We asked our friends at King West showrooms where best to eat, drink and discover. Because who knows better than the purveyors of great design?

Visit King West to taste Aloette’s upscale burger and take the Bentway for a spin.

Word of Mouth

1 “Gusto 101 (101 Portland St) never disappoints. We’ve had many industry visitors from Italy who love it, too. Buca (604 King St W) is perfect for something a little more upmarket. Order the Nodini and pizza with scissors!” – Daniel Fisker, Fisker International

2 “Aloette (163 Spadina Ave) is my go-to for best food because the menu is full of familiar items that Chef Kriss somehow elevates to gourmet status. My favourite menu item is the burger – a diner classic elevated to a gourmet pleasure without the greasy hangover. Beautiful space, casual atmosphere, attentive service.” – Richard Assaly, LightForm

3 “Joe Bird (207 Queens Quay) for Caesars and amazingly delicious wings!  Our top choice is the sweet and sticky hoisin tamarind.” – Warren Moore, Harbourfront Shop

Must-Stop Shopping Spots

4 “King West Village Cleaners (986 King St W) does an incredible job mending denim, on-par with if not better than some of the boutique denim brands in the neighbourhood.”– Daniel Okorn, Hiku and Tokyo Smoke

5 “Lee Valley Tools (590 King St W), which has been in that location before everything else. Always a great place for those hard-to-find detail items that can make or break the finish of a project. Most everything we order is from Italy, so having this as a tool kit nearby is a great resource.” – Daniel Fisker, Fisker International

6 “Clearly one of the best stocked and styled stores in the area is West Elm (109 Atlantic Ave). Knowing what to mix and how, it’s just perfect.” – Warren Moore, Harbourfront Shop

Sights Worth Seeing

7 “I’m a little biased but… Whether it’s walking through the craft corridor or checking out the latest gallery installation, Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W) is a constantly changing and evolving campus.” – Warren Moore, Harbourfront Shop

The Bentway Skate Trail with Dana Claxton’s installation A Forest of Canoes, co-curated by the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival. Sean Galbraith.

8 “Douglas Coupland’s Float Forms (95 Fort York Blvd) and The Bentway Park under the Gardiner Expressway. Great use of unused space.” – Daniel Okorn, Hiku and Tokyo Smoke

Explore the rest of Toronto with our other Super Friendly Guides to Queen West, Midtown, West End, Uptown, King East, and Queen East.