If New York City is a melting pot of food culture, Toronto – the largest city in Canada – could be considered a cultural mosaic. Indeed, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with every city block featuring a different culinary offering.Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto has a population of over two million, while the Greater Toronto Area has a population of over six million. Around half of this population is estimated to have been born outside of Canada. Along with English, there are an additional 160 languages spoken in the city.
If New York City is a melting pot of food culture, Toronto – the largest city in Canada – could be considered a cultural mosaic. Indeed, Toronto is one of the most multicultural cities in the world, with every city block featuring a different culinary offering.
Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, Toronto has a population of over two million, while the Greater Toronto Area has a population of over six million. Around half of this population is estimated to have been born outside of Canada. Along with English, there are an additional 160 languages spoken in the city.
Among the many cultures represented in Toronto, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that there’s a vibrant Irish community and some great Irish pubs (Dora Keoghs, McVeighs and PJ O’Brien’s, to name just a few).
Historically, the neighbourhoods of Corktown and Cabbagetown were the homes of Irish emigrants. Though their roots are poor, today, both neighbourhoods are well-to-do with beautiful, historic homes; ideal for springtime strolls.
Practical information
aerlingus.com
Aer Lingus flies direct from Dublin to Toronto year-round (with fares starting at around €250 one way) while Canadian airline Westjet flies direct seasonally, from April to October (with similar rates). Both airlines fly into Toronto Pearson International airport, which is located approximately 40 minutes from the city centre.
In times past it was a hassle to reach downtown Toronto from the airport, but a new express train system between Toronto’s Union Station and Pearson has made this journey quick, inexpensive (€8 one way) and pain-free.
Union Station (left) is found just before getting to the Roger's Centre and the CN Tower. \ Janine Kennedy
The ease of getting to the city centre combined with a flight time of just over six hours makes a long weekend trip to Toronto completely doable. You don’t need more than a few days to get a taste of the city.
Toronto is easy to navigate with its subway and streetcar system (known as the TTC) found along every main avenue and street. Like most North American cities, Toronto is based on a grid system. With a little help from Google maps, you’ll easily find your way around.
When to go
weather.gc.ca
Spring is a wonderful time of year to visit Toronto. When the days get warmer in April and May, patio season begins and there is nothing better than sitting outside and soaking up the sunshine with a cold pint and some tasty food.
Summer becomes unbearably hot, with temperatures up to 40°C and while winter visits can be nice, after Christmas the weather becomes increasingly cold and can easily go down to -40°C. Winter visits are also prone to travel delays, so spring is really the best time of year to visit.
Where to stay
marriott.com; filmores.com; thedrake.ca
Toronto can be pricy, but as the euro has a higher value than the Canadian dollar, you can probably stay more affordably than the average Canadian visitor.
The Sheraton Centre Toronto is located in the heart of the city, on Queen Street West, just opposite the historic Nathan Phillips Square. It features luxuriously comfortable rooms, an indoor/outdoor pool and a great location, but it comes at a price: expect to pay between €200 and €300 per night, depending on the room. If you need something more budget-friendly, The Filmores Hotel is definitely not luxurious, but more cost-effective with rooms coming in at just over €100 per night. If budget travel is your thing, try an Airbnb in the downtown core, which would be comparable in price.
If you’re into arts and culture, consider staying at The Drake Hotel on Queen Street West. This area borders several trendy neighbourhoods and is within walking distance to some great bars and restaurants.
It is a 10–15-minute streetcar ride from the commercial shopping areas and has a quieter, cooler neighbourhood vibe.
Where to eat
evergreen.ca
More like, “where not to eat?” Toronto is home to so many vibrant communities: Chinatown along Spadina Avenue, Greek Town on the Danforth Road, Koreatown along Bloor Street and Little India along Gerrard Street East.
Toronto is also home to a thriving Caribbean community and features some of the best Jamaican food… well, outside of Jamaica. Not to mention Ethiopian, Moroccan, Latin American and Southeast Asian offerings.
If you’re looking for more of a community-food vibe, head to Kensington Market where you’ll find great café and brunch options during the day and hipster bars at night. The iconic St Lawrence Market is full of vendors and food options every day of the week, and on Saturdays you’ll find a farmers’ market in nearly every neighbourhood (the Evergreen Brick Works market is our favourite).
Dinner
alorestaurant.com; biffsbistro.com;
antlerkitchenbar.com; canoerestaurant.com
Feeling fancy? Try Alo Restaurant, which has a Michelin Star and is headed by the incredibly skilful chef Patrick Kriss. If you can score a reservation (and afford the price tag), you will be blown away by what is on offer in this French contemporary restaurant. Biff’s Bistro is a bit more affordable, an easier spot to snag a table and always delicious. Expect comforting vibes, Parisian bistro menu items and wines to match.
If you’re looking for a true taste of Canadiana, try Canoe in the city centre – which features the best views of the city from the 44th floor of the TD Bank Tower – or Antler Kitchen Bar in the Little Portugal neighbourhood on Dundas West. Both offer high-end experiences and great Canadian ingredients.
Global flavour
chubbysjamaican.com; mahasbrunch.com
For a taste of the Caribbean, try Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen for tropical cocktails and a killer jerk chicken. Maha’s Egyptian Brunch is absolutely delicious (their mint tea and date grilled cheese sandwiches are divine) and for the best dim sum, try Rol San restaurant in the heart of Chinatown. Although they don’t have a website to peruse the menu beforehand, the surprise is worth it.
Maha's Egyptian Brunch make delicious cheese and date toasties with home fried and Egyptian spiced potatoes. \ Janine Kennedy
Poutine
nomnomnom.ca; smokespoutinerie.com
Canada’s unofficial national dish is poutine: a glorious combination of crispy French fries, squeaky cheese curds and a rich, dark gravy.
Try Nom Nom Nom Poutine and – if you can handle the heat – get it topped with a generous portion of jerk chicken. You will also find Smoke’s Poutinerie in multiple locations, including at the airport.
This is a chain, but the poutine comes in a number of different combinations (though the classic is always the best option).
Become a Blue Jays fan
ticketmaster.ca
Walking the streets of Toronto, you will likely see a lot of Blue Jays paraphernalia – this is because the “Jays” are the home baseball team and they reside at the iconic Rogers Centre (formerly known as the Sky Dome).
The baseball season starts in spring and you can get fairly inexpensive tickets, if you don’t mind where you sit.
Even if you’re not a sports fan, this is a fun way to spend an
evening with good ball park food on offer and bits of entertainment throughout. Tickets start at around €10.
Do the Edge Walk
tickets.cntower.ca
If you’ve ever done the Croke Park Skyline tour, think of the Toronto Edge Walk as a bit of an upgrade. This is not recommended if you are afraid of heights, but if you are a thrill-seeker visiting Toronto’s historic CN Tower (and it is highly recommended you do for the views alone). you might be interested in walking around its outer edge.
At 116 stories high; the Edge Walk is the world’s highest hands-free walk where you are secured to the building by a harness. What better way to get that 360° view of the
city? The whole thing takes
about 90 minutes in total, with the walk taking 30 minutes. Tickets
cost €135.
Shop till you drop
thebay.com
If you enjoy shopping, you might want to bring a spare suitcase. Canada’s oldest department store, The Hudson Bay Company, has its flagship location at the corner of Queen and Yonge streets and features multiple levels of clothes, cosmetics, homewares and more. Just across the street, you’ll find the Eaton Centre shopping mall, which will lead you out onto Dundas Square (home to even more shops and restaurants).
On either end of Queen Street (east and west) you’ll find independent shops specialising in vintage clothes, designer furniture, cute stationary and more. On Bloor Street, you’ll find more high-end shopping in Bloor-Yorkville.
Take in some culture
theoperahousetoronto.com; ago.ca;
rom.on.ca; yukyuks.com
Interested in a ballet or a night out at the opera? Check out The Opera House Toronto for show schedules and tickets. If musical theatre is more your thing, King Street west is where you’ll find the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) headquarters and the Royal Alexandra Theatre.
Visit the Art Gallery of Toronto on McCaul Street, where tickets are €20 or head up to Bloor Street and visit the Royal Ontario Museum for exhibitions on nature, culture and science, tickets cost €20.
One thing Canadians and the Irish have in common is a love of stand-up comedy.
In Toronto, the most iconic comedy club is called YukYuks. You will find some form of stand up or improv happening each night and there is a full schedule of events on their website which you can check out for specific events or stand-up comedians. Ticket prices from €2.
With so much to do, see, buy and eat, Toronto should absolutely be on your must-visit list for 2025.
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