Start your day by crossing the street to Philosopher’s Walk and journey through the heart of the historical grounds of the University of Toronto. Continuing south you will arrive at the “not to be missed” Art Gallery of Ontario. A two hour visit should suffice; be sure to stroll through the gallery dedicated to The Group of Seven (legendary Canadian landscape artists) and the Galleria Italia for a memorable art experience. Head south on McCaul St. and walk under Table Top, the Ontario College of Arts and Design building that’s literally on stilts up in the sky. Walk south on the historical Grange Park path that reached as far as the lake in the 1820’s when Toronto was being developed. At Queen St. – known as the hippest street in Toronto, make a left and enjoy countless lunch options or for a true In the Know experience, walk over to the beautifully gated Osgoode Hall and enjoy one of Toronto’s true hidden gems. On the 2nd floor in the old library find the exquisite affordable cafeteria of the Superior Court Judges (open to the public daily from September to June from 12 – 2pm).

After lunch walk Nathan Phillips Square our City Hall (in the winter the pond freezes and becomes a popular ice rink) then cross the street for a peek at our Old City Hall. The architect E.J. Lennox poking fun at the politicians of the 1900’s made ugly caricatures of them and lined the main entrance with their faces. Head back along Queen St. westbound turning right at Spadina Ave. to walk on the busy streets of North America’s 3rd largest Chinatown. Make a left on St. Andrews and find Kensington Market. A protected historical site these streets were once a busy Jewish market post WW2, it then became a vibrant Portuguese market (made very popular by a 1980’s TV show “The King of Kensington”) and today it’s an eclectic, dynamic, multicultural market with inexpensive shops and restaurants selling everything from vintage wares to obscure spices. Head further west along College St. and walk through Little Italy stopping for a little sip of something on the patio of The Diplomatico known as the “Best People Watching Patio in the City”. Heading north through a residential area make your way back to Bloor St. and make a right where you will find the neighbourhoods of Little Korea and then The Annex. Coffee houses, book stores, one of kind shops and a multitude of casual eateries makes these neighbourhoods very popular with university students. Continue eastbound 6 more minutes and you will be back at our hotel.

After refreshing at the hotel, enjoy a drink in Proof Lounge and step out for the evening in one of Canada’s most refined neighbourhoods, our Yorkville. Be sure to stop in at the Concierge desk to ensure a restaurant reservation and then walk out to some of the finest restaurants in the city. Post dinner take a walk through our quaint streets window shopping at the many boutiques and art galleries that line the streets as you make your way to Panorama Lounge found on the 51st floor of the Manulife building. This is a perfect place to enjoy the 360 degree view and reflect on the incredible diversity of our magnificent Toronto.