Turkish breakfast has long been celebrated as a must-try experience, whether at restaurants in Turkey or at culinary outposts in Toronto and beyond. Now, it’s being considered for UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage List, highlighting kahvaltı — literally “before coffee” — as a cultural and culinary cornerstone.
“In Türkiye, breakfast is like a daily celebration,” says Isil Okcu, the senior sous chef at Soho House Hong Kong. “It’s not just about eating — it’s about sharing good times with family and friends around the table. You know, the whole vibe of generosity and connection.”
Turkish breakfast is bursting with a diverse offering of flavours, and it often includes various cheeses, olives, fresh tomatoes and cucumbers, cured meats, eggs, homemade pastries, bread, jams and honey, all accompanied by Türkiye’s famous and fragrant black tea. And with Toronto’s world-class culinary diversity, there are plenty of spots to enjoy traditional Turkish kahvaltı. Here are some of our favourites.
This Kensington Market spot honours the traditions of Turkish breakfast while offering vegan options as well as super sweet homemade desserts. Authentic recipes are crafted using fresh ingredients, and the entire experience makes guests feel like they’re visiting a friend’s home.
Meryem Hanim’s Turkish Breakfast Café, 3200 Dufferin Street
Traditional dishes take center stage at this North York eatery, which also boasts a cozy and welcoming atmosphere. The halal cafe serves up dishes like Ayvalık Tostu, a Turkish grilled cheese stacked with meat and tomatoes, as well as a creamy avocado breakfast plate.
The Turkish breakfast at this West End restaurant is served with fresh Turkish coffee, which is bold and rich and flavour. The meal is served in two ways, and guests can choose between a shareable, family-style meal or from a la carte options like Turkish eggs and classic simit (a circular bread).
The weekend breakfast at Sibel has made it one of the most popular Turkish restaurants in the city, and with good reason. Mouthwatering dishes like lamb ghorme sunrise meet menemen (Turkish scrambled eggs) and fried eggs with sujuk, a fried beef sausage. There’s also a rustic breakfast experience for two people as well as a kids breakfast option.
For a meal right in the heart of the Fashion District, Turquoise turns breakfast into a feast. Cheese plates meet menemen and sujuk plates and can all be washed down with Turkish tea, coffee and gazoz to create an authentic experience. And it’s ultra wallet-friendly, too: Prices start at just $5.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year — skating season, that is! The city of Toronto has officially announced the opening date for the city’s outdoor skating rinks, and we’re getting excited.
The majority of city-run rinks open next weekend on Nov. 29 and will remain open until late March next year, weather permitting. The remaining rinks aren’t far behind — they’ll open by Dec. 6. Check the city of Toronto website to see if your neighbourhood skating rink has a later opening date.
Each rink has different operating hours, and we’ve been having some unpredictable weather this year in Toronto, so it’s recommended you always check the status of the rink you’re visiting before heading out. Warm temperatures or significant rainfall could make it difficult to maintain ice and may result in the temporary closure of certain rinks.
Here’s a full list of all the outdoor city rinks opening on Nov. 29 in Toronto:
Skaters at this east end rink have not one, but two spots to glide across the ice. Choose from the city’s first covered outdoor artificial ice rink where the roof keeps rain and snow of the skating surface. The rink offers pleasure skating as well as shinny programs for both kids and adults. Beside the rink, ice skaters can also enjoy a 215-metre pleasure skating trail.
Opened in 2019 in College Park and named after the Canadian figure skater Barbara Ann Scott who won gold at the 1948 Olympics (among many other accolades), the Barbara Ann Scott Ice Trail features a five-metre-wide trail that loops through the downtown park (it’s also used as a walking trail in the warmer months). It’s also purportedly the first outdoor skating path in North America to use an eco-conscious technology in its refrigeration system that does not produce any net greenhouse gas emissions.
Ice skating with a waterfront view? Say no more! The Paul Quarrington outdoor ice rink at Sherbourne Common is artificially controlled, meaning you don’t need to worry about unseasonably warm weather ruining your skating date. Enjoy views of both the city skyline and the water all season long.
If your idea of skating involves being close to nature rather than in the middle of the city, you might want to check out this rink, running along a stretch of wooded shoreline in the Kipling and Lakeshore area. The expansive, 250-metre rink in Etobicoke designed in a figure-eight shape was actually Toronto’s first-ever skating trail and continues to offer a quieter place to enjoy a skate.
This seven-acre park has both an ice rink and skating trail and is a popular destination for both pros and beginners. The double-pad rink allows for non-stop public skate and features ample parking.
Found just outside North York Civic Centre just steps from North York Centre subway station, the skating rink at Mel Lastman Square is a favourite among families. The rink here doesn’t tend to get quite as busy as those found closer to downtown, and it offers a scenic place to skate. The 20,000 square foot park also offers an abundance of outdoor space for wintery walks and close proximity to amenities like coffee shops.
The skating trail at Evergreen Brick Works is probably one of the prettiest places to skate outdoors in the city. The rink here weaves through snow-covered gardens (complete with twinkly lights come dusk) and under exposed beams from the roof of the old brick factory. There are usually lots of special events in the leadup to the holidays here and skate rentals and skate sharpening are available. The rink will be open in December for free public skating and lessons until March, weather permitting.
On Saturday, Dec 6, the Geary Winter Block Party will spill across the strip, turning 1.2 kilometres of former industrial street into a corridor of art installations, DJ performances and tons of delicious food!
Part of the appeal is the area itself. Geary Ave runs along the north side of the Canadian Pacific rail corridor between Ossington Ave and Primrose Ave. It was once lined with factories and industrial firms, but the street has been steadily reshaping into a patchwork of creative spaces, breweries and restaurants.
The December block party comes on the heels of Geary’s end-of-summer event back in September! The all-day event took over the strip with a dense network of mini-festivals hosted by bars, studios and restaurants, so we’ll likely see the same for the winter party.
As for vendors, we’re still waiting on the official list, but we know that Macedo Winery will be serving up warm mulled wine for just $10, plus espresso all day to keep you cozy! The spot will also serve $5 Happy Hour wines every hour (so there’s always something to cheers to).
As of publication, organizers are still looking for more vendors and artists to join their roster; application forms are available via the Geary Block Party Instagram page.
The Geary Winter Block Party takes place on Dec. 6-7, from 2 pm to 2 am, on Geary Ave.
Toronto is getting a Filipino holiday pop-up that’s all about comfort food, community and solidarity with farmers back home in the Philippines.
On Dec 14, “Seeds of Solidarity: A Filipino Holiday Pop-up in honour of Filipino Farmers”, hosted by Pinay Collection and Kanto, will take over Food Hall TO in North York. At the heart of the pop-up is a special menu from Kanto, the Filipino food brand behind some of Toronto’s most nostalgic, street-food-inspired dishes!
We don’t know what dishes will be served, but the menu is inspired by on-the-ground stories from members of the Filipino peasant community, so it’ll connect what you eat directly to the realities of farmers growing staple crops back home.
Alongside the food, guests can shop Filipino-made products from the Pinay Collection, a Toronto-based brand known for statement apparel and goods that celebrate Filipino identity and help fund community partners and grassroots organizers (perfect for meaningful holiday gifts!)
The pop-up is not just a food/shopping fair, it’s also an art and learning space. Kamalayan Konsciousness (a youth-led group that creates programs around Philippine identity, history and current issues) is curating a community art exhibition on land exploitation and peasant resistance in the Philippines.
Educational activations throughout the venue will walk visitors through the ongoing fight for land, livelihood and justice in rural communities.
The pop-up also doubles as a fundraiser, with proceeds from food and merchandise sales going to farming communities most affected by recent typhoons in Cebu, Negros, Bicol, Ilocos, Aurora and Isabela, as well as women farmers facing harassment and “red-tagging” by the state.
Funds raised will support three organizations: SAKA (an anti-feudal arts alliance backing peasant campaigns for land reform and food security), Kilusang Magbubukid ng Pilipinas, (aka, the Peasant Movement of the Philippines: a mass organization fighting for genuine agrarian reform), and Sugarfolks Unity for Genuine Agricultural Reform (SUGAR). This is an alliance of sugarcane farmers, workers and advocates in Batangas, pushing for fair livelihoods and the survival of the sugar industry.
“Seeds of Solidarity: A Filipino Holiday Pop-up in honour of Filipino Farmers” takes place on Dec 14 at Food Hall TO, 5210 Yonge St, North York, from 11:30 am to 7 pm.
Toronto is showing the rest of Canada how it’s done when it comes to great food! OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants in Canada for 2025 features 27 Toronto spots, from heavy-hitters like Alo Restaurant and Bar Isabel to exciting newcomers like The Lunch Lady, which opened its doors this summer. With 44 Ontario restaurants making the national list, the province easily outpaces Alberta (19), Quebec (18), and British Columbia (15).
The list, compiled from over 1 million verified diner reviews, reservation demand, and ratings, highlights a mix of old favourites and bold newcomers. Toronto’s restaurants continue to impress with inventive menus, international flavours, and creative concepts — giving diners plenty of reasons to book a table.
@thelunchlady/Instagram
Dining trends from 2025 hint at what’s coming in 2026. Big groups are back in style: parties of six or more grew 28 per cent nationwide last year, and 40 per cent of Torontonians say they’ll favour group dining over solo meals in 2026. Early dinners are gaining ground too, with reservations between 4 and 5 p.m. up 30 per cent, and 37 per cent of locals saying they’ll opt for earlier nights out. Counter seating is booming, offering front-row views into the kitchen — a trend you can experience at spots like Sushi Yugen, where diners can grab a seat right at the chef’s counter.
Gen Z diners are also shaking things up. With 60 per cent planning to eat out more next year, With more Gen Z diners heading out next year, Toronto restaurants are stepping up with fresh, playful menus.
Toronto’s featured restaurants on OpenTable’s Top 100 include:
Strozzapreti @thechaseto/Instagram
Alo Restaurant
Aloette
Amal Restaurant
Bar Isabel
Bar Prima
Café Boulud
DaiLo
Don Alfonso 1890
Estiatorio Milos
George Restaurant
Giulietta
Grey Gardens
Lee
Linny’s
Mamakas Taverna
Mineral
Osteria Giulia
Prime Seafood Palace
Quetzal
Rasa
Richmond Station
Scaramouche Restaurant
Sorrel Rosedale
Sunnys Chinese
Sushi Yugen
The Chase
The Lunch Lady
As the winter starts to really settle into Toronto, our brains do what they always do: start planning the escape. While we all love the classics, there’s a new wave of design-forward boutique stays turning Ontario’s cutest towns into full-on winter destinations.
These aren’t just “somewhere to sleep” hotels. They’re tiny, chic, obsessively curated properties with fireplaces, Nordic spas, natural wine bars and lobby lounges that feel like your most stylish friend’s living room. And because a good winter getaway is about the whole vibe, each of these stays comes paired with the best nearby things to do: Christmas markets, frozen waterfalls, pizza worth braving a snowstorm for, cozy cinemas and wine-soaked evenings.
Here’s where to book your next chic winter weekend in Ontario — and exactly what to do once you’ve dropped your bags.
Elora in winter feels a bit like a movie set: limestone buildings, the Grand River running past, snow-dusted roofs and twinkly lights down every side street. It’s already a classic getaway town — but two new boutique hotels are quietly making it the place to escape from Toronto this season.
Kat Florence Hotel
Set in a meticulously restored 1840s stone building that once housed the old Commercial Hotel, the Kat Florence Hotel is pure heritage-meets-high-luxury. Think original stonework and historic balconies, but layered with modern farmhouse kitchens, designer appliances, plush bedding and spa-level bathrooms. Suites feel more like high-end residences than hotel rooms — especially the multi-bedroom Diamond House with its private outdoor hot tub and fire pit.
The vibe is very “quiet luxury in a storybook village”: earth-toned textiles, hand-crafted details, fireplaces, big windows and that soft, flattering mood lighting that makes you want to pour a glass of wine and never leave your robe.
Why choose Elora for your weekend getaway? Elora Christmas Market runs right next door, with cedar chalet vendors, 80,000+ lights and outdoor fire tables for lingering under the stars. A Nordic spa opens for the season, so you can do the full hot–cold–hot circuit after the market and then shuffle back to your suite. Suites have full kitchens or kitchenettes, so you can stock up on local goodies and lean into the “we live here now” energy.
Make it a full Elora weekend by: grabbing sourdough pizza at Tony’s Sourdough Pizzeria, ducking into The Gorge Cinema — a tiny heritage movie theatre that feels straight out of Gilmore Girls — and wandering the lit-up streets for peak small-town-at-Christmas hallmark movie feels.
The Ayrshire Hotel
A few minutes away, The Ayrshire takes over a restored 1860s mansion and leans into cozy, grown-up boutique charm. Ten suites in the main house and six more in a nearby guesthouse keep things intimate: think king beds, fireplaces in many rooms, luxe bath products and carefully layered historic details.
This is your hotel for curling up by the fire with a bottle of wine and a book. Guests are right in the village core, so you can stroll to cafés, shops and the gorge, then retreat to your turreted room when the snow starts to really fall.
Burlington: A faux-British waterfront escape
Photo courtesy: Adam A Smith, Lavinia Ghinea; provided by @regionofhalton
If you want to feel like you’ve hopped over to a chic coastal town in the UK — without the red-eye — Burlington in winter is wildly underrated. Downtown comes alive with brick-lined streets, a classic red phone box, a winter market and lake views that feel far more European than GO-train-adjacent.
Anchoring it all is The Pearle Hotel & Spa, a design-forward waterfront stay that technically belongs to Marriott’s Autograph Collection but reads way more boutique than chain. The look is Ontario lake house meets glossy design mag: white-oak panelling, sculptural staircase, linen and stone textures, soft blues and creams, and floor-to-ceiling windows staring straight at Lake Ontario.
Rooms range from airy studios to sprawling suites with terraces and soaker tubs, but all feel like polished, minimal coastal apartments rather than generic hotel boxes.
Spend a slow morning at The Pearle Spa with a hammam-style steam, a swim in the indoor pool and a long, ritual-y treatment. Linger over dinner at Isabelle, the hotel’s Mediterranean-inspired restaurant that leans into coastal flavours and local Ontario ingredients. Wander Burlington Village Square and the downtown core: cobblestones, twinkly lights, red brick and English-phone-box photo ops. Add a winter hike at Mount Nemo Conservation Area or a cozy culture stop at Ireland House Museum to complete the mini U.K. countryside illusion.
The Liberty Inn in Caledon is the closest thing Ontario has to Kate Winslet’s cottage in The Holiday. The 1850s stone building has lived many lives — post office, general store, speakeasy — and now, after a years-long restoration, it’s a tiny Nordic spa inn with just five suites and a whole lot of cinematic charm.
Inside, the look is all countryside cottage with creamy palettes, soft linens, four-poster beds, blue cabinetry and handmade tiles and ceramics everywhere. Step outside and you’re in a private woodland spa circuit with cedar hot tub, sauna and cold plunge under string lights and trees. It’s the kind of place where you wear a robe all day and sincerely mean it.
To complete the winter staycation drive over to Belfountain for a latte at Higher Ground Café, which turns into the coziest locals’ hangout once the tourists thin out. Warm up with cider and comfort food at Spirit Tree Estate Cidery. Hunt for treasures at Inglewood Antiques, or head to Alabaster Acres for a tucked-away farm Christmas market.
Newmarket’s Main Street seriously leans into Hallmark movie territory in winter — and now it has a boutique hotel to match.
The Postmark Hotel takes over a 1914 post office, keeping the red-brick façade and clock tower while completely reimagining the interiors as a modern, art-forward stay. Inside, you’ll find 55 unique rooms with high ceilings, huge windows, Canadian art and a mix of industrial and vintage touches. Some rooms even come with private ground-floor terraces, so you can step straight out into the snowy air.
The hotel doubles as a social hub: there’s The Lobby, an all-day café/bar made for coffee, cocktails and pre-dinner hangs, and Overlea, a rooftop restaurant with big views over Main Street and a farm-to-table menu.
Don’t miss all the essential spots the city has to offer this winter. Vintage Peony transforms into a full-blown holiday fantasy filled with ornaments, décor and gifts. Stop into Conscious Find for second-hand fashion that’s beautifully curated. Main Street’s indie shops and bakeries (do not skip butter tarts at The Maid’s Cottage) make it very easy to “just pop in” and somehow finish all your gift shopping.
Copyright Queen’s Printer for Ontario, photo source: Ontario Growth Secretariat, Ministry of Municipal Affairs
Collingwood is already a no-brainer in winter — Blue Mountain is minutes away, and there’s snow everything. But the boutique scene here has levelled up.
Somewhere Inn
Somewhere Inn is Collingwood’s best kept secret, a 100-year-old hotel turned moody, modern retreat: vintage loungers, restored hardwood, king beds and rooms designed for lingering (no TVs, on purpose). There’s an on-site thermal circuit with sauna and cold plunge, plus Brooky’s Wine Bar & Garden Patio downstairs, which acts like the lobby’s living room: coffee in the morning, snacks and natural wine at night.
The Dorchester Hotel
Courtesy Dorchester Hotel
A few steps away, The Dorchester Hotel brings Roaring ’20s energy to historic Hurontario Street — all restored brick, 1920s-inspired interiors and big plans for a lively lobby bar. Rooms are styled to feel like an elevated downtown apartment: studios and suites with thoughtful finishes and that backstory-rich Collingwood history baked into the walls.
Your winter weekend can look like skiing, snowboarding or tubing at Blue Mountain — or my personal favourite, leaning into a chalet day. Try a steamy afternoon at Scandinave Spa if you prefer your winter sports in towel form. Enjoy dome dining and cider flights at Thornbury Craft. Or go snowshoeing at Scenic Caves Nature Adventures before retreating back to the sauna and wine bar.
In summer, Prince Edward County is all sunshine, patios and winery-hopping. In winter, it’s quietly dreamy — and The Royal Hotel is the place to lean into that off-season magic.
The lovingly restored 1879 railway hotel has been reborn as a 33-room boutique property split between the historic main building and a Scandi-inspired Annex. Rooms are named after local apple varieties and come with tartan-inspired tiles, soaker tubs, fireplaces in many suites and the kind of tactile textiles (plush robes, layered bedding) that make you consider accidentally sleeping through your dinner reservation.
On-site, you’ve got a full spa with sauna and gym, casual–elegant dining from a chef who leans into local farms, including the owners’ own property and a lobby café (The Counter Bar) slinging pastries, coffee and pantry goods. Outside, you’re perfectly placed to hit winter winery tours — bubbles, reds, icewine, the works. Visit All My Friends Beer Co. for a low-key pint, or check out Wander the Resort for their festive Wanderland market and light displays. Book an alpaca walk at Andara Gallery for a very on-brand PEC photo op.
Hamilton: Private spa suites and frozen waterfalls
Ten minutes from where the owner grew up, a 150-year-old Victorian farmhouse has been transformed into The High Acre — four suites, each with its own infrared sauna, steam room, soaker tub, king bed and fireplace.
The design brief was “a little Europe in Dundas”: restored original beams and floors, French doors, moody murals, a reception bar built from salvaged timber and record players in every room. Kitchens stocked with coffee, tea, eggs and ready-to-bake croissants make mornings feel very Paris terrace.
Winter itinerary includes chasing frozen-waterfall views at nearby Tiffany Falls, Webster’s Falls, Devil’s Punchbowl and more. Then, warm back up in your personal spa suite (yes, really) with a DIY hammam session and long bath and head into Hess Village or downtown Hamilton for dinner and drinks. End the day off as you sample the area’s growing cider scene with stops at local cideries.
Niagara-on-the-Lake already looks like a Christmas village for most of December — wreaths, garlands, horse-drawn carriages, the works. The newest addition to the scene is The Scotsman Hotel, inspired by the original in the Scottish countryside. The tiny, Lori Morris–designed five-suite property feature jewel tones, rich fabrics, clawfoot tubs, fireplaces and a Champagne Room and Whiskey Room downstairs for pre- and post-dinner lounging.
Expect bar carts you can stock with Niagara wine, candlelit lounges and a patio with fireplaces that stay lit until the last guest heads upstairs.
Do Niagara-on-the-Lake properly by skating at the outdoor rink in the gardens at Pillar and Post, then grabbing hot chocolate and soft pretzels at The OutPost. Get delightfully lost in a year-round Christmas shop, Just Christmas and grab some warm chimney pastries at Budapest Bake Shop. Don’t forget to plan a return trip for the Niagara Icewine Festival in January.
Toronto, get ready to line up! Streets of Toronto just hit a huge milestone: 600,000 followers on Instagram. And to celebrate, we’re giving back in the tastiest way possible — 300 free ShackBurgers at each of two Shake Shack locations.
Shake Shack, a Toronto favourite thanks to its Canadian-sourced ingredients and iconic Shack experience, was the natural partner for the celebration.
“Toronto consistently shows up with pride, passion and grit every single day. From loyal sports fans to talented creatives, entrepreneurs, students and everyone in between, this city is what it is because of the energy the people of Toronto put out. We’re so proud to call this city our home and showcase all the amazing dimensions of it. This moment is about giving back and saying thank you to our community — as loudly as we can,” says Streets of Toronto director Kaitlin Narciso.
This isn’t the first time Streets of Toronto has turned a milestone into a major hangout. When we hit 500K followers, we partnered with Craig’s for a Cookies & Milk giveaway that drew huge crowds. But Narciso says this one feels especially sweet.
“This milestone hits differently. It’s been an incredible year — from the Jays’ electric playoff run to our famously fun raccoon-lager charity initiative for Daily Bread, we have a lot to give thanks for. Toronto always shows up for its city, and we want to show up right back.”
Giving back is a big part of the plan. Alongside the 600 free ShackBurgers, Streets of Toronto will also make a donation to the Daily Bread Food Bank.
“We know not everyone can line up for a burger — but everyone deserves to feel supported. This city lifts us up every day, and giving back is a non-negotiable part of how we celebrate,” Narciso says.
The need-to-know for burger lovers:
What: 600 free single ShackBurgers When: November 26, 2025 starting at 10 a.m. Where:
Shake Shack Yonge & Eglinton – 300 burgers
Shake Shack Yonge & Dundas – 300 burgers Cost: Free (no purchase necessary) Limit: One per person, while supplies last How to Qualify: Follow @streetsoftoronto and @shakeshackcanada on Instagram and show up in person
So bundle up, grab a line-up buddy and get ready to taste a little love from your city. Streets of Toronto is ready to celebrate with the community that made it all possible.
King West usually isn’t associated with holiday cheer. On any given weekend, the neighbourhood is a blur of espresso martinis, sparkly tops and people loudly debating whether to order fries “for the table.” But this year, something unusual is happening: King Street is going full Christmas mode.
Toronto has been slowly warming up to holiday pop-ups — from themed bars to cozy markets — but this is the city’s most surprising transformation yet. Christmas on King, a brand-new holiday pop-up and market from INK Entertainment, is taking over Portland Square (600 King St. W.) from Nov. 20 to New Year’s Eve, turning the neighbourhood best known for its nightlife into a twinkly, boozy, candy-cane-lit holiday hangout.
Unlike the Distillery’s old-school European markets, Christmas on King feels more like stepping into a festive après-ski party — the kind where someone is definitely ordering a Baileys cocktail before even taking off their coat.
The market runs Thursday through Saturday as a 19+ experience, leaning fully into the neighbourhood’s nightlife identity with seasonal cocktails from Baileys, Guinness holiday pours, TURTLES spiked hot chocolate and a whole menu of comfort-food-but-make-it-holiday dishes.
If you’re a parent in full-on family mode, don’t think your time on King West is done because here’s the twist — on Sundays, King West switches to its “nice list.” The space becomes fully all-ages, offering Santa photos, gift-wrapping stations, family programming and holiday activities. It’s the only time you’ll see toddlers and nightlife sharing the same real estate on King Street, and honestly, that alone might be worth the trip.
The pop-up brings in a lineup of major holiday brands and local favourites: Nestlé Turtles with chocolate-pecan pie and a caramel-drizzled spiked hot chocolate; Baileys serving a menu of hot and chilled holiday cocktails; Guinness pouring classic pints and limited-edition festive serves; and a photobooth station with holiday photo installations.
And then there’s the food — exactly what you want after your third seasonal cocktail: Wagyu hotdogs, buttermilk fried chicken parm sandwiches, grilled cheese stacked with pickled jalapeños and truffled chips, Swedish meatballs with mash and cranberry chutney, massive slices of pepperoni or four-cheese pizza and churros dusted in cinnamon.
If you’re here for vibes alone, the glowing market stalls, seasonal lights and soundtrack of holiday-adjacent remixes will handle the rest.
Christmas on King is designed to be as photogenic as it is chaotic. Throughout Portland Square, you’ll find holiday-themed installations, multiple photo ops, vendor pop-ups, a central bar slinging winter cocktails and seasonal activations that shift throughout the month.
Whether you’re here to shop for stocking stuffers, grab festive bites before a night out, or fully lean into the “sleigh all day” energy, the market is engineered to feel like a round trip on the Polar Express.
The hustle and bustle of city life can drain our mental, physical and social battery. When you’re feeling drained, Nordic spas offer a great way to reboot. Steeped in Scandinavian tradition, hydrotherapy aims to strengthen the immune system, moving the body from hot to cold and purifying the body of toxins while soothing aches and pains.
In need of a wellness retreat? We rounded up our favourite Nordic spas all across Ontario.
Located in Woodstock, the Nordic spa experience at Terra Nova is about more than just relaxation. With a focus on thermotherapy, the Nordic tradition of alternating between hot and cold, you can begin your journey at the wood-fired sauna, eucalyptus steam room or hot pool to increase your circulation and release tension from your muscles. Then head to the chilling stations to release endorphins, after which you can wind down at one of the spa’s many lounge areas and repeat that cycle all day long. Visitors can also book a high tea, spa treatments including hot stone massages, manicures and pedicures, facials and body treatments or even a yoga and meditation session.
Vettä Nordic Spa at Horseshoe Valley in Ontario offers an authentic, Finnish hydrotherapy experience. Visitors can socialize with friends in the social zone or enjoy the serene atmosphere of the quiet zone — all while being surrounded by nature in the beautiful Horseshoe Valley.
At the core, this spa focuses on taking care of individuals’ overall well-being. To achieve this, Vettä not only incorporates spa practices that leverage peace and serenity with more social elements, but also places emphasis on cuisine. At the spa, there is a fine dining restaurant and bistro where patrons can indulge in deliciously prepared, fresh and locally sourced Finnish and Nordic cuisine.
The expansive views of the UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve are what sets the Scandinave Spa Blue Mountain apart from others.
As the seasons change, so does the experience. With a certified forest bathing trail, visitors can hike or cycle before their visit in the summer, spring and early fall months. In the winter, guests can enjoy a snowy soak in the outdoor baths while watching Blue Mountain skiers cruise down the slopes.
With an extrasensory facility, Toronto’s Othership invites guests to collectively explore and rediscover the senses through fire, ice and ether. The idea started as a combined ice bath, sauna and meditation side project from CEO Robbie Bent in his own backyard. Now, it has transformed into a physical space in the heart of the city offering a 50-person sauna, ice bath and tea room for the ideal hot + cold circuit. Othership also offers different experiences, including a themed social gathering featuring musical performances and different classes meant to help calm the mind, body and spirit, offering a decidedly social spin on the usually more individual atmospheres within other spas.
Cedar Meadows Spa is renowned for its ultra-relaxing spa services, but did you know they offer a Nordic baths package too? Featuring a dry sauna, steam bath, tempered salt pool, Nordic waterfall cold shower and plenty of relaxation areas, guests can spend as much time as they’d like experiencing hot and cold immersion before moving on to another calming experience — from massages to facials — at the spa.
Thermëa Spa Village is a village in more than just the name. Recently opened in Whitby, this is the brand’s second location, with the first one in Winnipeg. Thermëa adapted the spa concept into something more — a wellness village. The spa’s central focus is thermotherapy, the Nordic tradition of alternating between hot and cold, with eight different saunas and cold pools, including an icy waterfall, to facilitate the process. You’ll also find steam baths, underground flotation pools, facial treatments, full-body massages and more — all of this within the state-of-the-art spa village.
If eating your way around the land of fire and ice isn’t in the cards this year, Toronto’s about to get the next best thing. Taste of Iceland 2025 returns to the city from Thursday, Nov 20 to Saturday, Nov 22, turning a handful of downtown venues into a mini-Icelandic getaway packed with food, music, northern lights lore and lava (yup, actual molten lava).
The heart of it all is a tasty Icelandic dining pop-up at The Dorset in The Well. For three evenings, The Dorset is handing its kitchen over to an Icelandic-Canadian chef team for a one-off tasting menu built around the flavours of the North Atlantic. Guest chef Gabríel Kristinn Bjarnason (2025 Icelandic Chef of the Year) joins The Dorset District Executive Chef Ryan Lister to serve a four-course prix fixe menu for $88 per person (plus tax and gratuity), with an optional $45 wine pairing add-on!
The menu includes the very best of Icelandic ingredients. Guests start with torched Icelandic Arctic char glazed in birch, maple and cedar syrup, topped with Icelandic wasabi and spruce-pickled onions, all set on a rúgbrauð (rye bread) crumpet! From there, a pan-fried Icelandic cod course layers confit tomatoes, pickled cucumber, jalapeño mayo, popped quinoa, caramelized cauliflower purée, Icelandic bok choy, feykir cheese and a creamy cod sauce.
The main is a grilled loin of Icelandic lamb, one of the country’s signature exports, while dessert is a ganache of skyr brown cheese caramel (think thick, tangy cultured dairy that’s somewhere between yogurt and fresh cheese). The full menu is available every night of the festival from 4:45 to 9:45 pm, and reservations are strongly recommended.
If you’d prefer a midday treat, The Dorset is also hosting the Demo & Dine: Icelandic Lunch Experience this Friday. Icelandic chefs Hafliði Halldórsson and Snaedis Xyza Mae Ocampo will walk guests through the preparation of a wild Icelandic cod starter, an Icelandic lamb main and a skyr dessert before everyone sits down to eat. It runs from 12 to 1:30 pm (keep in mind it’s a ticketed event with limited seating!)
Food isn’t the only way the festival is showing off Icelandic flavours. On Saturday night, the festival wraps with Comedy & Cocktails at the Thornton-Smith Building’s Aperture Room. Alongside a two-hour set from Icelandic comedians and storytellers Ragnar Ísleifur Bragason and Bergur Ebbi, every guest will be treated to a complimentary cocktail courtesy of the Iceland Hotel Collection by BERJAYA.
The drink is infused with the local flavours, wild botanicals and a sense of place drawn from the group’s hotels across Iceland. Bonus: guests go home with a skincare gift from Blue Lagoon Iceland!
If you can pull yourself away from the table, there’s a full slate of Icelandic experiences:
Iceland Airwaves Off-Venue at El Mocambo’s Starlight Room brings a free showcase with RAKEL, Spacestation and DJ Hermigervill on Thursday night, turning one of Toronto’s most storied music venues into a Reykjavík club for a few hours.
At Jazz Bistro on Friday, Icelandic jazz heavyweights Óskar Guðjónsson and Skúli Sverrisson play an intimate, one-hour set curated by the Reykjavík Jazz Festival, the duo’s first Canadian appearance.
Design lovers can drop by bulthaup Toronto from Thursday to Saturday for From the Depths of Iceland-DÝPI, an exhibition of algae-based, plastic-free mineral paints inspired by Icelandic landscapes.
Experience real Icelandic lava in Toronto! Over at STACKT Market, the Lava Show is hauling in a portable lava furnace (said to be the only one of its kind in the world) and pouring real molten lava in a series of three demonstrations on Saturday afternoon.
Families will enjoy the Draw Iceland’s Stories! art workshop with illustrator Rán Flygenring, then stick around for the Northern Lights in Toronto talk by astronomy educator Sævar “Astro-Sævar” Helgi Bragason (it comes with VR previews of glacier hikes and aurora tours in Iceland).
Top Chef Canadareturns for another season, and longtime resident judge Janet Zuccarini is back at the table. From building her restaurant group into a Toronto-to-L.A. empire to spotting creations that make her want to lick the plate, Janet shares what keeps her fired up — on-
screen and off.
What still surprises you about Top Chef contestants each season?
From left: Shai-Ann Tyson, Coulson Armstrong and Charlotte Langley
I’m reminded how much heart this industry has. The chefs come in hungry, fearless and willing to put everything on the line. I’ve seen extraordinary growth happen right in front of me, and that still moves me.
What are you secretly looking for in a winning dish?
Kiin
I’ll always lean toward the food that makes me feel something. Technique without soul is forgettable. A dish that makes me want to lick the plate — that’s the one I’ll remember.
What would your signature dish be?
Felix Trattoria
Probably something that looks deceptively simple but hits deep — like hand-made pasta with beautiful olive oil, garlic and anchovy.
What’s the boldest decision you made that paid off?
Opening Felix in Los Angeles. I knew it would either be a defining success or a very expensive lesson. It ended up putting us on the global map. It taught me that, when something scares you, that’s often the sign you’re meant to do it.
Stella in West Hollywood has paused. What does that mean for diners?
@stellawesthollywood/Instagram
The L.A. dining scene is still incredible, but it’s definitely shifted. After the fires, certain neighbourhoods changed. We lost part of our core audience, and people across the city started watching where theyspend. Between the fires and the economic inversion we’re seeing, it just felt like theright time to take a pause. For me, thatmeans stepping back to reassess and see if
another concept might speak more directly to what’s happening in L.A. right now. I’m
not done with the space. I just want the next chapter to feel truly relevant and alive.
Definitely. I’m interested in building not just restaurants, but legacy — mentoring the next generation, telling deeper stories through food and design and continuing to push boundaries. I’m not done evolving yet.
Toronto’s iconic dog fountain in Old Town’s Berczy Park is getting a major refresh this winter, as the City of Toronto moves to hire a vendor to repair and repaint all 27 dog sculptures, as well as the often-overlooked (but never forgotten) lone cat that serves as the park’s centrepiece!
As first reported by Toronto Today, the City has confirmed plans to secure a contractor for the work, which will take place this winter while the fountain is already shut down for the season.
The Berczy Park Dog Fountain arrived on the scene in 2017, but it’s already become one of downtown Toronto’s most popular landmarks. The triangular park is tucked between Wellington, Front and Scott Streets just behind the Gooderham Flatiron Building, and was completely overhauled that year as part of a $7.2-million redesign led by legendary landscape architect Claude Cormier and his studio (now known as CCxA).
Cormier’s team is actually behind some of the city’s most playful public spaces, including Sugar Beach and Love Park, but Berczy might be Cormier’s most instantly recognizable Toronto work. Here, the animal sculptures are clustered around the two-tier, cast-iron fountain, each one craning its neck toward a giant golden bone perched at the top!
Since opening, the fountain has functioned as both a sculpture and a splash pad. Each of the dog sculptures spouts water from its mouth, while a ground-level trough lets real dogs grab a drink on hot days.
But after eight summers of sun, splashing and enthusiastic pats from visitors, the once-vivid coats on the sculptures have noticeably faded. So, even with regular maintenance, it’s clearly time for a tune-up! The sculptures will be taken off-site for a short period this winter, with the goal of reinstalling them just in time for the warmer weather next year.
This will mark the first full repaint since the fountain was unveiled eight years ago.
According to a statement provided to blogTO, the City is in the process of securing a vendor who will carefully remove all of the dog (and cat) figures from the fountain, repair any damage and fully repaint them over the winter months.
Judging by social media comments, their temporary absence will definitely be noticed.
“Like the bean in Chicago it’s becoming an iconic tourist attraction here. We should have duplicates of every dog ready to go so that maintenance and repairs can be made to each without disappointing the tourists” one Reddit user said.
Another noted, “I go through here often. There’s always so much excitement from kids seeing it for the first time, running up to it, going around and petting all the dogs. All the tourists on the trek from the CN Tower > Union > St. Lawrence Market > Distillery stop to take selfies, advertising a great part of our city to everyone around the world.”
