King West

Ten years ago King West was perhaps best know for two clubs - one where men flocked to watch women strip (For Your Eyes Only) and one where men and women went to dance (Roxy Blu). How times have changed. Roxy Blu is no longer. Its latest re-incarnation is the swanky (and beefy) Jacobs and Co. Steakhouse. For Your Eyes Only is still around but now just a footnote in a sea of stylish clubs, trendy restaurants and places that make you sweat.

By day, the King West neighbourhood - which for our purposes is the stretch on King west of Spadina to Tecumseh and includes Wellington, Adelaide and Camden streets - is ad agency central. Cossette Communications, Taxi, Bensimon Byrne, Blast Radius and The Nice Agency are the big employers. Indigo and Bodyshop are also here. All the more reason why plenty of restaurants, cafes and clubs have sprung up in recent years for clients to be wined and dined and overworked Account Executives to grab some cocktails and complain about their bosses (and clients).

For lunch, the masses tend to head to Spadina where Fresh, Fusaro's and Jules battle it out along with quick service options like Lettuce Eatery and Rasoee. King is home to more higher-end dinner fare like the critically acclaimed Susur, Lee, Brassaii, Crush, Thuet, Blowfish and KiWe Kitchen. With all the tasty calories consumed, it's a good thing that Diesel Fitness, Totum, Quad Spin and Flirty Girl Fitness provide a range of options to keep you fit.

While King West is home to the Spoke Club and Atelier (both members only), there are more than enough accessible options to drink and dance the night away. Some places like Brant House, West, Cheval and Century Room can sometimes have major attitude. Bouncers are de rigueur here and might not let you in if they don't like the way you're dressed. Footwork, at Adelaide and Brant, is a bit more relaxed and tends to cater to a hipper, more musically savvy crowd.

Saturday afternoons are a perfect time to check out one of the areas well-regarded galleries. The building at 80 Spadina houses a collection of them including Leo Kamen, Moore Gallery, Ryerson Gallery, Toronto Image Works and Trias Gallery. Nicholas Metivier Gallery is on King Street and regularly showcases contemporary art and photography by well-known Canadian and international artists. Ed Burtynsky is represented here.

Some more of our favourite spots include:

Gotstyle

One of the best men's stores in Toronto, Gotstyle has a wide selection of casual wear and suits. Brands like Tiger of Sweden, Junk Deluxe, Juicy Couture and Ben Sherman are some of what's in store. They also offer a made-to-measure service for suits and dress shirts. And it's all in a relaxed environment with plenty of seating and chill-out space. There's also a male-only spa offering massages, haircuts and hot towel shaves.

Rshop Furniture and Cafe

With all the working and lunching in the area, it's good to have some cafe options beyond the usual chains. Enter Rshop. One of the more interesting cafes, Rshop is a bit hidden because it's located inside a store selling stylish contemporary furniture. But don't let that deter you. The cafe has its own section and seating area, and is stocked with a Japanese influenced drink and lunch menu. Also check out Zoe's Bakery Cafe and Nook.

Marben

There's no shortage of restaurants in the neighbourhood, but it's worth venturing a block south of King to Wellington Street for Marben, a sublimely designed space that showcases a menu with global influences. The chilled music and soothing cocktails tends to draw a younger, professional crowd. Just down the street, Le Select Bistro is also a local favourite.

Polish Beauty Bar

While Got Style may have cornered the men's market, there's plenty of options for women to rejuvenate and get pampered. If nails are on the agenda, Polish Beauty Bar on Camden is a fun place to go for a manicure or pedicure. They can also be booked for private parties like wedding showers and birthdays. For more full service spa treatment, try Hamman Spa or Body Blitz.