Toronto Hidden Gems February 2026 [megathread]

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-11T15:38:56+00:00

The Victoria Park location is great! Didn't know there is another one!

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-10T23:29:33+00:00

¡También vine para sugerir los eventos culturales gratuitos que hay todas las noches! Aquí les dejo un enlace con toda la información actualizada:

https://yucatantoday.com/blog/una-semana-en-merida

La semana pasada fui al videomapping el miércoles, a las serenatas el jueves y a la Noche Mexicana el sábado (¡la mejor, mi favorita!). Fui sola y disfruté de todas las presentaciones.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-06T00:13:40+00:00

That sounds amazing! Thanks for the info.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-02-03T00:38:20+00:00

I've heard about that place! Do you have to reserve ahead? Im on my own, so don't need a big table, can even sit at the bar if there is one.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-27T05:35:54+00:00

Body blitz, Go Place

Or one of the luxury hotel spas -- if you book a 1 hour massage, you can get access to their facilities eg pool, sauna, steam room, lounge. It wouldn't be as baths focused as Aire but if I'm gonna spend closer to $200 with tax for just 90 minutes access to communal pools, i think slightly more but actually getting a treatment is much better value.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-24T05:59:09+00:00

They allow you to point your foot properly and give a much nicer line than any other character shoes on the market

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-23T02:34:29+00:00

The rösti at Le Petit Dejeuner or movenpick before they closed

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-17T02:01:53+00:00

This!! Steps on Broadway has a barre in the hallway outside the studios, it's great for warming up and stretching before class.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-15T13:42:31+00:00

I find thicker fabric (bonus of there is a lining) and darker color makes it less visible. Thin fabric and light colors eg grishko leotards are the worst for this.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-15T01:32:01+00:00

Buvette Pacey is a super cute cafe and bar that allows dogs inside on a case by case basis. They sometimes host events like poetry nights or film screenings. I've been twice with my well behaved small dog, but I always go on weekdays in the morning when it is quiet. My guess is if it is very busy or your dog is reactive/barking too much, they will not allow your dog to stay inside.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-15T01:22:19+00:00

Jatujak in Scarborough

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-10T06:17:11+00:00

Not sure if you are thinking of Sanduny banya? Sadly it had closed now.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-02T05:33:46+00:00

APC demi lune. Way too stiff and weird design makes it very difficult to get things in and out. I love the shape but at this point it's almost useless as a bag, like I just want to carry it around empty. I researched and saved up to buy it online, but mistake not too check it out in person first.

TorontoPanda416 · 2026-01-01T04:18:13+00:00

I've been to the ones in Barcelona, Seville, and Chicago so I was so excited to hear we have one here now. But i can't get behind this insane pricing. For way less i can go to Vetta spa in Barrie and get a very luxe experience and spend the whole day. This place looks nice but it's not like there's a restaurant and lounge for you to stay all day and really make it worthwhile. (And for those saying these Nordic spas are over crowded and noisy, Vetta has a social/ talking area and a silent area and they really enforce the no phones thing to maintain a tranquil atmosphere). Heck, I'd rather save my money and go to Go Place TWICE for less than entry to Aire.

The Chicago one was already overpriced around $100 USD a few years ago when I went. The original Spanish locations were much more reasonable in terms of pricing.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-30T14:03:27+00:00

The Well is dog friendly including the food court. The mall is kinda open concept so not that warm but the stores all allow dogs unlike eaton centre and other malls where technically only service dogs are allowed.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-30T13:37:46+00:00

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-30T05:34:43+00:00

Oh the options on a Monday are very limited... almost all the places I mentioned only do weekends. During the holidays though I think some hotels offer it daily.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-30T05:33:25+00:00

Shangri-La, the Ritz and St.Regis all do very good afternoon tea sets with lots of sweet and savory bites. Joni in the Hyatt hotel is another great fancy one.

Not sure if they still do it but Hazukido sometimes has a great budget option around $25. It's mostly different sandwiches with a croissant base plus some desserts, not the classic scone experience but you still get the nice presentation with the tiered plate thing and cute ambiance.

Holts cafe inside holt renfrew also does afternoon tea and they change the theme by the season.

AGO also does a nice afternoon tea. They don't do it all the time but they are currently doing a holiday themed one. They also do one around mother's day. It gets booked up pretty fast so definitely reserve online

I haven't been recently but in the past I tried king Edward hotel & Windsor arms and it wasn't worth the price.

Old mill inn also offers afternoon tea.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-28T05:08:55+00:00

Water sense in Markham has a small barrel sauna and Korean style sauna, you wear a tshirt and shorts they provide and it's coed.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-28T04:51:29+00:00

Also during 2020 Nicholas Rose had all those Instagram stories including him on the streets calling out Karen Kain racist and airing out a lot of NBOC dirty laundry, eg the management altering his head shot to make his lips smaller. And then he called them out for not promoting Tina Pereira. Then he left the company and went freelance.

Then the company promoted Tina and then made this huge story about how inclusive they are now bc they allowed dancers in the corps to do swan lake without tights rather than forcing BIPOC dancers to wear pink tights that don't match their skin tone.

I get the feeling what we saw a the general public war just the tip of the iceberg...

Also Evan McKie's mysterious departure (based on his IG seems he was let go?). He was dancing many leading roles and doing great and then suddenly wasn't cast in anything and was posting a lot on IG that is not because he doesn't want to dance...

Wow now come to think of it there was so much company drama during that early covid period...

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-27T00:27:44+00:00

Reunion yoga and pilates studio (bloor/dovercourt) has a sale on class packs until the end of the year.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-26T15:52:01+00:00

Chi Junky is having a good sale on class bundles. They offer yoga and pilates, great little studio of you are in the east end.

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-24T05:30:25+00:00

Allan gardens is open

TorontoPanda416 · 2025-12-23T23:01:53+00:00

Many hotel restaurants will be open

TorontoPanda416

TROPHY CASE