Toronto City Guide.
"Every neighborhood is a city of its own. Toronto just has more of them than most."
Bars & Pubs
BAR POMPETTE, Little Italy
Number one in Canada in 2025 and among the hundred best bars in the world. The style is Parisian cafe-bar, the mood is relaxed, the craft behind it is anything but. The cocktail list changes with the seasons. The Cornichon Martini with pickle and vermouth has already become a legend and is the reason many guests keep coming back. In summer there is a green terrace in the back courtyard, one of the loveliest in Little Italy.
INSIDER:
Reservations are possible but not strictly necessary. If you don't get a table, take a seat at the bar. Be sure to ask for the bartender's suggestion of the day, it is not on the menu and is usually the best thing served.
BARCHEF, Queen West
Toronto's reference for molecular mixology since 2008. More than 5,000 house-made bitters, a dark industrial interior, cocktails that look more like art installations than drinks. The Fig Thief, with fig-infused rum, Madeira and cacao bitters, arrives on a tray covered in balsam fir. Smoke, edible garnishes, aromatic mists. For anyone who wants to see how far mixology can go.
INSIDER:
For groups of up to twelve there is the Chef's Table, a private experience with edible cocktail bites. Book ahead. If you come alone, sit at the bar and let the bartender guide you, no menu needed.
C'EST WHAT?, Front Street East
Open since 1988, one of the oldest independent craft beer bars in Canada. A basement space, brick walls, more than thirty rotating beers on tap. No chain, no concept, no gimmick. Simply very good beer in a room that has always done it this way.
BARRATON LAVEUR, Ossington
Named after Toronto's unofficial mascot, the raccoon. Hidden in a back alley behind the Ossington Strip and barely findable on Google Maps. Natural wines, craft beer, a room that looks as if it was never quite finished. Vinyl night on Mondays, live jazz on weekends.
THE COMMUNIST'S DAUGHTER, Dundas West
Open since 2003, one of the first places that gave this neighborhood its character. Cash only, a jukebox, live jazz on weekends. The old Nazare Snack Bar sign still hangs on the wall from the place that was here before. As tight as a kitchen, and that is exactly why it works.
CIVIL LIBERTIES, Bloor West
No menu. A glowing neon pineapple by the door is the only sign. You tell the bartender what you like, the flavors, the strength, the mood, and you get a cocktail that matches exactly. No two evenings here are the same. North America's 50 Best Bars 2025.
Food & Cafes
ANTLER KITCHEN & BAR, Ossington
Chef Michael Hunter hunts himself. What lands on the plate was in the forest not long before. Venison, wild boar, trout, bison, all local, all seasonal, all with a clear link to Canadian nature and hunting tradition. The menu changes with what is available, not with what the market demands. A few dishes, such as the venison tartare and the elk burger, have become house classics and stay on the menu almost all year. The wine list focuses on Canadian and natural wines that match the philosophy of the house. One of the few restaurants in North America that explains, consistently and credibly, what Canadian cuisine can really mean.
INSIDER:
The game dishes change with the season and with the hunt. It is worth asking what is fresh right now. Reservations recommended, especially on weekends. The bar area is walk-in and serves the same menu.
ACTINOLITE, Toronto
A terroir-driven tasting menu that changes completely with the seasons. Wild herbs, mushrooms, farm vegetables, all from the region. Chef Justin Cournoyer has built a restaurant that explains where the food comes from without ever lecturing. One of the most honest tables in the city.
SAMMARCO, Financial District
Michelin Guide 2025, number 38 among the best steakhouses in North America. Chef Rob Rossi, prime Canadian beef from Cumbrae's, dry-aged for up to 60 days. Classic steakhouse dishes with a precise Italian hand. The 100-egg fettuccine is a must. Right in the Financial District, ideal for a business dinner.
QUETZAL, King West
A Mexican restaurant built around an eight-meter charcoal fire grill at the heart of the open kitchen. Almost every dish meets wood or charcoal. Roasted poblanos, seafood ceviche, strong mezcal cocktails. Very loud, very alive, very good.
YAN DINING ROOM, Chinatown
Hidden in the back room of the legendary Hong Shing on Dundas Street. Chef Eva Chin combines Cantonese tradition with local Canadian ingredients in a way that is entirely her own. Prix fixe, several courses, no a la carte. Currently one of the most exciting experiences in the city.
Art & Galleries
Old walls, new work.
ART GALLERY OF ONTARIO, Downtown
One of the largest art museums in North America, fundamentally rebuilt and expanded in 2008 by Toronto-born architect Frank Gehry. The 600-foot glass facade of the Galleria Italia, the iconic baroque staircase and the light-filled galleries are among the most impressive museum spaces in the city. More than 100,000 works in the collection, including the world's largest collection by the English sculptor Henry Moore as well as works by Rembrandt, Van Gogh and Monet, and one of the strongest collections of Canadian art anywhere. Free admission on Thursday evenings from 6 pm. Plan more time than you think you will need.
MOCA TORONTO, Junction Triangle
A ten-story industrial building from 1919, once an aluminum foundry and for a time the tallest building in Toronto, today a museum of contemporary art in the Junction Triangle. Every floor is completely redesigned for the exhibition it holds. No fixed look, no permanent concept, no predictable experience. Canadian and international artists, experimental installations, accessible ticket prices. The program changes regularly, so check online beforehand to see what is on.
THE POWER PLANT, Harbourfront
A power station from 1926, directly on the Lake Ontario harbor, and since 1987 one of the most important spaces for contemporary art in Canada. The original chimney is still the landmark of the building. Free admission, open all year. The program usually consists of two large changing exhibitions per cycle, often with large-format video installations, spatial works and projects by artists from around the world. One of the few places in Toronto where contemporary art is consistently the main event.
Hotels
Four Seasons, Yorkville $$$
Forbes Five-Star, in the middle of Yorkville between designer boutiques, galleries and the Royal Ontario Museum. 259 rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and marble bathrooms, designed for longer stays. Cafe Boulud by Michelin-starred chef Daniel Boulud on the ground floor, and the largest spa in the city with 17 treatment rooms. Right next to the Financial District and a few minutes on foot from the AGO. The best hotel in Toronto for business travelers who do not want to compromise.
INSIDER:
The corner suites on the upper floors give an unobstructed view over Yorkville and the CN Tower at the same time, and cost barely more than a standard suite. Cafe Boulud is worth a visit for breakfast or lunch even without staying at the hotel, although reservations are advisable here as well.
THE BROADVIEW HOTEL, East Toronto $
A Victorian building from 1891 in the up-and-coming Riverside neighborhood east of downtown. Every room has its own record player with a curated vinyl collection. Some rooms have private roof terraces, and all guests have access to the rooftop lounge with views across the city. Three restaurants and bars in the house, with Broadview Osteria on the ground floor for Italian-Canadian cooking. A hotel that belongs to its neighborhood, not the other way round.
ACE HOTEL TORONTO, Downtown $$
Canada's first Ace Hotel, opened in 2023 in a brutalist concrete building by Shim-Sutcliffe Architects. Cork floors, Douglas fir ceilings, Rega record players in every room. The lobby works as a co-working space during the day and draws in creative Toronto in the evening. Restaurant Alder on the ground floor by chef Patrick Kriss, weekly DJ sessions and live music brunches.
Hidden Gems
Market, island, cliffs.
KENSINGTON MARKET
A neighborhood west of downtown that has followed its own logic for decades. Narrow lanes with vintage shops, Latin American bakeries, international grocers and cafes where no two look alike. Street art on every second wall, bicycles outside every door. There is no single spot that pulls you here, it is the feeling of the neighborhood as a whole. Best on a weekday when it is quieter, but worth a visit on the weekend too.
TORONTO ISLANDS
Three small islands right in front of the skyline, 13 minutes by ferry from downtown. No cars, no high-rises, no noise. Beaches, rental bikes, picnic lawns and the best view of the Toronto skyline you can get. Centre Island with its wide paths, Ward's Island with small artists' houses and garden terraces. In summer one of the most popular day trips in the city, in fall almost empty and even better.
SCARBOROUGH BLUFFS, East Toronto
Cliffs rising more than 90 meters above Lake Ontario on the eastern edge of Toronto. One of the most unexpected natural sights inside a major North American city. Formed geologically by the last ice age around 12,000 years ago, and erosion is still shaping the cliff faces today. Hiking trails along the top with views over the lake, a sand beach at the foot of the cliffs. Best early in the morning while the mist still sits on the water.
Canada eTA
What you need to know before entering Canada
eTA - Key Facts:
- Who needs it: EU, United Kingdom, Australia, Japan, South Korea and around 50 other countries
- Validity: 5 years or until the passport expires
- Length of stay per entry: up to 6 months
- Required document: valid passport, no ID card
- Air travel only: not required when entering by car, bus, train or ship
- USA excepted: US citizens do not need an eTA
No eTA possible?
Travelers from visa-required countries need a Canadian visitor visa. Processing time varies depending on the country of origin and the season.
For longer stays:
- Work permit: requires a job offer and an employer sponsor
- Student visa: requires admission to a Canadian educational institution
- Family visa: for reuniting with family in Canada
Check your requirements
Your Canada eTA in just a few steps. Apply for your electronic travel authorization for Canada directly through our visa check.
