This guide was originally written and published in 2018 and has been updated. Some dishes and products may have changed since.
Toronto is the kind of city you can go to a million times, and have a different trip each visit. In need of an adventure? Swim with stingrays at the aquarium or challenge yourself to the EdgeWalk around the CN Tower. Craving a beach getaway in the summer? Island hop and explore during the warmer months. Hungry? Always. Take a culinary tour and stroll through some of the best markets, food halls, and restaurants in the world all in the same city.
Toronto just simply never gets old and it’s only a short 2 hour drive away from Buffalo. During the holiday season, they feature numerous markets, including their famous Distillery Winter Village where the shops are open late and food vendors line the streets with holiday treats. The village is reason alone to make the trip north, but there are plenty of other things to do, inside and out, to fill a 2 day 1 night visit!
Here’s our go-to itinerary for a weekend visit to Toronto during the holiday season:
Day 1
Check into the Broadview Hotel
106 Broadview Ave, Toronto, ON M4M 1G9, Canada
416-362-8439 / thebroadviewhotel.ca
Just off the beaten path is a newly renovated hotel with character and cozy amenities. The hotel itself is only just over a year old, but the building has been around since 1891 in the historic east end of the city.
As soon as we stepped inside, we noticed the beautiful bar to the right and the employees were so friendly and helpful, immediately asking what are plans were to explore with city. We were just going to ask if they could store the luggage, but they offered an early check-in allowing us time to get situated before heading back out. Of course that’s not always a guarantee, but they were willing to accommodate us in anyway.
We stayed in the king traditional room with, of course, a king size bed with luxury Italian linen. The record player in the room was playing soft music and the beautiful light pink floral wallpaper was a nice touch, perfect for photo ops!
Take an Uber or Taxi to the Hudson Bay Yonge and Queen Street Area
After getting settled into the room, we called a taxi to take us to the Hudson Bay area where we landed right in the middle of some holiday decorations you’ll definitely want to see!
Start by exploring the iconic holiday window displays at Saks Fifth Avenue where you’ll see nutcrackers, winter wonderlands, and even a narwhal. Epic. The store is notorious for having 8 floors of designer clothes, shoes, and perfumes, but if you weren’t banking on a splurge this trip, they have a great, and very affordable, home goods section on the ground floor. Speaking of the ground floor of Saks, there’s even a food hall down there where you can get candies, oils, chocolates like the famous disco eggs from CXBO, and poutine, of course. You need a snack to shop, right? It’s fuel!
After Saks, walk over to the Nathan Phillips Square where you’ll see Toronto’s City Hall building, the famous Toronto sign, and the Christmas Tree. Nathan Phillips Square is also home to the Cavalcade of Lights which happen late November to early January.
Lunch at Chef’s Hall
111 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5H 2G4, Canada
416-300-9081 / chefshall.com
Walking distance from the windows at Saks and the Toronto sign is a foodies version of heaven on earth. Seriously though, Chef’s Hall, just around the corner from Nathan Square, is a food hall in Toronto’s Financial District that brings together the city’s top chefs, baristas, and restaurant owners in one building. Under one roof, you can taste some of the city’s best dishes and experience cuisine from all around the world.
Visit the The Distillery Winter Village in the Distillery Historic District
thedistillerywintervillage.com
After lunch, grab a Taxi to the Distillery Historic District where you’ll find The Distillery Winter Village. Amongst The Distillery District’s 75+ local merchants, restaurants and cafés, you’ll find vendor cabins offering uniquely curated seasonal items and gifts, plus some mouth-watering food options.
Enjoy Dinner within the Distillery District at Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie
35 Tank House Lane, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4, Canada
(416) 203-2632 / clunybistro.com
Once you finally get your appetite back, stop for dinner at Cluny, an upscale restaurant inside the Distillery District. At first glance, you can tell its going to be a special experience.
As we were being guided to our table, we noticed a chef shucking oysters behind the raw bar for the huge, smoking seafood towers the waitresses were delivering to nearby tables. In the middle of the room was an island with loaves of fresh bread being sliced and placed in baskets for guests to enjoy with their meal. The open kitchen concept allows customers to see what the chefs are doing behind the scenes, almost like watching the Food Network, while you sip wine and decided what to order. The atmosphere immediately makes an impression – and a very elegant one!
When you find out the pastry chef has won awards around the world for his chocolate, you save room for dessert. With options like the vanilla crepe flambe lit on fire at your table or the chocolate bombe that you smash open to reveal treats like Pop Rocks, ice cream, marshmallows and more inside, how do you pick just one one?
When you ask anyone at Cluny about the team behind one of the most incredible meals we’ve ever had, they’ll say “we’re just a bunch of people who are dedicated to great customer service and making your experience a memorable one.” And that they did.
Enjoy a Cocktail at the Rooftop Bar at the Broadview
Get one last glimpse of the tree as you’re heading out of the market before taking a cab back to the Broadview Hotel where you can ride the elevator up to the rooftop bar for a drink. Take in the spectacular view while sipping your fancy craft cocktail.
Day 2
Enjoy a Light Breakfast at the Broadview Hotel
Guests can enjoy breakfast in their sun filled cafe, with delicious foods, fresh squeezed juices, and roasted coffee to fuel the rest of your day! Go light though, because in a few hours after checkout, you’ll head just outside of the hotel where you’ll meet your tour guide to check out some of the best spots in Riverside and Leslieville.
Take a Culinary Tour with the Culinary Adventure Company
Embark on the 3-hour culinary tour, while listening to stories about the history of the surrounding areas and tasting famous local dishes. On our visit, we toured around Riverside & Leslieville with an outstanding guide who had a lot of knowledge about the area. We tried fresh bread and scones before they sold out for the day while learning the story behind St. John’s Bakery and their mission to help the community. We also learned about how to make coffee from the green bean to the cup from the owner of Merchants of Green Coffee. It was a blast like we’re sure all of their tours are.
When the tour ended, we popped into Queen Books and the Leslieville Cheese Market before hopping on the street car to visit a few shops on Queen St. West and see Graffiti Alley.
Other Attractions and Activities
Explore the Local Attractions with your Toronto CityPASS
Visit the CN Tower to get spectacular views of the city and watch the brave souls do the EdgeWalk, the world’s highest external walk on a building, during the summer months… or join them. A stop at the Ripley’s Aquarium to ride through the famous Dangerous Lagoon tunnel is a must! You’ll get up close and personal with a variety of sharks and ocean life. At Casa Loma, you’ll have the opportunity to explore the castle grounds of what was once the home of Canadian financier, Sir Henry Pellatt.
Explore Local Markets
With a city full of incredible markets, you have to make time to see at least one.
- St. Lawrence Market (named world’s best food market by National Geographic)
- Kensington Market
- Find more here!
Thank you to Visit Toronto, the wonderful staff at the Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie, the Broadview Hotel, Chefs Hall, and Culinary Adventure Company for having us!
This guide was originally written and published in 2018 and has been updated. Some dishes and products may have changed since.
