Toronto is known for much more than it's ex-Mayor! Here are some of our favourite places to eat, drink, and explore in Toronto.
Eat & Drink
Yorkville Spots
Sotto Sotto
Sotto Sotto | Yorkville | Italian | $$$$
Buca | Yorkville | Italian | $$$ (one of Radhika's favorites)
The Roof Lounge | Yorkville | Lounge | $$$
Sassafraz | Yorkville | French-Canadian | $$$
Wow Sushi | Yorkville | Sushi Bar | $$
Hemingway's | Yorkville | Bar; Rooftop Patio | $$
Rest of Toronto
Bar Isabel | Downtown | Spanish Tapas | $$$ (hot restaurant this year)
Patria | Downtown | Spanish Tapas | $$$ (Einar's favorite)
Byblos | Downtown | Mediterranean | $$$ (Radhika's favorite)
Lee | Downtown | Asian Fusion | $$$$ (another favorite)
Momofuku Noddle Bar | Downtown | Asian | $$
Pizzeria Libretto | Multiple Locations | Italian | $$
Canoe | Downtown | Canadian | $$$$ (highly rated)
Gusto 101 | Downtown | Rooftop Patio/Italian | $$
Drake SkyYard | West End | Rooftop Patio/Bar | $$$
Amsterdam Brewhouse | Downtown | Canadian/Waterfront Patio | $$
The Chase | Downtown | Canadian/Rooftop Patio | $$$
SPiN Toronto | Downtown | Ping Pong Lounge | $$
Explore
Toronto Islands
Located a 7 minute ferry ride across Lake Ontario, the islands have lots of outdoor activities such as tennis, picnics, boating, and biking. The largest island, Centre Island, houses the amusement park Centreville that features a turn-of-the-century village
Harbourfront Centre
Located on the waterfront, this is the arts and culture hub of Toronto. There's always something going on here including festivals, concerts, or movie screenings. Be sure to check out the calendar of events close to the time! Also a great place for biking and water sports.
Harbourfront Centre
Toronto Blue Jays Game
Catch a baseball game (vs. the Yankees in mid-August!) at the Rogers Centre (or as Torontonians like to call it, the Skydome), a stadium with a fully retractable roof.
Shopping
Yorkville is a shopper's paradise, recognized internationally as one of the top 10 shopping destinations. Stores include international labels (Prada, Gucci, etc.), Canadian retail icons (Harry Rosen, Holt Renfrew), and Hazleton Lanes (shopping centre)
Theatre/Performing Arts
Toronto is known for its performing arts scene, here are a few venues:
Four Seasons Centre (opera and ballet), Royal Alexandra/Princess of Wales Theatres (musicals), Roy Thompson Hall (symphony)
The distillery district is full of gourmet & casual restaurants, small unique shops and overall a cool area to visit especially in the summer months. Take advantage of tours that are offered in this historic district on your own two feet or on Segways. You could easily spend an entire afternoon or evening.
Woodbine Beach in Toronto just pulses on hot summer days. The curve of sand that links Lake Ontario to Ashbridge's Bay Park is packed with warm bodies gleaming under the blazing sun. We in the north know how to enjoy the warm weather when we get it!
Graffiti Alley
Also known as Rush Lane or Rick Mercer's Alley, this motherlode of graffiti art (~1km) runs west from Spadina Avenue to Portland Street is Toronot's only public space where graffiti is legal. You can even take a tour of graffiti culture in Toronto that includes other spots in downtown Toronto with Tour Guys.
Niagara Falls and Niagara-on-the-Lake
If you have an extra day or two, we highly recommend Canada's wine region, Niagara-on-the-Lake. It's a picture perfect town including some of our favourite wineries. The city is dominated by the Niagara Falls, a world famous set of three large waterfalls. The natural spectacle draws millions of tourists yearly including those who get soaked in the Maid of the Mist.
SEE
Royal Ontario Museum
Located close to the hotels, a stunning museum full of world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America, attracting over one million visitors every year. The museum's diverse collections of world culture and natural history (six million items and forty galleries) are part of the reason for its international reputation.
Casa Loma
Also located close to the hotels, Casa Loma is a Gothic Revival style house and gardens in midtown Toronto that is now a museum and landmark.
CN Tower
Considered one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and one of the tallest towers in the world. Fun activities include walking on a glass floor 1,122 ft above ground, walking around the edge of the tower (Edge Walk), and eating at the revolving restaurant
Art Gallery of Ontario
One of the largest art museums in North America, housing over 80,000 objects of art.
Ripley's Aquarium
Next to the CN Tower, and home of North America's longest underwater viewing tunnel. This awe-inspiring attraction consists of nine carefully curated galleries showcasing a cross section of saltwater and freshwater environments from around the world – starting with species from Toronto’s backyard, the Great Lakes basin.
Toronto's premier hockey attraction is home of the Stanley Cup and the largest collection of hockey memorabilia in the world. Guests can go one-on-one against life-size, animated versions of today's greatest goalies and shooters and call the play-by-play of some of hockey's greatest goals.