Visiting Toronto in May...recommendations needed please...

[Jamie G]

I'm not sure how many people on here are from or know much about Toronto ?

My wife has booked us 3 nights in Toronto and 2 nights in Niagara for my 40th birthday this year in May. I've officially been watching wrestling for 25 years now

Anyway, if anyone has any tips on good places to eat, drink and visit, that would be great. We've got a rough idea of what we want to do, but local knowledge is invaluable.

I'd like to find a bar to watch RAW in as well.

Cheers all.

[wapcaplets]

The following are my personal favourite places; not meant to be authoritative.

The Royal Ontario Museum (ROM) and Art Gallery of Ontario are both very cool. The CN Tower is a bit of a rip-off but if you want to see a view from a really high building it's neat to do once.

If you like steaks I'd suggest Barberian's Steak House (http://www.barberians.com/). "Ruth's Chris" steaks gets a lot of praise and press but I personally think Barberian's is on-par in quality, a better value, and has nicer ambience.

Electric Mud BBQ (which John & Wai have talked about on their shows) is really good. It's small, doesn't look like much, but the food is incredibly. It's a little expensive for what you get because you're paying what I call the hipster tax but the food is great if you like BBQ.

There's a great restaurant called The Senator which is very close to Dundas Square that I really like. It's very reasonably priced for downtown Toronto and feels like you're in a diner in the 1950s (and not in a kitschy, tons of crazy crap on the walls kind of way). It's got beautiful wood-paneled walls and very retro-looking booths.

If you look at tourist attraction websites you'll probably see a lot of advertisements for Toronto harbour cruises. Personally, I think these are unspectacular. There's nothing particularly unique about the Toronto harbour that you need to be off-shore to appreciate. Also, in may, it will be freezing cold out on the lake even if it's warm on shore. The harbourfront district has some cool stuff but you can appreciate that walking around.

For getting around, I'd invest a bit of time to familiarize yourself with the subway (which is really simply; it's basically a big "+" sign) and buy TTC day passes when you're looking around. Cabs in Toronto are crazy expensive, although services like Uber are an option, too.

[Jamie G]

Thank you friend! Most helpful. The bbq place sounds good so will probably try that.

I'm doing the CN Tower edge walk, which will he funny considering I've got a pretty bad fear of heights.

Any bars that we can sit and watch Raw in?

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2016 12:29:38 GMT -5 Jamie G said:

Any bars that we can sit and watch Raw in?

People often ask, and while I haven't specifically been there myself for obvious reasons, I've seen The Contender (1166 Dundas St W) advertise PPV airings last time I visited. Would only assume they'd air Raw on Mondays as well.

If you go to Electric Mud, try to get the chicken (apparently JR praised them when Damian took him there). The ribs there were unspectacular (go to The Piston for that).

Would also recommend Comedy Bar (Jason Agnew hosts an improv show every 1st/3rd Thursday of the month).


For everything else, BlogTO (http://www.blogto.com/) is a great resource with a number "best of" lists in their archives.

[Jamie G]

Thanks Wai, much appreciated. I forgot about Jay's comedy night, that's a good shout.

Sounds like there's a lot for us to do in the 3 days!

[Brad]

If you and your wife enjoy beer, take a tour of the Steam Whistle brewery. They offer tasting tours and are located right across from the CN tower. The tour is fun and the staff there is great. Steam Whistle is a pilsner and it's delicious, my all time favorite beer.

[Jamie G]

We do enjoy beer yes! That sounds right up our street actually. We're doing the CN Tower edge walk so will hit some beers afterwards. Thanks mate.

[wigsf3]

There's a place downtown called Wvrst that specializes in beer and sausages and a great beer bar near it called Beer Hop.

[RKing85]

Kensington Market for any shopping. Neat little area with some awesome deals.

[oz]

Find the Tim Horton's near the Fight Network office and make small talk with John Pollock. I hear he loves that sort of thing

I'd really like to go Toronto soon, maybe this or next year.

[Roxy]

Isnt it sneeky D's that Jason raves about the nacho's? Forgot what "bartender Dave" place was called though..

[wigsf3]

Feb 16, 2016 5:11:55 GMT -5 Roxy said:

Isnt it sneeky D's that Jason raves about the nacho's? Forgot what "bartender Dave" place was called though..

Bartender Dave is at brydens. I think that's the name.
I think Sneaky Dee's is very overrated. I always feel like I need a tetanus shot after being in that place.

[Jamie G]

I hadn't planned on any inoculations for this trip so I'll steer clear of Sneaky D's. Thanks for all the recommendations though, I appreciate it.

Apart from seeing the area in general, our main thing will be drinks and food with some shopping thrown in, so any more suggestions on that front would be great.

[RKing85]

Was looking at maybe getting to Toronto in mid July. The weekend CHIKARA is in town. That show, some Jays games, Toronto FC game.

the ONE wedding we have to go to this summer is that weekend. FUCK!

Maybe going to come a few weeks earlier now, the beginning of July.

[Bartender Dave]

Come see me Sunday, Monday, Tuesday nights at Bryden's at 2455 Bloor Street West for the best line up of Ontario craft beer and great pub grub.

Hooray!!!