If you’re looking for a hip travel destination with world-class shopping, dynamic sports teams and culture in abundance then look no further than Toronto; Canada’s capital of cool.
Toronto has always been one of Fused’s favourite places. This vibrant but compact city, on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario, is brimming with energy and excitement, and there’s plenty to keep curious minds entertained. Its multicultural population attracts chefs, entrepreneurs and designers from all over the world, resulting in a diverse and eclectic range of restaurants, shops, galleries and bars.
Its compactness makes Toronto incredibly easy to get around and is a great walkable destination as well as having a small metro and fabulous tram system.
It is made up of a series of distinct neighbourhoods that sit side by side with each other. There’s the chic Distillery District with its warehouse-converted restaurants, bars and boutiques; the slightly hippyish Dundas West with cafes, bars and (legal) weed and head shops in abundance; and the slick downtown, home to Toronto’s Financial District and its glistening skyscrapers.
We scoured the city and here are our favourite neighbourhoods, hang-outs and eateries you shouldn’t miss out on.
KENSINGTON MARKET
A good place to start your Toronto adventure is in the bohemian and fiercely independent neighbourhood of Kensington Market. Don’t be fooled by the names as it’s not actually a market, but a food-centric downtown neighbourhood. This colourful area is a little chaotic, a little eccentric and very eclectic; full of shabby chic-styled and quirky indie shops, cafes and restaurants tucked into Victorian houses and it’s the perfect place to people-watch and soak up the unique atmosphere.
Whilst Toronto at large is known for its diverse population, there’s no better place to witness that multiculturalism in such a concentrated area than here. Whatever cuisine you’re in the mood for, chances are there’s a restaurant, grocery store, or hole-in-the-wall ready to serve it to you. From Chinese, Greek, Ethiopian, Vietnamese and Jamaican cuisines Kensington Market has got you covered.
Our tips to visit:
Courage My Love – The funky, long-running staple for vintage apparel, oddities, home goods, beads and curated jewellery.
Fika Cafe is a Swedish-inspired coffee shop filled with Scandinavian decor and a lovely outdoor terrace. An ideal place to sip on your latte with a book.
Cafe Pamenar is a cafe by day and bar by night with a great patio out back to soak up the sun.
If you feel like stretching your legs then head down Dundas Street West and towards Boutique magazine shop Issues which carries a curated selection of hard-to-find Canadian and international publications and is a haven for magazine collectors in Toronto.
SAINT LAWRENCE MARKET
Moments away from Toronto’s business district is Saint Lawrence Market, a covered food market that dates back to 1803. Inside are stall holders selling everything so fresh it’s still blinking. Seafood to artisan sausages, bagels and crocodile burgers are all on the menu. However the quintessential Saint Lawrence Market foodie experience is to grab a peameal bacon bun from Carousel Bakery (a favourite of the late Anthony Bourdain) followed by a Portuguese egg tart, all washed down with a cappuccino (they were so good we went back twice).
CHINATOWN
Established in 1878, Chinatown is one of Toronto’s oldest and most dynamic neighbourhoods. You’ll find bustling produce markets that spill out onto the street, numerous shops and food stalls, neon signs and a plethora of Far Eastern cuisines.
Once you’ve downed your Dim Sum you can head over to the largest independently-owned record store in Canada which opened in 2001. Sonic Boom is a hub for vinyl collectors and music lovers and is a short walk from Chinatown on Spadina.
QUEEN STREET WEST
Officially designated the ‘West Queen West Art and Design District’, this vogueish area known for its artsy-alternative vibe is home to a number of independent boutiques, galleries and design stores.
Home to some of the city’s most cutting-edge boutiques and hip bars and restaurants west of Bathurst Street you’ll find interior design shops, upscale clothing boutiques, cosy vegetarian restaurants, and art galleries.
Worth a visit is Birch Contemporary, a cutting-edge gallery that exhibits the work of emerging and mid-career artists. Set within an inconspicuous warehouse-like setting the gallery spans two large exhibition spaces offering a great showcase for American and Canadian conceptual artworks.
Ossington Avenue is the strip for vintage clothing stores, while in the back alley between Queen and Humbert Street, the local art community has sprayed dozens of walls. Coffee connoisseurs will want to grab a takeout at I Deal Coffee before heading to the area known as ‘Graffiti Alley’ where you can check out a highly colourful collection of street art murals of Toronto icons rendered in spray can. It’s a great spot for insta shots.
An unfortunate side effect of gentrification is that it can make creative neighbourhoods less affordable for artists. Artscape is a non-profit organisation that helps provide affordable studios and workspaces throughout the city; its 900 Queen Street Westbuilding is one of its oldest and hosts a thriving artist community that showcases regular events and exhibitions.
The Drake Hotel is a great spot for Canadiana-hipsters.
Creatives find your home away from home at this artsy boutique hotel which rates highly on the hip factor. With an artist in residence, curated installations, murals and quirky video art The Drake is the place to see and be seen. Popular with both local and international creative types, the casual but stylish hotel is our go-to place to crash in the vibrant Ossington Avenue district. Despite no link to Toronto’s most famous rapping export, The Drake is fully committed to supporting local and international artists and is a vibrant player on the city’s cultural scene.
YORKVILLE
The up-scale Yorkville neighbourhood is home to some of the world’s best luxury brands, including Cartier, Prada and Gucci and is a premier Toronto spot for celeb spotting. On our visit ‘Will and Grace’s’ Eric McCormack casually walked past us at least three times whilst we were checking out the beautiful giant artwork on the outside of Christian Louboutin store by Montreal-based artist Ola Volo.
Dubbed as an elixir of fine art, design and entertainment, transcending the usual gallery experience, be sure to check out the wonderful collection of Pop and Street Artworks in Taglialatella Galleries featuring works by Banksy, Mr. Brainwash, Logan, Invader, Jerkface and Russell Young, among others.
The beloved local landmark of Sassafraz is set in a row of Victorian houses and is one of the most popular bistros in the heart of the chic Yorkville district. This sophisticated but still casual neighbourhood spot is a great place to catch weekend brunch and standout dishes include pistachio-crusted Itsumo tuna salad and French Toast with Niagara peaches.
Other places to eat – order an Uber and make your way to these fine establishments
Byblos represents a marriage of Eastern Mediterranean cuisine with strong influences from both traditional and local ingredients.
The restaurant, set in the heart of the entertainment district, feels laid back and authentic, offering family-style dining downstairs and a speakeasy-style lounge above. Small shareable plates are fabulous and the best way to eat here is with a group of friends who aren’t afraid of sharing. Byblos recommend that two people share six dishes, which is a plentiful amount.
The Dog & Tiger is an elevated take on a local’s neighbourhood bar with a winning combination of cool yet cosy. The interior combines a touch of traditional British pub with an eccentric vibe thanks to the dog and tiger (what else) murals. The menu and vibe here are upscale, yet unpretentious and surprisingly affordable. The pub’s chef-led kitchen specialises in farm-to-table fare and handcrafted cocktails. We stuck to the Old Fashioned, which was a great touch. The food wasn’t too shabby either with mussels, oysters and burgers hitting all the right spots!
If we lived in Toronto this would certainly be one of our regular hangouts.
Cherry Street Bar-B-Que is not messing around when it comes to meat. Pitmaster Lawrence La Pianta brings the barbecue traditions of the American South to Hogtown in this 1920s brick building that was once home to a bank. After years of competing and judging with the Kansas City Barbeque Society circuit, he knows his way around a broad range of tastes ranging from Texas-style brisket to St. Louis-style ribs. Everything is smoked on the patio inside of a redesigned shipping container and saucing is kept to a minimum. Go in hungry as the portions are immense.
SPORTS
Whether you’re a fan or not we’d still recommend checking out a sports game in Toronto for the full Canadian experience. With so many great teams and venues, there’s something for everyone. So don’t be afraid to check out a game or two while you’re in town, you might just surprise yourself and become a fan.
There is also the added bonus of plenty of great places to eat and drink around the stadiums, so you can enjoy the atmosphere even if you’re not into the actual game.
If you’re in Toronto, you’re probably going to want to eat poutine. This Canadian staple of cheese curds and gravy slathered on chips is the perfect ‘drunk’ food. We had ours at Real Sports bar. Normally the idea of eating in a sports bar would have us running to the hills, but this boisterous, and sprawling bar with 200 TVs, 100-plus draft beers and elevated pub grub was a great place to start the evening (especially before a Raptors game on their home turf).
We took in a Raptors game at the Scotiabank Arena. Even if you’re not a basketball fan, the atmosphere is electric and the games are always exciting. It was our first Canadian basketball game and we were hooked from the off and soon joined in with the whooping and hollowing (the IPAs from the bar may have helped in this).
