Toronto Resources
SLEEP
Delta Toronto, 75 Lower Simcoe Street. Tel: 416-849-1200. Boasting its own top-floor (46th) Club Lounge, this four-star newcomer from Canadian flag Delta (acquired by Marriott in 2015) in downtown’s rising Southcore mixed-use district comes with 567 suites, pool, and outdoor decks. Rooms from $215 + tax. www.deltahotels.com
The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen Street West. Tel: 416-531-5042. Originally D. A. Small’s Hotel (1890), renamed the Drake in 1949 and re-introduced in 2004, this 19-room hipster maintains its cutting-edge cool with high energy happenings in the Lounge, rooftop Sky Yard, and subterranean Underground performance venue. Rooms from $145 + tax. www.thedrakehotel.ca
Gladstone Hotel, 1214 Queen Street West. Tel: 647-792-5958. “Gaystone” during Pride, Toronto’s “art boutique,” revitalizing the city’s oldest continually operating hotel from 1889, offers 37 artist-designed rooms, restaurant, bar, event and gallery space, and year-round art, including 70-plus annual exhibitions. Rooms from $176 + tax. www.gladstonehotel.com
Sheraton Centre Toronto Hotel, 123 Queen Street West. Tel: 416-361-1000. Fresh off a $90-plus mil- lion (U.S.) renovation of all 1,372 guest rooms and major ballrooms, Canada’s flagship Sheraton features the 43rd-floor Sheraton Club and downtown’s largest indoor-outdoor heated pool. Rooms from $153 + tax. www.sheratontoronto.com
The Westin Harbour Castle, One Harbour Square. Tel: 416-869-1600. Opened in 1975, this 977-room AAA Four Diamond pioneer on Lake Ontario’s shores comes with a rocking legacy—the Rolling Stones and Margaret Trudeau, 1977—and draws like the 38th-floor Toula Restaurant and Bar. Rooms from $153 + tax. www.westinharbourcastletoronto.com
Kanpai Snack Bar co-owner Trevor Lui
EAT/DRINK
Byzantium, 499 Church Street. Tel: 416-922-3859. Billed as “the grand matriarch” of the Village and Toronto’s first official martini bar, this lively lounge/restaurant is where so-called “Byz Boys” join a mixed crowd for elevating cocktails, French-fusion fare, and when the walls slide open (secluded back deck too), weekend dance parties. www.byz.ca
Cardinal Rule, 5 Roncesvalles Avenue. Tel: 647-352-0202. Adding to Toronto’s collection of old- school diners, this welcoming spot in eclectic Roncesvalles Village (locally, Roncey) is well worth the streetcar ride for breakfast, Eggs Benny, sammies and burgs, and plenty of healthy options. www.cardinalrulerestaurant.com
Kanpai Snack Bar, 252 Carlton Street. Tel: 416-968-6888. Commanding a marquee corner in his- toric Cabbagetown, near the Village, this brunch through late night hotspot delivers Taiwanese street food straight outta old-school hip-hop, like twice-nightly “5 Dolla Make You Holla Hour” and Deep Fried Goldmember (golden fried morsels of squid). Say what? www.kanpaisnackbar.com
Lola’s Kitchen, 634 Church Street. Tel: 416-966-3991. Steps from the Village, this Old Toronto gem is another brunch hotspot featuring scratch-made organic comfort food; veggie, vegan, and gluten-free options; local craft beer; patio seating; and more. www.lolaskitchen.ca
Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, 85 Hanna Avenue, Suite 104. Tel: 416-588-5695. In 1989, Canadian celebrity chef Donna Dooher showed Toronto how to brunch at Mildred Pierce. At this chic successor in Liberty Village, brunch treats include Huevos Monty and The Manhandler, with equal allure on the dinner and “b’lunch” menus. www.templekitchen.com
NAO Steakhouse, 90 Avenue Road. Tel: 416-367-4141. For meat connoisseurs in the know, the Wagyu beef at this modern Asian-inspired steakhouse comes from Australia’s David Blackmore. If that name is unfamiliar, he produces the world’s top Wagyu beef. Everything else at this two-level restaurant aims for A-list, too, celeb guests included. www.naosteakhouse.com
Queen Mother Café, 208 Queen Street West. Tel: 416-598-4719. Like a loving Mum, this proud Pride sponsor, opened in 1978, fills your tummy with goodies like pad thai, spicy Sri Lankan curry, and the Cosmic Burger. Historic trappings, art and great garden patio make Mother a Toronto must. www.queenmothercafe.ca
Rodney’s Oyster House, 469 King Street. West. Tel: 416-363-8105. Bring your best mates here for delicious oysters drawn from the top Canadian, U.S., and international beds, plus chowder, smoked fish, lobster, and other sea fruits. With event space for up to 100 and belowdecks party atmosphere, Rodney’s sets the course for good times. www.rodneysoysterhouse.com
Smoque N’ Bones, 869 Queen Street West. Tel: 647-341-5730. First-time restaurateur Alex Rad has a neat solution to the age-old BBQ debate: he borrows from all four major US versions (Memphis, Kansas, Texas, North Carolina) to deliver uniquely flavored pork ribs, brisket, wings, and other fare. Paired with the upstairs whiskey bar, it’s Toronto’s place to put some South in yo’ mouth. www.smoquenbones.com
RELAX/PLAY
Her Majesty’s Pleasure, 556 King Street West. Tel: 416-546-4991. Mix beautification and relaxation with socializing at this unique salon/spa/café in the chic Fashion House, cocktails and juice bar included. www.hermajestyspleasure.ca
Pegasus, 489b Church Street. Shoot pool, play pinball, throw darts and enjoy other games, bingo and trivia nights included, while relaxing with friends old and new at this welcoming spot in the heart of the Village, which proudly claims to have served 1.6 million cocktails in its 21-year history. www.pegasusonchurch.com
Steamworks, 540 Church Street Level 2. Tel: 416-925-1571. This affordable membership-based men’s playground advertises private rooms, full gym, spacious wet area, live DJ’s and for letting it fly, three public play areas with slurp ramp, public sling, fuck benches, and Confessional Booth with glory holes. www.steamworksbaths.com/toronto
Woody’s, 467 Church Street. Tel: 416-972-0887. Opened in 1989 and featured in Queer as Folk, this cavernous play palace will get you horned and ready (look for the rhino logo) with five bars, weekly Best Chest, Ass and Legs contests, nightly DJ’d dancing, and more. www.woodystoronto.com
CULTURE
Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas Street West. Tel: 416-979-6648. Its massive collection spanning from antiquity to modern times, AGO is also an artful stage for events, with scenic spaces including historic Walker Court and award-winning Frank Gehry-designed FRANK restaurant. www.ago.net
Bata Shoe Museum, 327 Bloor Street West. Tel: 416-979-7799. Walk this way for rotating exhibitions on the history of footwear and related artifacts, drawn from a 13,000-plus piece collection ranging from Chinese bound-foot shoes to Elton John. Architect Raymond Moriyama’s award-winning five- floor building is also a sleek fit for events. www.batashoemuseum.ca
Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park. Tel: 416-586-8000. Combining the five museums (Archaeolo- gy, Palaeontology, Mineralogy, Zoology, and Geology) first opened in 1914 with several expansions since, including the provocative Crystal addition in 2007, ROM is globally renowned for its exhibitions of natural history and world cultures. Now on display through January 2, 2017: installations from omniscient glass sculptor Dale Chihuly. www.rom.on.ca
The Second City, 99 Blue Jays Way. Tel: 416-343-0011. The hallowed hall (second location) of Canadian comedy, where the likes of Aykroyd, Murray, Candy, and Radner cut their teeth. Tomorrow’s stars perform on the Mainstage, with classes in improv, public speaking, auditioning, and more at the preeminent Training Centre. www.secondcity.com/toronto
TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King Street West. Tel: 416.599.TIFF. Rivaling, if not eclipsing Cannes, the Toronto International Film Festival uniquely allows public schmoozing with Hollywood A-listers. TIFF’s five-story headquarters offers five cinemas, two restaurants, rooftop event space, and art galleries. www.tiff.net/explore
TAKE YOUR PICK
Town Shoes, 55 King Street West. Tel: 416-362-1921. One of 50-plus Canadian locations and three in Toronto, this event-capable store heels well to the company’s motto of “For the Love of Shoes” with knowledgeable salespeople and polished brands including Kenneth Cole and Calvin Klein. www.ts.townshoes.ca
Kensington Market, This original 1920’s Jewish enclave today is the people’s market, offering antiques, vintage clothing, and much else besides, framed by Spadina Avenue and College Street alongside Chinatown. www.kensington-market.ca
Distillery District, 55 Mill Street. Tel: 416-364-1177. Founded in 1832 and once the world’s largest whisky and spirits distillery, this Canadian landmark was reborn in 2003 as a walking heritage district. Amid North America’s largest assembly of Victorian-era industrial architecture, there’s dining, art, shopping, theatre, and more. www.thedistillerydistrict.com
