Roncesvalles

Why we like it.

Long the centre of the Polish community, years of construction turned the neighbourhood upside down with several long-standing favourites being forced to close their doors. Luckily for us, Roncey has come back strong with hip new restaurants and stores and a fresh sense of adventure. Bordering High Park, there’s lots of green space to hike, picnic and run the dog making this an active and family friendly area.

	Avg House Price	# of Sales	Yr/Yr Change
Detached	$1,886,143	49	21%
Semi-Detached	$1,235,473	60	2%
Row	$1,143,667	9	4%
1 Bedroom Condo	$692,159	32	15%
2 Bedroom Condo	$959,010	22	-8%

Semi-Detached

View Listings in Roncesvalles

Best Eats.

The recent upheaval has meant sad endings for some, and new opportunities for others. An influx of new, hip restaurants has brought life back to the strip and made it nearly impossible to find a table on a Friday night.

Barque Smokehouse

Serving up unbelievable BBQ, Barque is packed with locals most nights of the week. Sundays is family style, where they put on a feast for everyone lucky enough to snag a table.

Cafe Polonez

One of the last Polish strongholds, this family run restaurant offers homestyle classics like Babcia used to make. Schnitzels, pierogies and borcht will fill you up as the staff fuss over you and make sure you enjoy every bite.

La Cubana

With a style as sharp as the menu, the seafoam green retro decor and classic Cuban dishes hit each note perfectly. This diner encourages the whole family to visit time and again, with a proper kids menu (no dino nuggets or cheese pizza in sight!) and all prices under $15.

Shala-Mar

Serving authentic Indian cuisine to Toronto for almost 25 years, Shala-Mar has been a constant on Roncey for a number of years. Their friendly service and extensive menu must be key to their longevity.

Easy Breakfast

Toast soldiers! Just one of the things we love about this place, along with the huge breakfasts, lots of coffee and green smoothies that will cure any rough morning.

Caffeine Fix.

We won’t beat around the bush here, Roncesvalles has a number of top-quality coffee shops along the strip that will serve you coffee, snacks and wifi. The difference is in the atmosphere and the people behind the counter – try them all and find your favourite.

Lit Espresso Bar

These guys are so excited about their coffees that they went and started their own roaster (Pig Iron Coffee) to better showcase the nuances of the beans they are sourcing.

Cherry Bomb

Oh wait, these guys have done it too! They launched Spitfire last year to provide a better bean to customers, and have a goal of roast to cup in 24hrs.

Belljar Cafe

A bit off the strip, Belljar serves up killer cocktails along side their lattes and espressos. Frequented by musicians and artists, this spot definitely has more of a creative/collaborative vibe.

Drink Here.

Delicious cocktails in a cool retro diner? Yes please!

The Ace

When the owners of the Ace had the opportunity to take over the Ace Chinese Restaurant space, they jumped on it. Shuttered for two decades, the original decor has been kept intact giving the space a delightful kitchy feel. They’ve even turned the milkshake machine into beer taps! The Ace’s fantastic menu and innovative drinks list appeals to area families and hipsters from far and wide, although at slightly different times.

Grocery.

Roncesvalles is dotted with grocery options since this was the heart of a community that valued family and meals together. You can still find a number of Polish delis and bakeries tucked in alongside the Sobeys and IGA.

Mabel’s Bakery

If you smell fresh bread baking, it’s probably Mabel’s! Producing hundreds of loaves a week, along with cookies, pies, pastries and prepared foods the kitchen at the back is kept busy feeding their neighbours’ sweet tooths. They also have an excellent selection of preserves, cheeses and charcuterie to choose from.

Stasis Local Foods

Taking the streetcar over to the area one day, we got off at the wrong stop and found ourselves in front of this charming little store. Dedicated to all things sustainable, fair trade, organic and local, the owners have gotten themselves into a real pickle and have jampacked the store to the roof with preserves and pickles and much, much more.

Shopping.

We won’t be responsible for the state of your budget once you’ve taken a look at these shops full of cool Canadian brands and real vintage pieces.

Scout

Specializing in handmade and Canadian designers, this shop is the perfect place to find the perfect gift for friends, family (or yourself!). Stocked with cards, bags, wedding and baby gifts, this will quickly become your go-to for every occasion.

Fresh Collective

Local Toronto designers and hip labels fill this boutique with funky dresses, tops, shoes and more. Stop in for a new look, the staff here love playing dress-up with customers!

Scooter Girl

This cool shop is always a hit with kids of all ages! With toys to stimulate learning, creativity and imagination this is a great place to spend an afternoon and shopping you can feel good about.

She Said Boom!

If music is more your thing, while away a day looking through new and used CDs, records and books. Find the missing piece for your collection, or a new favourite group or author.

Culture.

Culture along Roncey isn’t limited to just eating and drinking, there are a number of live music venues, galleries and pop-up installations.

Hugh’s Room

One of the best known venues for live music in Toronto, this stage has seen countless performers cross its stage.

Revue Cinema

Saved from a near death experience in 2006, the Revue was the subject of an intense grassroots campaign to keep the films rolling. Re-opened in 2007 by the not for profit Revue Film Society, this theatre continues to show documentaries, popular current films and host various film festivals.

Well Being.

If you live in the area, you’ll have to find a way to burn off all those calories from going out all the time.

Bloor Street Fitness

If you’ve ever driven up Dundas W., you’ll have seen the giant boxing gloves outside this gym. Much more than just boxing, they’re a 24/7 club with one goal in mind – to get you into the best shape of your life.

West Side Cycle

If you prefer your exercise on two wheels instead of two feet, West Side will keep your bike tuned up or help you find the right bike for your needs. Whether part of the cycle circuit, or still using training wheels, these guys are here to support you in your training.