Charlotte Day Wilson is taking her latest album, 

. Known for her soulful voice and introspective lyrics, Wilson brings a bit of 

 wherever she goes. Growing up in the city, she went from playing classical piano to teaching herself production and teaming up with other Toronto artists like Daniel Caesar and BadBadNotGood.

Toronto is woven into her music, from gospel vibes to grounded, personal lyrics that reflect her own story. Read below for her favourite spots around her hometown – from her go-to coffee shop to the tastiest sandwich pop-up about.

Canada

Spots

Where To Eat Out in Toronto 

Guides

Local Guides From Our Community 

Toronto

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My favourite Italian food in the city. The restaurant is beautiful, the food is so good, staff is amazing. Would recommend to anyone looking for elevated Italian. 

Restaurant

Giulietta

Specifically the one on Ossington (but they’re all great). They’ve got my favourite cold brew and the staff is so sweet.

Cafe

Rooms Coffee

My go-to spot for a big cup of fresh squeezed juice. I make sure to always have cash in my wallet exclusively for Galaxy (cash only). 

Juice Bar

Sandwich

Food

Galaxy T&T

Best park in the city, always some entertaining sports to sit and watch or meet up with a friend and walk / have a picnic.

Park

Christie Pits Park

My favourite Italian deli sandwiches & cannoli. Simple, light & flavourful. Follow the IG for popup info @tutto.panino. NB: Map location is not accurate, please check their IG for details of their pop-ups. 

Sandwich Shop

Tutto Panino Sandwich Pop-ups

Go on a weekday to avoid the crowds. I go for the vintage shopping, butchers, fish mongers, produce, bars, vendors & consignment instrument shopping. There’s something for everyone.

Market

Kensington Market

, BULLY is an emerging Black-led cultural collective and publisher focused on creating space for unheard voices and unseen perspectives in music, fashion, sex, and art.

Recently, the magazine have put out a charity music compilation in collaboration with Beijing-based record label, DCYY/到此一游, featuring 27 producers in 17 cities raising relief funds for charities and NPOs around the world, including Movement For Black Lives, Black Legal Action Centre, For The Gworls Surgery Fund, and The Black Curriculum. Check out the project 

The team have curated their favourite spots across the bright and bustling city of Toronto for any travellers out there dreaming of their next trip to Canada or residents looking to explore more of their home.

Independent fashion store that carries a tightly-edited selection of clothing brands (such as Telfar, Barragán, and Vaquera) and premium and obscure fashion print publications. A real day one BULLY supporter (and stockist).

Both an in-house brand and textile gallery shop, 100% Silk curates emerging *slow fashion* designers from around the world. They also work with local artists like GUNNAR to bring their retail experience on another level – very conceptual.

Follow the lights up to the second-floor for this classic Chinatown karaoke bar. Think neon lights, pleated leather couches in private rooms, and considerably late drink service.

A Black-owned business conceptualized and operated by CHIEFF BOSOMPRA, who runs event collective UNDISPOSABLE, in collaboration with Canadian Top Chef Adrian Forte. We reco the Accra burger + fries combo, an ode to Chieff’s hometown in Ghana.

Authentic Japanese homestyle vibes here – soft lights and natural wood tones help you get cozy until you realize you’ve been there for hours. Ask about their secret vinyl room downstairs where they play rare groove and Japanese city pop.

Black-owned business. The wife-and-husband duo fuse Jamaican and Italian cuisine together in a cozy spot in the heart of our eclectic Kensington Market. Local community vibes – look for the spot with the lineup and a grill out front.

Tucked inside P.A.T., a local grocery store in the heart of Koreatown, this cash-only stall gets lineups of people deliberating on whether they should get sweet custard or red bean-filled homemade waffles shaped like lil fishies.

Go here for contemporary menswear like Our Legacy, Eckhaus Latta, BODE, and Margaret Howell. The Toronto space has a showroom vibe that showcases the Neighbour world really well, which also includes a variety of household items and found objects alongside print publications from the likes of IDEA.

Hanlan’s Point is an inclusive space and a short ferry ride away to escape the city. Clothing optional :)

Canada's oldest boxing gym. Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Leonard and Lennox Lewis have stepped into Sully's to train. Coach Tony is a Black trainer and former heavyweight champ – he might even drop some boxing history if you're nice. Iconic.

Authentic vintage clothing experience here – no curated boutique showroom or displays. There are some real deadstock finds if you dig deep enough in some of the mountains of clothes. Also good for military surplus goods, costume and props, and a lil role play.

Niche rental store for obscure cinema on vhs and dvd. There are some titles you just can’t find online that they carry, ranging from B-movie blaxploitation to Takashi Miike deep cuts. They also have a small screening room in the back for rent if you ever thought of setting up a private screening dedicated to Hype Williams or whoever.

Indo-Caribbean family-owned business. This lil everyday convenience store has a very small, unassuming room in the back that sells a bunch of different santería love charms and all the Yoruban orisha candles to help you find love, give you strength and protect you from enemies. This is a Parkdale gem tbh - if you know you know.

Similar Guides

Toronto with BULLY MAG

Starting his career in Toronto, Matthew Dubois-who is better known as 12AM, is an emerging rhythmic pop singer stemming from the ever-expanding Canadian music scene. Making waves across his releases, “Hollywood” is the latest in a string of singles since sharing his most recent EP, After Midnight. The record featured notable tracks “Voices” which boasted 7 million streams and “come over” which premiered on Travis Mills’ Apple Music 1 radio show, adding to 12AM’s over 35 million global streams and counting. Earning love from streaming platforms and radio alike, his releases have also landed numerous debuts on New Music Playlists in the US and Canada including Spotify’s coveted New Music Friday as well as their tear drop playlist and Post Malone’s ‘posty’s playlist.’

With more music constantly on the horizon, the future looks incredibly bright and 12AM’s repertoire is only at its inception. Prolific in his dexterity, 12AM is consistently writing for other artists as well as himself. He can be seen frequently working with Elijah Woods and Omer Fedi (Kid Laroi “Without You”, 24kGoldn & Iann Dior “Mood", and Lil Nas X “Montero”). Touring accolades include shows with Internet Money, Iann Dior, Jez Dior, 24kGoldn, Jutes, Trevor Daniel, and Souly Had. No stranger to media coverage and acclaim from tastemakers, praise has rolled in from industry key players such as Complex, Elevator Mag, idolator, Lyrical Lemonade, and Noisey. A true musical genius of mixing melodic sounds and prolific storytelling, 12AM is the artist to keep on your radar in 2022.

In his guide, 12AM gives us the low down on when to pull up to his favourite late night spots in Toronto.

I would pull up between 11:30PM -12:30AM, the whole place has super unique vibes, almost like taking you through a time machine but ending at a lit party. All the times I’ve been they are playing Hip Hop. I really like the fact that there is a no photos policy and it sets a tone for everyone to lounge. Coolest part is the secret entrance, and they have the best drinks in the city... ask for the “old fashioned” and tell them 12 sent you.

2:30AM on a Saturday, reason I say that is because this is the spot you go before you go to the next spot. This place has the BEST donuts I’ve ever had let alone in Toronto, it’s a party vibe when you pull up, always bumping music and it's right in the centre of all the clubs. Little secret... ask for the 12AM donut.

Best time to arrive is after 12:30, that’s when it starts getting crazy and everyone wants to get in. I always know it's going to be a good night when DJ.... is spinning. What I like most about LoveChild is the aesthetic and the overall size of the club, a big club allows for a lot of people and a way better dancefloor. I would say what makes this place special is the dancers, they are always setting a tone for a lit night.

I would get here after 1 it’s the spot after the spot. It’s a piece of America within Canada and make sure to bring your one’s because you can’t throw loonies... If you are pulling up to this spot it is essential to make it rain.

Getting here at 9:30PM is the move, first thing I order is a baked crab handroll and the fried chicken followed by a couple drinks and some lava cake. Best part about this place is the aesthetic, once the food and drinks kick in, it’s the telltale sign the night just got started.

This is where the night goes all night. You can pull up anytime you want but once you get here expect to spend at least 4-5 hours. This is the place you pull up with your friends who are more focused on getting kills in COD than shots at the bar. What makes this place special to me is my passion for gaming. 

Get here for 10PM if you can find a lane. Me and my friends love golf so if you are a golfer you are in for a night of fun. The best part about this place is that you get to bring your own food and drinks and good times are guaranteed. Although this isn’t a conventional late-night spot it brings the best late-night vibes.

Mademoiselle is the spot to pull up to at 1130. The oysters are fire... the drinks are incredible and the atmosphere is perfect for the date you want to impress. The lighting and sound in this place leaves you with a special feeling that makes you want to come back time and time again.

After Hours in Toronto with 12AM

Location plays a central role in Keita Morimoto's vivid paintings. 

The visual artist was born in Osaka, Japan, in 1990 and attended a Canadian high school in Toronto. Living abroad for 15 years, the Canadian city became a place of inspiration for Keita, who studied North American and European art history during his stay. Later, in 2021, he moved to Japan which breathed new life into his practice.

The country is the subject of his rich paintings that blur the fine line between fantasy and modern life. His paintings focus on night time scenes in Tokyo in particular, accentuating its highlights – such as the people, shop windows and vending machines – in warm light. In this way, there's a touch of the Baroque movement and Rembrandt's use of light and shade in Keita's painterly visions of Japan. In adopting a hyperrealist approach but enhancing the light and colours, the paintings feel realistic – as though the characters have stepped off the streets of Japan – and yet cinematic and effervescent all at once; the works giving the feel of one looking into an uncanny multiverse.

As Tokyo is the main subject of Keita's art, we asked him to create a guide to the city. Where are the places within his romanticised visions of modern life in Tokyo? For his guide, Keita highlights the quieter areas in the 24-hour region. He recommends steering away from tourist areas and opting, instead, for more immersive exploration through Tokyo's many neighbourhoods via its stations. Here are the spots to unwind and experience some downtime in amidst the bustling atmosphere of Tokyo.

Avant Arte

Meguro River in Nakameguro is a nice place for seeing cherry blossoms but if you hate extremely crowded places, head to Ueno Park.

A two hour train ride from Tokyo, Hakone is famous for its hot springs and views of Mount Fuji. Stays usually cost $200-$300 per person all inclusive. For an affordable hotel, try Tenseien. Higher end options are Hakone Kowakien Ten-yu or Hoshino Resorts KAI Hakone. Hike to see Mount Fuji Otome Pass. Hakone Yumoto, Pola Museum, Hakone Open-Air Museum are all fun areas to explore.

When I want to unwind I usually go to a cafe in the Asakusa area to grab a cup of coffee and research.

Dollar sushi is a Tokyo fast-food staple. It’s cheap, quick and delicious.

I worked at Sushiro, which is a dollar sushi place. It was a fun experience learning how food was made in those fast food chains. I'd say sea urchin, red shrimp and scallops are the best dishes there.

New Chelsea-type [NYC] area, a really good place for art galleries as well.

In Harajuku, Gallery Target, Nanzuka are good venues. But I still have to recommend my own gallery in Roppongi, Kotaro Nukaga.

You have to try monjayaki. Pour the batter, sauce and bonito flakes onto your hot plate. Wait for it to crisp up on the bottom but eat it while it’s still kind of gooey on top. I recommend the Mentaiko mochi cheese monja (monjayaki with seasoned pollock roe, rice cake and cheese fillings) and kimchi pork monja.

Rather than a portal to a specific place, it's almost like it's like they’re these mysterious windows that people are attracted to. Using light to attract people is a huge part of life here, both religious and commercial use of light. These vending machines are so interesting because they are literally everywhere, every corner. Landlords can get a percentage of the sales if you have one in front of your house. They have always struck me as these strange portals, almost like black holes, that I am drawn to in my day to day. Whatever you want, pretty much anything, you can get one in the machines.