You may know Toronto as Canada’s largest city, home to 158 vibrant neighbourhoods, or the keeper of the largest underground shopping complex in the world. While the city boasts an impressive reputation, it also offers some well-kept secrets. Here are six hidden gems in Toronto that every local knows and loves.

Bluffer’s Park Beach

Approximately a 30-minute drive from Toronto’s downtown core, this beautiful sandy beach offers a backdrop of the Scarborough Bluffs right along Lake Ontario. It is the perfect place to get away from the city, take a long walk, lay down your towel to relax, dip your toes in the water, or take a short hike for a beautiful picture.

Monkey’s Paw

For lovers of literature, this one-of-a-kind bookstore, located on Bloor Street West, specializes in antique, rare, and unique books. There are three categories to sort the titles: the beautiful, the arcane, the macabre, and the absurd. Monkey’s Paw is also home to the world’s first Biblio-Mat, a vending machine for randomized old books.

Stackt Market

Just a quick walk from the edge of Lake Ontario, Toronto’s first shipping container market features a microbrewery and a diverse selection of shops. Here, you’ll find a mix of unique goods, from clothing and jewelry to houseplants and rugs sold by local, national, and international retailers. Stackt Market also hosts art exhibitions, workshops and shows. Not to mention, the sleek black shipping containers make for an extraordinary shopping adventure. 

Bamboo Garden

Escape the city for peace and tranquility at this hidden gem in the Terrence Donnelly Centre on the University of Toronto’s St. George Campus. Here, you will find a tall bamboo forest mixed with vibrant tropical shrubs sustained in a climate-controlled atmosphere. The uncovered glass ceiling lets in lots of natural light, creating the perfect place to sit and relax. 

Pan Am Path

This 84-kilometre multi-use trail stretches from northwest Etobicoke, through downtown, to Rouge Park. It was a project that paid tribute to the Pan Am and Parapan Am Games in 2015. You can take in the various art installations and murals that line the path as you take your daily walk or train for a marathon.

The Vog Vault

This hidden gem in Toronto is an old bank vault tucked away in the back of the John Fluevog shoe store, which was once a TD bank. This room features a vintage-looking bookcase and a Victorian sofa. The catch? The entire space is turned 90 degrees, with the couch and carpet on the wall. This gives the illusion that visitors are defying gravity, making for the perfect place to take exciting photos. 

It is no secret that Toronto is full of things to do and places to see. However, if you want a unique experience that only the locals know about, these hidden gems will bring you back for more. Are you thinking of moving to the city? At CLV Group, we want to help you become a true Torontonian. Check out our Toronto apartment listings to learn more about what the capital city of Ontario has to offer.