TORONTO: The ULTIMATE Guide
Written by Alana
DOWNTOWN TORONTO
PHOTO: HTTP://CALLIJOHNANDLAURA.COM/COMMUNITY/WATERFRONT/
WELCOME TO THE 6IX
Toronto! The 6ix, We the North, and a place where police ride around on… horses?! Whatever you want to call it, pro tip: locals say “Torono”, this is where we grew up. Toronto is the biggest and busiest city in Canada and is most famous for the CN Tower, the Maple Leafs the Raptors (2019 NBA Champs!), and of course, Drake.
No matter what you are interested in: food, fashion, art, nature, or getting that perfect pic, you can be sure that Toronto will surpass any of your expectations, ESPECIALLY with us as your trusted guides!
WHERE TO STAY:
The Classics:
The Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, and St. Regis are all great hotels with top notch spas and the usual busy and sleezy but still fun lobby bars- the only reason to pick one over another would be based upon location. The Four Seasons is in Yorkville (close to shops and restaurants), The Ritz Carlton is downtown (close to the conference center and night clubs), and the St. Regis is in the financial district (busy during the week, empty on weekends)
The Fun One:
HOTEL X
INSTAGRAM: @HOTELXTORONTO
The Bisha Hotel is the place to stay if you are looking to get wild- you can start with dinner at Akira Back (yum), have a few drinks in the lobby bar, and you will most definitely end up partying the night away on King Street.
The Cool One:
The Anndore House is a cute boutique hotel that is the most low key of the bunch- the staff are super welcoming and the rooms are very insta-friendly without being kitschy.
In the Summer:
Hotel X has an exclusive rooftop pool that is impossible to get to if you’re not staying at the hotel, you get a panoramic view of the lake from the view from their multi-story patios, and they have a million different sports facilities to choose from (obvious we did none, but still).
HOW TO SPEND YOUR DAYS:
The Great Outdoors:
Toronto is lined with trees and green space, which an unusual charm for such a big city. For those looking to get outside and breathe in some fresh air (mostly applicable to summer months because the winter is just too darn cold for us), there are so many options.
VIEW OF CN TOWER
INSTAGRAM: @TOMRAY
For those looking to take a hike along the beach, Bluffer’s Park offers a stunning view of the lake that you could easily pass off as a beach vacation in photos.
There are farmers markets all over the city- our favorite is the Brickworks market where you can shop for some local produce and go for a hike in the park and get a gorgeous view of the city.
Trinity Bellwoods Park is packed every weekend with people reading (or pretending to read) under the cherry blossoms, playing Frisbee, and picnicking (you can grab a picnic basket from La Palma down the street).
The Distillery District is a historical pedestrian-only area that has restaurants, shops, and galleries. You can take a chocolate tasting class at SOMA, sip on tequila and snack on chips and guac (with or without crickets!) at El Catrin, or check out the sculpture-esque lighting at Artemide.
Art and Culture:
AGO
INSTAGRAM: @AGOTORONTO
The ROM is Canada’s largest museum of art, world culture, and natural history. Exhibits are always changing and the dinosaur collection is sure to delight/scare everyone from young children to curious adults.
The AGO is a massive art gallery that was renovated by another famous Torontonian, Frank Gehry, The permanent collection includes a number of paintings from different artistic movements and eras- our favorites are the ones by Lawren Harris of the Group of Seven.
For a more laid-back and casual night of culture, you can catch a concert at either of the city’s outdoor venues: Echo Beach (which is actually a beach, so select shoes accordingly. Ugh.) or the Budweiser Stage.
Day Trip:
Pearl Morissette, an hour drive south of the city, first gained recognition as a Vineyard in Niagara producing some of the best wines in the country. They opened a restaurant in 2019 and people started flocking there- seriously, it’s impossible to get a table. The tasting menu is approachable (no weird meats or insects) and written up every day based on what is fresh. Pro tip: the lunch and dinner menus are the same, but they charge less for the lunch seating The restaurant is barnyard-chic and the property is beautiful and the perfect backdrop to a post-meal-and-wine stroll. After lunch, you can drive another 20min and take a look at Niagara Falls!
WHAT TO DO AT NIGHT:
People-Watching:
Stop at one of the many bars in Yorkville- The Oxley, Sofia, Kasa Moto and One are the busiest spots in the summer and offer the most in-seat entertainment (we saw a woman hop the fence to dump her cocktail on a man in his Lamborghini who cat called at her).
Young Crowd
Kensington Market is the place to drink and dance at The Boat and Supermarket.
Get Wild
King St West is lined with every hot bar, club and lounge- our favorites are Locals Only, Petty Cash, Toybox, Lost and Found, and if you’re feeling wildly confident, go upstairs at Dasha for Karaoke. It’s amazing how much I sound like Mariah Carey after a few shots.
If you are really looking to get wild at a Las Vegas style pool party, head over to Cabana Pool Bar on a Saturday and you will be instantly transported to the strip.
Hipster
HAWKER BAR
INSTAGRAM: @HAWKERBAR
The Ossington Strip between Queen Street and Dundas Street is lined with bars that are edgy and hip where you can sip a beer, or blood orange margarita, on a patio with your friends at Reposado or a night of shots and partying at Baby Huey’s. You can turn the corner onto Dundas Street and grab a late-night bite and keep the party going at Mahjong Bar or Get Well.
WHERE TO SHOP:
And now for… SHOPPING! As mentioned in our lunch section, can you find all of the upscale designer boutiques along Bloor Street, but we are going to share some Toronto gems with you!
Clothing
TNT and Gravity Pope both offer trendy clothing, shoes, and accessories for both men and women for any occasion.
WDLT 117 Concept Store sells luxury home ware as well as clothing, accessories, and shoes for men and women from brands that are not available through any other retailers in Canada- this is a place to go if you want to buy a peacocking piece.
Holt Renfrew is a Canadian icon- it is our original department store and offers everything you would expect from a high-end department store. The café inside the Bloor Steet location was recently renovated and is definitely worth a visit.
JONATHAN CHEBAN, KANYE WEST, KIM KARDASHIAN-WEST IN 119 CORBO
PHOTIO: CANADADAILYEYE.BLOGPOST
119 Corbo sells highly-curated luxury clothing and accessories for women- Kim and Kayne were photographed shopping here!
Nicolas sells high-end men’s clothing and accessories with Nicolas, the owner, paying such close attention to every detail that you shouldn’t be surprised if you leave with your scarf being altered by the tailor.
Home Accessories:
From the outside, Studio Pazo looks like it could be a resale store. Once you take a step inside you will see that they have the MOST amazing collection of Scandinavian and Italian home accessories. If you love Fornasetti, make sure to leave yourself some time to look through the stacks of candles, pillows, and basically everything else imaginable.
Kandl is one of our favorite spots in the city- not only do they sell beautiful candles and pastries, you can also sign up for a Candle making class and bring home your own perfect-smelling souvenir. I made one on my birthday last year and burn it every night- it’s sooooo good.
WHERE TO EAT:
Breakfast/Brunch:
MILDRED’S TEMPLE KITCHEN
PHOTO: HTTP://MILDREDS.CA/GALLERY/
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen is the place to go if you want a hearty and filling breakfast. Pancakes are the most Instagram famous dish, and rightfully so- they are fluffy, fruity, and hit the spot. If savory breakfasts are more your thing, the extra yolky egg dishes and Chicken Avo Club are fire. Be prepared to wait in line, but don’t worry, there are tons of coffees to sip and shops to visit and until your table is ready.
Food/Drink: 8.3
Vibe: 8.5
Mahas has made Middle-Eastern Breakfasts a major craze in the city by bringing shakshuka, foole, falafel, and pita into the mix. Lines outside can be hours long because they don’t take reservations, so get there early! P.S if you are traveling alone, they have a table for 1 with a shorter wait!
Food/Drink: 8.2
Vibe: 7.6
Arthurs serves American Deli breakfast Food/Drink: massive bagels platters (you might think that you get to take the platter home after looking at the price) with all the fixins, matzoball soup, every egg dish, and cocktails with freshly squeezed juices.
ARTHURS RESTAURANT
INSTAGRAM: @ARTHURSRESTAURANT
Food/Drink: 8
Vibe: 8
Hello 123 is a plant-based restaurant that makes it easy to forget that there is no bacon or eggs on the menu. They have an almost overwhelming number of options to choose from for food and drinks and you leave feeling completely satisfied.
Food/Drink: 8.1
Vibe: 8
Our favorite brunch food is Dim Sum and The Pearl Harbourfront is our top pick because you get the traditional dim sum experience of the dumplings coming around in carts (order the “hockey puck”, trust) as well as an unobstructed view of the water. You can go for a much-needed walk along the waterfront after brunch and visit the CN tower! Fun fact: locals never visit the CN tower (was that fun or just a fact?).
Food/Drink: 8.9
Vibe: 7.8
Lunch:
Lunch is all about convenience, grabbing a bite in the area you’re exploring.
At Terroni on Price Street you can order a glass (or two, no one is judging) of wine with pizza, pasta, or salad and take a walk along Yonge Street (the longest street in North America) and stop by some of the shops- our favorites are: Want Apothecary, The Narwhal, Advice from a Caterpillar, and Hopson Grace.
TERRONI
INSTAGRAM: @TERRONI.TO
Food/Drink: 7.9
Vibe: 8 (gets a 9.5 in the summer on the patio)
Palm Lane is a gourmet build-your-own salad and soup restaurant where you can fuel up before hitting the shops in Yorkville Village and Bloor street- the most luxe shopping area in the city (think: Chanel, Dior, Dolce and Gabbana, Prada…).
Food/Drink: 8
Vibe: 6 (better to take it to go)
KINTON RAMEN
INSTAGRAM: @KINTONRAMEN
Kinton Ramen has locations all over the city, and the Kensington Market location is a great spot for a quick lunch when you’re walking through this quirky bohemian neighborhood (it was the late Anthony Bourdain’s favorite area in the city).
Food/Drink: 8.3
Vibe: 8.4
Dinner:
Dinner is always the highlight of our day- on vacation or at home, we discuss it and think about it for too long to openly disclose.
Joso’s is our absolute favorite restaurant in the city and you can’t go wrong with anything on the small Croatian menu (our favorite is the fried calamari- it’s life-changing). You will find the freshest fish and seafood displayed and explained to every table on a platter. Their famous cuttlefish ink pasta is so delicious that it’s worth leaving with a black ink-stained mouth (maybe not on a first date). The wine list is never-ending, so you can be sure to find your favorite or try something new. P.S Drake shot one of his album covers here.
Food/Drink: 9.2
Vibe: 8.8
Aloette is the casual bistro sister restaurant to Alo, one the most upscale restaurants in the city, and offers the best hamburger and fries (we don’t even like hamburgers and couldn’t resist this one).
ALOETTE
INSTAGRAM: @ALOETTE_RESTAURANT
Food/Drink: 8.9
Vibe: 8
Mamakas is a Greek Taverna and has the best pita, mezze, and lamb in the
city and has a lovely list of greek-style cocktails (you will definitely need one of the bartenders to explain every single ingredient).
Food/Drink: 8.7
Vibe: 8.8
Giulietta serves a modern take on seasonally-changing traditional Italian dishes cooked simply and perfectly- their cocktails are mixed with many made-in-house ingredients and they have a long but approachable wine list as well as an incredibly knowledgeable sommelier for those of us that only know “red” and “white”.
Food/Drink: 8.9
Vibe: 9.1
Dreyfus is “French-ish” as they serve French dishes all with unexpected but delicious twists- fried pommes dauphine served with a dollop of caviar or a Cubano finger sandwich topped with a crunchy and acidic pickle. They serve only natural wines, so you probably won’t recognize many names on the list, but you will wake up the next morning without any haze even if you’ve had a few too many bottles… ahem we mean glasses.
Food/Drink: 9.1
Vibe: 8.7
Mamakas is a Greek Taverna and has the best pita, mezze, and lamb in the
city and has a lovely list of greek-style cocktails (you will definitely need one of the bartenders to explain every single ingredient).
Food/Drink: 8.7
Vibe: 8.8
Giulietta serves a modern take on seasonally-changing traditional Italian dishes cooked simply and perfectly- their cocktails are mixed with many made-in-house ingredients and they have a long but approachable wine list as well as an incredibly knowledgeable sommelier for those of us that only know “red” and “white”.
Food/Drink: 8.9
Vibe: 9.1
DREYFUS
INSTAGRAM: @FEEDOURTUMMIES
Dreyfus is “French-ish” as they serve French dishes all with unexpected but delicious twists- fried pommes dauphine served with a dollop of caviar or a Cubano finger sandwich topped with a crunchy and acidic pickle. They serve only natural wines, so you probably won’t recognize many names on the list, but you will wake up the next morning without any haze even if you’ve had a few too many bottles… ahem we mean glasses.
Food/Drink: 9.1
Vibe: 8.7
Akira Back is named after its Michelin-starred chef and is one of the best Japanese dining and people-watching experiences in the city. Both the tuna and mushroom sushi pizzas, served on a thin cracker rather than the traditional rice, are outstanding and pair perfectly with the Yasuke Sour.
Food/Drink: 8.8
Vibe: 8.9
SUPERPOINT
INSTAGRAM: @TASTETORONTO
Superpoint is a casual and trendy hipster Italian restaurant that makes you feel like you’ve walked into an 80s style movie- but don’t let that “charm” fool you- their pizzas are perfectly greasy and their Caesar salad topped with hickory sticks is the combination you never thought of but now cannot live without (if you’re not Canadian, trust us when we say this).
Food/Drink: 8.4
Vibe: 8.9
Snacks:
Snacks are an important part of every day, and we have done you the great service of trying every place we could find.
Dessert:
Bar Ape makes artisanal ice cream from locally sourced ingredients that change every week- they are lined up down the block for the months they’re open (May- October). Speaking of lines, you could wait for up to 45min to get to the front of the line at Bang Bang- they serve the most fun homemade ice-creams that change all the time (our favorites are cinnamon toast crunch and misty you’re so minty) inside freshly baked goods- cookies, cinnamon buns, choux pastry, and our favorite, the Hong Kong waffle cone.
BAR RAVAL
INSTAGRAM: @BAR_RAVAL
Drinks:
Both Cocktail Bar and Barbershop serve drinks that are perfectly balanced and you will seem really cool to anyone you’re taking with you to either of these places… but be warned… the drinks are served with a large side of attitude (definitely don’t ask to substitute gin for vodka, we learned that the hard way).
Sips and Snacks:
Bellwoods Brewery serves homemade beers and pub food. Bar Buca (our favorite is on Portland St.) offers Italian snacks and cocktails. Bar Koukla’s got Greek-style snacks and cocktails. Bar Raval, our favorite, is a Spanish pinxtos restaurant and cocktail bar with the COOLEST Gaudi-esque interior. Their pan con tomate is what you would find in the best bars in Spain.
FINAL THOUGHTS:
While we can’t guarantee that you will bump into Drake, we CAN guarantee that you will have the best time visiting Torono. Where else can you find a big booming city with culture, food, and nature (don’t you DARE say New York). The city has so much to offer and the people are genuinely friendly and polite. Whether you are a new visitor to the city or a local playing visitor, this list is sure to help you organize the perfect stay!
P.S Don’t forget to tag us when you visit!
P.P.S that wasn’t clickbait- the Mounted Police do ride around the city on horses and YES you can pet them!
Best Time to Visit:
RCMP ON HORSE
PHOTO: WIKIMEDIA.ORG
This all depends on your preferred temperature- Toronto has four very distinct seasons. The best time of year is the summer, it is hot (around 30C) and the city is buzzing. Early fall is beautiful because all of the trees change colors and it is still warm enough to spend time outside. Winters get very cold (far below 0C), so if you want to visit at that time of year, be prepared. Spring is always a risky time because it can be snowing one day and be absolutely perfect the next.
How to Get There:
Toronto is a major city with two airports and many direct flights from most cities every day.
Areas of the City:
Yorkville: trendy restaurants and shops
Kensington Market: Bohemian and artsy
Downtown Entertainment District: Nightclubs, Lounges, Supper clubs
Financial District: Offices, very busy during the week, empty on weekends
Ossington/Dundas: hip restaurants and bars
