Josie’s Favourite Local Spots In The West Village

Pain Perdu

This is my absolute favorite hang out because I usually bump into many of my favorite clients. Stop by when the owner, Yannick, is there because he revels in generously doling out free bees. Yannick boasts that he makes the best gateux Basque so I visited his home town, Saint Jean-De-Luz, in southern France hunting for a gateau Basque that may prove him wrong. I am happy to report that it’s better than anything we sampled in the country where it originated. His croissants are also to die for and his quiches were rated the best in the city by Village Post. 736 St Clair Ave W.

Nabi Spa

During my first visit owner Youyoung put me at ease with her calm and charming nature which set the mood for my luxurious treatment. Nabi means butterfly in Korean, and the spa will literally take you to new heights. Bright, modern and sophisticated décor compel you to exhale and release your tensions. Youyoung ensures her clients get the big spa experience without the big price tag. You can choose from an extensive line of: face, body, massage, hands, feet and hair removal treatments. Natural and scientifically proven premium products have been carefully selected to best treat the inside and outside.

Italy at Home

I drove by this delightful store many times and one day my daughter, Isabel, and I decided to check it out. Anna Sottile, who has been in this location for 12 years, is very kind, welcoming and creative. We sampled Isabel’s favorite treats, soft chewy terroni, and instantly became hooked. Anna offers beautifully packaged customized gifts to celebrate all the special milestones making your special occasions memorable. They include the very finest chocolates, cookies, cakes, handmade pastas, sauces, premium olive oils, balsamic vinegars from across Italy.

Rainbow Caterpillar Multilingual Children’s Bookstore

Coming from a family who speaks four languages, I appreciate the importance of passing on this art to our children. French, Hebrew, Italian, Spanish, Portuguese are some the languages you’ll find at this bookstore in Regal Heights. Co-owners Hanoosh and Happie believe that parents need books in order to pass their mother language to their children. They also believe that learning a language can be fun so they offer games and toys that help develop language. You’ll find classics like The Little Prince in French next to Magnetic Poetry fridge tiles in Chinese, next to a board game in Farsi and a magnetic Hebrew alphabet. It offers language classes, organized storytelling, activities and book signing with authors.

Il Mulino

This delicious Italian restaurant bordering Cedarvale and Upper Village is a fixture in the community. Drop crystal chandeliers and domed ceilings create an elegant setting for special occasions and private events. Relaxed atmosphere and energetic staff make you feel welcome like old friends and family. The owner, Oscar, has been in the Toronto restaurant scene for over two decades and opened Il Mulino in 2009. Modern Italian Cuisine allows the chef to be creative with its classic dishes and put their own twist to them. I love their Insalata Di Funghi, Carpaccio Valtellina, their fresh pastas, the catch of the day and there’s nothing like their tiramisu to satisfy my sweet tooth.

Hotel Gelato

I frequent this local hangout regularly bordering Allenby and Chaplin Estates. Ever since I was a child, my gelato flavour loyalty is to mouth watering hazelnut and theirs is amazing. This gem opened its doors in 2010 as a gelato, bake shop and espresso bar offering unique flavors like Avocado Gelato, Mojito Sorbet and Vanilla Sponge Toffee. It has since evolved into a full service restaurant for breakfast, lunch, dinner and weekend brunch. It offers a variety of food and dessert items that cater to people with dietary restrictions. It boasts a modern and parlour like setting making it a lovely place to spend a weekend afternoon watching local passerby’s.

Originally printed in http://villagelivingmagazine.ca/home/