You may be thinking, donuts (doughnuts) ?! I just started getting back to the gym, why are you doing this to me? Well, every good turn (read workout, diet, etc.) deserves another… in this case the reward of a sweet treat on a cheat day or to satiate that sweet tooth. With that kind of motivation in mind, here are some of the city’s best places to indulge in that most Canadian of baked goods…

Glory Hole

Anyone who likes doughnuts in T.O. should know this randily named doughnut proprietor. Glory Hole serves up an (ahem) healthy assortment of tastes and colours on the traditional yeast-based donut. Our personal favourite here however is their lemon ricotta fritter, which in our humble opinion trumps the rest. For those who prefer simple and delicious to sensational but sweet, that’s our pro tip choice. Get there early to ensure you get ‘em while their warm. You will NOT be disappointed.

Donut Monster

For those who long for the days when Tim Horton’s offered the best fritters donut fans could ask for, look no further than Stackt Market and the amazing Donut Monster. Their apple fritters took us back to those less crazy days when you could easily order a dozen for breakfast and not worry about how many more steps were required to limit the impact of said meal.

Sweet Hart Kitchen

This one goes out to all of our vegan friends. Sweet Hart likely isn’t the only vegan option available in the city but they’ve certainly mastered making vegan something that doesn’t sacrifice taste or flavour. Our personal favs are the classic chocolate dipped “old-fashioned” style but there are so many delicious options to choose from, you’ll never grow tired of going vegan here.

Little Nicky’s

For those who want the treat with a bit less sweet, Little Nicky’s Coffee Shop at Peter and Queen offers a mini-doughnut option. Where else can you get a bag of doughnuts and not feel like a glutton? Bonus! They have great coffee too! ;)

Cops

Continuing with the tiny donut trend, Cops keeps it simple… like dead simple; drip coffee and mini doughnuts is all they do. Never suffer from the paradox of choice again! Go in for one of life’s simplest pleasures and go out with a smile.

Is there a favourite donut spot of yours that we missed? Please let us know! Enjoy the fluffy bliss of a donut day Toronto!

We try to keep things as local as possible so we’re running down 5 of our favourite boutiques across the city to shop at this holiday season…

1. Tuck Shop Trading Co.

Located in the Summerhill/Rosedale area right on Yonge St., Tuck Shop Trading Co. provides amazingly well crafted, often local wares that work well from big city to big country; wools, corduroys and denim feature heavily.

2. The Future of Frances Watson

For those on the West side of town, TFOFW offers an amazingly eclectic and stylish set of fashions, accessories and other home and lifestyle products for both men and women. They also put an emphasis on well manufactured goods (which we appreciate), proving that fashion can be an investment rather than a trend.

3. Model Citizen

Model Citizen is a Kensington Market boutique dedicated to Canadian designers and men’s fashion. “Selling to guys is a lot easier than selling to women,” says owner Julian Finkel, explaining his shop’s male-centric merchandise. “It’s a shop for fashion ninjas.” In truth, it’s much more than that. Finkel does quite a lot of his own design work and features many of his own prints on garments in-store adding a special DIY aesthetic to various items.

4. WANT Apothecary

For our uptown/mid-town people, WANT Apothecary provides some modern luxury fashion brought over from Montreal-based WANT bag makers. Fashion, accessories and a great many well made lifestyle products; all the stuff you really WANT for for the holidays ; )

5. Early Bird and Worm

Not to be so selective as to leave out those little people who make the holidays so special, Early Bird and Worm bills itself as a kid's concept shop on Roncesvalles. Selling fashion forward outfits with bold prints and style as well as other accessories, this place will have your baby looking anything but bland.

Wherever your holiday shopping takes you, please let us know! We’re always interested in amazing local businesses. Happy Holidays!