Hot in the city
06 Feb 2016
Toronto is a vibrant, cosmopolitan and multicultural city full of surprising nooks and crannies to discover. Here are a few great places to add to your to-do list.
PLAY
1. To kick things off, every new tourist in Toronto needs to see the city from great heights. Head to the iconic CN Tower (301 Front St W), the tallest freestanding structure in the world at 553 metres, and catch the lift up to wonder at the view.
2. Stroll by the harbourfront, (Queens Quay W) filled with restaurants, shops, theatres and galleries and enjoy a ferry ride over to the Toronto Islands. Further down the road is the Toronto Music Garden (479 Queens Quay W), which hosts free concerts and was designed in collaboration with famous cellist Yo-Yo Ma.
Then, make your way to St Lawrence Market in the Old York area (92-95 Front St E) to grab a bite from a wide range of specialty food stalls, including grocers, cheese vendors and fishmongers. Locals have been meeting at the markets for more than two centuries.
3. Not far from the markets is the Distillery District, which once housed in the Gooderham & Worts Distillery, the largest in the world in the 19th century. The historic industrial warehouses have since been transformed into galleries, artist studios, shops and cafes and in summer, there are often live music performances.
4. The bohemian Kensington Markets area is a lot of fun to roam around in. It’s full of cheap and cheerful places to eat and you could get lost in the little stores lining the road for hours, or just relax in a cafe and people-watch as colourful characters walk by. The main strip to wander down is August Avenue.
5. Once you have ticked the big-ticket sights off your list, explore the charming neighbourhoods of Toronto, such as down-to-earth Greektown, the shopping strips in Queen West, the glamorous Bloor-Yorkville and the quirky Queen West and Trinity Bellwoods areas.
6. Toronto sure knows how to put on a great party. In July, people dance in the streets when the Salsa Festival’s on and there’s drumming, music and colourful parades during the Caribana, known as the largest of its kind outside of Rio. Then there’s the Beer Festival, where revellers can enjoy craft beers and Summerlicious, where around 150 restaurants all over the city offer great specials for two weeks in July (in February, Winterlicious takes place). And in September, there’s the Hot and Spicy Food Festival.
EAT
7. Whether you’re in the mood for something spicy or just want to grab a quick bite at a pub, there’s lots to choose from in Toronto. To feast your eyes on the most ridiculous burgers you’ve ever seen, head to local institution, Dangerous Dan’s (714 Queen St E), which arguably serves the city’s best burgers – they’re huge, two-inches thick and delicious. It’s a cheap feed and right near the beaches.
8. Warm, cosy and affordable, Kit Kat (297 King St W) is another local institution that’s been around for almost 30 years – think friendly staff, red-checked tablecloths and southern Italian home cooking. Another great Italian joint is Joe Badali’s (156 Front St W), conveniently located in the heart of the vibrant entertainment district.
9. To sample a taste of Canadian-inspired fare, head to Bannock (401 Bay St), named after a traditional flatbread that was brought to Canada by Scottish explorers. You can grab a tasty bannock sandwich for lunch or dine on Biff’s fried bologna and eggs.
10 If you’re looking for something more upmarket, there’s N’awlins (299 King St W) for Cajun food with a side of live jazz, French bistro Brassai (461 King St W) or Japanese restaurant Daisho (190 University Ave), which is run by Momofuku.
11. A local favourite is the Lahore Tikka House (1365 Gerrard St E) in Little India. It was originally a greasy spoon restaurant that then transformed into an eating area, when the owner placed picnic tables in the parking lot and draped beautiful coloured saris from the ceiling.
12. If you want to sample some of Canada’s specialty dishes, make sure you grab a beavertail for dessert – it’s a long, flat piece of fried pastry with various toppings, such as sugar and lemon or chocolate and strawberries. You can usually buy them at the food truck near the harbourfront.
13. But if you want to really eat and drink like a local, grab a coffee and donut from Tim Horton’s, a popular coffee chain found all over Canada that’s loved by just about everyone.
STAY
14. For the ultimate five-star luxury experience, there’s the historic Fairmont Royal on York (100 Front St W) in downtown Toronto with its beautiful architecture and high sweeping ceilings. It’s also not far from major attractions including the CN Tower, Ripley’s Aquarium of Canada and the Rogers Centre.
15. If you prefer a more intimate, boutique experience, there’s the Bond Place Hotel (65 Dundas St E). Otherwise, there’s the family-friendly Chelsea Hotel (33 Gerrard St W) with an indoors waterslide and an impressive700-800 rooms.
16. Then finally, the hottest new hotel around at the moment is the hip Drake Hotel, which was recently renovated and is now filled with cool new restaurants and bars and is often frequented by celebrities and high-profile personalities.
The writer was sent to Canada thanks to Insight Vacations
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