Here’s a guide on where to indulge your passion for sci-fi, comics, anime, gaming and other cool distractions.
Everyone has something to geek out over in Toronto. From board game cafés to anime shops, and collectibles boutiques to sci-fi lounges, here are 15 nerdy shops, bars, cafés and events worth taking a gander at.
Curiosa
Curiosa, located in the student-centric Annex neighbourhood, is a doppelganger for the mystical shops of contemporary fantasy. You’ll know you’re in the right place as soon as you walk up and see some of its wonderful curiosities showcased in the window front.
Curiosa’s unique wares include fairy figurines, book nooks and school charts to fill any empty space in your home and have you feeling like your very own magical wizard.
They also host a variety of beginner-friendly workshops for tarot reading and Dungeons & Dragons.
Storm Crow Manor
Storm Crow Manor is a geeky bar in an elegant mansion in Church-Wellesley Village
(Toronto’s 2SLGBTQ+ hub). With stained glass aliens, theme rooms and colourful cocktails, this venue is perfect for all seekers of thrill and adventure!
Whether you’re visiting for one of their special events, like Drag Bingo Brunch, or just for a night on the town, keep an eye out for a special key to take you to a special pocket dimension.
Snakes & Lattes
Are you looking for an easy hangout to connect with friends, family or even strangers? With over 600 board games for you to use, Snakes & Lattes is the stop for fun and friendly collaboration. (If competition is more your thing, don’t miss their regular trivia nights and puzzle competitions.)
One of Toronto’s most popular nerdy cafés, Snakes & Lattes, now has four locations across town: Little Italy, the Annex, Midtown and its newest café in downtown’s cool Wellington Market.
Offworld Bar
Offworld Bar is a heavenly destination on eclectic Queen Street West. Its cosmic decor will teleport you across the galaxy as you enjoy fusion foods and experiential cocktails based on your favourite space themes.
What’s an experiential cocktail? Worlds beyond craft cocktails, these sips are presented ceremonially in cosmic-ray-proof canisters or with noise-cancelling headphones pre-programmed with the sounds of an actual black hole captured by NASA from the terrain solar area.
Don’t miss out on the opportunity to celebrate your galactic fandom with special events, such as movie screenings or cocktail classes.
Silver Snail Comics
Grab your classic comics and action figures at Silver Snail. You can spot this local fave comic book shop in the Queen West neighbourhood by the bold lineart decorating its storefront—and your fave mutants, superheroes and villains in the window.
Whether you’re looking to sate your nostalgia or find something new, Silver Snail has collectibles of all kinds, including back issues and newly released comics, vinyl figures, manga and gaming miniatures alike.
Planet X
Are you on a quest for your own Excalibur? Planet X, located in the east end’s Beaches neighbourhood, carries a wide array of pop-culture paperbacks and collectibles and prides itself on sourcing hard-to-find merchandise from beloved franchises.
(This is the place to snag classic Hasbro games or that My Little Pony figurine you lost in 2nd grade and think about.)
While there is also a satellite location in Richmond Hill, stick to the Beaches for cool in-store events like Heroclix tournaments, D&D nights and Pokémon League.
Conspiracy Comics
A popular pop-culture chain, Conspiracy Comics is the place to go for Funko Pops, Pokémon plushies, trending anime, manga, graphic novels and more.
Looking for a cool local souvenir? Don’t miss both volumes of Scott Pilgrim’s Toronto adventures. Bryan Lee O’Malley’s homegrown comic is set in a version of Toronto that readers will recognize from its popular film and anime spinoffs.
AnimeXtreme
Chinatown’s AnimeXtreme is Toronto’s largest anime store. It also boasts the largest selection of anime directly from Japan.
But that’s not all—they also stock hard-to-find model kits, action figures and other collectibles. Looking for a Godzilla x Kong Ichibansho Godzilla (the Evolved Version, that is) or Gundam metal builds? This is your place.
You’ll also find fine markers, paints and other art supplies to bring pro-calibre results to your builds.
Anime City
Also in Chinatown, Anime City is your one-stop shop for all your anime, sci-fi, video game needs and more. With walls lined with figurines and statues of familiar characters from anime series and games, the shop is also a must for DVDs.
You’ll also find collectible art prints and cosplay props to decorate your gaming space or book nook.
Anime Alley
Trading card games are staples—nay, they are the cornerstone of nerd- and geekdom! And they’re also the cornerstone of Anime Alley where Magic the Gathering, Pokémon and Lorcana are played onsite weekly.
Drop by the shop to get your game on or to pick up special sealed cards and collectibles. Its downtown Yonge Street location is smack-dab in one of Toronto’s Asian food hubs, so make time for bubble tea and Hong Kong-style egg waffles while you’re in the neighbourhood
Navito World
If authentic Japanese figurines, model kits and accessories are your jam, head to Danforth-Greektown for Navito World.
The east-end shop and e-tailer is an officially licensed distributor for all figurines, model kits and accessories from leading manufacturers like Aniplex and Alter, among many others.
Walk in to feast your eyes on shelves upon shelves of figurines the likes of Izuku Midoriya from My Hero Academia and Zelda from Tears of the Kingdom.
Toronto ComiCon
One of the two most-anticipated nerd fests in Toronto (the other being summer’s Fan Expo Canada), Toronto ComicCon (March 14–16, 2025) is a must-attend if you’re into comics, anime, gaming, cosplay, sci-fi and even horror.
Find your fandom family at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, where you can book photo ops with celebs, voice actors and guest cosplayers, visit a how-to workshop or check out amateur and professional creators in the Artist Alley.
ComiCon is the place to go to connect with fellow fans as well as the stars you’ve only seen on screen!
Fan Expo Canada
Craving more community and fan culture? Don’t fret: Fan Expo Canada (August 21–24, 2025) is back for another year.
Come and ask your favourite actors all the questions you’ve been dying to know the answers to, attend live demos with industry pros, check out the gaming arena, connect at fan meetups and more.
The four-day festival takes place at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Its downtown location is near all the action of the Entertainment District and South Core, so you’ll have plenty of restaurant, bar and café options where you can debrief with your pals after attending.
Hairy Tarantula
Hairy Tarantula is Uptown Toronto’s games hub. Weekly tournaments and wargames offer new and seasoned players chances to connect with old friends and make new ones as you celebrate the adrenalin-inducing wins and losses of adventure gaming.
Keep your eyes out for any new cards you want to add to your new and old decks.
The Sword & Board
Lifelong gamers have teamed up to bring you this tabletop game central, where you can indulge in board games, RPGs, CCGs and miniature wargames.
Located in Westside’s Dufferin Grove neighbourhood, Sword & Board hosts weekly events for games like Magic the Gathering, Warhammer and kids’ D&D, offering a welcoming environment to roll your dice in.
Their shop carries miniatures, rule books and games galore, so you can bring the action home with you.
Maybe it’s time to try something new like Mothership, a sci-fi horror RPG, or the cooperative survival game Aliens: Another Glorious Day in the Corps?
