Where mindfulness meets a joyful spirit
Checking in at The Drake Hotel
The neon sign in the lobby of The Drake Hotel immediately makes the property's mindset clear: respect. Respect for people. Respect for the land on which we are merely guests. Respect for the First Nations who were here long before everything else arrived. In other words, this is a place where open-minded people feel at home and where mindfulness meets a zest for life. Just like the lobby, the guest rooms are inspired and designed by artists. Art and an awareness of Indigenous culture accompany guests throughout the property. Another testament to this commitment is the small garden filled with Indigenous medicinal plants. A stay at The Drake Hotel perfectly captures Toronto’s prevailing spirit. This is a city where people live with one another, not simply alongside one another.
The Drake Hotel, 1150 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1J3
Rates from approximately CHF 250

 

553 meters above it all
The CN Tower
If Toronto’s countless skyscrapers have you constantly looking up, the city’s iconic CN Tower offers the perfect opportunity to look down for a change. Admittedly, it is a major tourist attraction, and tourist attractions tend to attract tourists. So no, you probably won’t have the tower to yourself, especially when it comes to buying tickets. Fortunately, tickets can be purchased online in advance, allowing you to skip the lines. One thing should be noted: despite being a tourist magnet, the CN Tower absolutely delivers a wow moment once you reach the top.
290 Bremner Blvd, Toronto, ON M5V 3L9

Those who prefer not to go quite so high but still want to experience Toronto from above should explore the city’s many rooftop restaurants and bars. Here, breathtaking views go hand in hand with memorable food and drink experiences. A few recommendations follow.

 

Dining above the city
Aera Rooftop drinking and dining
On days this hot, anyone who, like the author, isn’t particularly fond of air conditioning will appreciate a refreshing breeze while eating and drinking. At Aera’s rooftop patio, that is exactly what you’ll find. A touch of wind in your hair, a sunset view on the horizon, the scent of grilled food in the air, and expertly crafted cocktails on the table. Located on the 38th floor of The Well, one of Toronto’s newest shopping and entertainment destinations, the setting almost evokes the atmosphere of Café del Mar. Relaxed music and welcoming staff serve creative drinks and excellent food. The vibe feels slightly less formal than the trendy and elegant Aera Restaurant one floor below, which is equally worth a visit.
8 Spadina Ave. #3800, Toronto, ON M5V 2H6

It’s summer in Toronto, and what a summer it is. So we begin our second day in a place that matches the weather, somewhere few visitors ever make it to. That’s a shame. Most people, faced with temperatures soaring to 36°C, would likely head for the Toronto Islands. We decide to do something different.

 

Lake Ontario with an ocean vibe
The Beaches
Anyone willing to make the journey to The Beaches is in for a surprise. Rewarded. Delighted. Even though Lake Ontario lacks the scent of saltwater, this neighborhood has definitely mastered the art of coastal living. The perfect example is Paul and Linda Livingstone, whom we met while walking from the main street down toward the beach. We struck up a conversation as they sat on the charming terrace of their beautiful home, originally because we wanted to photograph it. They have lived here for 50 years, raised four children, and still feel grateful every day to call this place home. Living just outside the bustle of downtown, they have created their own little paradise. Somehow, I couldn’t shake the feeling that I had finally discovered where happiness lives.

Baywatch? No, the Leuty Lifeguard Station
Down on the expansive sands of Kew-Balmy Beach, it hardly feels like Toronto anymore. Wide beaches stretch as far as the eye can see. Women, men, couples, families, and countless school groups spread out across the shoreline. To keep everyone safe, the team at the historic Leuty Lifeguard Station keeps a watchful eye on everything happening along the beach. From the deck of the landmark structure, lifeguards oversee the daily activity on the sand and in the water.
Getting there: Visitors arriving by car will find parking at the Kew-Balmy Beach parking lot, though spaces are limited. The most convenient way to reach the area is on Toronto’s 501 streetcar, which runs along Queen Street.
From the beach, we head back into the heart of Toronto shopping. Or rather, one of its many shopping hearts.

 

Where glamour meets understatement
Shopping in Yorkville
Once a bohemian neighborhood with a rebellious edge, Yorkville has evolved into one of Toronto’s most elegant districts. Surrounded by designer boutiques, art galleries, and luxury hotels, visitors stroll through impeccably maintained streets where wealth is displayed with effortless confidence. Sit down at one of the cafés and you’ll see people who look as if they have stepped straight out of a fashion magazine or rushed over from a boardroom meeting. Yet Yorkville is more than just luxury and prestige. In the historic Village of Yorkville, sophistication meets subtlety, and tucked into side streets you will find independent labels such as Veronica Beard. In short, Yorkville is where Toronto reveals just how cosmopolitan, cultivated, and unexpectedly diverse it can be.
111 Yorkville Avenue, Suite 101

Coming from high-end fashion and luxury brands, my next stop felt almost like a culture shock. Or a dream, depending on your personal taste.

 

Curious, literary, one of a kind
The Monkey’s Paw
Book lovers visiting Toronto should not miss this wonderfully unconventional place. The Monkey’s Paw is far more than a used bookstore. It is a cabinet of curiosities for print enthusiasts, a treasure chest devoted to the unusual, the eccentric, and the intellectually delightful. This small shop in the city’s west end specializes in rare and unusual printed works, with a particular appreciation for books as physical objects. Among Victorian-era textbooks, obscure atlases, and forgotten guidebooks, visitors will also discover the legendary Biblio-Mat: a modified vending machine that dispenses a randomly selected vintage book at the push of a button. What you receive is left entirely to chance, yet always feels like a hidden treasure.
Owner Stephen Fowler has created a space that defies categorization, which is precisely what makes it so inspiring. It is easy to spend hours browsing here and almost impossible to leave without a book you never knew you needed.
1067 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M6H 1M5

And then there’s Ossington, an absolute must-see in Toronto. If there were such a thing as a street devoted to effortless cool, this would be it. What you’ll find here does not just reflect the spirit of the times, it might well reflect your own.

 

For men with style
Lost & Found menswear
Ossington Avenue remains one of Toronto’s most exciting streets. It is home to Lost & Found, a stylish menswear boutique for those seeking alternatives to mainstream fashion and mass-produced clothing. Japanese denim classics hang beside minimalist shirts from Portland. Handcrafted sneakers share shelf space with Birkenstock sandals and vintage backpacks. Add knowledgeable service and carefully curated music, and you have a shopping experience that feels distinctly Toronto.
12 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Y7

 

For the thirsty
Bellwoods Brewery
Just a few steps from Lost & Found, Bellwoods Brewery, a staple of Toronto’s craft beer scene, invites visitors to linger. On its lively patio, tourists and locals gather over seasonal IPAs and fruit-forward sour beers. The atmosphere is relaxed, the crowd diverse, and communal tables are common. If you are lucky enough to find a seat on the patio, it is the perfect place to sit back and watch the neighborhood go by.
124 Ossington Ave, Toronto, ON M6J 2Z5

 

A culinary grand finale
The Radici Project
With their fusion of Italian and Japanese cuisine, Emiliano Del Frate and Kayo Ito are currently making waves in Toronto’s dining scene. He is a Roman chef with roots in traditional Italian cooking. She is a certified sake sommelier with a refined sense for flavor and aesthetics. Together, they bring two cultures together that seem to have little in common at first glance, creating dishes that resonate on a deeper level. Their philosophy: flavor is memory, and cooking is an act of storytelling.
At the heart of it all is the farm-to-table principle. Nearly every ingredient comes from sustainable local farms in and around Toronto, from seasonal vegetables and carefully crafted tofu and dairy products to meat, fish, and seafood. Everything that reaches the plate is fresh, honest, and thoughtfully sourced.
The intimate restaurant draws its charm from the warmth of its hosts, the attentive and thoughtful service, the authenticity of its dishes, and its deep connection to its roots (radici).

 

And then, one last drink
Suite 115
I spend my final evening in Toronto enjoying a drink at Suite 115, a speakeasy-style bar. The interior is minimalist, the atmosphere effortlessly cool, and the crowd in high spirits. I wrap up my stay in Toronto with a Summer Solstice cocktail. Even though it’s already 10:45 p.m., the temperature outside is still 27°C (81°F). So then, cheers. And hopefully, see you again, Toronto.
For the last time, I slip into the freshly made bed at The Drake Hotel. Tomorrow, I begin my road trip through Ontario and Quebec.

For more insights into Toronto, take a look at these two earlier features on the city:
Toronto: Tolerance, Trends and Tradition
Between vintage and avant-garde: Across Toronto with Creative Director Dom