Boston Traveler: Toronto, Canada
Need a fresh perspective this spring? Snack, shop, and soak up breathtaking views in Canada’s most eclectic city.
The CN Tower stands tall on Toronto’s glimmering skyline. / Photo by Tourism Toronto
GETTING THERE
A two-hour nonstop flight via Porter Airlines delivers you right to Billy Bishop Airport, a small hub just minutes from downtown.
STAYING THERE
With an ultra-chic lobby and fireplaced living room, you’d never guess the recently opened Kimpton Saint George, in Toronto’s bohemian Annex neighborhood, was carved from a former Holiday Inn. Snap a selfie in the infinity mirror near the elevators, then unwind in one of the charmingly mod rooms, where rattan armoires come stocked with Frette bathrobes.
The recently opened Kimpton Saint George. / Photo by Naomi Finlay
A.M.
There’s no better way to kick off your trip than with a sugar-dusted, vanilla-cream-filled bombolone at the fast-casual Italian eatery Sud Forno. With a belly full of treats, head to Bloor Street in Yorkville, a luxe retail boulevard that feels like Newbury Street’s big sister. Duck into Ūnika Swim, where you can get measured for a custom-made bikini just in time for summer, or pop by Tanya Heath’s flagship location to handpick designs for a pair of shoes with funky interchangeable heels. Speaking of kicks, you’ll find one of the city’s most distinctive experiences at the Bata Shoe Museum. Designed to resemble a shoebox, the building contains the world’s largest collection of footwear, including celeb heirlooms such as heels worn by Marilyn Monroe.
P.M.
By now, you’ve built up an appetite for lunch. Fired up in the on-site pit, the jerk pork at the new Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen pairs well with a glass of house-made ginger beer. The afternoon calls for ascending the landmark you’ve glimpsed from afar all day: Rise 1,136 feet in 58 seconds to the CN Tower lookout for panoramic views of the city and the shores of Lake Ontario. Wind down for the day with even more views, this time at Canoe, a restaurant in the TD Bank Tower serving dishes inspired by Canada’s history and landscape. For your final act, sip your way through the Distillery District, a pedestrian-only cluster of cobblestone streets anchored by Spirit of York Distillery Co. A taste of its Hawthorn Berry gin promises to add extra kick to your trip.
