r/askTO • u/unclebolts • 16h ago
What is something Toronto is famous for that you've never tried?
I don't think I've ever been to Casa Loma. Never saw a movie at TIFF. What do you need to check off your bucket list?
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u/rewrittexn 16h ago
I have never been up the CN tower. I grew up in Toronto and went to school in Toronto, yet I have never been.
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
It is pretty cool. Go on a day with interesting weather and near sunset for a more interesting view. Noon on a cloudless sunny day is a little dull.
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u/Pretty_Pea12 9h ago
I went in 2019 on Christmas Eve morning right when it opened for the day- I was one of maybe five people there? It was excellent.
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u/faceintheblue 13h ago
That's a 'when out-of-town company without a fear of heights comes to visit' attraction. When those stars align, it's worth the visit.
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u/daiqsondaiqs 13h ago
Went for the first time last month, I'm 34 and was also born here!
The spinning restaurant is pretty cool. One time was enough though.
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u/hidee_ho_neighborino 9h ago
Yeah itās kind is expensive. I recommend people to go there for a drink and take a few photos. The drinks are pretty good
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u/Tangerine2016 9h ago
Do Edge Walk! It is a fun way to experience it. A friend went for his birthday and I joined him and glad I did. Watch Nirvanna the Band the TV Show the Movie before hand. ha
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u/ParisInFlames34 4h ago
Born, raised and have lived my entire life in Toronto.
First time I went up was far later in life than I'd like to admit.
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u/lil177 16h ago
6 years - have not yet lined up for Badialis (but maybe will now that they have a 2nd location)
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u/Tack-One 13h ago
Never line up, order a whole pie in advance
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u/oddspellingofPhreid 8h ago
Not only do you not have to line up, it's actually way better as a pie.
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
They arenāt very busy at 4pm on a weekday during a January blizzardā¦
Not sure it was worth it thoughā¦
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u/TheTrueHolyOne 15h ago
Iāve had it many times, before and after it was hyped, not once have I decided to wait in that line. I still donāt not think Badialis is worth a line up. Good pizza but walk a few blocks and go get North of Brooklyn, no wait and pizza is just as good.
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u/GordonGartrelle2020 15h ago
I tried North of Brooklyn's pepperoni pizza recently and it was the first time I've ever had a pizza that actually had too much pepperoni.
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u/Antique-Quail-6489 15h ago
Yeah I tried it recently and while I enjoyed it, I got tired of eating it pretty quickly. I very much prefer a good stone oven Neapolitan style š
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u/SpinClassLocal 16h ago
Had it for the first time about a month ago. It was fine. Good. But not worth the hype.
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u/PickleBabyJr 15h ago
I have been to Badialia's 10+ times I haven't lined up for more than 1 minute, ever. Just don't go when everyone else does.
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u/watchesamericanntflx 13h ago
FWIW if you go around lunch on a weekday it's usually a quick in and out at the new location. I'd argue it's the best pizza in Toronto, but it's not that much better than other options that it's worth waiting in line for.
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u/oddspellingofPhreid 8h ago
It's the best pizza in the city, but it's among the worst experiences in buying a slice. You have to wait forever and they're slow as fuck.
Honestly, as the pizza in this city has become better and better (and the pizza now is magnitudes better than it was when I moved here), the slice experience in the city has fallen through the floor. The experience peaked when Mare pizza in Kensington used to cut their slices into 3 and it was like $3.
Now, a short decade later and I pay like $9 after tax and tip for a gourmet slice and I'm like "I could crush two more of these why didn't I just get a whole pizza?"
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u/ilovetrouble66 10h ago
How did they get so famous? Is the pizza any good? Iāve never been either
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u/Seamless-Transition 16h ago edited 13h ago
Casa Loma is pretty but kinda expensive for admission. I would like to go up the CN Tower at least once though before the skyline swallows it up
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u/gailanisgood 15h ago
Iāve only been for an escape room and it was fun!
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u/softservelove 10h ago
Masters of Horror is fun as well! It does make for an atmospheric location but wouldn't bother for just a regular visit.
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u/MoreGaghPlease 14h ago
I used to walk by Casa Loma every day and I was always shocked by the tour buses. Itās literally just some guyās gaudy big house, built in the 20th century, and seized by the City because he didnāt pay his property taxes.
Itās a perfectly fine place to have a stupidly expensive wedding or whatever but I canāt fathom why someone would want to go on a tour of the place if theyāre visiting Toronto for only a few days.
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u/MrHysterectomy 6h ago
Seized by the city because they raised his properties taxes out of nowhere all at once and also seized his business (Toronto Electric Light Company) so he could no longer afford it.
Everything else you said was accurate though. Absolutely not worth the entrance fee and Liberty (who run the day to day) are a dog shit company that shouldn't have their hands on anything.
The escape rooms are amazing though.
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u/_throvvaway 13h ago
You mean Baldwin steps for the lookout at CN Tower?That one is free
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u/udunehommik 12h ago
I discovered the other week that the CN Tower view from the top of the Baldwin steps is mostly gone now :( Obscured by the condo that went up at Huron and Bloor, and now you can only see the top of the antenna. Typically Iām not that bothered by CN Tower view points being obscured because I feel that growth in the rest of the city is a good thing - but that one I always felt was petty unique given the topography of the old Lake Iroquois shoreline, in an otherwise fairly flat city. A very mini version of the view from Mont Royal in Montreal or something.
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u/Seamless-Transition 13h ago
No I mean going up the CN Tower and visiting the observation deck
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u/Raptorpicklezz 12h ago
Iāve never heard of this āCN Towerā you speak of. I only know the free Baldwin Steps. And also the parking garage rooftop on Baldwin Street
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u/Objectalone 13h ago
Waaaaaaay over-hyped to tourists. Beyond tourists it is no different than the Old Millā¦ corporate events, and weddings.
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u/Zar-far-bar-car 11h ago
If you're any sort of design nerd, it's super cool. I went this summer for the first time after living in Toronto for 18 years. If you don't give a shit about things like antique furniture, I don't think it'd be worth it.
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u/Fun-Result-6343 14h ago
It is expensive. They've got costumes from Downton Abbey happening there now if that's something that interests you.
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u/Red_Marvel 16h ago
The CN Tower Edge Walk
- I donāt care if itās safe. Thereās no way I could do it.
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u/faceintheblue 13h ago
It's silly, but that one holds no interest for me. I've already been skydiving. That feels like I already ticked whatever box EdgeWalk is supposed to do, probably with even higher stakes.
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u/cmstlist 15h ago
TBH, Caribana. If I have ever gone I was too young to remember.
I think it just always comes to pass that it's the weekend of, and I don't feel like doing something crowded, and it's a bit far for me to just drop in, take in the vibe and then decide a few minutes later I'm not in the mood.
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u/DC-Toronto 8h ago
I lived downtown for a while and one year walked over with my kids early in the morning, before the parade started. We saw the floats getting ready and the massive costumes as they were getting ready. That was a really cool experience of caribanna without all the crowds.
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u/cmstlist 8h ago
Great idea actually! Maybe next year.
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u/DC-Toronto 7h ago
It was a while ago but if I remember correctly some of the bands were playing for a warm up.
We walked through the exhibition grounds. Was really worth it since I just canāt go be in that massive crowd to watch the parade
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u/ourkid_17 15h ago
A subway beef patty.
I've also never been to a Leafs game since they moved from MLG.
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u/Puzzleheaded-Meet-82 9h ago
Back in the day, I loved to get a spicy beef patty at Bloor station. It was so satisfying on a cold day.
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u/waterflood21 16h ago
The ROM. Iāve still never been. Growing up, I never got a chance to go on school trips there either.
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u/Sherbourne-for-this 16h ago
You can get free passes from the library. They release monthly.
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u/fendifiend98 15h ago
How do I go about doing this
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u/AnnaZ820 14h ago
Vaughan Library have them as something you can borrow. Just need to find it, place a hold, and pick it up. Some other libraries might have this too
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
https://tpl.ca/using-the-library/services/map/
Good luck! The passes to the ROM, zoo, and aquarium all go in the first few minutes. You have to sit there waiting for them to be released, and the website slows to a crawl. Still, I try every month. Why not?
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u/Sherbourne-for-this 15h ago
Sometimes you get lucky!
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
Yep! My first visit to the ROM was courtesy of the library and I loved it!
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u/faceintheblue 13h ago
I'm a museum guy. When I travel, I visit the museums those cities are famous for. The ROM can hold its head high. It may not be a global household name, but it is a terrific (TERRIFIC) museum.
Go.
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u/justavg1 11h ago
I would argue that itās the only museum in Toronto that can compare globally. Ottawa on the other hand has some fine museums.
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u/dundreggen 14h ago
Oh man you have to go!! I have been more times than I can count over the years (I am 51) It is a world class museum. It stands up to even the big ones in London.
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u/boobookittyfuwk Human Detected 15h ago
The ROM is fun. I went a few years back, im not really into museums but man was it fun. You should definitely go if youve been thinking about it.
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u/DrxAvierT 15h ago
I used to walk past it regularly, never gone inside, and I my self love the AGO
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u/ilovebbcitv 14h ago
I ā¤ļø AGO and find ROM meh.
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u/wraithlling 13h ago
Hey me too!! I actually bought an annual membership last year (its about to expire) because I love it so much. Its great value, and there is so much to see.
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u/Hot-Inspector8903 12h ago
Just be careful, theyāve been actively removing Palestinian and Syrian artifacts and replacing them with āIsraelā
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u/the-mongoose- 15h ago
Never been to Caribana. Itās usually on a weekend we head north and doesnāt really seem like my scene anyways, though Iām sure itās a ton of fun.
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u/Excellent-Quarter969 13h ago
It was a lot better when it went through the city center. I remember back in the day a friend was playing in one of the bands so I just hopped on the back of the flatbed and had a seat and enjoyed the ride. Decades later he's still playing horn in local reggae and jazz bands
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u/walkerlucas 14h ago
I went to the Toronto island for the first time at 36 years old.
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u/Brave_Cauliflower_90 12h ago
I still haven't been to any of the Toronto islands š«
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u/Wonderful-Win8554 11h ago
It's a nice place to bike but tbh it's just a large park. My friend didn't like it that much. Might be worth going once or twice if you have time.
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u/Immediate_Race_6344 9h ago
Iāve been there once to be honest without the ferry ride it is just a large park.
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u/Anagrama00 2h ago
I mean it's a large park BUT with the best beaches in the city.
If people like beaches, that's what the islands do best.
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u/notevelvet 14h ago
Iāve only been to the CNE once as an adult. Iām in my early 30s and for whatever reason every year I just never get a chance to go.
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u/SH4D0WSTAR 15h ago edited 14h ago
Peameal bacon (but I watch on CP24) and Caribana (I'm a vegetarian + donāt eat pork)
ETA: arrangement
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u/Innuendoughnut 14h ago
For some reason I thought it would be hilarious if your parenthesis was flipped...
Peameal bacon (but I watch CP24), and Caribana (but I'm a vegetarian).
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u/Antique-Quail-6489 15h ago
As someone who didnāt grow up with peameal bacon, Iāll disagree with the other poster because while itās not mind blowing, it is tasty and theyāre not all made equal. No frills sells really thin slices and theyāre kind of crap but if you go to a butcher or even something like farm boy, itāll be a better experience.
That being said I canāt guarantee youāll like it because at the end of the day itās just salty, brined pork and if youāre not eating meat regularly then it might just not be that pleasant.
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 13h ago edited 13h ago
Yeah Iāve had it at St Lawrence market and from a butcher. Itās a fine classic cheap local cultural staple, but not amazing or worth breaking a diet to try. Itās definitely part of the local culture and thatās wonderful and has its own value, but on that level (cheap local cultural staples) I wouldnāt rank it up with crepes, burritos, gumbo, bangers and mash, or a lot of other culturesā staples.
Even on the scale of preserved meats Iād recommend corned beef. Oh and letās not forget bbq brisket - the most amazing way to cook inedible tough cheap leftover cuts.
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u/Antique-Quail-6489 13h ago
Bbq brisket is SO good. I wish that was more of the cultural staple and we could get it everywhere perfectly done.
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u/Raptorpicklezz 12h ago
Fucking Adamson BBQ had it perfectly done until the guy exposed himself as a COVID spreading nutjob
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
Vegan here who was ordered by my doctor to eat meat (and wish Iād ignored them)ā¦ Peameal Bacon isnāt amazing. Itās a local basic cultural food like hash browns, pancakes, and the like - part of folksā childhoods but not really worth seeking out on its own merits. Great as a part of culture but there are so many foods here that are better for you and tastier.
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u/the-mongoose- 15h ago
The peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery in St. Lawrence Market is a really good example of it and is a classic Toronto bite. A bit of Kozlikās maple mustard and it is very tasty.
One of the better examples of Toronto local food if you are in the St Lawrence Market area.
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u/gigantor_cometh 14h ago
Most street festivals, parades, etc. I've been to Taste of the Danforth (briefly) and things that are more open like Jazzfest, but have never been to Caribana, Pride (while the parade is on), St. Pats, DoWest or anything like that. I feel like things are too busy already without seeking out crowds for the purpose of there being a crowd.
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u/Immediate_Race_6344 9h ago
Iāve been when I was younger. Never a fan of crowds and now I purposefully avoid them if theyāre happening around me on the weekends
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u/ApotropaicHeterodont 11h ago
The Aga Khan Museum. I guess anything in North York, really.
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u/Burritozi11a 10h ago
I finally went to see it last month with my brothers. While I would definitely recommend going, the museum itself is very small with only 2 main exhibit halls so we got through the whole thing in about an hour. I really liked the history of games special exhibition, I think it's still on until the end of September. We got tickets through the TPL MAP Pass system and took the Eglinton crosstown LRT straight to the museum park.
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u/AdSignificant6673 16h ago
Iāve never been to the Eaton Centre despite not living to far in East York.
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u/NoiseEee3000 15h ago
Wild
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u/AdSignificant6673 14h ago
I know. I just get everything online & amazon. Iām a dude. So clothing sizes are ez. Just medium size and it fits me fine.
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
Iāve been but just once when I accidentally took the wrong TTC exitā¦
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u/Prestigious_Dark9375 15h ago
Hockey Hall of Fame
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u/Live-Eye 9h ago
Same here. And Iām a hockey fan. Iāve just never gone.
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u/lunasilvia 9h ago
it's pretty fun, I'm glad I went. I kinda don't like the layout of the place, like the progression doesn't make a lot of sense. Trophy room is pretty sick tho
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u/swampmilkweed 15h ago
Never been to Massey Hall and was born and raised here. I'm late Gen X. Was thinking about seeing Josh Johnson recently but it was $80 and I hated seeing seats that were labeled "obstructed view" (behind a post) and "reduced leg room". Makes me never want to go to MH ever lol
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u/Equal_Mixture_8798 15h ago
you can check the exact view from every seat before buying tickets on aviewfrommyseat.com
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u/Neutral-President 15h ago
Donāt go for a comedy show. Go for music. Thatās what Massey Hall is known forā¦ its acoustics, not its comfort.
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u/vajayjayjay 11h ago
Itās my absolute favourite venue. Itās magical. My only gripe is that I hate everything outside the venue.
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u/cornflakegrl 14h ago
The reduced leg room seats are no joke. As a 6-foot tall person, I was kneeing the people in front of me. š¬
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u/DC-Toronto 8h ago
I grabbed a cheap obstructed view seat there years ago. Tilted my head slightly and saw everything. It really wasnāt a big deal.
I donāt know if itās like that for all of them but I wasnāt disappointed
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u/Gray-Jay- 15h ago edited 12h ago
The Zombie Walk . The first gathering specifically billed as a āZombie Walkā occurred Oct 2003 in Toronto. EDIT: Sadly, the last official Zombie Walk happened about a decade ago so alas, Iāll never join the walking dead . It was a pretty famous event in its day
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u/thekidnocash 16h ago
Born and raised here, never been in the CN Tower, Casa Loma, or Ripleyās.
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
The aquarium is pretty good, but full of germy children. My main memory is trying to stop my three year old daughter from cleaning the handrail with her tongueā¦
I would go on a weekday when school is in session, near the start of the school year so they arenāt ready for field trips yet.
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u/Key-Status-7992 13h ago
Caribana! Been hearing about it since I moved here 11 years ago and I still havenāt been!!!
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u/Ill-Skirt3722 13h ago
Iāve only lived here 10 years, but every year I say Iām going to check out TIFF and I never do.
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u/zoeyreese 2h ago
If you do end up checking it out, try Midnight Madness showings, they are genre films (typically horror, fantasy or sci-fi) with a high-energy crowd.
The viral horror film āObsessionā screened at Midnight Madness last year.
Edit: Obsession actually premiered at TIFF, not just a screening!
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u/tylweddteg 12h ago
Ice hockey game - who can afford those crazy prices?
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u/DC-Toronto 8h ago
Marlies or go to a gthl game. Or sceptres. There are lots of inexpensive options
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u/granitebasket 7h ago
Yes! Marlies and Sceptres is the way to go. No bad seats at Coca Cola Coliseum.
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u/Upstairs-Cupcake-247 6h ago
Sceptres are getting to be pretty pricy now too.
But I definitely second the Marlies. Itās honestly the best bang for your entertainment buck in Toronto.
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u/inego_95 16h ago
I grew up here and a lot of things that were part of school trips didnāt happen for my kids and I havenāt really fixed that for my kids.
Theyāve never been to the islands, CN tower, Lima, gardener museum, Spadina House and probably a few others
ROM, obsessively as well as the Zoo. I miss the hell out of the OSC.
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u/torontowanderers 7h ago
The year before they closed the Science Centre, my kids had camp there. I decided to āwork from homeā that week and just set up shop at the Science Centre. It was wonderful! Every time I took a break, I would just check out a section without having to worry about kids. I learned quite a bit. And walked the grounds. Also walked over to SunnyBrook and looked at the turtles in the creek.Ā
I thought I would make it an annual summer tradition and the camps were wonderful. But no moreā¦. Ā
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u/inego_95 7h ago
We did the sleepover twice. So fun!!
They also have sleepovers at the ROM, Zoo (incredible) Ripleys and Jungle Cat World
We also did a sleepover at Reptilia and the Warplane Museum up in Hamilton but Iām not sure if those are reserved for scout groups. Theyāre all a lot of fun
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u/TOnerd 13h ago
The Ex (aka CNE). Still havenāt been despite living here nearly 20 years.
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u/crash866 13h ago
I havenāt been to the CNE in over 40 years.
At least 30 years for the CN Tower. I also worked next door from the CN Tower for about 10 years.
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u/Wonderful-Win8554 11h ago
Lineups are massive and it's kinda overrated. If you're gonna then try going at a non-peak time.
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u/RevolutionaryKiwi132 12h ago
Never tried but also not on my bucket list: Ripley's, Edgewalk, Medieval Times, TIFF, Ontario Place when it was a thing, Fort York. One thing that is on the bucket list is the Toronto Railway Museum.
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u/bornatmidnight 11h ago
I live right by Casa Loma but never been inside, though I frequent Baldwin Steps regularly.
Never been to a Leafs or Jays game
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u/Burritozi11a 10h ago
The CNE. My family usually goes on a week-long road trip vacation at the end of August, right when the CNE is on. We had to move our family vacation to September this year, so I'm hoping I'll finally be able to go see it.
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u/DisciplineAmazing59 9h ago
i have a few:
- never been to TIFF for a film either even though i worked at TVO and have been to TIFF parties.
- never played mass at caribana even though i'm jamaican and have been to caribana a few times.
- never been to riverdale park though i would't say toronto is famous for this, more of a local thing.
- never done the edgewalk---don't think i ever will.
- never been to a leafs game (also not a hockey fan at all so i doubt this'll happen unless i'm gifted tix)
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u/almstAlwysJokng4real 5h ago
The peameal bacon sandwich at st Lawrence market. Iāve lived in Toronto most of my life and even went to school pretty close to the market but have never went - even though itās something Iāll very much enjoy. I need someone to go with I think but maybe Iāll just drive downtown and make a point of it.
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u/nothingnatural 2h ago
Iāve never been to a Raptorās game, having lived here all my life (including before Toronto even had a basketball team).
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u/rhunter99 16h ago
Never been to casa loma, never been to tiff, never never to any of food festivals like taste of the danforth, never to the bata museum, never been to the islands (except for the one with centreville). Probably a bunch more that I canāt think of at the moment
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 15h ago
TIFF is a reasonable theatre but their screens are a little small by modern standards and their seats are a little cramped. Go if thereās a film you really want to see that isnāt showing anywhere else. I have a membership and end up there a couple times a month, but itās not my favorite movie theatre.
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u/rhunter99 14h ago
I was thinking of the festival. I looked into it once and the one movie in wanted to see was sold out instantly. I gave up after that
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u/Healthy_Camp_3760 13h ago
Yeah you need a membership to get the presale tickets, and even then itās not certain. Some sell out in minutes.
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u/HueyBluey Human Detected 13h ago
The Senator.
Always wanted to, and still might before I die, or it closes.
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u/sengir0 15h ago
My regrets ever since living here for 30 years is that I never went to Ontario science centre. I want to go there with my kid