Toronto, ON
Previously known as York, Toronto received it’s current name in 1834. We came to Toronto to catch up with friends, as well as to make our way to Niagara Falls. Toronto is a big sprawling city in need of better public transportation infrastructure. With the baby’s stroller we walked to all the sights, no not to Niagara. We probably could have caught a bus to get around, but didn’t want to waste time trying to sort out the routes and payments. The airport is a whole level of weird. If you can’t clear immigration via the automated computer, due to a weird visa or something, then it’s always slow. We’ve been through here a couple of times and it’s been no different. Like union-striking-but-still-have-to work-slow slow. So make sure to get to the airport 5 hours early. They only pushed through the line once all our new line ride friends started to complain about missing flights. Plus us having a baby that started to get bored with the line ride and made it known. Just fly through Montreal…
Downtown and Old Toronto
Yonge Street is the apex of everything in this city. It is pretty long, so I am just going to focus on the section within Downtown and Old Toronto. At the southern end is Union Station, one of the first major buildings in Toronto. Not far away from here is Brookfield Place, St Lawrance Market, and the famous Dog Fountain. Speaking of the Dog Fountain, see if you can find the cat. Brookfield Place has an interesting layout that forms an L shape. Enter from Bay Street and check out the Allen Lambert Atrium. It’s also worth noting that there are a few old buildings within the complex, that are now luckily protected from the elements due to the walkways. There is a Marche Movenpick here that is very family friendly. When you enter grab a card, and buy your food. And when you leave hope you didn’t lose your card and then settle your bill. If you are having pangs for yum cha, Pearl Harbourfront will sate those pangs.
St Lawrence Market is your usual old market. Maybe I’ve been spoilt by Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, but I found Reading to be better. Maybe if I hadn’t been to Reading Market I’d like St Lawrence Market more than I do. Not far from here was a cool spot for a relaxed meal at Farmr, I’d recommend it as they were very friendly.
Otherwise we tried out many places for food and coffee. Danish Pastry House within the Eaton Centre had good coffee and pastries. Café Landwer on the corner of Adelaide St and University Ave hit the spot for breakfast. It’s a popular place for tourists so arrive earlier than you’d expect to. Cuppa Tea on Carlton St serves up Hong Kong snacks and drinks. Not far from here is Black Bear Espresso, another friendly coffee shop. For dinner we found Kinton Ramen to be very authentic. We liked Kinton so much we went back a number of times. It was near our accommodation, but a little out of the way of busy Yonge St. This made it easy enough to get into without a reservation.
Kensington Market, Chinatown, and Surrounding
A bohemian neighborhood with a number if indie shops, boutiques and hipster restaurants. We found ourselves here a few times. Mainly because we were in the area and wanted to find some food. We ate at Rasta Pasta, Voodoo Child, and Hanabusa Café. Rasta Pasta had a split theme going on, Italian and Jamaican food. We went for the Jamaican food, and it was pretty good, the portions are large and the staff very friendly. Voodoo Child is probably not really in this area, but not really any other section to put it under. The coffee here was decent, but I feel this is more of a venue for an evening. Our final return visit was to Hanabusa Café. We first came past here on a weekend and it was packed, returning on a weekday it was much quieter. These supper fluffy souffle pancakes were awesome. I must find a recipe and try to make them at home.
The Chinatown here exists, but it kinda felt a little underwhelming. Then again Toronto has a number of Chinatowns spread around the city so it probably makes sense that there isn’t all that much here. We had a dinner with friends at Chine Legendary Hot Pot Noodles. Putting legendary in your name is a bold statement to make. I probably haven’t eaten enough hot pot to know if this place is truly legendary, but it was pretty good on a cool evening.
Graffitti Alley is just off to the side of Chinatown. It runs for about 2 or 3 blocks along a back alley and it’s clean enough given the location. Plenty of art on the walls to get your Instagram shot.
May, 2019
