Ready to find out what they’d advise you to see and do in this great city? This list of popular places and local favorites will point you in the right direction.
THE SECRET TO feeling like an insider in Toronto is simple: Make a friend. Surprising, in this city that’s the fourth largest in North America, it’s not a hard thing to do. Whether you’re touring an iconic spot, holding a map on a street corner, or sitting in a local coffee shop, Torontonians will happily answer your questions or pull up a chair and suggest dozens of places you might never find on your own. Ready to find out what they’d advise you to see and do in this great city? This list of popular places and local favorites will point you in the right direction.
Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in Canada. Residents come from all around the world and communities are forged out of nothing more than location and pride. The differences are celebrated through food, music, events and parades that all are welcome to attend.
Pop into Little India for fabrics and jewelry that you’d only expect to find in Mumbai. Stop in Little Jamaica for the music and food of the tropics or head to Greektown for souvlaki and baklava. Yes, they have a Little Italy and a Chinatown (they’re outstanding too) but the cultural enclaves go far beyond that. Corners of the city feel like Korea, Ethiopia, Portugal and more. To see (and taste) it all in one spot head for Kensington Market where you can nosh at options that range from authentic Mexican taquerias to Vietnamese Banh mi stands.
The restaurants you hear about are popular for good reason. Don’t miss 360, the revolving restaurant, in the CN Tower. It’s Canadian-sourced seasonal menu and the world’s highest wine cellar (according to the Guinness World Records) mean you’ll be well positioned to enjoy the one-of-a-kind views of the city from almost 2,000 feet up. Or pop over to Canis, the restaurant recently named one of the top two in the country.
The Toronto Sign at Nathan Phillips Square has become a selfie-must for locals and tourists alike. Make sure to peer at the artwork or to snap a selfie in Graffiti Alley, but don’t stop there.
There is a something to suit every kind of shopper. Hence, find the brands you love at the Toronto Eaton Centre, boutique options in Yorkville and funkier choices on Queen Street West. The spots locals hit for gear that showcases Toronto talent and city pride are easy to find too.
Toronto is often referred to as Hollywood North thanks to an abundance of Broadway-style offerings at places like the Mirvish Theatres and cinematic celebrity-magnets like Hot Docs and the TIFF Bell Lightbox – home to the Toronto International Film Festival. But the city’s array of cultural offerings (which include the celebration of contemporary art at Nuit Blanche, and of architectural stunners at Doors Open Toronto) mean there are a variety of ways to celebrate the arts.
Toronto Summer Music Festival, has a list of must-sees for Toronto culture vultures. There’s outdoor theater at Shakespeare in High Park and modern operatic interpretations in unique city venues from Against the Grain Theatre. Toronto’s cultural beacons are constantly re-inventing themselves with opportunities for tourists and locals to come together. Both The Royal Ontario Museum’s Friday Night Live events and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s First Thursdays bring together live music, a cash bar and local artists.
The city starts at the shores of Lake Ontario and make the waterfront well worth a visit. Moreover, make time for the wavy boardwalk seating areas around Harbourfront Centre, renewed concert venues and bicycle paths at Ontario Place and the iconic ferry ride over to the Toronto Islands.
Join the crowds to cheer on one of Toronto’s sports teams. The Raptors (basketball), Maple Leafs (hockey), Blue Jays (baseball), Argonauts (football), The Toronto Wolfpack (Rugby) and Toronto Football Club (Soccer) have fans worldwide and dedicated venues in the city for taking in the action. But at spots around the city, locals find plenty of other reasons to gather as well.
Even if you can’t catch a professional sports game, there are plenty of ways to show a team love. Hockey fans won’t want to skip the Hockey Hall of Fame where interactive exhibits include the chance to shoot the puck. And if you’re looking to flex your cheering muscles (and not your actual ones) head for one of the sports bars where fans gather. At The Football Factory doors open as early as 7 a.m. on weekends to make sure soccer fans have a place to catch international games. At Real Sports, you’re steps from the arenas but amongst a crowd that’s no less vocal as they cheer. (So much so that ESPN voted it the #1 sports bar in North America.) Rather raise a glass in a quieter spot? Sample the small-batch, seasonal, craft beer offerings at Millstreet Toronto Brewpub in the Distillery District. It’s a tasty spot perfect for toasting your team.
Rogers Centre
You’ll likely be shimmying next to locals if you hit the Entertainment District on Richmond Street where Deejays offer a variety of music most nights of the week. Looking for a particular genre or a live band? Toronto’s got that too.
