We love Toronto this time of year! As the Winter blues fade away, the city comes alive with festivals, food, markets, shopping, and vibrant culture like nowhere else in the country. We’ve put together a list of some of the best things to get up to while the Spring and Summer seasons arrive!

Wine & Dine

Good food and drink in Toronto is always in season, but Springtime usually means updated menus and new items to try all over the city!

Toronto currently has 15 Michelin-starred restaurants, ranging from Mexican to European fusion, to Japanese, seafood and Mediterranean. We highly recommend Edulis Restaurant – they lovingly craft delicious, local and foraged dishes to surprise and delight your tastebuds and they also have a huge array of wine and drink pairings to make for the perfect experience. They’re also a quick 7-minute trip from the Radisson Blu Downtown Toronto so you can dine in style and then return to the comforts of home.

Photo credit: @edulisrestaurant on Instagram

Some other fabulous dining (and shopping!) spots can be found in Little Italy, where you’ll find the heart of Italian culture in Toronto. Visit Trattoria Taverniti for authentic South Italian and Calabrian cuisine, and be sure to visit Cafe Diplomatico for pizza and traditional coffees – they’ve been a Torontonian staple for more than fifty years!

Finally, Destination Toronto has a fantastic article giving you a well-rounded tour of some of the best Asian restaurants in Toronto, so be sure to check that out and add them to your list!

Find Your Groove

Concerts and festivals – both indoor and outdoor – come home to Toronto in 2024. You’ll have the chance to hear your favourite artists at the annual Canadian Music Week, now in its 42nd year! With 8 nights of performances and hundreds of bands, you can discover your new favourite band while celebrating all that Canadian music has to offer.

Photo credit: @canadianmusicweek on Instagram

North by North East returns in early June, and is a fantastic festival highlighting new and emerging artists, performing live at specific venues across town.

Photo credit: @nxne on Instagram

Movie Buffs & Art Lovers Unite

Toronto is a cultural hub for all kinds of media and is renowned for world-class film festivals. Learn something amazing or put yourself in someone else’s shoes at the Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival.

LGBTQ2+ filmmakers are highlighted at the Inside Out Film Festival, where art and experience come alive to tell incredible, heart-warming (and sometimes heart-breaking) stories from the community.

In May, don’t miss the Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival, where museums, galleries and public areas transform into works of art, showcasing photography from all over the world.

Go Shopping

Toronto is a world-class shopping destination, with boutiques, shopping centres, cultural districts and outdoor markets to shop at until you drop!

The Distillery District is a hip and historical spot in downtown Toronto where you can eat and shop at unique boutiques, from vintage to modern and everything in between! There’s always something going on at the District, and if you’re staying at the Novotel Toronto Centre, it’s just a short scenic walk along the harbour to get there.

Photo credit: @distilleryTO on Instagram

Queen Street West is another bustling spot with fantastic shopping and a rich history. This area has developed into the heart of Canadian broadcasting and arts, with both large retail and boutiques peppered in between diners and pubs frequented by locals and visitors alike. Click here for a full list of shops and amenities!

Photo credit: @queenstreetwest on Instagram

Kensington Market is probably the most diverse and vibrant place to shop in all of downtown Toronto. Exquisite cuisine and many pop-up shops and festivals create a welcoming atmosphere, and their weekly Pedestrian Sundays see the street closed to traffic and filled with happy people!

Photo credit: @kensingtonmarketbia on Instagram

Destination Toronto has also created two awesome lists of buzzy-worthy women-led and Black-owned businesses in downtown Toronto for you to visit and support during your stay.

Whether you’re visiting downtown Toronto for a week, or a weekend, definitely hit up some of these iconic destinations which are sure to start your Spring 2024 off on the right path!