Sometimes, all you need is a road trip to help you recharge your batteries, and if you’re looking for somewhere to go this winter or March break, Toronto is the perfect place to visit with friends or family, because there is always so much going on, whether you’re a sports fan, museum buff, or shopping enthusiast—and it’s a great place to visit to beat the winter blues.
Here’s how you can spend a weekend in Toronto this winter or
March break:
Check-in to St. Regis
The St. Regis in Toronto’s financial district is one of the
city’s most luxurious hotels, and for the second year in a row, awarded
Five-Star Hotel and Five-Star Spa ratings by Forbes Travel Guide.
The St. Regis Toronto helped redefine the standard of
five-start luxury hotel stays in Toronto —and because of its ideal location, the
perfect place to stay if you’re sightseeing, enjoying the city’s finest
restaurants, or catching a sports game. The St. Regis Toronto is close to the
CN Tower, Scotiabank Arena, Rogers Centre, and the city’s premier shopping,
theatre, and entertainment venues.
My son and I checked in to the hotel and were greeted warmly--excellent service continued throughout our stay, with every detail being perfection. We stayed in a very spacious suite complete with two bathrooms, a large bathtub, and a separate bedroom, as well as a spacious living room area. The room was stunning and so luxurious, and the service was excellent. We loved the comfort of the room, the breathtaking downtown views. The lobby is always bustling with people, and the location could not be better.
Dining at its finest
We were treated to brunch at LOUIX LOUIS Grand Bar and Restaurant, 31 stories above the city, with breathtaking views, excellent service, and delicious menu options combining American cuisine infused with French culinary artistry.
LOUIX LOUIS is inspired by the iconic cocktail parlors of New York and Paris and the two-story high Grand Bar is a stunning place where you feel like you’ve gone back in time. Painted by Toronto artist Madison van Rijn, their 60-foot ceiling mural “Bouquet of Whisky” is inspired by a glass of Canadian whisky. Our brunch was delicious, as was the service. It is stunning!
We ended our brunch (although we were already quite full from the delicious meal) with their world-famous and iconic King’s Cake, a 13-layer chocolate cake, meant for sharing!
You can also enjoy breakfast, afternoon tea service, lunch and dinner at the modern and chic Astor Lounge right behind the check-in desks of the hotel.
Similar to other St. Regis properties around the world,
Toronto’s St. Regis also includes their signature rituals, an integral part of
the St. Regis brand—the Bloody Mary Ritual, the Evening Ritual, and the
Afternoon Tea Ritual.
Catch a show
Toronto is well known for its theatre district, and catching
a show in Toronto is similar to enjoying a Broadway experience in New York
City. The Toronto Theatre District is part of the Toronto Entertainment
District that contains the largest concentration of stage theatres in Canada,
and the third largest English-speaking theatre district in the world, after
West End in London and Broadway in New York City.
You can watch the global sensation, Come From Away, as it has recently returned to the historic Royal Alexandra Theatre, where it all began. You’ll be mesmerized as you watch the remarkable true story unfold of 7,000 stranded passengers in a small Newfoundland town that welcomed them. My friend and I enjoyed the show, and it was emotional and funny at the same time.
Before or after the show, enjoy dinner at Lucie, an
elegant French restaurant a short walk from the theatre, where you’ll be able
to experience French cuisine with a contemporary twist, prepared by French Chef
Armaud Bloquel.
Candle making Kandl Artistique
A perfect way to start the day while in Toronto for the weekend is visiting Yorkville, considered one of the best neighborhoods to enjoy gourmet restaurants, designer boutiques, art galleries, and museums. Yorkville is where you’ll find Kandl, where you can experience the first fully customizable candle making workshop in North America. Here you’ll get the chance to choose, combine, and create a custom fragrance candle, from start to finish, in just over an hour. With a variety of different candle making labs to sign up for, the Classic Lab is the perfect introduction to the sensory journey of fragrance selection and candle making, and includes guidance from Kandl’s expert team, custom blending of 125 personalized scent possibilities, wax and scent infusion, custom vessel selection and personalized label creation. It is all very hands on, and a great way to spend the day with family, children, or a group of friends. While waiting for your candle to curate, you can even enjoy drinks and charcuterie at Kandl or explore the Yorkville village. We loved the entire experience and especially love our unique custom-made candles.
Afternoon tea
I love combining shopping with eating—and at Holt Renfrew in Yorkville, you can do just that! Whether you’re craving something sweet or savory, Holts Café on Bloor Street has an extensive menu for a quick bite or lunch, featuring contemporary Canadian cuisine—focused on sustainability, quality ingredients, locality and seasonality. The menus play homage to Holts Café classics and staples, like salads, burgers, soups, and more. We enjoyed the special Jo Malone holiday tea during our stay, and Mabel, Holt's marketing guru, made our experience perfection! We also enjoyed the beautifully decorated Holt's and did some shopping, too.
If you still have time, visit Ripley’s Aquarium or the Royal
Ontario Museum—both huge hits for families, and children of all ages!
Shopping, dining, theatre, exploration, and luxurious
accommodations—Toronto has it all, and it’s a close to home so it makes
planning a weekend away that much easier.
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