The internet runs on recommendations. In the age of algorithms and AI, there’s something compelling about getting a genuine, old-fashioned suggestion from a fellow human being. Thankfully, there are a lot of cool people residing in Toronto, so we decided to ask our favourite locals about the best spots in their respective neighbourhoods. Our Neighbourhood Crawl series explores the best of what the city has to offer. So far we’ve discovered hidden gems including a store Prince used to shop at and a local alternative to Costco.
Below, our most popular neighbourhood tours of 2025.
Born and raised in the Annex, Nobu Adilman is the creative tornado behind the beloved singalong phenomenon Choir! Choir! Choir!, and his childhood memories of the neighbourhood still charge him up. “As a kid, I could feel the warmth from the lights at Honest Ed’s,” he says. He recommends a legendary rock venue, a laid-back billiards lounge and an importer of Asian delicacies.
Jasmeet Raina, previously known as Jus Reign, conquered YouTube in the 2010s, earning nearly a million subscribers with sketches inspired by his life as a Punjabi Sikh immigrant. When Raina first moved to Bloordale in early 2023, he wasn’t sure what to make of the area. “My apartment was right between a strip club and a Value Village,” he says. Eventually, he grew to love the area’s eccentricities. He recommends vegan ice cream, Mexican imports, fresh juices and kimchi chopped cheese sandwiches.
After more than 20 years mesmerizing audiences with gravity-defying leaps and soulful performances, Guillaume Côté retired from the stage at the beginning of this year. He’s been a devoted east ender for the past 25 years and currently lives at Jones and Dundas, near Greenwood Park, with his girlfriend, Sophie, and his two kids, who are nine and seven. “I used to love the east end for its grunginess,” he says. “Now I love it for the community feel.” He recommends a welcoming espresso bar, a historic concert venue and a superior local alternative to Costco.
Brendan Canning has lived in the same King West heritage worker’s cottage for 30 years. “I started renting one room,” he says. “Ten years later, I bought the whole thing.” The neighbourhood has since exploded, most notably with jumbo developments like Portland Commons and the Well now surrounding his little house. He recommends a British record shop, a hard-core hardware store and a coffee shop in a shipping container.
Kardinal Offishall is Canada’s hip hop ambassador and one of Toronto’s pioneering rappers. Today, as head of global artists and repertoire at Def Jam Recordings, he splits his time between his home in Vaughan and his Queen West pied-à-terre, hosting celebrities at his three-bedroom loft. “There’s a pulse here,” he says. “Queen West has its own energy.” He recommends a soul food restaurant and a store that used to dress Prince.
At 12 years old, Suresh Doss emigrated with his family from Colombo, Sri Lanka, putting down roots in Scarborough to be close to its Tamil community. In 2019, after a stint downtown, he and his wife, Esther, found out they were pregnant with their son, Nolan, and decided to buy a home in Birchcliffe-Cliffside to be closer to family. Doss has built a career championing overlooked neighbourhoods and mom-and-pop kitchens, and he’s happiest when introducing his son to new ingredients. He recommends a local hot sauce powerhouse, Trinbagonian-style doubles and a café serving some of the city’s best Indian food.
Sook-Yin Lee has lived in the same 19th-century Kensington Market home since she moved to Toronto for a gig at MuchMusic almost two decades ago. “This is a caring community that has managed to stave off total gentrification,” she says. “Whenever I return from a trip or even another part of the city, I instantly start to breathe easy again.” She recommends places for vintage finds, quality leather and local butter.
Ten years ago, Donald Schmitt, principal and founder of Diamond Schmitt, hesitantly moved from his family home in Trinity-Bellwoods to his current Victorian in Rosedale. “I didn’t think Rosedale people were my people,” he says. But he’s since fallen in love with the neighbourhood, particularly its ravine system. After a long day, he loves walking home from his downtown office, taking in nature to help “sort out” the circus at work. He recommends cyclist-favourite café, a stylish cocktail bar and a liquor store in a converted train station.
In June, NHL forward John Tavares re-signed with the Leafs. As a child of Oakville and a lifelong fan of the Buds, he saw it as a foregone conclusion. “When my wife, Aryne, and I arrived in 2018 from the New York Islanders, we settled in High Park,” he says. “It was a great place to start our family, and we love its walkability. Our home has a backyard rink for our kids, but we still crave the energy of High Park itself.” He recommends spots for the city’s best beans, cheese, game meat and other groceries.
When Kevin Gausman, or “Gaus” to his fans, signed a five-year contract with the Blue Jays in 2021, he and his wife, Taylor, wanted to plant roots in Toronto. The man with the signature splitter pitch had never ventured north of Queen Street. But, with two young girls, he wanted a house with a backyard that was close to parks and trails. He and Taylor landed on midtown for its mix of leafy residential streets and vibrant main strips. “The more we’ve gotten to know the neighbourhood, the more we love it,” says Gausman. He recommends cookies and cream gelato, a bougie butcher, manicured garden trails, and a high-end grocer in a historic Canada Post building.
