What we’re about
Explore food and trails in the diverse neighbourhoods of the Greater Toronto Area.
Foodie hikes are at a moderate pace of 4 to 6 km/h. They are neither walking tours nor strenuous workouts. It's more rewarding if you research the route beforehand because we won't give a lot of commentary. You should be prepared for unpaved trails, hills, and any weather. Dangerous weather like lightning and low visibility will cancel hikes.
Typically, hikes end at a restaurant. But we'll also pick up takeout and groceries along the way.
Timed hikes
Hikes run like trains. We depart on time and hit scheduled stops. If late or lost, you can refer to the map to find us at these timed checkpoints. You can join or leave at any point according to your schedule and level of fitness.
If you're going below 4 km/h or the minimum stated speed, you might be left behind because we have to keep a schedule. This ensures
- we arrive at food places before they close or get too busy
- we show up on time for restaurant reservations
- others that join in the middle won't wait long at scheduled checkpoints
- we end on time and respect those who need to leave punctually
The list of places on the route are those that we'll pass by or come close to. We'll not stop at all of them. You're free to break from the group and use the map to catch up when you're done.
While the hike is ongoing, organizers might not respond to messages. They will be busy leading the group and ordering food. Also, Meetup.com does not send notifications instantly.
Omakase
For some hikes, we offer omakase. This is an optional program where participants chip in a small amount of money and the organizer will use the pool to buy food for sampling. The food bought, and where and when to share, is entirely up to the organizer. Omakase literally means "I leave it to you".
At some point in the hike, usually during the first leg, the organizer will ask who's interested in omakase and collect money. Payment by cash or e-transfer. Please mention dietary restrictions before signing up. We may not be able to accommodate and will advise if you should join.
No refunds after orders are placed, even if you left early, got lost, or missed samples for whatever reason. Collected money would have been already spent on food. We do not make a profit. Leftover funds go to Meetup.com fees.
Situations where we will give a full or partial refund:
- the organizer didn't honour your dietary restrictions and you mentioned it before signing up
- you didn't get your fair share of food because there was not enough to go around
Limited cutlery provided. Bring your own cutlery and containers to save the environment.
Featured businesses do not compensate us. We recommend them because we think they are good or interesting.
Waitlist
If a hike is full, join the waitlist. If you're still on the waitlist on the day of the hike, you show up at your own risk. It's usually OK because of no-shows at free events.
However, if more than the maximum number of people arrive at a hike, the priority is: those on the confirmed list, then those on waitlist according to when they signed up. The rest will be asked to leave.
For restaurant events, only those on the confirmed list can attend.
Photo policy
Photos are welcome but if you are taking pictures of other humans, please ask their permission if you intend to post or share them, including on Meetup.
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Westend Coffee Walk (8.4 km)Keele Subway, Toronto, ON
Join us for an urban walk to find the westend's best cup of coffee. The walk starts on forested trails of High Park, Toronto's largest public park. We will then head through the upscale residential High Park neighbourhood with many beautiful homes to Roncesvalles. Known as Roncy to locals, this area is teaming with cafes, trendy shops and restaurants.
We will stop briefly at some of the best coffee shops then head north to along the Westend Rail Path to the Junction Triangle area.
Highlights
- Keele subway station (depart 10 am)
- High Park
- Cherry Bomb Coffee (depart 10:50 am)
- SAVA Crepes and Coffee
- Extra Butter Coffee
- Reunion Coffee Roasters
- Coffee and All That Jazz (depart 11:30 am)
- West Toronto Railpath
- Museum of Contemporary Art/ Forno Cultura
- Ethica Coffee Roasters (depart 12:20 pm)
- Propeller Coffee
- Caked Coffee/Andreas Cookies
Neighbourhoods
High Park > Roncesvalles > Junction TriangleMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/viewer?mid=1vsZKf56mT7Yse2TkzqVq3lWoz-5ZgwY&usp=sharingHow it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't join at the beginning? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. See the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
See our About section for more info.
- Weaving through the Waterfront + Christmas market (14.5 km)Stanley Park Toronto, Toronto, ON
Toronto's beautiful waterfront is separated from downtown by a hulking highway and railway. This hike will make you acutely aware of that as we cross the barrier multiple times. Ponder the state of urban planning in Toronto while admiring gridlocked traffic, road closures, and TTC replacement buses.
It gets better at the east end, where Toronto's newest neighbourhood is taking shape. If you haven't visited in the last few years, stunning buildings have sprouted up: the first mass timber building in Ontario, a Moshe Safdie condo, hip community centres, the LCBO HQ, and more.
Urbanism aside, we'll cover notable restaurants along the way. A lot of it is mediocre, overpriced tourist traps, or closed during the day. However, there are some decent choices for a quick bite.
The hike ends at another tourist hotspot: the historic Distillery District. It hosts various festivals throughout the year, notably the largest Christmas Market in Toronto. You can peruse it after the hike; this hike does not include exploration of the market.
There is no lunch break because we aim to reach the Christmas Market before 4pm, before free admission ends. Have a heavy breakfast or pick up munchies along the way.
Highlights
- Stanley Park (depart 11am)
- Garrison Crossing
- Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
- Monument to the War of 1812
- Fort York library
- STACKT market (depart 12:10pm, main entrance)
- Puente De Luz
- Roywoods / Scooped
- Tom Thomson’s Canoe
- The Well
- CN Tower and SkyDome
- Toronto Railway Museum (depart 1:03pm)
- Ice Creamonology
- Harbourfront Centre / The Power Plant
- Sundial Folly
- Union Station (depart 1:53pm. % Arabica Cafe)
- The Beginning of Yonge St
- Pier 27 condos and public art
- One Yonge Community Recreation Centre
- Urban Maharajas
- St. Lawrence Sunday Antiques Market (depart 2:40pm, southwest corner of Lower Jarvis and The Esplanade)
- Sugar Beach
- Limberlost Place
- Momo Loco / Cuckoo Cakery
- Aqualuna
- Distillery Winter Village / Madrina Bar y Tapas (arrive 3:20pm)
Neighbourhoods
Niagara > Toronto Island > Fashion District > Cityplace > Entertainment District > Harbourfront > South Core > St Lawrence > East Bayfront > Distillery DistrictMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1ery9PqymNfB6c27s0tc2bIyJB672QkQ&usp=sharingAs with all hikes, this is not a leisure walk or walking tour. Be prepared for steep inclines and inclement weather.
How it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
Not sure what to try? Join our omakase for $5, which gives a tiny sample from different restaurants. Payment on the day of event by cash or e-transfer to [email protected]. No refunds after orders are placed. Details of sampled food will be uploaded after the hike.
Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers.
See our About section for more info.
- Retail therapy east: Crescent Town to Golden Mile (9.6 km)Victoria Park Station, Toronto, ON
Three words: cookie outlet store. If that isn't enough to entice you, what about big outlet stores and ethnic hypermarkets to fulfill your holiday shopping list?
Starting from the crescent-shaped road that gives Crescent Town its name, we'll descend to the ravine for a short jaunt through Taylor Creek Park. When we resurface, it's an urban hike all the way to the shopping mecca of Golden Mile. There aren't many notable restaurants along the way, but there are diverse food retail outlets. Great restaurants can be found at the end of the hike, in a booming halal food plaza.
There are several options for dinner: a Bangladeshi restaurant and sweets, south Indian vegetarian, or a new fusion Indian restaurant.
Highlights
- Victoria Park subway station (depart 1:30pm)
- Children's Peace Theatre
- Taylor Creek Park
- East York Memorial Arena (depart 2:25pm)
- Lookout from O'Connor Drive Bridge
- Los Vietnamita Taqueria
- Beanwise / Peek Freans Cookie Outlet (depart 3:25pm)
- Sultan Of Samosas
- Adonis (depart 4:20pm)
- Minerva Tiffins / Janatha
- Seafood City Supermarket
- Fish & Loaf / Chachi's Chai Bar / Chaiiwala of London
- Premium Sweets (arrive 5pm)
Neighbourhoods
Crescent Town > Woodbine Heights > O'Connor - Parkview > Bermondsey > Golden Mile > ClairleaMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1DPFJa40pwgRFWCUUNNZaFcBfjxB7tvU&usp=sharingIf the trails are icy, we'll go around Taylor Creek Park and use residential streets to get to O'Connor Drive.
How it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. See the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
Not sure what to try? Join our omakase for $5, which gives a tiny sample from different restaurants. Payment on the day of event by cash or e-transfer to [email protected]. No refunds after orders are placed. Details of sampled food will be uploaded after the hike.
Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers.
See our About section for more info.
- Chinatown 0 and Chinatown 1 (5.1 km)Nathan Phillips Square, Toronto, ON
What's there to eat when dining out on Christmas day? Chinese food of course. Chinese restaurants are one of the few places that are open on Christmas. Join the secular tradition of checking out Chinese and other Asian cuisines.
The most compact place to graze is at downtown Chinatown. It started off where City Hall now stands, so I guess we can call that Chinatown Zero. It moved west to Spadina and continues as the oldest Chinatown in Toronto. It's also thriving, unlike other Chinatowns in North America. Some restaurants are comparable to the well-regarded spots in Scarborough, Richmond Hill, and Markham. There are also public art, historic houses, and other attractions in the neighbourhood.
This is the final installment in our Chinatown series. For reference, we've been to other Chinatowns in previous hikes.
- Chinatown 2: Gerrard St East
- Chiantown 3: Agincourt
- Chinatown 4: Milliken
- Chinatown 5: Richmond Hill Hwy 7
- Chinatown 6: Markham Hwy 7
- Chinatown 7: Mississuaga Chinese Centre
- Chinatown 8: Erindale
Highlights
- Nathan Phillips Square Christmas tree (depart 12pm)
- Sansotei Ramen / Mom's Pan-Fried Buns
- Murals and public art around Grange Park
- Yummy Yummy Dumplings / Tianjin Auntie's Steamed Bun / Tang's Lamb and Beef
- Lucky Moose Food Mart
- OCAD / AGO / Toronto Chinese Baptist Church
- Ban Bu Dian / Icha Tea (depart 12:50pm)
- Dragon City Mall
- Swatow Restaurant / Banh Mi Nguyen Huong
- Mashion Bakery / Yin Ji Chang Fen
- Anh Dao Restaurant / Cecil Community Centre
- A Szechuan Restaurant / El Mocambo
- Corner Crepe Co
- Dak Lak Cafe
- T&T supermarket
- The Kiever Shul
- Fudao Noodle House / Rol San / Yeah Yeah Thai (arrive 1:45pm)
Neighbourhoods
Bay Steet Corridor > Grange Park > Chinatown > Kensington MarketMap
https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1dAsx4-ve4L9pSmEwDYbbyAB2l2i1efE&usp=sharingHow it works
Hike starts punctually. Late or can't do the whole route? Meet us at scheduled checkpoints.We'll browse many food places but won't linger long. Grab ready-made food, or see the route in advance, organize takeout, then pickup along the way.
Not sure what to try? Join our omakase for $5, which gives a tiny sample from different restaurants. Payment on the day of event by cash or e-transfer to [email protected]. No refunds after orders are placed. Details of sampled food will be uploaded after the hike.
Limited cutlery provided. Highly recommended to bring cutlery and containers for omakase and bringing back leftovers.
See our About section for more info.