Not that you really needed them, but this city is just a short trip to the north of NYC but feels like a world away. So here are my top 10 reasons to check out Toronto, in no particular order.
1. The CN Tower. At 181 stories, getting to the top of this space-needle-on-speed feels like a thrill. Heading straight to the top brings you to the glass floor where you can choose to look under you at the city below, or at the panoramic city and water views that are completely breathtaking. Photo opps on the glass floor are a must.
2. Lady Marmalade. Situated in the hipsterish neighborhood “Leslieville” is one of Toronto’s coolest brunch spots. The home fries are a crispy knock out, and they have a whole menu section devoted to endless varieties of Eggs Benedict which have appropriately been renamed “Bennies” to reflect the casual attitude of this always-busy breakfast joint. Expect a wait on the weekends, it’s good enough to draw in the locals AND tourists.
3. Leslieville. This funky neighborhood is where you can find our beloved Lady Marmalade brunch, as well as an eclectic mix of organic eateries, endless coffee shops (even Seattle can’t compare), thrift stores, funky artisan shoppes, and a crazy mix of hipsters, jet-setters, and hobos. Think Brooklyn, but colder. If the food, shopping, and scene don’t wow you, the history and Victorian architecture will.
4. It’s Close. If you live in NYC or close to, flight to Toronto are just about an hour, cheap, and easy. A round trip ticket from New York to Toronto is almost always under $200. That’s the cheapest international getaway we know of.
5. The King Edward Hotel. Starwood hotels are always known for providing good service and great rooms, but the King Edward in Toronto is an exceptional deal. The rooms are large (bigger than most Manhattan studios), the decor has old European charm, and the hotel itself is just off Yonge Street- where you can find Toronto’s toniest shopping, theaters, and ton of restaurants worth eating at.
6. Lucien. Hands down the best dinner I’ve had outside New York in at least 2 years. And I travel a lot. I completely recommend ordering the venison.
7. Foods I’ve Never Heard Of. The St. Lawrence market is a 3 minute walk from the luxury of the King Edward Hotel, but feels like an entirely different world. It’s the North American and Anglicized version of an Arab souk… it’s vendor mayhem at it’s finest. Inside you’ll find a variety of meats I’ve never heard of, condiments that will appeal to all your senses, hand-cut artisan cheeses, and crafts. The local favorite is Carousel Bakery’s peameal bacon sandwich.
8. Soma Chocolates in the Distillery. While typically you’d expect to find world-class chocolates in Belgium, Toronto’s Soma Chocolatemaker is a local hotspot that’s known far and wide. The shop doubles as a chocolate factory, and gorgeous hand-made truffles are created entirely from scratch behind a glass window for all to see. They make small orders from hand-picked beans flown in from all over the world. This place is great to see (and taste) alone, with friends, a lover, or family.
9. An Airport Island. Flying Porter Airlines will land you at Toronto’s downtown airport that just happens to be an island. If you’ve spent time in St. Bart’s you’ll feel like the runway is the same- about 10 feet long, but not as scary as St. Bart’s since there’s no vertical drop (whew). It’s a unique experience to de-board a plane, grab a bag, and head straight for a ferry. All in the middle of a major city.
10. It’s Cheap. As of today, the exchange rate isn’t really impressive… our American dollar is only about 5% better than the Canadian dollar, but the real savings is their cost of living. Much of Toronto just seems cheaper. Flights are cheap. Luxurious hotels that would set you back $500 or more a night in Manhattan are only about $200 in Toronto. You can easily do a fun long weekend for 2 at the city’s best for about $600 per person including airfare, hotels, sight seeing, and meals. Beat that!
