There’s a new contender for best pizza in town, and lucky for me, it’s a stone’s throw away from home.

Slinging the pies ($11) are Sicilian ex-pats Romolo Salvati and Massimo Di Lascio who come to Kensington by way of east-end contender, Queen Margherita Pizza. The crust at Via Mercanti – soft, tender, charred and chewy – is true Neapolitan style and serves as the perfect base for dollops of melted buffalo mozzarella and beautifully flavored San Marzano tomatoes.

The place itself is not much to write home about – but that’s okay, I’ll take mine to-go. —Athena Tsavliris

Pizza Via Mercanti, 188 Augusta Ave., Toronto, 647-343-6647, www.facebook.com/viamercanti

Poly frocks, neon crinolines and tattered cowboy boots are staples in Kensington. Never-been-worn pony hair Louboutins are a rarity.

At Pineapple, vintage veteran Melanie Janisse brings a touch of high-end glamour to the market with Lanvin shirtdresses ($125), collectible silk scarves, baubles, bags and those red-soled showstoppers ($500).

Heavyweight labels are in abundance, but there’s also a mix of beautifully made printed blouses, cocktail dresses and skirts perfect for twirling in.

A Bermuda tourist silk scarf ($55) caught my eye (I spent my childhood there) as did the eclectic smattering of baubles (Victorian to present day).

Iris Apfel fans should come see. —Athena Tsavliris

Pineapple, 2 Kensington Ave., Toronto, 416-407-0266.

Café Pamenar could just be the next watercooler of Kensington, where locals stop in to drink coffee and kvetch.

The beans are courtesy of B.C.’s Discovery Coffee Roasters and with your latte come freshly-baked pastries from Wanda’s Pie in the Sky and Circles and Squares.

Warmer days will take everyone outside to a patio, but for now the stylish space, with its large communal back table, cement coffee bar and minimalist lighting, will keep us warm—and in the loop with all the neighbourhood gossip.

Café Pamenar, 307 Augusta Ave. (at Oxford St.), Toronto, 647-352-3627, http://cafepamenar.ca

In this cosmopolitan city you can taste everything from Mexican churros and Indian Paneer to Ethiopian Kifto.

Give your taste buds a worldly adventure on a bespoke gastro-tour with Toronto’s ChowBella.

Catering to both locals and tourists, these chef-escorted jaunts around the city’s most colourful pockets invite you to sample gulab jamun (a creamy fritter that’s soaked in a sugar syrup) in Little India or shop for dried ancho chillies and fresh corn tortillas in Kensington.

Comfortable shoes, an adventurous palette and a hearty appetite are strongly recommended.

For more info and pricing visit www.chowbellaconcierge.com