This year Toronto will play host to WorldPride, and destinations across the province will be rolling out the carpet to welcome the revellers. Watch for regular guest blogs with insider tips for your trip to Ontario to celebrate Pride.
Quirky café
Café M is a fresh alternative to the corporate coffee chains that dominate Yonge Street. This quirky café offers decadent espresso-based drinks and a wide selection of delicious salads, sandwiches and local baked goods. Insider Tip: grab one of Café M‘s amazing window seats; they’re perfect for people watching (especially during WorldPride!).
Affordable luxury
Located at the tip of the Church & Wellesley Village, the Marriott Bloor-Yorkville is the perfect base from which to explore Toronto or share a night with your special someone.
The delightful Matisse Restaurant in the lobby offers a diverse breakfast buffet, with plenty of healthy options to fuel your #WorldPride bod. It’s no wonder that both Madonna and Jon Bon Jovi ask to stay here!
Modern relaxation
Hammam Spa, with its ultra modern decor and friendly staff, is the definition of relaxation. Hammam offers the perfect escape from the everyday. We love the romantic couple’s massage and the spa’s standout feature: a modern twist on the Turkish steam room. With ambient lighting, cool water baths and incense, you’d be hard pressed to believe you were in Toronto and not Istanbul.
Let’s go dancing
A Church & Wellesley Village staple, Crews & Tangos is guaranteed to be wildly entertaining no matter what night you drop in. The main floor is reserved for drag shows that showcase Toronto’s fiercest Queens and Karaoke in the back. Insider Tip: grab a mini bottle of sparkling wine from the bar, make your way to the front of the stage and enjoy the show! Oh, and don’t forget to check out the dance floor upstairs for some 90’s pop, RnB and hip-hop.
Wedding Bells
Thinking of tying the knot and want a Downtown Toronto experience? The Marriott Downtown offers a unique, one-stop-shop wedding package, with flexible event space, catering and a suite for the married couple, and completely takes the stress out of planning your big day! The Marriott’s charming Trios Bistro, overlooking the beautiful Trinity Church, offers up classic international fare with a Toronto twist.
Jamie, the friendly sales manager, tells us Marriott strives to make its gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender guests feel at home and is an avid supporter of gay rights.
Discover more of gay-friendly Ontario here.
About Jeff and Michal
Jeff and Michal (28 & 29) have been together for 9 years and live in Downtown Toronto with their Persian cat Milo. Jeff is a web designer and social media coordinator and Michal is an urban planner. They share a mutual love of travelling, sparkling wine, Pantone 17-1463 and the Spice Girls.