A culinary tour of Toronto’s gay village

Adam Lowe

One of the treats of any new city is exploring what the cuisine is like. Luckily, Toronto is one city that gets rave reviews for its food, and has scores of restaurants that are LGBT-friendly – both in the village and beyond. To make it easier for you, however, we’ve selected some of the very best to get you started on your journey. Feel free to add your own suggestions to the comments below.

Byzantium

Byzantium, based in the village, is very popular with locals. It’s format is such that you can move from the restaurant to the club merely by climbing the stars. This makes it a great place to start your night – either with food or pre-drinks. Food on the menu includes steak, fish, patisserie, pizzas and vegetarian dishes. 499 Church St. , Toronto, ON

Cafe California

Cafe California is loved for its great atmosphere and stylish patio. It’s a place to see-and-be-seen, serving Mediterranean and bistro-style food and some seriously fabulous cocktails. 538 Church St. , Toronto, ON

Cafe Crepe

Cafe Crepe on Queen West focuses entirely on French-style crepes. You can also pick up baguettes, panini, Angus burgers, pizzas, and a full traditional breakfast menu. 246 Queen St. West , Toronto, ON

Spirits Bar & Grill

Spirits, opened in 1987, is known for an eclectic selection of beers and lagers on tap, a well-priced but diverse menu and its great location. A popular stand-up night takes place on Wednesdays and karaoke is on Saturdays. 642 Church St. , Toronto, ON

Johnny G’s

Johnny G’s in Cabbagetown offers affordable breakfast, brunch and lunch at great prices. Dig into some diner-style American grub, or enjoy the cafe/bistro ambience with a good coffee.478 Parliament St. , Toronto, ON

Sin & Redemption

Sin & Redemption is a laidback but cosy casual dining joint, just a few steps from the Art Gallery of Ontario and Ontario College of Art & Design. Check out ales in Sinner’s Pub, cocktails in Redeemer’s Lounge or steaks, chicken, lamb and sandwiches in the Most Wanted Bistro. 136 McCaul St. , Toronto, ON

7 West Cafe

7 West is a delightfully urban hotspot in Toronto, and has been part of the village for over 20 years. It’s a great all-rounder – from late-night bites and drinks to a great coffee in the morning. 7 Charles St. West , Toronto, ON

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About Adam Lowe

Adam Lowe is an award-winning author, editor and publisher from Leeds, now based in Manchester. He runs Dog Horn Publishing and is Director and Writing Coordinator for Young Enigma, a writer development programme for LGBT young people. He sometimes performs as Beyonce Holes.