Map of Mount Pleasant

MOUNT PLEASANT

This leafy midtown neighbourhood borders Rosedale, one of Toronto’s toniest districts. Reap the benefit of this posh proximity.

UPTOWN CHINESE Lai Toh Heen is an elegant option for enjoying savoury dim sum and upscale Chinese fare. This sister establishment to the internationally renowned Lai Wah Heen shares its predecessor’s artful approach to small bites with such offerings as steamed sticky-rice balls filled with pork, shrimp and lotus root. 692 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-489-8922.

GO ANTIQUING The area features a good concentration of antiques stores. Start your search at Ingram Antiques & Collectibles. The shop carries a well-curated selection of country Canadiana: folk art from Nova Scotia, Quebec and Ontario, as well as original wood furnishings circa 1800 to 1880. 669 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-484-4601.

KIDS’ LIT You can’t miss the colourful exterior of Mabel’s Fables, a cosy bookstore specializing in children’s literature. The vast offerings are easy to navigate: kids’ lit is arranged in reading departments from newborns to age 14. Mabel’s Fables also hosts storytime events most Wednesdays. 662 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-322-0438.

LOCAL LUX Take home a dazzling token of your trip. Linda Penwarden Jewellery is the shop of local designer Linda Penwarden. Find bracelets, rings, earrings and necklaces in gold, platinum and silver (precious gems and pearls, too) made on-site by the jeweller and her staff. Custom designs and engagement rings, too. 631 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-484-1843.

FINE FARE Chef Pascal Ribreau’s acclaimed French bistro Célestin makes a virtue out of decadent dining with such mains as butter-basted Nova Scotia lobster with sweetbread and chanterelles in a Madeira truffle sauce. Le Comptoir de Célestin, the resto’s adjoining café (open Wednesday to Sunday), offers traditional French breads and pastries. 623 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-544-9035.

BIG ON MINIATURES Get inspired by the more than 65 model dollhouses on display—many of which were built in the workshop at The Little Dollhouse Company. No detail is too fine. Find more than 50,000 miniatures—including china, paintings, furnishings, wallpaper and even tiny pets—from 300 suppliers and artisans. 612 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-489-7180.

EXPRESS TO FUN George’s Trains has specialized in model trains for nearly 50 years. The charming hobby shop has an extensive selection of locomotive sets, model accessories and scenery—tunnels, bridges and trees. Kids get in on the fun with the Thomas the Tank Engine play area. 510 Mount Pleasant Rd., 416-489-9783.

RESTFUL RESPITE More than 130 years old, Mount Pleasant Cemetery is the final resting place of many prominent Canadians, including pianist Glenn Gould and former Prime Minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. It also offers one of the city’s most tranquil green spaces for walking. 375 Mount Pleasant Rd.

How to get there: Take the subway to Eglinton station. From there, board the 141 Downtown/Mount Pleasant bus or enjoy a 15-minute walk east along Eglinton Avenue and then south on Mount Pleasant Road.