Toronto's university neighbourhood has a quietly excellent food scene, great bookshops, the best ramen in the city, and Italian fine dining. Here's the perfect Annex day.
The Annex runs along Bloor Street West between Spadina and Bathurst, with the residential streets north of Bloor feeding the University of Toronto's Faculty of Arts. It's one of Toronto's most architecturally consistent neighbourhoods — Victorian and Edwardian houses in varying states of preservation — and has a food and cultural scene that significantly outperforms its modest profile.
Future Bistro (483 Bloor St W) is the Annex morning institution — a cozy, slightly chaotic breakfast place that makes excellent eggs and strong coffee. It attracts a mix of professors, students, and neighbourhood regulars that gives it the kind of community energy that most 'breakfast spots' only pretend to have. Alternatively, Hibiscus (124 Harbord St, just south of Bloor) is the vegetarian spot that makes a genuinely excellent weekend brunch without the wait that plagues better-known options.
After breakfast, Bloor Street between Bathurst and Spadina has some of the city's best independent shops. BMV Books (471 Bloor St W) is the three-floor used and remaindered bookshop that demands 45 minutes minimum. The Beguiling (319 College St, a short walk south) is Canada's best independent comic book and graphic novel store.
The University of Toronto's St. George Campus is directly south of The Annex and worth a walk through. Hart House, the Soldiers' Tower, and the Physics Building are all architecturally significant. The campus is fully public and the Hart House Great Hall (free) is one of Toronto's most beautiful interiors. The ROM is at the east end of campus — if you haven't been, it's a logical afternoon addition.
The Annex has two ramen shops that are genuinely in the conversation for best in the city: Sansotei (170 Bloor St W) and Touhenboku Ramen (2459 Yonge St, a short subway ride north). Both are serious tonkotsu operations. Sansotei has especially complex broths, while Touhenboku is known for its rich chicken ramen. Go to whichever doesn't have a line.
Robarts Library The University of Toronto's Robarts Library is one of the most brutalist buildings in North America and worth seeing even if libraries aren't your thing. The exterior is either magnificent or monstrous depending on your view of 1970s concrete architecture.
Osteria Giulia (134 Avenue Rd) is the finest restaurant in the neighbourhood and one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto — intimate, beautiful, exceptional hand-made pasta, and an Italian wine list that rewards exploration. Reservations are essential and book out weeks in advance for weekends. Alternatively, Bero Restaurant (282 Dupont St, north Annex) is the excellent Korean-Canadian tasting menu restaurant that has been quietly building a reputation since 2023.
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The Annex is a residential and commercial neighbourhood in midtown Toronto, centred on Bloor Street West between Spadina and Bathurst. It's adjacent to the University of Toronto's main campus and has a strong academic, literary, and artistic community. It's known for independent bookshops, excellent ramen, fine dining, and well-preserved Victorian residential architecture.
Osteria Giulia (134 Avenue Rd) is consistently ranked as the Annex's best fine dining restaurant — exceptional Italian-Canadian cuisine with handmade pasta and a serious wine list. For casual ramen, Sansotei is an excellent choice, while the surrounding Bloor and Spadina streets have strong Thai and Vietnamese options.
Yes — The Annex is a genuinely excellent neighbourhood for a half-day or full-day visit. It's less touristy than Kensington or Distillery, has better bookshops than any other neighbourhood in the city, and the combination of the University of Toronto campus with the Bloor Street food scene makes it a satisfying day out.
Spadina Station or Bathurst Station on the Bloor-Danforth line (Line 2) put you at either end of The Annex's main Bloor Street strip. Museum Station is at the eastern edge near the ROM and U of T. The neighbourhood is one of the most walkable in Toronto and flat enough to be very comfortable on foot or by bike.
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