Best of Toronto

Best Boutique Shopping

Toronto is a shopaholics paradise, there`s vintage shopping at Kensington Market or on Queen West West, top retailers in the largest shopping mall in downtown Toronto, but the best boutique shopping is in Yorkville. Here you can find more than 700 designer boutiques, like Pink Tartan, a brand synonymous with luxury and sophistication. This area has developed into an up-scale shopping district.

Best Restaurant

This is a tough one, because if I have learnt anything about Toronto, then it`s this: it`s a foodie`s heaven. I had lunch at Nota Bene and Luma, both serving delicious food. I had dinner at the CN Tower with spectacular views, had the opportunity to satisfy my taste buds at the trendy Momofuku and BOSK. My personal choice of best restaurant goes to…  BOSK. My starter of scallops was divine, the main course of Alberta Beef glorious and the dessert delightful. 

Best Place to Breathe

If you want to find a spot to breathe, you can either visit one of the parks of Toronto or explore the Distillery District. This picturesque part of the city with numerous restaurants and shops will not disappoint you. Just browse the streets while taking in the culture and art.

Best One-stop Cultural Fix

Toronto has a lot to offer when it comes to art, exhibitions, performances, galleries, museums etc. The City is home to the International Film Festival, so when it comes to choosing just one stop, it`s not that easy. But I felt that the AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario, did a  great job in offering not only art inside, but also design through the newly constructed façade of the AGO, the titanium and glass south wing overlooking the Grange and Grange Park and the Gehry-designed spiral stairwell in Walker Court.

Most over the Top Architecture

Not sure if you can call it over the top architecture, but I haven`t seen it anywhere else yet. The combination of classic and modern like they did at the ROM, Royal Ontario Museum. The ROM, Canada’s largest museum of world culture and natural history. It is one of the largest museums in North America, attracting over one million visitors every year. Unfortunately I only saw it on the outside, but what a sight.

Most essential experience

Wander! Take a map in hand (or not) and just explore the city. Toronto counts several districts: the Financial District, centered on the intersection of Bay Street and King Street. The retail core is the Downtown Yonge area located along Yonge Street from College to Queen Street. Here you can find Toronto`s own ‘Times Square’, Dundas Square. You can find the oldest area of Toronto around St Lawrence. It features heritage buildings, theatres, music and dining. Then there`s the Entertainment District with nightclubs, restaurants, live theatre and much more. The Yorkville area, for luxury shopping and the Harborfront area.

This is my personal “Best of Toronto” as I`m sure everyone has their own opinion of what`s best for them and experience the city in a different way.

What`s your “Best of Toronto” tip?

Note: This stay was part of a campaign, brought to you by iambassador and sponsored by the Canadian Tourism Commission, Tourism Toronto and Shangri-La Hotel Toronto. As always opinions are my own, as are my photos.