24 Hours in Toronto - Highlights of a Weekend Getaway

The Fairmont Royal York has been beautifully renovated in the last year and the look of this historic 1929 landmark hotel is one of class and comfort. The Clockwork lobby bar was a great place to meet with my friend over and afternoon drink to catch up and firm up our plans for the later afternoon and evening. It was buzzing with activity and conversation with the crowd of all ages enjoying the afternoon and getting ready for Saturday night in Toronto.

My friend and I headed out to the Hockey Hall of Fame, a super easy walk from the Royal York. Being late afternoon, the crowds had thinned out and we had lots of space to admire this museum dedicated to the history of hockey. Awesome displays, records and memorabilia throughout lead you to the greatest trophy of all. Yes you can pose with the actual Stanley Cup. Other favorites included the totally interesting and unique collection of hockey masks throughout the decades, and the replica of the the Montreal Canadiens dressing room was pretty neat as well!

I was able to choose the restaurant for the evening for me and my friend to enjoy a lively and fun atmosphere with some great food too. I also wanted us to have a chance for a stroll through the Distillery District, a treasure of a historic neighborhood close to downtown. The ambiance and décor of the restaurant was dramatic and intriguing. We enjoyed a nice selection of tacos, my favorites were the pork tacos with pineapple, delicious. After a delicious meal it was time for our next stop of the evening, where we checked out the third period of the Leafs game.

We had watched the 3rd period of the Leafs-Canadiens match up at a sports bar near Scotiabank arena and the hometown Leafs lost in an overtime shoot out!

It was time to wind down the evening back at the Royal York. The Library Bar is a cozy and comfortable classic spot to enjoy some conversation or just to sit back and enjoy the light live music and the atmosphere. Featured is a Whisky Library with an evolving selection of fine choices. The Library bar also offers an afternoon tea on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and a food menu featuring seasonal and local ingredients.

The night we were there the vibe was chill but quite lively with many post hockey game patrons and other clientele looking to continue to enjoy their Saturday night in a nice atmosphere.

The CN tower is a signature icon of Toronto's skyline that stands over a kilometre high. One of Canada's most recognizable landmarks, before we met up my friend was sure to add it to his itinerary of his first trip to Toronto. The incredible views were an awesome experience that he enjoyed very much (sorry I missed out on it this time!). The CN tower is located very near our chosen activity for Sunday..

We had a brewery tour booked for around 12:30 so we grabbed a coffee and walked down on the fairly mild October day. Steam Whistle brewing is known for its Pilsner style beer and is located in a historic brick railway roundhouse. Roundhouse park has lots of historic trains to check out, as well as a railway museum. We had a stroll around (my friend was fascinated by the black squirrels trotting around!) and headed in for the tour. What a pleasant experience! The friendly and knowledgeable guide showcased details of the operation and noted many historical facts about the company as we toured this unique and impressive space. The tour included a crisp glass of pilsner that went down nicely as we toured the facility. Some great artwork is on display in the space as well. If you spend time before or after the tour, they offer food such as a delicious pretzel served with beer mustard. They also have a cheery biergarten with a great menu that includes a delicious Debreziner sausage, hearty and filling and fantastic.

Steam whistle has a nice range of cool merchandise available at their gift shop, I chose a T-shirt but loved the look of the colorful green toque for colder days. Overall a great experience at Steam Whistle and highly recommended!

Just before I headed home from my quick 24 hours in Toronto, I suggested we stop by at Taiyaki NYC (a relatively new location opened up in downtown Toronto), an ice cream shop that features incredible ice cream in fish shaped waffle cones. Delicious, and worth the stop even if we were short on time (I had to catch a bus!). I am absolutely looking forward to trying another of these wonderful ice cream treats.

This concludes the highlights of my latest 24 hour trip to Toronto. There are always new things to discover as well as old favorites, and it was nice to combine the two on this fun October weekend.