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Roncesvalles and High Park: pierogies, old movies and the city’s biggest backyard

Tod
Lost once, now finds things · 2 min read · Checked November 2026

A laid-back west-end main street with Polish roots, a century-old cinema, and High Park at the end of the block.

Roncesvalles Avenue (most people say “Roncy”) runs north from Queen Street West up to Dundas West station, with High Park along its western edge. It’s a tree-lined, family-friendly main street with deep Polish roots, and it feels more like a small town than a big-city strip.

Here’s a full day, from breakfast to a late movie.

Getting there

Take Line 2 to Dundas West and walk south, or ride the 501 Queen or 504 King streetcar to Roncesvalles. The 504 runs right up the avenue.

Breakfast

Sunrise Grill is a proper diner with crêpes and all-day breakfast. The Ace is a former diner turned brunch spot. For coffee, Cherry Bomb roasts its own beans, and Fantail is a little bakery café.

The Polish side of Roncy

This neighbourhood has been the heart of Polish Toronto for generations. Café Polonez serves borscht, pierogies, goulash and schnitzel in a cozy room. Benna’s Bakery is where you go for pączki, Polish doughnuts. Every September the street closes for the Roncesvalles Polish Festival, with music, food and dancing.

High Park

At the west end of the neighbourhood, High Park covers about 161 hectares, around 400 acres. There’s a small free zoo with bison, deer and llamas, a big leash-free dog area, trails and the Jamie Bell Adventure Park, a wooden playground kids talk about for weeks.

In spring, High Park’s cherry trees bloom for about a week. It’s beautiful and very busy. Go early on a weekday, and take transit. Parking is close to impossible.

Shops

Likely General: homewares, clothing, gifts and art.
The Cookery: kitchen tools for people who love to cook and bake.
Muttonhead: Canadiana tees and hoodies.

Dinner and a movie

Barque Smokehouse does slow-smoked barbecue. Pizzeria Defina is a family favourite. La Cubana has a retro room and Cuban classics. Dil Se serves North Indian cooking with vegan, halal and gluten-free options.

Then walk to the Revue Cinema, Toronto’s oldest repertory theatre still showing films. It plays new releases, classics and cult films, with fun series like silent films with live music.

Good to know

The avenue is lively on weekends and calm on weekday mornings.
Bring a picnic to High Park and eat by Grenadier Pond.
Biking? There are bike lanes on Bloor Street to the north, and the Martin Goodman Trail along the lake to the south.

Checked in November 2026. If a spot has closed or moved, whisper it and I’ll update this guide.

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Been lately? Add what’s changed, a place we missed, or your own tip.