How we select Toronto's best businesses
How the editors of My Toronto Best choose businesses for each list: wide neighbourhood research, lasting reputation, verified details and regular updates.
A good Toronto list should be as useful in Scarborough as it is on Queen Street West, and as helpful to a newcomer in North York as to someone who has lived in the Beaches all their life. Every ranking we publish goes through the same five steps. Each one is simple; doing all five, every time, is what makes a list worth trusting.
Starting from the neighbourhoods
We begin each category by looking across the whole city, not just the downtown core. Main streets such as the Danforth, Roncesvalles and Gerrard East get attention, and so do the plazas of Scarborough and the strip malls of Etobicoke, where many of Toronto's best small businesses operate.
Gauging reputation over time
Our strongest preference is for businesses whose good name has lasted, with customers who come back season after season and send others their way. A wave of attention after an opening, or one post that travels well online, is not enough on its own to earn a place.
Verifying what we publish
Each business is verified before it is listed. We confirm that it is open at the address listed, that the phone number and website work, and that its hours are current, including the seasonal changes that patios and garden centres go through. Businesses we cannot verify are left off until we can.
Weighing value and service
We look at whether a business delivers what customers pay for: fair prices for the category, clear communication, good care and consistent quality. That standard applies to a family dentist in Willowdale as much as to a cocktail bar on Ossington or a mechanic in East York.
Writing it up
Each business on the final list gets a short description that tells you what it is good for, in plain language. We keep the list itself short, and where possible it offers a mix of neighbourhoods and price points so that there is a good choice wherever you are.
Corrections and seasonal changes
Toronto changes with the seasons and with the rent. We revisit every category on a regular cycle, but readers often notice a closure or a move before we do. If you see something that needs fixing, email info@mytorontobest.com and we will look into it.