North York Guide

Updated: May 7, 2026 · Written by North York Guide Editorial

The Eglinton LRT Explorer: What to See, Eat & Do at Every Stop

A Line 5 Eglinton LRT train at the Eglinton Yonge Street station, with the orange wall signage and 'EGLINTON Kennedy' destination board clearly visible.

Toronto's Line 5 Eglinton opened to riders on February 8, 2026 and now runs 19 kilometres across the middle of the city. As of April 5, 2026, the TTC extended service to 5:30 a.m.–1:20 a.m. on weekdays, with trains every 4 minutes at peak and every 6–9 minutes off-peak. For North York residents, the Crosstown is the easiest way yet to reach Little Jamaica's jerk chicken joints, the Aga Khan Museum's galleries, and Scarborough's Golden Mile food scene. Here's your fully-updated station-by-station guide to the best of the line.

Our editorial team rode Line 5 end-to-end on opening week and have spent the months since revisiting each station — checking hours, retesting connections, and pressure-testing the food and museum picks below. Where we've added a station, eaten somewhere, or noticed something has changed, we've flagged it.

The basics (May 2026): 25 stops. 19 km. About 52 minutes end-to-end. Regular TTC fare ($3.30 with PRESTO). Service runs 5:30 a.m.–1:20 a.m. weekdays, 5:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. Saturdays, and 7:30 a.m.–1:20 a.m. Sundays. Connects to Line 1 at Eglinton, Line 2 at Kennedy, and GO Transit (Kitchener line + UP Express) at Mount Dennis. Fifteen stations are underground; ten are surface-level. The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension to Renforth Drive is under construction and is expected to open by 2031.

Latest Line 5 Updates (Spring 2026)

Line 5 has been in passenger service for three months. Here's what has changed since opening day, all confirmed against TTC and Metrolinx announcements:

Sources: TTC Route 5 service page, Metrolinx Eglinton Crosstown project page, and CBC News Toronto (April 2026 service-hours expansion coverage). Last reviewed against these sources on May 7, 2026.

What to See & Do at Each Station

If you only have time for one stop per category, here are our top picks:

Category Best For Station Why
Best Caribbean Food RAP's Cedarvale Widely considered the best jerk chicken in Toronto. A city-wide destination.
Best Museum Aga Khan Museum Aga Khan Park & Museum World-class Islamic art, 17 acres of gardens. 77 Wynford Dr. Adults $20, under-12 free.
Best Park Sunnybrook Park Sunnybrook Park 154 hectares of ravine trails, riding stables, and off-leash dog park. Free.
Best Shopping BMV Books Eglinton Toronto's biggest indie bookstore. New releases, used books, vinyl, and vintage finds.
Best Fine Dining Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto Wynford One of the few authentic kaiseki restaurants in Toronto. Multi-course Japanese. Reservations essential.
Best Cultural Landmark Reggae Lane Mural Oakwood 1,200 sq ft mural honouring reggae legends. 1529 Eglinton Ave W. The heart of Little Jamaica.
Best Budget Eats Randy's Take Out Oakwood Decades-old patty shop. Flaky, peppery beef patties under $4. Cash-friendly.
Best Late Night T-Bones Kennedy 24-hour diner. Steaks, burgers, and all-day breakfast. A Scarborough institution.

Line 5 at a Glance

One top pick at every station — from Mount Dennis to Kennedy

Eat
Visit
Shop
Park
West End
Mount Dennis V's Caribbean — vegan Caribbean soups & curries Eat
Keelesdale The Jerk Box — jerk chicken with real heat Eat
Caledonia Lavrador BBQ — Portuguese charcoal chicken Eat
Fairbank Rincon Paisa — Colombian empanadas & arepas Eat
Oakwood Reggae Lane Mural — 1,200 sq ft tribute to reggae legends Visit
Midtown
Cedarvale RAP's — best jerk chicken in the city Eat
Forest Hill Jerusalem Restaurant — 40+ years of falafel & kabobs Eat
Chaplin House of Chan — Canadian-Chinese icon since the '50s Eat
Avenue Crosstown Coffee — Hale coffee & baked goods Eat
Central
Eglinton BMV Books — Toronto's biggest indie bookstore Shop
Mt Pleasant Granite Brewery — craft beer brewed on-site Eat
Leaside Indian Street Food Co. — Michelin-recognized chaat & dosas Eat
Don Valley
Laird Kintako Sushi — fresh fish, neighbourhood gem Eat
Sunnybrook Park Sunnybrook Park — 154 hectares of ravines & trails Park
Science Centre E.T. Seton Park — Don Valley trail system Park
Aga Khan Aga Khan Museum — world-class Islamic art & gardens Visit
Wynford Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto — traditional Japanese fine dining Eat
East End
Sloane Circles & Squares — artisan bakery & pastries Eat
O'Connor Ruby's Mediterranean — falafel, shawarma & kafta Eat
Pharmacy Chatorey — Indian chaat & street snacks Eat
Hakimi Lebovic Pho Saigon — steaming Vietnamese noodle soup Eat
Golden Mile Golden Mile Shopping Centre — neighbourhood plaza & grocers Shop
Birchmount Shaaz Indian Cuisine — Indian-Hakka fusion Eat
Ionview Chung Moi — 30 years of Hakka chili chicken Eat
Kennedy T-Bones — 24-hour diner, steaks & breakfast Eat

Jump to a station:

West End: Little Jamaica & Beyond

Mount Dennis to Oakwood — Caribbean culture, patties, and vinyl records

Mount Dennis

Surface

Connects to: GO Kitchener Line, UP Express

  • V's Caribbean Restaurant Food — Vegan and vegetarian takes on Caribbean classics. The soups and curries are hearty enough that you won't miss the meat.
  • Keelesdale Park Park — Green space just north of the station with a playground and basketball courts. Good stretch stop before boarding.

Connections: Line 5 + 32 Eglinton West / 35 Jane / 71 Runnymede / 89 Weston (+ 989 Weston Express) / 161 Rogers Rd / 164 Castlefield / 171 Mount Dennis + GO Kitchener Line + UP Express. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Keelesdale

Underground
  • The Jerk Box Food — No-frills Caribbean takeout with jerk chicken that packs real scotch bonnet heat. Cash-friendly prices.

Connections: Line 5 + 41 Keele (+ 941 Keele Express) / 158 Trethewey / 164 Castlefield. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Caledonia

Underground

Future connection: Barrie GO Line

  • Lavrador BBQ Food — Portuguese-style charcoal chicken and grilled meats for takeout. The piri-piri sauce is the real deal.

Connections: Line 5 + 18 Caledonia / 47 Lansdowne. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Fairbank

Underground
  • Rincon Paisa Food — Colombian comfort food: empanadas, arepas, and bandeja paisa platters. A neighbourhood staple.
  • Kingston 12 Food — Jamaican beef patties and oxtail that locals swear by.

Connections: Line 5 + connecting TTC bus routes (32 Eglinton West, Dufferin corridor). Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Oakwood

Underground
  • Randy's Take Out Food — A decades-old institution at 1569 Eglinton Ave W. The beef patties are among the best in the city — flaky, peppery, and under $4.
  • Reggae Lane Mural Culture — A 1,200 sq ft mural at 1529 Eglinton Ave W by artist Adrian Hayles, featuring portraits of legendary reggae musicians. The cultural heart of Little Jamaica. Free to visit.
  • TreaJah Isle Records Shop — 1573 Eglinton Ave W. Vinyl collectors: this is your stop. One of Toronto's last great Caribbean record shops.

Connections: Line 5 + 90 Vaughan / 32 Eglinton West. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Midtown: Forest Hill to Yonge-Eglinton

Cedarvale to Avenue — upscale dining, comedy clubs, and bookstores

Cedarvale

Underground
  • RAP's Food — 797 Eglinton Ave W. Widely considered one of the best Caribbean restaurants in all of Toronto. The jerk chicken ($15) and oxtail ($18) are worth the trip alone (when we ate there in March 2026, the jerk was still being rotated daily and the oxtail sold out by 7 p.m.).
  • "Super Signals" Art Installation Culture — A colourful public artwork by Canadian author and artist Douglas Coupland, right inside the station.
  • Cedarvale Park Park — A ravine park with off-leash dog area, tennis courts, and a natural ice rink in winter. One of the best urban ravine walks in the city.

Connections: Line 5 + 90 Vaughan + Oakwood Avenue corridor buses. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Forest Hill

Underground
  • Jerusalem Restaurant Food — 955 Eglinton Ave W. Over 40 years in business. The falafel plate ($12), hummus, and kabobs are consistently excellent. One of the oldest Middle Eastern restaurants in Toronto.
    More Middle Eastern food in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 13 Avenue Rd / Bathurst-corridor buses (7 Bathurst). Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Chaplin

Underground
  • House of Chan Food — A Toronto icon since 1957. Chinese-Canadian fare and surprisingly good steaks. The neon sign alone is worth seeing.

Connections: Line 5 + 13 Avenue Rd (rerouted via Avenue Road between Chaplin Crescent and Eglinton). Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Avenue

Underground
  • Crosstown Coffee Bar Food — Hale coffee and fresh-baked goods. A solid caffeine stop before diving into the Yonge-Eglinton neighbourhood.

Connections: Line 5 + 13 Avenue Rd. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Central: The Yonge-Eglinton Hub

Eglinton to Leaside — shopping, craft beer, and Michelin-recognized eats

Eglinton

Underground

Connects to: Line 1 Yonge-University

  • La Salumeria Food — 2445 Yonge St. Italian deli with house-made sandwiches ($12–$16) that have a cult following. Get the signature porchetta.
  • Eglinton Park Park — Sports fields, tennis courts, playground, and an outdoor ice rink in winter.
    Check today's skating schedules →
  • BMV Books Shop — One of Toronto's biggest independent bookstores. New releases, used books, vinyl, and vintage finds.
  • Absolute Comedy Culture — Live stand-up comedy club with nightly shows. Check their schedule for open mic nights.
  • Holika Holika Shop — K-beauty essentials. If you're into Korean skincare, this is the stop.

Connections: Line 1 Yonge-University + Line 5 + 32 Eglinton West / 34 Eglinton East / 74 Mount Pleasant / 103 Mount Pleasant North / 90 Vaughan. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Mount Pleasant

Underground
  • Granite Brewery Food — Craft beer brewed on-site and solid pub food. One of Toronto's original microbreweries — the Keefe's Irish Stout is a local favourite. Great patio in summer.
    Best patios in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 74 Mount Pleasant / 103 Mount Pleasant North / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Leaside

Underground
  • Indian Street Food Co. Food — 1701 Bayview Ave. Michelin-recognized Indian street food. The chaat ($8–$12), dosas, and thalis are outstanding.
    More Indian restaurants in North York →
  • Leaside Village Shop — Walkable strip of independent boutiques, bakeries, and cafes along Bayview Avenue. Great for a wander.

Connections: Line 5 + 11 Bayview / 34 Eglinton East / 88 South Leaside. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Don Valley: Museums, Parks & Fine Dining

Laird to Wynford — the Aga Khan Museum, Sunnybrook Park, and kaiseki

Laird

Underground

Connections: Line 5 + 88 South Leaside / 51 Leslie / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Sunnybrook Park

Underground
  • Sunnybrook Park Park — 154 hectares of ravines, gardens, and trails. The riding stables, off-leash dog park, and picnic areas make this one of the best green spaces accessible from the LRT. A genuine escape from the city without leaving it.
    Explore more nature in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 34 Eglinton East + connecting TTC bus routes (Leslie/Bayview corridor). Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Science Centre

Underground
  • Ontario Science Centre (original site) Culture — The iconic Moriyama-designed building closed in 2024 and a new facility is planned for 2029. An interim location operates at Harbourfront Centre. The grounds and ravine trails around the original site remain worth exploring.
  • E.T. Seton Park Park — Connected to the Don Valley trail system. Paved paths wind along the river — excellent for cycling or a long walk south toward the Don Valley.
    Best hikes in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 25 Don Mills / 100 Flemingdon Park / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Underground. Accessible (elevators).

Aga Khan Park & Museum

Surface
  • Aga Khan Museum Culture — 77 Wynford Dr. World-class museum with over 1,200 artifacts spanning Islamic civilizations — manuscripts, ceramics, paintings, and scientific instruments. The architecture alone, designed by Fumihiko Maki, is worth the visit. Regular concerts, film screenings, and exhibitions. Adults $20, seniors $15, students $12, children under 12 free. Open Tue–Sun, 10 AM–5:30 PM (Wed until 8 PM, free 4–8 PM).
  • Aga Khan Park Park — 17 acres of formal gardens, water features, and green spaces connecting the museum to the Ismaili Centre. Beautifully landscaped and one of the most photogenic spots on the entire line. Free to visit.
  • Diwan at the Aga Khan Museum Food — Middle Eastern, North African, and South Asian-inspired dining inside the museum ($18–$35 mains). The Courtyard Cafe offers lighter bites ($8–$15) if you're just passing through.

Connections: Line 5 + 100 Flemingdon Park / 34 Eglinton East / 925 Don Mills Express. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Wynford

Surface
  • Kaiseki Yu-Zen Hashimoto Food — Authentic multi-course Japanese kaiseki. One of the few restaurants in Toronto doing traditional kaiseki — a special-occasion destination. Reservations essential.
    More Japanese dining in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 100 Flemingdon Park / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

East End: The Golden Mile & Scarborough

Sloane to Kennedy — bakeries, Hakka Chinese, South Asian flavours, and 24-hour diners

Sloane

Surface
  • Circles and Squares Bakery Food — Artisan baked goods and pastries. A welcome neighbourhood bakery in an area that's quickly evolving.

Connections: Line 5 + 91 Woodbine / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

O'Connor

Surface

Connections: Line 5 + 70 O'Connor / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Pharmacy

Surface
  • Chatorey Food — Indian-inspired snacks and chaat. Quick, flavourful, and budget-friendly. A great introduction to Indian street food if you haven't tried it.

Connections: Line 5 + 67 Pharmacy / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Hakimi Lebovic

Surface
  • Pho Saigon Food — Steaming bowls of Vietnamese pho at prices that won't break the bank. Straightforward and satisfying.

Connections: Line 5 + 34 Eglinton East + connecting TTC bus routes (Warden corridor). Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Golden Mile

Surface
  • Golden Mile Shopping Centre Shop — Neighbourhood shopping plaza at 1880 Eglinton Ave E with grocery stores, restaurants, and services. The area is undergoing a major redevelopment that will transform it over the coming years.
  • Queen Seafood Cuisine Food — Chinese seafood and dim sum. Reliably good Cantonese cooking with large round tables — great for groups.
    Best dim sum in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 17 Birchmount / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Birchmount

Surface
  • Shaaz Indian Cuisine Food — A unique blend of Indian, Saudi Arabian, and Hakka Chinese flavours. The Indo-Chinese dishes (Manchurian, chili chicken) are standout.
    More Indian food in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 17 Birchmount / 34 Eglinton East. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Ionview

Surface
  • Chung Moi Food — Nearly 30 years of Hakka Chinese cooking. The chili chicken and Hakka chow mein are neighbourhood legends. This is Scarborough comfort food at its best.
    Chinese restaurants in North York →

Connections: Line 5 + 34 Eglinton East / 43 Kennedy. Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

Kennedy

Surface

Connects to: Line 2 Bloor-Danforth

  • T-Bones Food — 2540 Eglinton Ave E. Open 24 hours. Steaks ($15–$25), burgers, and all-day breakfast. A Scarborough institution since 1979. Perfect end-of-the-line fuel stop.
  • Kennedy Common Shop — Shopping plaza with a mix of chain and independent stores. Grocery, dollar stores, and quick eats for last-minute supplies before transferring to Line 2.

Connections: Line 2 Bloor-Danforth + Line 5 + 34 Eglinton East / 43 Kennedy / 86 Scarborough / 116 Morningside + GO Transit (Stouffville Line). Type: Surface. Accessible (elevators).

A Full-Day Eglinton LRT Itinerary

Here's how to turn Line 5 into a day-long adventure. Budget 6–8 hours at a relaxed pace.

  1. 9:00 AM — Mount Dennis: Start with a Caribbean breakfast at V's Caribbean Restaurant. Fuel up on soups and curries.
  2. 10:00 AM — Oakwood: Walk Reggae Lane, browse TreaJah Isle Records, grab a beef patty at Randy's.
  3. 11:30 AM — Cedarvale: Stroll Cedarvale Park ravine trails. Check out the Douglas Coupland art inside the station.
  4. 12:30 PM — Eglinton: Lunch at La Salumeria. Browse BMV Books. Window shop along Yonge Street.
  5. 2:00 PM — Aga Khan Park & Museum: Spend 2 hours exploring the museum galleries and walking the formal gardens.
  6. 4:30 PM — Sunnybrook Park: Walk the ravine trails or sit by the stables for a breather.
  7. 6:00 PM — Ionview or Birchmount: Dinner at Chung Moi for Hakka chili chicken or Shaaz for Indo-Chinese fusion.
  8. 7:30 PM — Kennedy: Late-night coffee at T-Bones, then transfer to Line 2 to head home.

More to Explore in North York

The Eglinton LRT connects to dozens of other things we cover on North York Guide. Here are some of our most popular guides:

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does the Eglinton LRT take end to end?
A full trip from Mount Dennis to Kennedy takes approximately 52 to 54 minutes. The line is 19 kilometres long with 25 stops. If you're doing a day trip, budget extra time for getting on and off at each station.
Is the Eglinton LRT free to ride?
No, it uses regular TTC fare. A single adult ride is $3.30 with PRESTO. Transfers to TTC buses and subway lines are included — so you can hop on and off all day without paying extra each time, as long as your trip is within the standard transfer window.
Which stations are underground?
The 15 stations from Keelesdale to Science Centre are underground. Mount Dennis at the western end is at surface level, and the 10 eastern stations from Aga Khan Park & Museum to Kennedy are also surface-level.
What's the best stop for food?
Eglinton station (at Yonge) has the most variety within walking distance. For specific cuisines: Cedarvale and Oakwood for Caribbean, Forest Hill for Middle Eastern, Laird for Japanese, and Birchmount/Ionview for South Asian and Hakka Chinese.
Does the Eglinton LRT connect to the subway?
Yes. It connects to Line 1 (Yonge-University) at Eglinton station and to Line 2 (Bloor-Danforth) at Kennedy station. It also connects to GO Transit (Kitchener line and UP Express) at Mount Dennis.
What are the must-see attractions along the line?
The top attractions are the Aga Khan Museum and Park (Aga Khan Park & Museum station), the Reggae Lane mural in Little Jamaica (Oakwood), Sunnybrook Park (Sunnybrook Park station), Eglinton Park (Eglinton station), and the diverse food scene spanning Caribbean, Middle Eastern, Japanese, and South Asian cuisines across the full line.
Can I do a full day trip along the entire line?
Absolutely. Start at Mount Dennis for a Caribbean breakfast, explore Little Jamaica, shop at Yonge-Eglinton, visit the Aga Khan Museum, walk Sunnybrook Park, and finish with Hakka Chinese at the Golden Mile. Budget 6 to 8 hours for a relaxed pace. See our suggested itinerary above.
What neighbourhoods does the LRT pass through?
The line passes through Mount Dennis, Little Jamaica (Eglinton West), Forest Hill, Yonge-Eglinton (Midtown), Leaside, the Don Valley corridor, Flemingdon Park, and the Golden Mile in Scarborough. Each neighbourhood has its own character, cuisine, and attractions.
What are the Eglinton LRT's hours and frequency in 2026?
As of April 5, 2026, Line 5 runs 5:30 a.m.–1:20 a.m. weekdays, 5:30 a.m.–12:30 a.m. Saturdays, and 7:30 a.m.–1:20 a.m. Sundays and holidays. Trains run every 4 minutes during weekday peaks (7–10 a.m. and 3–7 p.m.), every 6–9 minutes off-peak weekdays and Sundays, and every 7–8 minutes on Saturdays.
When will the Eglinton LRT extend west to Pearson Airport?
The Eglinton Crosstown West Extension is under construction. The 9.2-kilometre extension west of Mount Dennis adds seven new stations on the way to Renforth Drive and improves access to Toronto Pearson Airport. It is budgeted at $3.5–$4.7 billion (depending on source vintage) and is currently targeted for completion in 2031.

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