Are you looking to discover some hidden gems throughout the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area? Our new Metrolinx Guide video series profiles interesting destinations that are transit accessible and connect you to more places and possibilities than ever before.

So, what are you waiting for? Check out our videos showcasing some incredible shops and attractions and visit some cool spots you may not have known were (almost) in your own backyard.

LÀ LÁ Bakeshop

For those craving a sweet treat with flavours inspired by Southeast Asia, LÀ LÁ Bakeshop is the place for you. In 2021, life partners Brian and Harry opened their first brick-and-mortar bakery in downtown Toronto after losing their jobs during the pandemic. Since then, they have opened two new stores in Scarborough and Mississauga.

This modern Vietnamese bake shop has reimagined what a conventional bakery is in Canada with their tasty desserts, made with distinctive ingredients like salted egg yolk, durian and pork floss. Within the Metrolinx Guide episode, Brian and Harry shared with us their favourite menu items, including the lava salted egg bun, durian cake and their best-selling Vietnamese coffee.

Guild Park and Gardens

Another hidden-gem destination featured in our series is Guild Park and Gardens, a historic sanctuary where art meets nature. Located on Toronto’s Scarborough Bluffs and overlooking Lake Ontario, this beautiful spot is home to relics that have been preserved from Toronto buildings during the 19th and 20th centuries.  

Visitors can also find the Guild Inn within this public garden, which was originally a residence built in 1914 for decorated war hero Colonel Harold C. Bickford. The inn allowed artists and artisans to create and showcase their work for the enjoyment of the public. During World War Two, the Canadian Government acquired the park and turned it into a training base for the Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS).

Some visitors may even recognize this Scarborough lakeside park from Canadian rapper Drake’s music video for his chart-topping song, “Headlines.”

Clark Centre for the Arts

While visiting Guild Park and Gardens, you can venture over to the Clark Centre for the Arts, a beautiful cultural facility nearby that is home to specialized art studios and gallery spaces.

On display until Dec 2024 is Ekow Nimako’s Wawa Aba and Dane Dane exhibition. The artwork was created as part of Building Black Civilizations: Journey of 2000 Ships, made with over 500,000 black Lego pieces. This Scarborough art hero has turned his childhood passions for building with Lego into a career creating masterful sculptural works inspired by his Ghanaian-Canadian culture.

Whether you are looking for a rich historical site to explore or a local business to support, our Metrolinx Guide series inspires you to get moving across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area as we expand our network. To see more videos, follow our Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, X and Tik Tok accounts to stay up to date with this inspiring video series!