OT: College Park Area of Toronto (Bay/College)

Rob Brown

Way She Goes
Dec 17, 2009
17,413
14,476
Hey guys,

Me and a friend are likely going to be moving to the College Park area near Bay and College and I had a few questions. We did check out the area very briefly and saw a few bars, restaurants etc. and of course the TTC is right there.

How is the area though? Advice on good bars, restaurants or clubs? We'll probably pick a local for weekday evenings, but also any good places for weekends that is full of people in early to mid 20's? Or is it best to head out of the area for that? What is the age range in the area? Anything we should know?

Thanks for any input.
 

contour

Registered User
Mar 31, 2011
1,669
0
I live by there and worked there.

Burger Bar is good (organic burgers/no hormones that are above average), and they show Leafs games.

There is a bar in the College Park area (Pogue Mahone) which is a pretty good Irish pub.

Across the street above Fran's restaurant is the Screen Lounge which isn't a bad bar. I don't mind the drink selection, though it isn't mindblowing or really special. I've been there only a couple times in the summer, so i can't comment at this time of year (in the summer, the patio is open and it's really nice).

There aren't too many good restaurants around there. The better restaurants are more in the financial district, or you can go west towards chinatown and Little Italy past Bathurst St.

There are no clubs nearby. Go down to the entertainment district (near MuchMusic) if you want to go clubbing.

Also, most people living in College Park are young adults, either working in Downtown Toronto, or University students (U of T is right down the street)
 
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Urban Explorer*

Guest
The Hoops bar slightly North of college on the west side of Yonge is pretty good for Leafs games. Lot's of big screens and good tasting tap beer. Hot waitresses too. :naughty:
 

headwire

Registered User
Jan 25, 2012
464
0
Toronto
My wife and I used to live across from the old Gardens.

- The Pride Parade is VERY busy. So much so that you shouldn't really plan on getting anything done outside your apartment that day without struggling through shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Under no uncertain terms should you try to drive in that area on that day.
- The new Loblaws at Carlton and Church is very nice, though we moved away before it was complete.
- There's lots of hookers that hang out on the East side of Church St. south of Carlton. Their pimp chased me into my apartment once. Scary dude.
- Frans is good.
- Pogue Mahones is a nice pub.
- Mick E Fynns is good if you're into something a fair bit more dive-y. Big Ryerson crowd there on weekends.
- Liquor and Beer stores are close.
- TTC is convenient.
- There's a really good restaurant called Hair of the Dog at Wood and Church.
- The bars up and Church and Wellesley can be fun with the right crowd.
- There's enough in the area so that you don't have to stray far to have a decent night. However, if you're into something a little more exciting, you really don't have to go far.

Essentially, College and Yonge is a nice area, but if you stray to far North, South, or East it gets kind of crappy fast, but only for short stretches. The area continues to improve though.
 

Neas Olc

Registered Abuser
Mar 22, 2011
525
102
Toronto
I used to live in the area. It's pretty nice, but go too far east and it gets a bit shabby. Just west are some decent pubs.
 

SenorDingDong

Registered User
Apr 1, 2006
3,496
32
Toronto
Theres a big pond / fountain right in College Park that gets frozen and zombonied in the winter.

You will regularly find some guys (and occasionally girls) out there playing shinny and drinking a couple beers.

Great fun.

Its an awesome area, very central to everything.
 

29Potvins

Registered User
Jul 17, 2012
147
3
Elephant & Castle is close, and a nice pub. A bit pricey though.

Bar+ is just down the street, private karaoke rooms :D

Three Brewers and Hard Rock cafe are just down the street (Dundas)
 

DD03

3D
Mar 15, 2010
21,734
9
My wife and I used to live across from the old Gardens.

- The Pride Parade is VERY busy. So much so that you shouldn't really plan on getting anything done outside your apartment that day without struggling through shoulder-to-shoulder crowds. Under no uncertain terms should you try to drive in that area on that day.
- The new Loblaws at Carlton and Church is very nice, though we moved away before it was complete.
- There's lots of hookers that hang out on the East side of Church St. south of Carlton. Their pimp chased me into my apartment once. Scary dude.
- Frans is good.
- Pogue Mahones is a nice pub.
- Mick E Fynns is good if you're into something a fair bit more dive-y. Big Ryerson crowd there on weekends.
- Liquor and Beer stores are close.
- TTC is convenient.

Essentially, College and Yonge is a nice area, but if you stray to far North, South, or East it gets kind of crappy fast, but only for short stretches. The area continues to improve though.

This made me lol :laugh:
 

Jatt

Registered User
Sep 28, 2005
717
0
Lived there a while ago, it's got plenty to do (mind you even the local spots will have tourist prices since it's such a touristy core area), you're near everything but it doesn't have a neighborhood feel at all like you get living somewhere like Little Italy, Liberty Village, Leaside, Queen West etc. You will however run into Phaneuf in College Park as I'm pretty sure he and the Mrs. live there.
 

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