Secret Seven: Toronto

 

The CN Tower has been your hangout, you've seen the city's top art galleries and shopped your heart out at the Toronto Eaton Centre... maybe you've even seen a classic game of Canadian ice hockey and taken a day trip to Niagara Falls... but now what?

This is where we lay down some creative ideas to spice up your weekend trips in the world's top cities, as always with our series of Secret Sevens. Perfect for individuals who want to remain for a longer period of time, visit for the second time, or just don't want to go on the tourist bandwagon with the rest of the fanny-packers.

Sasha Arms, a travel and culinary journalist, has returned from an extended stay in Toronto, Canada's largest city, and here's what she had to say. Check out Rachel Lissner, a local journalistweekend ,'s guide to Toronto for a lot more information.

1: The Milky Way

Stunnin' street art is simply one way that the local creative class expresses itself in Toronto, which is a creative metropolis. Graffiti Alley is a popular destination for art lovers who want to soak up the atmosphere. Graffiti Alley, also known as Rush Lane, is a quiet street in the Fashion District's Fashion District, near the popular Queen Street West. It's full of visitors and tour groups, and it's well-known among fans of comedian Rick Mercer, who routinely films live from the alley for CBC. It's absolutely worth a visit, but if you want something a little more off the beaten path in Toronto, I'd suggest going to Milky Way instead. Yes, there is a street called 'Milky Way' that is full with vibrant creations that you may appreciate in peace and quiet, away from the masses.

Hotel Pacific Junction (#2)

This is a bar with a radio station inside that isn't a hotel at all. The Pacific Junction Hotel has a whimsical feel to it, with bar areas named after some of Toronto's most famous fans, such as Janis Joplin. There's a mix of seating options, including a bath tub-shaped bench. A mix of local and international beers is served alongside casual finger food (alligator tacos, anyone?). The all-glass booth overlooking the bar, from where Girth Radio's radio shows and podcasts are broadcast, is the coolest feature. This is the place to meet Torontonians and get to know them better.

The Four Seasons Toronto Spa has a number of benefits.

The Four Seasons Hotel Toronto, which is located in the gentrified fashionable neighborhood of Yorkville, welcomes travelers looking for luxury and tranquility. The Four Seasons Toronto, on the other hand, has a little secret on the ninth level for visitors staying elsewhere in the city. The Four Seasons spa, which has treatment rooms, an indoor pool, and a hot tub, covers 3,000 square meters. The spa's outdoor terrace, on the other hand, is the highlight, as it gives a private and exclusive view of Toronto. Anyone can experience this decadent area of Toronto if they just book a facial or massage at the spa.

The Vog Vault (#4)

For Torontonians who want to make a statement, John Fluevog Shoes are the way to go. The Fluevog store on Queen Street West is built inside a former bank vault, and the shoe brand's designers chose to do something unusual with the vault. The Vog Vault is a room that defies gravity, featuring a mix of old furniture and bookshelves in odd places. Check out #VogVault for a great place to take Instagrammable shots.

Ted Rogers Cinema's 5th Annual Hot Docs

For documentary fans, this is the place to go. Hot Docs Ted Rogers Cinema is a location to join a Torontonian crowd who demand more than the latest Hollywood blockbusters when they go to the movies, with a program nearly completely made up of documentary films. Throughout the year, the cinema hosts a variety of special events and independent film festivals, as well as Canadian and foreign documentaries. There's also a little of history on the premises: since 1913, the area has been home to a variety of theaters and cinemas.

Toronto's 6th Grand Hotel

The bustle of downtown Toronto at lunchtime can seem a little much. Visit The Grand Hotel Toronto's Citrus Restaurant for some quiet time. The food at the restaurant, a hidden treasure on Toronto's dining scene, rivals the city's top gourmet hitters. The artichoke and squid spaghettini, with garlic olive oil, red finger chilis, and a crunchy squid ink crumb on top, is to die for. The tiny sun-filled patio is a nice area to hang out in the warmer months.

The Paw of a Monkey

The Monkey's Paw on Bloor Street is a great place to go for book lovers as well as enthusiasts of anything retro and quirky. Old and odd books, as well as miscellaneous printed artifacts, are the specialty of the business. It's a site where you can find antiquarian treasures from bygone eras. The Biblio-Mat, the world's first randomizing vending machine, allows you to insert a $2 coin and pick up a randomly picked ancient book.

Pork & Beer Tours are an added bonus.

When it comes to cool city activities, Urban Adventures is one of our favorites, and they have two tours in Toronto that stand out: Beer Makes History Better gives you all the information you'd expect from a walking tour of the city, but with a hearty dose of Canadian craft beer to make those tales of cholera, fire, war, depression, and rebellion more palatable. When Pigs Fry is a similar mouthwatering activity that educates tourists to the love of bacon, pork, and sausage in Hogtown (as Toronto is often known to).

More Attractions & Tours

If these suggestions are a little too unconventional for you, Get Your Guide has a simple way to book tours and tickets to all of Toronto's major attractions, including the CN Tower, Casa Loma, and the Royal Ontario Museum.

The article "Secret Seven: Toronto" was first seen on Urban Travel Blog

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