A day in the neighbourhood: Yonge and Eglinton
Toronto’s most vivid experiences come from the diversity of its neighbourhoods. The area around Yonge and Eglinton used to be a part of the largest cattle grazing space in Upper Canada. Now it’s the grazing area for urbanites from the 6ix. What follows is a guide through a day in the Yonge and Eg neighbourhood, where to eat, energize, and pick up a few new threads. [Image credit: iStock.com/olaser]
2354194 On Inc
2489 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2H6Morning is best judged by the quality of its caffeine. At de Mello, the coffee is curated by a rigorous standard, which equates to complex and satisfying flavour. The effervescent streetart that adorns the walls is a comical smirk juxtaposing the seriousness with which the coffee here is prepared. Grab a piece of biscotti and a bottle of cold brew for later in the day, and the morning easily settles itself.
Intuition Toronto
2487 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2H6Clean lines and no nonsense, the threads at this fashionable boutique are wearable in any season. Accessories and essentials for both men and women, Intuition provides whole outfit suggestions or the opportunity to secure the perfect new piece to accent your wardrobe. Focusing on Canadian designers, the boutique has an eye that succeeds in being trendy without falling into the pit of disposability. A must-visit if you’re in the hood.
FireFlow Meditation + Yoga
172 Eglinton Ave E, Toronto, ON M4P 1A6As morning leans into the afternoon and the caffeine is wearing off, it’s time for a little more physical activity than flipping through clothing racks. Fireflow Yoga offers beginner drop-in classes several times a week. Geared to deliver a positive mental flow and equally potent physical state, the laidback atmosphere at this uptown yoga studio is a great way to reenergize midday.
Boar
3 Glebe Rd E, Toronto, ON M4S 1N6Some might say that meat and bread undermine the positive work of yoga. Not us. In fact, physical fitness is necessary to take on these next-level sammies. Boar is the fully realized form that lesser sandwich shops dream of becoming. Pick a meat (veal, chicken, meatball, sausage) or go veggie with a Portobello mushroom. Now select one of five sauces and condiments; and any of the six standard and two premium toppings. Lastly, prepare to enter sandwich heaven.
Village Juicery
2409 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4P 2E7Toronto’s freshest juice chain has recently opened a location near Yonge and Eg. Glass bottles and soft colours make Village Juicery akin to a spa for the mouth and tummy. White Orange Pekoe kombucha flows from its cold pressed taps, quenching thirst and stimulate the taste buds. The juicery also sells Toronto-made skincare products, bottled juices to-go, and made-in-house nut milks.
La Salumeria
2021 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A2Do a little shopping for the rest of the week. La Salumeria offers a delectable array of cured meats, cheeses, and condiments. The condiment selection is less a conventional market rack and more a secret repository of flavours containing ingredient combinations previously unimagined. Whether encountering an uncommon ingredient in a recipe or simply on the hunt for new flavours, La Salumeria has what any inquisitive gourmand is hunting for. The shop also sells fresh bread and pre-made frozen meals in the back. Say hi to the owner Carlos who is always around and super friendly.
Via Mercanti Yonge
2075 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A4A midtown must, Coquine feels lived-in. It’s interior, inflected with winks of art deco, is welcoming and always obscured by the crowds of patrons who treat this bistro as a second home. The French menu conjures up the best hearth and home sensations with entrées like cassoulet and pasta dishes such as linguini aux fruits de mer. Mondays are oyster nights at Coquine, which always brings the crowd. Did someone say Monday happy hour?
Bar Batavia
2031 Yonge St, Toronto, ON M4S 2A2After finishing a life-affirming meal, it’s time to head down the street for some late-night drinks. Bar Batavia is the younger sibling of the notable mid-town lounge, Little Sister. The slammin’ Dutch-Indonesian inspiration makes for an uncommon approach to Toronto’s nightlife circuit, especially up around the Yonge and Eg ways. Check out Batavia’s version of a Fernet and Coke that cuts out the carbonated sugar in favour of more frenetic flavour or the Lima Watt Lagi (Tito’s Vodka, chartreuse, and soursop).
