Looking for a Toronto travel guide that covers where to eat and what to do? After two trips to Toronto, here’s my personal guide to the best things to do, eat, and experience in the city.
- Best Areas to Explore
- Best Coffee Shops in Toronto
- Best Restaurants in Toronto
- Toronto Nightlife: Best Bars & Rooftops
- FAQ About Visiting Toronto
My First Trip to Toronto: Road Trip & Big Highlights
My first trip made me fall for Toronto. It was a long, memorable road trip, 9+ hours. I drove from Washington, DC, stopped at Skeeter’s BBQ (worth mentioning), and continued on to Niagara Falls before finally arriving in Toronto. By the time I got there, the trip already felt epic.
CN Tower: No first visit to Toronto is complete without the CN Tower, which was the world’s tallest freestanding structure for over three decades (1975–2007), until Dubai’s Burj Khalifa took the title.
I ate at the 360 Restaurant at the CN Tower, which slowly rotates as you dine, giving you panoramic views of the entire city and Lake Ontario.
I also did the EdgeWalk, where you’re harnessed in and hang + walk along the outside of the tower. Iconic photos.
After that, I hit:
- Toronto Island: to visit the nude beach, Hanlan’s Point Beach.
- Half House: a real home that was literally cut in half after a divorce and just a funny thing to see.
Best Areas to Explore
On both trips, these were the places and experiences that stood out the most. If it’s your first time in Toronto, start here.
Toronto Islands & Hanlan’s Point Nude Beach
My favorite Toronto experience, both times, was taking the water taxi to Toronto Island. People come here to bike, walk, picnic, and relax, but Toronto also has a very well-known nude beach. Clothing is optional, and there are lots of clothed people as well.
It’s playful, freeing, and oddly wholesome: less spectacle, more body neutrality.
Chinatown & Kensington Market
I love going into Chinatown and Kensington Market, window shopping, drifting into vintage stores, browsing crystals, and just soaking it in. It’s one of those areas where you don’t need a plan.
Distillery District & Mill Street
This is where historic industrial buildings were turned into bars, restaurants, and galleries. It’s also where Mill Street Brewery started, a well-known Canadian craft beer brand. They had free movie nights when we were there, with everyone outside. Perfect for an evening walk and drinks.
Best Coffee Shops in Toronto
- Forget Me Not Coffee: Baked goods, a market store, and a good place to hang out.
- Versus Coffee: Colorful art lattes and a “sleek” place to hang out.
- Fahrenheit Coffee: A Toronto-based coffee chain and a solid way to ease into the day.
- St. Lawrence Market: Not a cafe, but a whole market. Yes, it’s touristy, but it’s still worth visiting. It’s a great place to support local vendors and browse bread, pastries, and specialty foods.
Best Restaurants in Toronto
Toronto is incredibly diverse, and the food reflects that. Toronto’s Caribbean, Chinese, and Indian communities heavily shape the city’s food scene, and you should absolutely lean into that.
Try Hakka (Indo-Chinese comfort food), doubles (Trinidadian street food made with curried chickpeas and fried flatbread), and proper jerk chicken.
Here’s where I ate and what I recommend:
Boku Japanese Eats (Distillery District) + Demetres Ice Cream
Boku is in the Distillery District, next door to Demetres, a really good ice cream spot. I loved the combo so much I did it twice: sushi, then ice cream, then a slow walk around the cobblestone streets.
Canoe Restaurant: Iconic Canadian fine dining with skyline and lake views from downtown. During the day it’s all business lunches; at night it shifts into full special-occasion mode with elevated Canadian dishes.
Collective Arts Toronto Taproom: Part taproom, part retail space, part live music venue. Collective Arts has a creative energy, solid Mexican-inspired dishes, and a great craft beer lineup. It’s casual, lively, and easy for a group.
Chop Chop: A go-to for authentic Taiwanese comfort food. No frills, just solid, flavorful dishes that hit when you’re craving something real.
Patois: Chinese–Jamaican fusion immediately had my attention. It’s colorful and fun. The food was good (not life-changing), but the concept alone is worth it, and it’s also mildly famous in Toronto.
Shangri-La Hotel (Lunch): I did a three-course lunch at the Shangri-La and it felt appropriately luxurious. Elegant setting, polished service, and that full “treat yourself” energy. A solid choice if you’re in the mood for something elevated without spending $$$$.
Cops Donuts: I always find a local donut shop when I travel, and in Toronto that meant Cops. Their mini donuts are the move, especially the pink lemonade icing. Sweet, nostalgic, and dangerously easy to keep eating.
🍽️ Other Top Restaurants in Toronto
I wanted to list Toronto’s fine dining places for you to peruse, even if I haven’t been to them yet.
- Alo Restaurant – Often called Toronto’s #1 restaurant, with French-inspired cuisine and a tasting menu experience.
- Sushi Masaki Saito – Known for exceptional omakase.
- Scaramouche Restaurant – Upscale French-international cuisine and skyline views.
- Edulis – Intimate Mediterranean/European restaurant with a Michelin star and seasonal tasting menu focus.
- Quetzal – Open-flame cooking and creative menus that highlight bold flavors.
- George Restaurant – Elegant spot blending French and European influences with top-tier service.
- Jacobs & Co. Steakhouse – Premier steakhouse.
- Byblos – Upscale Eastern Mediterranean.
- Chiado Restaurant – Mediterranean/seafood destination.
Toronto Nightlife: Best Bars & Rooftops
And then there’s the nightlife. There are some mega clubs near the water that I haven’t been to yet, but I’ve listed them below.
Cactus Club Café: A very Toronto after-work, happy-hour hub. It’s casual, social, and busy. People come for drinks more than the food. As the night goes on, it gets louder, more crowded, and more fun.
Apartment 200: This is the original Apartment 200 (there’s now a location in Los Angeles). It’s a hot spot, a cool bar, and a solid recommendation for a night out.
Broadway Avenue Rooftop: A casual rooftop with a major payoff: the CN Tower in the background. Not overly fancy, but the view alone gives it an upscale feel.
Bar 11:59: An upscale cocktail bar with great service and atmosphere. Not a wild party, but perfect for good conversation, lighting, and drinks. Bring your own energy.
Mother Cocktail Bar: Consistently ranked among the best bars in the world, and the #11 best bar in Canada. The cocktail menu is a full book organized by themes and regions. Even if you’re not a big cocktail person, this place might convert you.
Mega Clubs I Haven’t Tried Yet
- Rebel – Toronto’s most iconic large-scale nightclub, right on the Port Lands waterfront, with massive production, DJs, and views over the harbor. Often considered the king of Toronto clubbing.
- Cabana – A day-to-night club experience right next to Rebel on Polson Street by the water (part of Rebel’s daytime party scene, with summer pool vibes).
- DPRTMNT – Fun, high-energy nightclub in the Entertainment District with strong EDM/hip-hop nights.
- The Fifth Social Club – Loft club and kind of upscale.
- Fiction Club – Nightclub with dance floor vibes downtown.
- NEST – Event and nightlife space with DJ nights and dance events.
Second Visit: Could I Live in Toronto?
Toronto appealed to me for very practical reasons, and I came back with one question in mind: Do I want to move here?
Why Toronto would be a fabulous place to live:
🏥 Universal healthcare.
🍜 The Chinese, Indian, and Caribbean food scenes are next level.
🌊 Waterfront access, ferries, skyline views, and yes, a nude beach.
🎉 Free festivals and city events all summer.
🧘🏽♀️ It has New York energy… but smaller, calmer, and noticeably kinder.
But some places are better loved than lived in. I’d be so honored if Canada would take me right now. But the world is still too big, and I’m not ready to settle down like I thought.
Toronto is absolutely worth visiting, especially if you care about food, culture, and summer city energy by the water.
FAQ About Visiting Toronto
What is Toronto like?
IMO, people are nice, and life is not chaotic or sloppy. Even the nightlife is calm compared to other big cities like New York.
Is Toronto worth visiting?
Yes! I think it’s a perfect first out-of-country trip for Americans, too.
How many days do you need in Toronto?
Three to four days is ideal. I’ve stayed a week, and it might get boring for tourists.
Is Toronto expensive?
It can be expensive compared to other Canadian cities, but travelers using USD will find it manageable depending on exchange rates.
What is Toronto best known for?
The CN Tower, a diverse food scene, the Toronto Islands, and multicultural neighborhoods.
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