Toronto Walking Tour
Start on the intersection of Parliament St. and Mill St. (5 Mill St.), marked by the red pin on the map, then walk into the Distillery District. Walk east along Gristmill Lane until you reach1. John Fluevog Shoes Toronto Distillery (4 Trinity St.), a Vancouver based company that uses traditional methods to make unique shoes. Walk south to 2. Madrina Bar y Tapas (2Trinity St.), a traditional Catalan tapas bar with an interesting menu. The District houses numerous art galleries; one of the highlights is the 3. Thompson Landry Gallery (32 Distillery Lane), which exhibits works by Canadian artists. For a change of pace, walk east to visit 4. Balzac’s Coffee Distillery District (1Trinity St.), which serves coffee in the building that’s the renovated pump house of the whiskey distillery that used to operate on the site. Continue east until you reach the intersection of Distillery Lane and Rack House Mews, then walk North along Rack House Mews to arrive at 5. Cluny Bistro &Boulangerie (35 Tank House Lane), which serves modern French food and has bistro and café menus in addition to and adjacent boulangerie. Walk west along Tank House Lane to visit6. Mill Street Brewery and Brewpub (21 Tank House Lane),where you can sample featured beer made on site like organic lager and coffee-accented porter. For a sweet treat visit 7.Soma Chocolatemaker (32 Tank House Lane), which serves chocolate, gelato, cookies and hot chocolate. Continue west to reach 8. El Catrin Destileria (18 Tank House Lane), which is a Mexican restaurant that occupies the former boiler house of the distillery. They offer Mexican meals and snacks, and boasts the largest tequila and mezcal collection in Canada. Return to Gristmill Lane via Trinity St., then exit the Distillery District North onto Mill St. Return to the intersection of Parliament St. and Mill St., marked by the red pin on the map.
Begin at 1. Spadina Station, at the corner of Spadina Ave. and Bloor St. (332 Bloor St. W), and cross Bloor St. W to Sussex Mews. Walk south along Sussex Mews until you reach Harbord St., then walk west to 1. Caversham Booksellers (98 Harbord St.), North America’s only mental health-focused bookseller. Harbord St. is also home to various food and drink options. Then continue west on Harbord St. until you reach 3. Clay Design Group (170 Brunswick Ave.) where you can obtain a pottery souvenir. Go North along Brunswick Ave. east onto Bloor St. W. to arrive at4. BMV Books (471 Bloor St. W.), Canada’s largest bookstore for discounted and pre-loved books. They also sell music and videos. Then walk west along Bloor St. W. until you reach 5. Seekers Books (509 Bloor St. W.), a legendary Toronto independent bookstore. You can also find a number of food and drink options along Bloor St., this includes 6.Slanted Door (442 Bloor St. W). Continue west to 7. Snakes & Lattes Annex (600 Bloor St. W), a locale where you can pay by the hour to play boardgames with food and drinks available. Then walk further west to 8. Doug Miller Books(650 Bloor St. W), another independent used bookstore. Continue west until you reach Christie Subway Station, marked by the red pin on the map.
Rosedale and the Brickworks
Start at 1. Castle Frank Station, at the corner of Castle Frank Rd.
and Bloor St. E. Turn Right onto Castle Frank Rd. and followCastle Frank Rd. North into the Rosedale neighbourhood. Turnleft onto the picturesque 2. Craigleigh Gardens (160 South Dr.), apark popular with locals. Head west and exit the path onto SouthDr., then turn right into the Milkman’s Lane access point. Followthe Milkman’s Lane path downhill to the Beltline Trail. Follow theBeltline Trail north until you reach the 3. Brick Works Park (550Bayview Ave.). For nearly a century, the factory located hereprovided Toronto with raw construction materials. Todayboardwalks cross the former quarry, and the surrounding ponds,and there is a lookout you can walk to. From the brickworks youcan choose to complete your journey and take a cab or uber back,or continue by returning to the Beltline Trail and continuingnorth, until you reach 4. Chorley Park Trail (245 Douglas Dr.).Take the zig-zag path uphill until you reach Chorley Park. Followthe trail until you reach Roxborough Dr. Then follow RoxboroughDr. west until you reach 5. Rosedale United Church (159Roxborough Dr.). From there follow Glen Rd. south, crossing theGlen Rd. bridge (an excellent place for pictures) until you reachSouth Dr. again. Continue west from South Dr. to Crescent Rd.,then west along Crescent Rd. to 6. Mooredale Swimming PoolClub (146 Crescent Rd.). Continue west along Crescent Rd. untilyou reach Rosedale Station, marked with the red location pin onthe map.
Union – Eaton – Osgoode
Start at 1. Union Station (55 Front St. W); constructed in 1927, it is Canada’s
busiest inner city station. It houses many restaurants and storesunderground. The main entrance of Union Station leads unto the Great Hall,where the names of a number of Canadian destinations are carved and theflags of Canada’s provinces are displayed. If you look up you’ll see the two-storey, high-vaulted ceiling. Cross to the other side of Front St. W to reach 2.Fairmont Royal York (100 Front St. W), a luxury hotel. Built in 1929 byCanadian Pacific Railway and was briefly the tallest building in Toronto. Theclockwork lounge in the lobby bubble is an enjoyable place for a cocktail ora light snack. Go east along Front St. W then turn onto Bay St. to enter 3.Brookfield Place (181 Bay St.). The atrium, housing 11 heritage buildings, isa striking landmark designed by the architect Santiago Calatrava. It alsocontains the NHL’s Hockey Hall of Fame. Exit and continue north alongYonge St. until you reach the Trader’s Bank Building, Canada’s firstskyscraper, located at Yonge St. and Colborne St. Walk east along ColborneSt. then north along Scott St. until you reach 4. The Omni King Edward Hotel(37 King St. E). Opened in 1903, it was granted its name by its namesake King Edward VII. The bar in the hotel is frequented by Toronto’s financial and legal movers and shakers. The hotel and its surrounding areas were heavily used in the filming of “American Psycho.” Return to Yonge St. then cross toVictoria St. Continue further north along Victoria St. until you reach 5.Massey Hall (178 Victoria St.), a performing arts venue opened in 1894. Theinterior was inspired by the Alhambra palace in Spain, and Louis Sullivan’sChicago Auditorium. Around the top are 30 stained glass windows eachdepicting a famous composer. Turn onto Shuter St. to return to Yonge St. Gosouth along Yonge St. to reach 6. Elgin and Winter Garden Theatres (189Yonge St.). It is the world’s last remaining “stacked theatre,” (a theatre withtwo stages). One stage sits on top of the other and both stages can stagedifferent performances simultaneously. Return back to Yonge St. and enterthe 7. CF Toronto Eaton Centre (220 Yonge St.), a mall that stretches twocity blocks and contains more than 250 shops. Hanging from the ceiling isFlight Stop, an art installation created by Michael Snow depicting a flock ofCanadian geese. Take time to look at the shops, then exit on the west side ofthe mall to Trinity Square—home of the Church of the Trinity SquareLabyrinth (10 Trinity Square). The Labyrinth is an exact copy of a path inChartres Cathedral in France. Walk south to 8. Toronto Old City Hall (60Queen St. W), which was the largest civic building in North America when itwas completed in 1899. Adjacent to the Old City Hall you’ll see Toronto’scurrent City Hall and Nathan Phillips square, it’s a great place to get apicture of the “Toronto” logo. Continue west to 9. Osgoode Hall (130 QueenSt. W). The continue west until you reach Osgoode Station, marked by thered pin on the map. At this point you can complete your journey or walksouth along University Ave. until you return to Union Station.
Start on the street level Queen’s Park Subway Station on theintersection of University St. and College St., marked by the red pinon the map. Queen’s Park was opened in 1860, named after Queen
Victoria, and houses the legislative assembly of Ontario. Walk northalong Queen’s Park Cres. W until you reach 1. Gardiner Museum (111Queen’s Park). the building houses both a ceramics museum and apopular lunch spot, the Clay Restaurant. Cross the street to 2.RoyalOntario Museum (100 Queen’s Park), which houses one of Canada’sbest collections of artefacts of world, cultural, and natural history.The Museum is Toronto’s version of the British Museum. Exit fromthe north side of the Museum onto Bloor St. Walk west along BloorSt. until you reach the entrance to 3. Philosopher’s Walk (78 Queen’sPark Cres.), which is part of the University of Toronto’s St. GeorgeCampus. Walk south along Philosopher’s Walk past Flavelle House,which contains the university’s law school and law library. Flavelle House features large columns, mosaic floors, and a ceilingwith frescoes. Continue south along Philosopher’s Walk until youreach Hoskin Ave. Continue south along Tower Rd. until you reach 4.Hart House Building (7 Hart House Circle), the heart of student lifeat the University of Toronto. The most prominent feature of HartHouse is Soldier’s Tower, which memorializes the UofT students andfaculty who served Canada in war. Visit the Tower’s second-floormemorial gallery, then enter Hart House proper to visit the BarnickeArt Gallery, which is a part of the art museum of the University ofToronto. Afterwards you can have lunch at the Gallery Grill, whichoverlooks the oak-paneled Great Hall and its sculpture-studdedquadrangle. Afterward, walk south on Hart House Circle until youreach 5. Front Campus (1 King’s College Circle). Continue southalong King’s College Rd. then turn onto College St. and walk eastuntil you return to Queen’s Park Station, marked by the red pin on themap.
