Roncesvalles Village (aka Toronto’s Little Poland), a gem in the west end, has gained in popularity in recent years for young families. Running from High Park in the west, the Lake to the south, Landsdowne to the east and Bloor West in the north, “Roncy” (as locals call it), has a small-town, European ambiance. The tight knit community, plethora of amazing restaurants and boutiques, access to many beautiful parks/trails and easy access to transit are a few reasons why this area draws so much attention. Below we breakdown *some* of the amazing features Roncesvalles has to offer.

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Eat + Drink

Benna's
135 Roncesvalles Ave
A long-standing, family-owned bakery and deli (think pierogis and kolbasa), supplying a selection of speciality foods and groceries. Beware: the weekends here can be very busy and chaotic!

Ko Fruit Market
143 Roncesvalles Ave
A great small grocer that is pro-organic and local produce. A small(er) but thoughtfully curated selection, make sure to stop in during fiddlehead, fig and strawberry seasons to get the best of the crops!
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Gold Standard
‍385 Roncesvalles Ave, breakfastsandwich.ca, @goldstandardsandwich
Breakfast sandwich fan? Look no further than Gold Standard (by the Federal). This takeout window offers a small menu, that it is sure to satisfy with it’s delicious breakfast Sammys. Pair it with a Reunion Island coffee and you are starting your morning (or afternoon) on the right foot.

Pizzeria Defina
321 Roncesvalles Ave, pizzeriadefina.com, @pizzeriadefina
If you’re looking for some non-Polish fare, Roncesvalles has many great options including Pizzeria Defina. For simple but elevated pizza, meatballs and Italian dishes you’ve come to the right spot!

Cherry Bomb Coffee
79 Roncesvalles Ave, cherrybombcoffee.ca, @cherrybombcoffee
We wouldn’t be able to complete our neighbourhood guide without mentioning one of Toronto’s favourite cafes! Known for its delicious coffees and baked goods equally, this small cafe has limited seating and does not offer free wifi - but that doesn’t stop people from coming back again and again.

The Local
396 Roncesvalles Ave, thelocalpub.ca, @thelocaltoronto
The quintessential neighbourhood pub with a lively (but not rowdy) crowd. With a small menu of pub eats, grab a pint and make sure to check out their live music shows!

Shop

A Good Read
341 Roncesvalles Ave
A used bookshop that is anything but typical - housing many first editions, collectable and autographed volumes. Don’t rush when visiting this little shop that makes Roncesvalles a unique destination.

Frock
97 Roncesvalles Ave, shopfrock.ca, @frocktoronto
A whimsical boutique showcasing an eclectic mix of local and international independent designers and brands, with a lean towards small, in-season production with sustainability and ethical business practices at heart.  

Early Bird & Worm
194 Roncesvalles, earlbirdandworm.com, @earlybirdandworm
A great kids clothing store that also something for Mom + Dad too. A wide array of designers to choose from, this is your one-stop shop for all your kiddos needs. They also offer all your party needs - from loot bags to balloons, they make party planning a breeze!
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Mellah
373 Roncesvalles Ave, mellah.ca, @mellah_projects
Specialising in Moroccan rugs, Mellah is what home design dreams are made of. Rugs are the main focus here, but they also stock poufs, textiles and other small home decor accessories.
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313 Design Market
313 Roncesvalles Ave, 313designmarket.com, @313designmarket
A very fun store that curates the coolest stuff for the home and beyond. Come here for all your unique housewares and you won’t be disappointed.

Film Buff
73 Roncesvalles Ave, thefilmbuff.com,
It is rare to see a movie rental store these days, but Film Buff is not your average Blockbuster (it actually is devoted to those titles you can’t find at a Blockbuster): film noir, queer cinema, BBC box sets and Cantonese flicks are the norm at this shop. Even if you’re not into non-Blockbuster titles, Film Buff is equally well known for serving up some of the neighbourhoods best ice cream.

Services

Boomerang Pilates
240 Roncesvalles Ave (located inside Roncesvalles United Church), boomerangpilates.ca
Offering a wide array of pilates and restorative exercise classes. Supporting your whole wellness journey with RMTs, holistic balance/touch therapy and holistic nutrition.

Mojo Cycles
2170 Dundas St W, mojocycles.ca, @mojocycles
For all your biking needs - offering sales and service.

Moretti Hair
431 Roncesvalles Ave, morettihair.com
Moretti Hair has been in the Roncesvalles community for over two generations (with varying locations). You can count on excellent customer service and stunning results.

Sway Nails & Spa
38 Howard Park Ave, swaynails.ca, @sway_nails
Offering a luxury spa experiences with a focus on nail treatments. Also offering waxing services.

The Ten Spot
117 Roncesvalles Ave, thetenspot.com/roncesvalles, @thetenspot
This well known chain offers nail services, waxing, laser hair removal and skincare services.
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Schools/Daycares

Rainbow Songs
277 Roncesvalles Ave, rainbowsongs.com, @rainbowsongs_
Rainbow Songs offers music classes that teach kids up to age five about song structure and language. Classes are held every morning and divided by age group. An easy option for childcare while you grab your morning coffee!

Fern Avenue Junior and Senior Public School
128 Fern Ave.
Welcoming children from JK to grade 8, Fern’s average enrolment serves about 700 students per year, making it the largest elementary school in the area. Offering a French immersion program from SK to grade 8 and an Extended French Program from grade 4 to 8.

Garden Avenue Junior Public School
225 Garden Ave.
Completely surrounded by family homes, Garden Ave JPS has a real family-friendly feel to it and welcomes children from JK to grade 6. With an average enrolment of about 275 students.

Howard Junior Public School
30 Marmaduke St.
Located just west of the Roncesvalles strip, this is located in another family-friendly residential street. Welcoming children from JK to grade 6 with an average attendance of about 500 students.

High Park Gardens Montessori School
35 High Park Gardens
Welcoming children from 18 months to 6 years the Montessori program is enhanced with French, music, art and physical activity.

Parkdale Collegiate Institute
209 Jameson Ave.
Slightly outside of the borders of Roncesvalles Village, this would be the public school servicing grades 9 to 12.

Things to Do

Roncesvalles Polish Festival
‍Roncesvalles holds the annual Polish Festival every September, which is North America’s largest celebration of the Polish culture. A great way to immerse yourself, you can enjoy great local and international music, including Polish Folklore, Polka and Eurodance bands, samples fantastic cuisine from the many delicious Roncy restaurants (and of course lots of traditional Polish fare like pierogi, kielbasa, bigos, cabbage rolls and much more!). In honour of this festival, Roncesvalles is closed from Bloor to Queen St, so plan accordingly!
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Sorauren Park
With ample green space containing soccer fields, baseball diamonds and tennis courts, there really is something for everyone at this dynamic park. Don’t miss out on the Farmer’s Market in the summer and the skating rink in the winter, as well as the many organized events that pop-up throughout the year!

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High Park
Not many parks can compare to High Park - it’s large size houses many great attractions including Grenadier Pond (where you can enjoy fishing), a popular children’s playground and a zoo. For those who enjoy a good hike or jog, there are many trails that traverse the park. High Park can get very busy with visitors from outside the neighbourhood, especially during Cherry Blossom season when the beautiful trees are really a sight!

Revue Cinema
400 Roncesvalles Ave, revuecinema.ca, @revuecinema
A designated heritage site and Toronto’s oldest standing movie theatre in use for showing movies. Not your typical cinema, this community driven theatre is dedicated to presenting programs which appeal to wide-ranging audiences of different age groups, diverse backgrounds and varying interests that reflect the ever-changing location community and the GTA.

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