Top Things to Do in Toronto, Canada
This may be the first-ever blog post I’ve written upon request (thanks for your friendship and readership, Kristin!) Matt and I visited Toronto, Ontario in May 2019, and I think the only reason I’ve been delaying this post is because it’s a bit overwhelming. How could I possibly do justice to Toronto?
It’s no secret that I’m a “Canadiophile,” and exploring this megalopolis has always been high on my list. After attending a friend’s Rochester, New York wedding on Memorial Day weekend, it just made sense to drive a little further north to meet Toronto.
Famous for being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world and home to 2.7 million people (5.7 million if you consider the greater Toronto area), Toronto has it all. So here are my top recommendations for spending a weekend in Toronto:
Kensington Market
We felt incredibly cool in Kensington Market. This walkable, maze-like neighborhood near Chinatown is altogether trendy, boho, hipster, and international. A cluster of brightly-colored Victorian homes line the streets as you make your way into the neighborhood. Prepare for a sensory overload.
During the 1920s, when this neighborhood was predominantly Jewish, families would set up markets outside their homes and sell goods. Now, Kensington is one of the best street markets in the world. We had to jostle our way through crowds of students, musicians, artists, tourists, and Torontonians searching for their next meal. Among the options? Everything.
Everywhere and everybody in the world had representation in some way, shape, or form at the market. To our right, we ate French crepes with Nutella after buying a craft from a local vendor, while to our left, students sold handprinted shirts out of an old car filled to the brim with plants. We visited on Pedestrian Sunday, a day where cops block off the streets to cars so that musicians, vendors, and artists are free to showcase in the streets. I’ve linked the schedule for Pedestrian Sundays here, since they don’t take place weekly.
There was live music of every variety, and we were impressed to even see some country music fans playing cowboy songs on their acoustic guitars. They would be warmly welcomed in Nashville. Since the market can be a bit intimidating if you’re not used to big crowds, here’s a list of some of the best places to grab a bite in Kensington. I do recommend, however, that you keep an open mind and try something new. That’s the fun of visiting an open-air market: you never know what you’re going to find!
- Rasta Pasta for Jamaican/Italian
- Seven Lives for Mexican
- Hibiscus for gluten free/vegan/vegetarian
- Fika for a Scandinavian coffee and pastry
- Pow Wow Cafe for Ojibway (indigenous)
open 7 days/week from 11:00am-7:00pm, except Christmas and New Year’s Day
Distillery District
Encased within a set of Victorian-era buildings that once housed a whiskey distillery, this pedestrian-only district features indie restaurants, artisan shops, galleries, theaters, live music, and bars. We walked around its cobblestone streets at dusk on a Sunday night, listening to people take turns on the outdoor piano, checking out galleries, and admiring the murals splashed across the 19th-century red brick.
The architecture in this pocket of Toronto is actually the world’s largest preserved Victorian industrial collection. In fact, the distillery that once existed here was the largest distillery in the British Empire! In the distance, it’s easy to spot the CN Tower rising above a city of glass and concrete, but the Distillery District transports you back in time.
Of the many restaurant offerings in this area, most guidebooks will suggest Cluny, a French bistro, or Boku, a Japanese noodle bar. May I suggest Madrina Bar?
Matt and I are always on the lookout for authentic Spanish tapas (in fact, we had tapas on one of our first official dates in Washington, D.C.!) This place exuded Catalonia vibes: we sipped sangria, Matt nibbled jamón ibérico, and I devoured a super beautiful hot pink gazpacho.
If you visit in November or December, the Distillery District transforms into a Christmas market, packed with vendors selling artisanal goods and souvenirs while serving up mulled wine. We’ll have to come back in winter!
Polson Pier Viewpoint
After exploring the Distillery District, drive over to nearby Polson Pier for a skyline view of the city at sunset.
Queen Street
If the Distillery District is a Victorian-era pedestrian haven, Queen Street is its modern, über-cool companion. This east-west thoroughfare cuts across the city, sprinkling neighborhoods with local brands, antique stores, galleries, trendy bars, and graffiti.
We spent an hour meandering down the street, exploring just a handful of the shops and restaurants it offers. My recommendations?
- Make a terrarium at Crown Flora Studio
- Browse indie reads at Type Books
- Grab an authentic Italian pizza and enjoy it upstairs in the chic lounge at Terroni
- Pose for your next Insta photo in front of the graffiti just south of Queen Street West
CN Tower
This is the super-tall (1,815 feet!), spindly communications and observation tower that shapes Toronto’s skyline. “CN” stands for Canadian National, the railway company that built the tower in the 1970s. You can spot its iconic spire from almost any vantage point in the city. If you’re brave, walk around the edge of the tower, suspended by harness, in Toronto’s famous Edgewalk.
Nathan Phillips Square
This urban plaza sits at the intersection of Queen Street West and Bay Street and forms the pedestrian center outside of City Hall.
It is the meeting point for parades, rallies, concerts, festivals, farmers’ markets, art displays, and ice skating in the wintertime. It also famously houses the 3D Toronto Sign, which makes the perfect photo op.
Doors Open Toronto
On one weekend in May (next year: May 23-24, 2020), Toronto literally opens the doors to over 150 of the city’s most architecturally, culturally, and historically significant buildings. This is how we just happened to stumble across Osgoode Hall, the home of the Law Society of Ontario and highest courts in the province.
I got to meet a federal appellate judge and several prominent Canadian lawyers who were giving tours to the public. If you have a chance to plan your visit around this weekend, I highly recommend making an effort!
High Park
A good friend and fellow Candiophile recommended this spacious urban park to me (check him out at Marc For Short!) With 400 acres, there’s plenty of walking paths, biking, and hiking. It’s a great oasis from the exhaustion of the city.
If you’re lucky enough to go in the spring like we were, you’ll probably get to see some cherry blossoms! And if you get hungry, make sure to grab a bite at the on-site cafe, The Grenadier. We snacked on sandwiches, salads, and coffee while enjoying the park from the patio.
Eaton Centre
Situated along the longest road in the world (Yonge Street), in busy downtown, the great Eaton Centre isn’t your average shopping mall. To be fair, it can and will satisfy every shopping need you might have, as it offers stores from Adidas to Nordstrom to Hudson’s Bay. What makes this mall a celebrated Canadian landmark is its iconic “Flight Stop” geese that are displayed against a glittering glass galleria.
Casa Loma
Casa Loma is a Gothic revival-style mansion and garden in midtown Toronto, built in 1911, and famously, it is North America’s only castle. Our visit was so incredible that I’m dedicating an entire blog post to this place!
Harborfront Park
Trip down to Lake Ontario’s shores at Harborfront Park, which has a pedestrian-friendly path, restaurants on the water, and boat excursions onto the lake!
Niagara-on-the-Lake
If you have a car, visiting NOTL is the perfect day trip out of Toronto. It sits just about two hours south of Toronto, on Lake Ontario, and if you’re curious, I wrote about it more here.
