Toronto Itinerary
Day 1: Check into Shangri La Hotel
* Walk to 401 Richmond from hotel, get something to eat (not sure where, any recs?); explore the galleries
* Visit MoCA as it’s free after 5pm-9pm on Fridays
* Have dinner at Mother’s dumplings (or other rec)
* See a 10pm second city show
Day 2:
* Morning yoga at Modo
* Breakfast at Poop Cafe
* St. Lawrence market or stack market (which one)
* Thrift shopping in Kensington Market
* Walk around west queen west, or eaton center, or distillery district (which one)
* Have lunch at Terroni
* Visit the powerplant art gallery
* Go back to hotel and get ready for the evening.
* Go to a bar: Which one: Cocktail Bar at 923 Dundas Street West, cold tea, gift shop; le swan; black hoof
* Go out to dinner: Which one: Bar raval, Petty Cash, blybos, figures, On Oir, Alma
* Go to a club: [https://www.torontoclubs.com/guestlist](https://www.torontoclubs.com/guestlist) or [https://fifthsocialclub.thefifth.com/](https://fifthsocialclub.thefifth.com/) (closer to apt)
Day 3:
* Check out of hotel
* Have lunch: Where?: dumpling house, Indian street food co, Ron San Dimsum; Loga’s Corner
* Stop at Yummy Market on the way out
Finally, are there any arty/ cultural things you reccomend we check out?
by Mydogweighmorethanme
12 Comments
How are you planning to get around?
Day 1 lunch: walk to Anh Dao, dinner: maybe switch to Imanishi Japanese Kitchen? It’s close to MoCA.
Day 3 lunch: walk to Pai.
Edit: I switched Khao San Road for Anh Dao, so you can have Pai on Day 3, which is close to your hotel. Anh Dao is still walking distance from 401 Richmond.
Day1: Near 401 Richmond, there is an italian restaurant called Fusaros which is super tasty (It’s on Queen and Spadina). There are also a lot of food options on Queen St. like Banh Mi Boys, Kinton Ramen, etc.
You are also within about a 30 minute walking distance (or 10 minute) streetcar ride to Kensington market, so you may want to switch that to day 1?
As for Mother’s Dumplings, I would suggest Juicy Dumplings although that is not really a sit down restaurant. If you’re looking for a tasty sit down restaurant that serves dumplings, I’d suggest King’s Noodle. A little bit pricey but very tasty. However, it’s cash only.
Day 2: Stackt Market, Kensington market and St. Lawrence Market is really far from each other. I would suggest checking out Stackt Market because there’s a lot of food options and the shipping container style stores are really cool.
Day 3: Rol San is under construction and moving to a different location (Just a few blocks away, so may be done by the time you arrive). They have a lot of options, and their dim sum is super delicious.
For Loga’s, they are a really good Tibetan momo spot but they only have momos. If you go there and can handle spice, definitely try their hot sauce!
As someone else mentioned some of the places in your itinerary aren’t that close together. so tried to think of food options close to key places you’re visiting.
Day 1
Near 401 Richmond:
Ca Phe Rang for Vietnamese.
In 401 Richmond Dark Horse is good place to get coffee. They just moved into a big main floor space near entrance.
Near MOCA:
Ethica another great spot to get coffee. In an old building and their space is really cool.
Spaccio West is from the same people as Terroni. I’d suggest maybe going here instead of Terroni on Day 2. Spaccio is such a unique space.
If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, just north is Bloor-Landsdowne area. There are some good dinner options that will give you a more locals vibe. Thai Nyom is a small Thai place. They only make a few dishes each day. Check their IG account for daily menu. Then heading east at Landsdowne is Sugo for Italian. Shakers Club recently relaunched with a great dinner menu.
Then for dessert go to Ruru Baked for great ice cream is open until 9 on Fridays even in the winter.
Day 2
If you end up going to Spaccio then instead of having lunch at Terroni, have lunch, coffee and dessert while you’re in Kensington Market. So many options. Some are very small take out only. But here are places with seating: Seven Lives, Gus Tacos, Little Pebbles, Pera Cafe. If weather isn’t bad then these are places worth grabbing a snack to eat while wandering: Dipped Donuts, Segovia, Crumbs Patties, Latin Taste, Blackbird, any place inside 214 Augusta… This just scratches the surface.
Or, near The Power Plant could have dim sum lunch at Pearl. Nice lake view.
Day 3
Since Rol San is closed while you’re visiting, and if you don’t go to Pearl on Day 2, there’s Dim Sum King in Chinatown.
Another Sunday brunch option that is a bit unique is Dzo Viet Eatery for a Vietnamese twist on brunch.
Dzo is right across from the Art Gallery of Ontario. And Dim Sum King is just a block west. So even if you don’t have time to see the whole gallery, its worth it to go for some specific things like the Leonard Cohen archives exhibition, Jonsi (member of Sigur Ros) sound piece, etc.
Hope this helps!
I can vouch for Cocktail Bar, Bar Raval, and Loga’s Corner as unique and excellent experiences. First two are pricy. Lola’s is a treat, and a steal. Get the steamed potato and dump one container of hot sauce on it. After, head south and go look at wintry Lake Ontario.
For Day 2 I’d recommend cocktails at Bar Raval and dinner at Bar Isabel. They’re both on college and you can walk to Isabel from Raval.
Just a heads up that Black Hoof is closed. If you’re a Jen Agg fan she has Le Swan which you mentioned and Grey Gardens which are both fantastic.
Stackt Market is more of an afternoon/evening thing. Milkys will be open for awesome coffee, but if you’re looking for breakfast/brunch options, you’re better heading to St Lawrence Market.
If you do head down to Stackt I suggest buying tickets to play crokicurl
“Walk to 401 Richmond from hotel, get something to eat (not sure where, any recs?); explore the galleries…”
The Queen Mother on Queen St. W. it’s walkable from 401 Richmond. You’re fairly close to the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario).
“St. Lawrence market or stack market (which one)
Walk around west queen west, or eaton center, or distillery district (which one)
Have lunch at Terroni”
St. Lawrence Market, Distillery and Terroni are all pretty close, and walkable. I’d suggest this line up.
Skip poop cafe, just go to St Lawrence Market for breakfast. Carousel Bakery has iconic breakfast sandwiches.
Here is my suggestion for your itinerary assuming you’re arriving Friday and leaving Sunday.
My boyfriend and I will be in Toronto for 2/3 days in March, can you look at my food choices and itinerary?
Toronto Itinerary
Day 1: Check into Shangri La Hotel
* Walk to 401 Richmond from hotel, get something to eat (not sure where, any recs?); explore the galleries – Have lunch at Ravi Soups.
* Visit MoCA as it’s free after 5pm-9pm on Fridays – MoCA is FAAAAAAR. I know it’s free but you’ll be wasting time heading there and you have very limited time. Suggest going to the AGO instead. If you do go to the AGO then Mother’s Dumplings/Dumpling House plus your show will be a LOT more doable
* Have dinner at Mother’s dumplings (or other rec)
* See a 10pm second city show
Friday
Alternative plan of going to AGO:
1. Check-in hotel
2. Walk to 401 Richmond
3. Lunch at Ravi Soups
4. AGO
5. Mother’s Dumplings/Dumpling House
6. Drinks at Big Trouble
7. Show at Second City
But if you really want to go to MoCA…
1. Check-in hotel
2. Light lunch at Ravi Soups or grab a coffee/muffin from a coffee shop.
2. Go to 401 Richmond
3. Head down to Sugo for late lunch/early evening dinner. Portions are MASSIVE so don’t worry about being hungry later. They open at 3 PM so suggest being there when they open so you have enough time to go to…
6. MoCA
7. Head down for your Second City Show.
Day 2:
* Morning yoga at Modo
* Breakfast at Poop Cafe
* St. Lawrence market or stack market (which one)
* Thrift shopping in Kensington Market
* Walk around west queen west, or eaton center, or distillery district (which one)
* Have lunch at Terroni
* Visit the powerplant art gallery
* Go back to hotel and get ready for the evening.
* Go to a bar: Which one: Cocktail Bar at 923 Dundas Street West, cold tea, gift shop; le swan; black hoof
* Go out to dinner: Which one: Bar raval, Petty Cash, blybos, figures, On Oir, Alma
* Go to a club: [https://www.torontoclubs.com/guestlist](https://www.torontoclubs.com/guestlist) or [https://fifthsocialclub.thefifth.com/](https://fifthsocialclub.thefifth.com/) (closer to apt)
Here is how I’ll do your Saturday:
1. Yoga at Sweat and Tonic/Yoga Tree. I checked the map and Modo is nowhere near your hotel.
2. Head down to St. Lawrence Market for breakfast. Peruse the vendors and eat there. You’re in a market, explore. But the most famous will be Carousel Bakery and the peameal bacon. St. Lawrence is closed I think Mon to Tues but I find it best to go Saturday because the farmer’s market at the second building is open.
3. Walk to Berczy Park->Union Station->Scotia Centre and Maple Leaf Square->Rogers Centre and CN Tower->lakeshore and Power Plant.
4. Head back to hotel.
5. If weather is nice head down to Stackt market to grab drinks outdoor. If weather is not nice then grab drinks at Petty Cash/Añejo/Ruby Soho or the rooftop of Baro.
6. And this is important, get reservations if you can for dinner as early as now. Toronto is notorious for long lines on a Saturday. Don’t waste your time in line. The following are close to the bars I suggested: Gusto 101/Little Sister/Baro/Lee Restaurant.
7. I’ll leave the suggestion of bars to someone else.
* Check out of hotel
* Have lunch: Where?: dumpling house, Indian street food co, Ron San Dimsum; Loga’s Corner
* Stop at Yummy Market on the way out
Finally, are there any arty/ cultural things you reccomend we check out?
Sunday:
I think you need a proper Toronto brunch before heading home. Go to Mildred’s Temple Kitchen if you’re driving. Please be warned if you can head there before 10 to avoid waiting in line when they open at 10.
If you are having lunch instead, go to Pai. It’s literally next door to you at the Shang. They open 12.
Hope this helps and enjoy Toronto.
Mother’s dumplings–> personally found them quite Disapponting, low on flavor/salt. Try Momo house or logas
Which Terroni are you going to? If it’s the one on Queen West near Niagara and you have some time I’d recommend going to Sanko. It’s a very cute store selling al things Japanese and it’s right next door to Terroni.