Scoop up cool finds and hot eats at Toronto’s most exciting Black-owned shops and restaurants.
Whether you’re looking for an independently owned shop for locally made souvenirs or a mom-and-pop restaurant to sample Toronto’s dynamic restaurant scene, the city is home to a vibrant community of Black-owned businesses. These businesses range in origin across the African, Caribbean and Afro-Latino diaspora, with restaurants, bars, gallery spaces and markets throughout the city.
Here are 15 Black-owned businesses to visit in Toronto—not just during Black History Month, but year-round.
Ode Toronto
Ode Toronto is an artsy boutique hotel in one of Toronto’s hippest neighbourhoods. Located in Little Portugal's eclectic Dundas West Strip, this family-owned and operated lodging has eight unique guest rooms created in collaboration with artists to make each space feel like a creative loft.
While each room varies in size, colour scheme and design, the bespoke furnishings and design-forward spaces make each room comfortable for two adults, and some come with private patios to boot.
Rhapsody
This new restaurant lounge on the lively Ossington strip brings music, food and creative drinks together for a multi-sensorial dining experience.
Opened by the team behind the popular Mrs. Robinson, Rhapsody has designed a unique soundscape, where music—from sultry hip hop to electrifying rock—plays a big role in setting the stage for a carefully curated food and cocktail menu.
BAND Gallery
Black Artists’ Networks in Dialogue (BAND) brings Black artists and culture together in a space that showcases artists in an accessible and educational community space.
Dedicated to supporting the next generation of creatives, BAND Gallery’s Emerging Artist Exhibitions provide a space to display their work and develop connections with the community and the wider cultural community in Toronto. The gallery also hosts pop-up sales, which include artist meet-and-greets.
Fresh Paint Studio + Cafe
Fresh Paint Studio hosts a range of impromptu paint night classes and workshops for all ages, allowing aspiring artists to create art in the multicultural Danforth-Greektown neighbourhood. The studio doubles as an art café, serving various beverages, pasties and freshly made waffles to nibble on before or after class.
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Roywoods
Roywoods has three locations in Toronto (and one in Mississauga) catering to the lunchtime rush looking for something tasty on the go who can choose between sandwiches on coco bread, large plates and a long list of sides. This fast-casual spot is known for its Jamaican dishes like jerk chicken, callaloo, curry goat, oxtail, or escovitch fish served with a side of plantain or rice and peas.
Mofer Coffee
A local success story, Mofer Coffee has seven locations across town, each serving up stellar coffee, tea and roasted Ethiopian coffee beans to bring home. If you’re not in a rush, opt for their single-origin steep and filter method coffee, which involves pouring the coffee through an organic cotton filter to intensify its rich and aromatic flavour.
Black Owned Toronto
Black Owned Toronto was created to amplify Black-owned and operated businesses. The roving, market-style pop-up features a wide range of clothing, cosmetics, accessories and gifting items.
They also host the annual Foodvillefest, a celebration of Afro-Caribbean food and music. Follow their Instagram to stay on top of where they’ll be at next.
Blooming Flower Bar
Cabbagetown’s Blooming Flower Bar lets you pick between pre-arranged florals or fresh-cut flowers to DIY a botanical centrepiece. The store also sells several plant accessories, including pots, plants and floral-themed gifts, but for an eye-catching deal, check out their happy hour sales on older bouquets.
Mary’s Brigadeiro
For a sweet treat during your next trip to Toronto—or to load up on confectionery to bring home as souvenirs—Mary's Brigadeiro is a must-visit. Its small-batch chocolates are handcrafted in its Eastside Danforth Avenue storefront. They also have a second location downtown.
Each truffle is made with the perfect balance of cacao and condensed milk and is enhanced with Brazilian flavours like coconut, cayenne pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg and various fruit fillings.
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A Different Booklist
Located in the Annex, A Different Booklist is an independently owned bookstore whose shelves are filled with diverse authors from around the world. Here, you can find books written by local authors as well as a wide range of books organized by origin, geographical regions and topics like race or gender studies.
Plan your visit around the experience and events they host to celebrate authors of African and Caribbean ancestry when the shop transforms into a culture centre and gathering space.
Nice Day Pilates
Offering in-person reformer classes in their Corktown studio and on-demand mat-based movement ones online, Nice Day Pilates has grown a following for creating an open and inclusive community space.
Created by dancer Jenifer Winter, this Pilates studio has designed its classes to focus on the principles of functional movement, helping improve form and flow in upbeat 50-minute classes.
For first-timers, the studio offers an intro three-class pack for your first month and several other bundles and options for private sessions.
Adrift Skate Co.
Adrift Skate Co. is a skateboard and lifestyle boutique that curates some of the best apparel, footwear, skateboard hard goods and accessories from popular brands like Thrasher and Vans. Many also flock to the shop to snag a tee or sweatshirt from their in-house apparel collection.
Pro tip: Bring your board and head to the back of the Spadina Avenue store to try their halfpipe.
Azan’s Beauty Salon
Known for being one of the first Black-owned beauty salons in Toronto, Azan’s Beauty Salon on Davenport Avenue has been a Yorkville staple for over fifty years, attracting local and celebrity clients.
This family-owned and operated salon offers a range of cut, colour and style options for all clients working with a wide range of hair textures and curl patterns.
The Green Jar
Located on Midtown’s St. Clair Avenue West, The Green Jar is a sustainable one-stop shop for all your eco-living essentials.
In-store, you’ll discover a range of items that help reduce waste by being reusable or made from recyclable or compostable materials. The store also offers refills on household items for cleaning, laundry, and personal care, so you can stock up in bulk on cleaners, lotions, and toiletries and avoid packaging waste.
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Tribal Eye
Tribal Eye is an all-natural beauty products brand set in the eclectic Kensington Market neighbourhood. The business makes organic and sustainable beauty products with organic and unrefined ingredients to treat skin conditions naturally.
Some of their best sellers include liquid black soap, renowned for treating acne and other blemishes, and shea butter, high in vitamins A and E, to hydrate dry and eczema-prone skin.