Planta Yorkville

New Age Vegan
1221 Bay Street

Known for their inventive plant-based dishes. This is the first restaurant Sam and Michelle (Sam’s sister) ate at when they first visited Toronto and it’s Sam-recommended, which should say it all.

Reservations not required, but recommended

Cafe Nervosa

Mediterranean
75 Yorkville Avenue

Classic Yorkville Victorian house with a great rooftop patio serving Italian dishes & drinks. This has been the ‘headquarters’ of Michael, Naomi and Alex (long-time camp friends) for over a decade.

Currently walk-in only. Make sure to request the rooftop terrace, if possible

Fat Pasha

Contemporary Israeli
414 Dupont Street

Modern Jewish comfort food in a laid-back yet high-level atmosphere. This is one of Leanne’s favorite spots, as she can usually be found here at least once a week. The backyard is a great outdoor place to dine when the weather is nice.

Reservations are highly recommended

DAI LO

Asian Fusion
503 College Street

Superb asian-fusion fare with one of the most creative and inventive chefs in Toronto.

Reservations are highly recommended

WHat to do

Toronto is a city of cultural neighborhoods.
We recommend choosing a couple of neighborhoods and exploring them well.

St. Lawrence Market

(Old Toronto neighborhood)
93 Front Street East

A major Torontonian public market building that sells fresh food from small local farms.

Closed on Sunday and Monday

Kensington Market

(Kensington)
Bound by Dundas Street West, Spadina Avenue, College Street, and Bathurst Street.

Formerly the old Jewish quarters in downtown Toronto, Kensington is now a walkable bohemian neighbourhood full of artists and tourists with indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries, cheese shops, trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining.

Open every day

Art Gallery of Ontario

(Chinatown)
317 Dundas Street West

Located just east of Kensington, the AGO is a world-renowned museum featuring contemporary art in addition to iconic historic and contemporary Canadian art. The new building addition was designed by the legendary Frank Gehry, who grew up just down the street.

Closed Monday and Tuesday

Royal Ontario Museum

(Yorkville)
100 Queens Park

The outside of the Royal Ontario Museum is as stunning as the pieces of art on display inside. It’s well known for its prehistoric creatures collection and its Gallery of Gems and Gold both of which were obsessions for Michael when he was a kid. The addition to this museum was designed by the iconic Daniel Libeskind.

Closed Monday and Tuesday

Queen’s Park and the Campus of the University of Toronto

(Yorkville/Bloor Annex/Harbord Village)
110 Wellesley Street West (and surrounding area)

Enjoy a breath of fresh air on a nice walk around Queen’s Park, which is at the center of U of T’s campus. Many of the University’s buildings are open to the public (Roslyn still studies at Robart’s on rainy days). The Gallery Grill, nested in a secret spot in Hart House (one of North America’s earliest student activity centers), has excellent food and serves a wonderful Sunday brunch.

Grill open daily, check website for University buildings’ house

Gardiner Museum

(Yorkville)
110 Queens Park

This is the location of our Friday Welcome Reception, but it is worth visiting during the day to take in all the exhibits or join a guided tour. Be sure to check out the amazing shopping on Bloor Street West in addition to Yorkville Village and Hazelton Lanes Shopping Center.

Closed Monday

CN Tower

(Lakeshore/Entertainment District)
290 Bremner Boulevard

Take a ride all the way to the top for the best view of Toronto from above. Walk around the perimeter of the tower hands-free on a suspended walkway, or dine in the revolving restaurant. Views to Buffalo can be had on a clear day.

Open daily

Queen and Spadina

(Queen Street West Neighborhood)
Along Queen Street from University Ave. to Ossington

Queen Street West is the boho epicenter of Toronto. Along it you can find everything from boutique art galleries to vintage clothing stores and fantastic patios to grab a drink. Checking out “Queen Street West” is a half-day adventure so be sure to plan on exploring thoroughly if you choose QSW.

Most stores and galleries open daily

The Distillery District 

(Distillery Neighborhood)
Parliament and Mills Streets

Located on the east end of the city, this area is home to Canada’s historic and storied distillery buildings.  Numerous cafes, restaurants, and trendy shops have found their way into historic heritage buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts Distillery. The district comprises over 40 heritage buildings and 10 streets and is the largest collection of Victorian-era industrial architecture in North America. Designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1988, you will find cafes in old distillery buildings, art galleries in historic electricity mills, and shops in turn-of-the-century mill worker’s residences.

Open daily