How to spend a day in Liberty Village

Liberty Village, a former industrial ghost town, has spent the last decade growing into Toronto's tech-central hood, a place for new-generation condos, converted lofts, and media office space. The neighbourhood, besides being the only one in Toronto that's attempted to ban children in hopes of becoming an adult-only district, is also home to a variety of fitness clubs, indie coffee shops, and a recent boom in cool restaurant culture. Since its expansion in the early 2000s, Liberty Village has consistently drawn a crowd of residents in the 30-and-up age range keen on sharp design and an easy, modern spirit.
Here's how to spend a day in Liberty Village, from morning to late night.


BREAKFAST AND COFFEE
I usually like to stop by Louie Craft Coffee for my breakfast Americano and a casual sit-down with a book or my morning emails. If I'm craving something sweet to start the day, I'll head to Uma Café for a toasted marshmallow latte or The Roastery for a big blueberry muffin.

For a more extensive breakfast experience, I'll almost always go to School for their buttermilk fried chicken and waffles, because, well, I'm a glutton - although Mildred's Temple Kitchen has a near-irresistible late morning menu they call B'Lunch, which starts at 11am (I go for Veda's Choice with rosemary bacon, a croissant-included step-up from your everyday eggs benny).

MORNING ACTIVITY
Depending on how much I've eaten for breakfast, on lazy days I'll head to The Beauty Room for a fun, personalized manicure or take a stroll through Lamport Stadium before parking myself at Balzac's on the first floor of the old toy factory on Hanna Avenue to read. If my schedule lines up with theirs, I'll head to Spinout Cycle for an upbeat workout or Joe Rockheads for a rock climb.
LUNCH
Maizal Quesadilla Café's mushroom epazote and chicken pibil dishes served with pico de gallo and black beans are my personal go-to lunches on any given day. Liberty Village Market and Café has a healthy selection of soups that I like to enjoy on their patio benches for chilly autumn days. Merci Mon Ami is another favourite for quick baguette sandwiches.

SHOPPING & CULTURE
Since the neighbourhood shops tend toward interior design and furnishing stores, I like to make my way through larger shops like West Elm, casalife, and EQ3 for inspiration (and Stroudfoot to torture myself with chic custom furniture I'll never be able to afford). As a plan-ahead gifter and stationery addict, Cadeaux and I Have a Crush On You are optimal boutiques for perusing

MID-AFTERNOON SNACK
The Perfect Scoop is where I'll head to next for an afternoon pick-me-up (Banana Boat ice cream, for obvious reasons), although some days I'll look for a cupcake or something equally sweet at For the Love of Cake.
DINNER
Caffino is generally where I'll end up for dinner to partake in some cozy Italian fare and rustic warehouse atmosphere. Their Risotto Piemonte - with double-smoked bacon and asparagus - is the reason I keep coming back. Pretty much any classic Italian meal is a winner here.

DRINKS AND ENTERTAINMENT
I'll likely head to Local Public Eatery or Brazen Head next for a couple draft beers and to catch up with some friends in a more laid-back pub atmosphere. For a more lounge-style experience, I'll check out Locus 144 or Vogue Supperclub, both of which host live music at different times throughout the week.
LATE-NIGHT EATS
Late-night eats in Libery Village are somewhat sparse, but the best option by far is to grab a hefty beef or veggie shawarma at Liberty Shawarma; otherwise, there's the forever reliable Smoke's Poutinerie.





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