Planta Queen is one of my favourite restaurants in the city by far, and you’d likely find it hard to believe that this beautiful Asian-inspired restaurant has a fully plant-based menu! With a dark, moody interior, this spot makes for a great night out, be it for one of their unique drinks or a delicious dinner (or lunch). If you’re having the latter, I’d recommend ordering a few of their smaller dishes to try, which should definitely include their renowned Bang Bang Broccoli! Their vegan sushi and dumplings are also fan favourites.
Before or after a meal here, which I'd definitely recommend making a reservation in advance for, be sure to go for a stroll down the street it's on, Queen West, one of the city’s most iconic stretches. Featuring eclectic shops, cute cafes and beautiful bars, you could spend a whole weekend walking this strip and still not see it all. I’d recommend heading further west towards Trinity Bellwoods Park, which is definitely worthy of a visit on its own, to check out Bloomer’s for delicious vegan donuts or Bar Poet for a pretty spot with perfectly poured drinks!
Find your way with 145 Insider Tips from our Local Spotters
"Brickworks Ciderhouse": one of the new hot restaurants to open on Queen St. East in Toronto. They offer a cider flight and my favorite Brickworks burger!
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"GB Hand Pulled Noodles" Toronto is a small Lanzhou-style restaurant. The noodles here form the base of all the main dishes and are pulled in front of you.
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"Irish Design House" is the coziest of finds for men & women! It's a fabulous place to buy authentic cable knit sweaters. They come straight from Ireland!
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"The Half House" in Toronto is literally just a row house whose half was sold off and demolished. The other half has been left there in good condition...
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"The Dakota Tavern" is a live folk/bluegrass venue in Toronto that doubles as a dive bar. The basement bar really takes me back & everyone is welcome here.
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"Après Wine Bar" in Toronto is a fairly new addition to West Queen West that specializes in natural wines. Lovely space, chill vibe, amazing wines!
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"Lady Marmalade" in Toronto is a top brunch spot. It's modern, extremely airy with tall bright windows and has no wifi! Try their 'Build your own Benny"!
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"Cote de Boeuf" on Ossington Street in Toronto is as charming as it gets. It's a butcher & specialty food/lunch stop by day and wine/dinner bar by night...
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"AAA Bar" is a dive bar combined with a Texan-style BBQ. Not the place for a fancy-shmancy cocktail, but for some grungy beer, bourbon and yummy, hot food.
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Riverdale Park is the best place to go tobogganing or sledding in downtown Toronto. It's not for the faint of heart but it's so rewarding!
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"The Bentway" in Toronto is what's become of the neglected space below this elevated road. It has humanized the former dead zone with public spaces...
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"Ed's Real Scoop" is hands down one of the best ice cream shops in Toronto! Their highlights are their seasonal summer fruit flavours...
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145 Insider Tips from our local Spotters
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✓ 145 Insider Tips