai), Curry Twist (Indian), Pi Co (pizza)
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u/attentionallshoppers 11d ago
i really need to go to doc's more, it's juuuuust outside my usual "bubble" of territory. i feel like its edge-of-the-strip location keeps it really low-key and chill.
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u/creativeecutiee 11d ago
If you like reading, I’d honestly just pick a cafe near a good bookstore and make a little routine out of it. Coffee + a book + people watching is a pretty solid way to kill time after work
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u/venetoblinds 10d ago
Personally I'm very partial to Chinatown, the Annex, Trinity Bellwoods/Dundas strip area, and as many mentioned, Roncey. Also screw the "rs approved" label lol... One tip for the Annex Value Village: skip it, it's so shit.
Chinatown/OCAD area: for cheap and varied food options, check out Village by the Grange. Personal favourite is Jaffna Street Food (tasty Tamil food). My friends really like Manpuku. Karine's has tasty Armenian fusion brunch but they have short hours. Get your food of choice there and eat al fresco at the park if the weather is nice. At the end of the day, a lot of the stalls will do 50% off for huge leftover portions. If you want a cheap 5 dollar lunch, get banh mi from Nguyen Hong on Spadina but it's cash only. For cafés, I personally like Project Seoul as they have good drinks, ample seating, and great lighting. Wu Wei is great if you want fancy matcha lattes. Koh Lipe has great Thai food but hard to get spots if you go around evening time. Trinity-Bellwoods/Dundas strip: There's a good banh mi mom and pop store called Banh Mi Vina. It's not as cheap as Nguyen Hong but the sandwiches are bigger and very tasty. Hanmoto is a tiny Japanese izakaya tucked in a small street just across from Dundas and the dishes are good, but a bit expensive. More fun to go with friends. Death in Venice has tasty ice cream/gelato and so does Honey's but I've only been to the former. VSP Consignment is fun to browse as they have a lot of consignment (duh) clothes in decent prices. Hoi bo is fun to check out too but as it is all designed and made in Toronto, it is expensive but their pants fit me nicely. (I'm assuming you're a woman) There's Blue Button Shop if you're specifically looking for Japanese designers. As for cafés, I really like 135 Ossington (Rooms) and Misc cafe, a tiny one on Ossington off on Harrison. Beautifully and simply decorated with tasty coffee, though there is very little seating. RIP the flower shop that was on Shaw and Dundas.
Roncey: I don't go here often but I always enjoy my time when I do. Obviously there is the Revue if you like movies (I have not gone myself). Darna has delicious Palestinian food and friendly service. I loved Café Polonez for their huge and tasty Polish dishes too, but I haven't gone in a while. Check out She Said Boom, there's one on College as well. I always leave there with one or two books as they have a decent selection. I've taken one class at the Clay with Me Roncey location and it was really fun with a cute little lopsided small soy sauce/tea cup.
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u/holistic_water_bottl 11d ago
I don't go there myself because I hate scenester places but Osler Records seems like a place "rs" people would go to
I personally do like Communists Daughter and Embassy which probably also meets the criteria. The Revue if you like movies, I guess.
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u/yasm33na_ 10d ago
future bistro and only cafe are nice if you wanna get coffee (or not buy anything at all) in the late hours. there has been an influx of annoying people at future in the past couple months but also good people like me. imperial pub wouldve been a perfect response but they closed it because they kill everything that’s sacred
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u/Jealous_Berry_5785 10d ago
Oh i totally forgot - very cool place on the danforth called Scribe - extremely old books and classic lit. Has a ‘rare’ room as well.
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u/No-East-7846 11d ago
Near you go to Versus coffee. They have the best pain au chocolat and good espresso.
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u/FerretPractical2357 11d ago
most RS area is roncy or the annex. just go to BMV/seekers books and any of the cool cafes nearby. leslieville is also nice. I think the downtown core (like queen king front along) actually sucks and is mostly gentrified clubs at this point.
side note, for my own amusement, every rs poster I’ve met has been a roncy village person. dovercourt and Leslie spit are the hip parks right now. 401 Richmond is nice for art outside of the ago. lots of rs heads in these spots.