What Leafs hometown hero John Tavares loves about High Park

In June, NHL forward John Tavares re-signed with the Leafs. As a child of Oakville and 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.” Now they split their time between High Park and various properties across the GTA and Muskoka while running the John Tavares Foundation, which helps underserved children pursue their passions. Here, Tavares takes us on a tour of his favourite haunts.

Propeller Coffee

“Because of our game schedule, date nights with Aryne are now date days, so we like to do coffee. Admittedly, I drink way too much of it, but I’ll stop before noon unless it’s a game day. I love trying all kinds: pour overs, AeroPress, French press. Propeller is where we like to catch up. It’s run by great people, and they have excellent beans. These days, coffee isn’t exactly a date since we have our two-and-a-half-year-old daughter in tow, but it’s still quality time.” 50 Wade Ave., propellercoffee.com

The Cheese Boutique

“I wish I could visit this place way more. Afrim Pristine, the owner, is a generous guy. He’s co-hosted dinners for our foundation, and he carries Portuguese cheeses that are hard to find. I plan to buy some for my dad, who immigrated here when he was eight years old. Cows in the Azores are incredibly important to the culture and are treated with respect. There, they graze in pastures all year, and you can taste the difference. I can’t wait to see my dad get excited when I bring him some.” 45 Ripley Ave., cheeseboutique.com

The Fitting Room

“This barbershop is co-owned by a Portuguese guy. I met my barber, Brian, through my teammate Max Domi. Brian’s a great dude. He cuts my hair during the off-season too, and he makes sure both of our boys always look nice and sharp.” 1243 Dundas St. W., fittingroomtoronto.com

High Park

“Being able to disconnect from Toronto’s hustle while still being in the city is amazing. After we had our first son, we’d take him often. All that beautiful nature became a safe haven for us during the ­pandemic. Back then, skating was one of the only activities we could do as a family, so the High Park rink was where I took my son for his first time. Both of our sons go to school in the area now, so they often hit the park for field trips. Of course, they love the adventure playground. It’s such a special place.” Bloor and High Park Ave.

Antler

“This spot is one of my favourites because it’s unique. Chef Michael Hunter is also a good friend. It’s all about the quality and care he puts into the food and the cozy vibe. I love how he highlights Canadian cuisine and all of the game meats, especially venison and elk. There’s one problem, though: I always over-order because I want to try it all.” 1454 Dundas St. W., antlerkitchenbar.com

The Sweet Potato

“Grocery stores like the Sweet Potato help me remember that health and bonding over food are important. I still recall being in my grandfather’s garden as a kid. It made both of us feel connected to the Azores. Now, my wife and I have started a little garden of our own. You learn a lot about yourself by understanding what you put in your body. And part of being healthy is knowing where your food comes from and connecting with it before you consume.” 108 Vine Ave., unit B, thesweetpotato.ca