Leslieville food guide: brunch, bakeries and dinner on Queen Street East

Leslieville is a neighbourhood in Toronto's east end, just past the Don River, that has become one of the city's favourite places to eat out without going downtown. Queen Street East is its spine, lined with brunch spots, bakeries, coffee shops, wine bars and small neighbourhood restaurants. It is especially famous for brunch, and on weekend mornings the lines prove it.

Where is Leslieville in Toronto?

Leslieville sits east of the Don Valley, roughly from the railway tracks near Carlaw Avenue east toward Coxwell, between Gerrard Street and the lake. The main dining street is Queen Street East, served by the 501 Queen streetcar, and there are more restaurants on Gerrard Street East and Dundas Street East. Riverside, just to the west around Broadview, blends into it, and the Beaches are a short ride east.

Why is Leslieville known for brunch?

The east end has a reputation as Toronto's brunch capital, and Leslieville is the heart of it. Some of its brunch spots have been on "best of" lists for years, and their weekend lines can stretch down the block. Expect classic eggs and pancakes alongside more creative plates, good coffee and baking. Many brunch places do not take reservations for small groups.

How do you avoid the brunch lines in Leslieville?

1. Arrive before opening or within the first half hour.
2. Go on a weekday, when many of the same places are quiet.
3. Put your name down and walk the street while you wait.
4. Try a less famous spot a block away.
5. Go late, after the main rush around 1 p.m.

What else should you eat in Leslieville?

Kind of place	What to expect
Bakeries	Sourdough, croissants, cookies and cakes
Cafés	Independent coffee, laptop-friendly on weekdays
Neighbourhood restaurants	Seasonal menus in small rooms
Wine bars	Natural wine and small plates
Casual spots	Burgers, pizza, tacos and fried chicken
Pubs	Local hangouts with patios

Is Leslieville good for dinner?

Yes. Leslieville has a strong run of small, chef-driven neighbourhood restaurants, popular with locals for date nights and dinners with friends. Rooms are often small, so book ahead on weekends. Many restaurants close one or two days a week, often Monday or Tuesday.

Where can you get good coffee and baking in Leslieville?

Leslieville has a dense run of independent cafés and bakeries along Queen Street East and on the side streets, and many locals start a weekend with a coffee and a pastry rather than a full brunch. Sourdough loaves, croissants, cookies and celebration cakes are all easy to find. Popular bakeries can sell out of their best items by late morning on Saturdays, so go early if you have your heart set on something. On weekdays, several cafés are relaxed enough to work from for an hour or two.

Is Leslieville good for families?

Very. It is a neighbourhood full of young families, and many cafés and restaurants welcome strollers and kids, especially at brunch and lunch. Parks such as Jimmie Simpson Park and Greenwood Park are nearby, and the beach is a short ride away.

What is near Leslieville for food?

• Riverside and Broadview, just west, with more restaurants and bars around Queen and Broadview.
• The Gerrard India Bazaar, a few blocks north on Gerrard Street East.
• The Beaches, further east along Queen, with boardwalk cafés and ice cream.
• The Danforth, north of Leslieville, for Greektown and Little Ethiopia.

How much does eating in Leslieville cost?

Leslieville is mid-range: brunch and casual meals are moderately priced, and dinner at a chef-run restaurant costs more. Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service.

What is Leslieville like in summer?

Lively. Patios on Queen Street East fill up on warm evenings, some restaurants add curb lane patios through the city's CafeTO program, and a farmers market has run in the neighbourhood in summer; check current schedules. The walk down to the lake and the Martin Goodman Trail makes a good start or end to a meal.

Is Leslieville close to the beach?

Close enough to make a day of it. Leslieville sits on Queen Street East, and the lakeshore is a short ride or walk south and east. Woodbine Beach and Ashbridges Bay Park are the nearest big beaches, with a boardwalk running east through the Beaches neighbourhood.

A summer plan: brunch in Leslieville, then a walk or bike ride down to the lake, along the boardwalk, and an ice cream in the Beaches before heading home on the Queen streetcar. The Beaches has its own cafés and restaurants along Queen Street East, so you can also reverse the plan and end the day back in Leslieville for dinner.

How to spend a morning in Leslieville

1. Take the 501 streetcar east along Queen.
2. Pick up coffee and a pastry, or join a brunch line early.
3. Browse the independent shops along Queen.
4. Walk south to the lake, or east to the Beaches.

On Mosey you can rate the places you ate at in Leslieville and the dishes you ordered, with photos, and keep a list of brunch spots and bakeries to work through. Following friends who live in the east end is the quickest way to hear about new openings.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Little India Toronto: what to eat at the Gerrard India Bazaar
• Little Italy Toronto: where to eat on College Street and in Corso Italia

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.