Welcome to Backpacker’s Boutique. Every Sunday, this spot will feature a new travel blogger. Some weeks it will be a really fun interview about packing, fashion, and fitness so you can snoop inside their bags & lives a little bit and other weeks it’ll be a detailed luxury guide to a city the featured blogger/expat knows very well. E-mail me if you’d like to be featured.
A Luxury Guide to Toronto Financial District
Tell us a little about yourself and tell us why you’re an expert on luxury travel in the Financial district of Toronto.
Born and raised in Toronto, Canada the city is full of an array of different offering for all travellers. Financial district, is in the heart of Toronto with a number of great restaurants, sports centers, shopping and of course, spas.
Working in finance for nearly 10 years, I have provided recommendations for clients, colleagues and travellers to cater to their preferences and time. Financial district, quiet on the weekend, is hustling and bustling during the week and easily accessible through the internal PATH system or outdoors.
What makes the Financial district a perfect destination for travelers seeking a glamorous trip?
Being in the heart of downtown Toronto, there are a number of fabulous restaurants that will tantalize taste buds to each corner of the world. We have prided ourselves on our cultural diversity and our authentic array of cuisines that will inspire any visitor to keep on coming back.
Additionally, like all big cities, we have great wine bars, lounges, spas and shopping to solicit to any visitors taste.
What 5 star hotel is the best in the Financial District?
The newly renovated Four Seasons in Yorkville or the Shangri-la in downtown Toronto for an exception 5 star hotel experience.
What about boutique hotels in the Financial district, of them all, which would you send your friends or family to stay at?
Honestly, in Toronto you have some cute boutique hotels but truthfully, I would recommend friends or family to either stay at my place or to rent a guest suite in my building; a cheaper alternative than a hotel room.
The Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville, is a swanky boutique hotel where it is known for housing celebrities like the Jolie-Pitts, J-Lo, J-Biebs, Blake Lively and Ben Affleck. Perfect time to celeb spot? Definitely during TIFF (Toronto International Film Festival).
Are there any fun activities for the adventurous traveler?
CN Tower’s Edgewalk, which holds the title of the world’s highest full-circle, hands free walk on a 5 foot ledge that circles the main pod of the tower, 1,168 feet or 114 storeys above ground.
Where are the best hang outs during the day?
Maman in First Canadian Place is a great place for a “non-corporate” café environment as it transports you to a sweet European café where you can order pressed coffee, loaves and even a cocktail should you feel like it ☺
Take a walk around the downtown area and you will find spots that you will enjoy, the green spaces can be rare but when you find a patch take advantage of it.
If you have a big date night, what are the most delicious restaurants in the financial district and what are their best dishes?
Special occasions, I would recommend The Chase. These are two of my favourite restaurants for special occasions. The Chase offers incredible food, and an extensive but pricey wine list. The menu switches up, but is never disappointing with a great little patio with a better view than post places.
Big date night? Mercatto on Toronto Street is a sweet spot with great Italian food and ambience. Feel like ramping it up a bit more? Check out George Restaurant which providing patrons with a great tasting menu. You don’t know what you’re doing to get but it is always exceptional!
Let’s talk desserts- what place makes the best?
Oooh, that’s a tough call. If you feel like a creative twist on ice cream..there’s a great spot for it called Sweet Jesus. They serve up killer lattes and churros!
If you’re looking for sophistication, and something more bougie take a quick walk to Butter Avenue and check out their gorgeously presented tarts, mini cakes, macarons and dessert options.
Tell us all the hot shopping spots; who’s carrying the trendy local designers? Are there designers we should make sure to meet?
You can never go wrong with shopping in downtown Toronto. Whether you’re looking for designer handbags, couture dresses or well-made pair of jeans. Eaton Centre should be able to satisfy most people, but if you want the Chanel, Givenchy, Tiffany’s, Gucci and Prada; Yorkville is where you need to be.
What are a couple of the best salons and spas in the financial district?
Elmwood Spa is perfection in the city, one of my favourite “spoil me” spas where you are pampered from beginning to end.
Time for a great sunset view… where would you go?
Rooftop of the Thompson hotel!
If you end the night at a fancy club, which one do you head towards?
What tickles your fancy? Tequila lovers, go to Reposado which has a fantastic array of tequila that doesn’t make you feel like you are 19. Pravda is a well-known vodka bar that plays the Russian national anthem at midnight, then you get the samba group up on the bar and if you’re still standing, maybe you will get to do a vodka tasting in their chilly vodka room.
New to Toronto, CC Lounge is a whiskey bar but turns into a club on the weekends. It’s more chilled out during the weekdays but if you are looking to party.. these would be some places near financial district.
Alexandra Lam is a lover of food, wine, travel and surfing living in Toronto, Canada. She is the founder of non-profit initiative, project #showumslove, that looks to inspire other travellers to give back to places they are travelling to and through. Connect on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.
I’ll have to check out Pravda one weekend when I am in downtown Toronto. That sounds like quite the interesting place to be if they play the Russian National Anthem at midnight. I just love that anthem! Great list, BTW.