Yonge Street In Downtown TorontoYonge Street (pronounced “Young Street”) begins at the foot of Queen’s Quay which is along the south edge of Lake Ontario and proceeds north through the city. For the purposes of this website, let’s talk about some of the major attractions that you’ll find along the street in the downtown core. Trust me, there is lots to do and the farther north you go, the better it gets! Yonge Street AttractionsAmong other things there are many major attractions you’ll find on or near Yonge Street as you proceed north.The Eaton Centre shopping mall is located several blocks north of the foot of Yonge Street bordering Dundas Street, Queen Street and Bay Street. On the east side of Eaton Centre across the road, you’ll find Dundas Square which often hosts cultural events and is located next to the first Hardrock Café in North America. Dundas Square is a wide open space featuring rows of fountains spouting out from the ground so watch where you’re walking so you don’t get soaked! The new Hockey Hall of Fame is located at Yonge Street and Front Street in an old bank building and was opened in 1993. I visited the new location shortly after it opened and if you’re a hockey fan you have to check it out. Sam The Record Man at 347 Yonge Street is a Toronto landmark, a record store with the easily noticeable flashing red lights in the shape of an old LP record above the marquee. Although it has experienced financial trouble in the past few years, it’s still a great place to visit. The store contains numerous autographed pictures of various singers and celebrities dating back decades. Farther north you’ll find the main intersection in Toronto where Yonge Street meets Bloor Street. At the corner of Bloor Street and Bay Street (just west of Yonge) you’ll find the Manulife Centre which is an indoor multi-level mall with restaurants, shopping and a movie theater among other things.
At Yonge and Bloor you’ll find some great places to explore especially as you proceed west along Bloor Street including some great shopping. Yonge Street RestaurantsThere are a number of great restaurants along Yonge Street and given the length of the street, it’s too big an area to list off all of the restaurants. Having said that, here are a few restaurants I’ve been to that I enjoy:Brownstone Cafe, 603 Yonge Street: I’ve eaten here several times and the food and service has always been great. During the summer you can sit out on the patio. The restaurant has a neat atmosphere and a great selection of food and drinks. Bloor Street Diner, 1st Floor, Manulife Centre, 55 Bloor Street West (one block west of Yonge and Bloor): I’ve eaten here a number of times during the day and at night and the quality of food has always been excellent. From their fixed price menu to ordering a la carte, it’s a great choice and has an outdoor patio at the back of the restaurant looking down onto Bloor Street. They are located one floor down from a movie theatre so you can catch a bite to eat before seeing a movie. Sultan’s Tent, 49 Front Street East (just east of Yonge Street): Food and belly dancing! How can you beat that? I’d never seen belly dancing before until I visited The Sultan’s Tent and the combination of the food and the show was fantastic. They offer a 4-course meal that offers good value. Plus, Café Maroc, the bar at The Sultan’s Tent, offers a nice place to grab soup, salad or more substantial middle eastern fare including lamb, salmon and beef. Those are just a few of my Yonge Street (or nearabouts!) favorites. Explore Yonge Street yourself and you’ll find many, many others too.
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