Gay Toronto in 24 Hours: What to See, Eat & Do

Toronto has one of the best LGBTQ+ scenes in North America. From the rainbow-crossed streets of the Village to drag brunches, world-class museums, and a nightlife that runs until sunrise, Canada's largest city must be seen at least once in a lifetime.

Whether you're here for Pride (one of the world's largest), a long weekend, or just passing through, here's how to squeeze the best of gay Toronto into 24 hours.

Morning: Brunch, Coffee & The Village (9am-12pm)

Brunch at WVRST

Start your day at WVRST on King Street West, a beer hall and sausage house that does an excellent weekend brunch. It's not a specifically gay venue, but the King West location puts you close to the Village, and the European-style sausages, pretzels, and brunch cocktails set you up properly for the day ahead. 

Alternatively, The Senator Diner on Victoria Street (just east of the Village) serves classic diner fare in a retro setting that's been feeding Torontonians since 1929.

For something more upscale, head to Mildred's Temple Kitchen in Liberty Village for their legendary brunch menu, which includes astonishingly fluffy pancakes.

Explore Church-Wellesley Village

Walk off breakfast with a stroll through the Village, Toronto's LGBTQ+ heartland since the 1970s. The intersection of Church and Wellesley is marked by rainbow pylons year-round, and the neighborhood is packed with gay-owned cafes, bars, and boutiques.

Browse the independent shops along Church Street, check out the street art and murals celebrating LGBTQ+ history, and soak in the atmosphere of Canada's most established gay neighborhood.

Coffee at Balzac's

Grab a proper coffee at Balzac's on Church Street. The exposed brick, Parisian cafe vibe, and excellent espresso make it the ideal spot to caffeinate before diving into museums. If you're still hungry, their pastries are excellent.

Afternoon: Culture, Art & Lakefront Views (12pm-6pm)

Royal Ontario Museum (ROM)

Toronto's museum game is strong, and the ROM is the crown jewel. The collection is vast - think everything from dinosaur fossils to Chinese temple art - but for LGBTQ+ travelers, don't miss their progressive approach to gender and sexuality in various exhibits. 

The building itself, with its Michael Lee-Chin Crystal addition jutting out in sharp angles, is worth seeing. Allow two hours minimum. (Alternative: The Art Gallery of Ontario down on Dundas is equally impressive if you prefer art to natural history.)

Lunch at Pai Northern Thai Kitchen

Head west to Pai on Duncan Street for some of Toronto's best Thai food: the khao soi and pad thai have earned cult status. Expect a queue if you arrive at peak lunch, but it moves quickly. The restaurant sits in the Entertainment District, convenient for your next stop.

CN Tower or Harbourfront Stroll

You've got options here depending on your mood. The CN Tower is Toronto's most iconic landmark - yes, it's touristy, but the 360-degree views from 553 meters up are genuinely spectacular.

The glass floor still freaks people out in the best way. If heights aren't your thing, walk south to the Harbourfront along Queens Quay. The waterfront path offers Lake Ontario views, public art installations, and a much more relaxed pace. On warm days, people lounge on the HTO Park urban beach chairs - it's surprisingly pleasant.

Pre-Dinner Drinks at The Beaver

Back to the Village for early-evening drinks. The Beaver is a chilled pub that strikes the perfect balance between dive bar authenticity and actually wanting to stay. The back patio is lovely in summer, the crowd is unpretentious, and the drink prices won't destroy your budget before dinner. It's the kind of place locals actually go, which is always a good sign.

Evening: Dinner, Drag & Dancing (6pm-Late)

Dinner at Alo Restaurant

If you're doing Toronto properly, you need to experience its restaurant scene, which punches well above its weight internationally. Alo Restaurant (on Spadina) holds a Michelin star and offers a tasting menu that's worth the splurge - think French technique meets Canadian ingredients in a gorgeous setting. Book well ahead

Drag Show at Crews & Tangos

Take a trip to Crews & Tangos and see Toronto’s gay scene in action. The drag shows here are legendary, running multiple nights weekly with some of Canada's best queens serving comedy, lip-syncs, and audience interaction. It's campy, loud, and exactly what you want from a gay bar drag show. Shows typically start around 9-10pm. Get there early to snag a good spot.

Midnight onwards

Finish your night at Woody's, a Church Street institution offering multiple rooms with different vibes: the front bar for chatting and cruising, the back patio for cooling off, and Sailor upstairs for dancing to pop anthems and your favorite divas. It's unpretentious, fun, and gets packed late on weekends. Toronto's club scene has shifted over the years with several major venues closing, so Woody's remains one of the reliable late-night options in the Village.

Late-Night Eats at Fran's

When the bars close (last call is 2am, clubs run until 3-4am), join the parade of drunk gays stumbling to Fran's diner on College Street. Open 24/7, it's a Toronto institution serving breakfast and comfort food to the post-club crowd. The disco fries and milkshakes hit differently at 3am.

LGBTQ-popular accommodation in Toronto

Kimpton Saint George

Part of the reliably LGBTQ+-welcoming Kimpton chain, this Annex location give you a quieter base if you want to be slightly outside the Village buzz while still being walkable to the action. The rooms are spacious with high ceilings and floor-to-ceiling windows, decorated in muted tones with pops of jewel colors.

 You're positioned perfectly for exploring the Annex neighborhood, with its independent bookshops, cafes, and proximity to the University of Toronto campus. Bloor Street's shopping and museum district are a five-minute walk, and you can reach the Village in fifteen minutes on foot or a quick streetcar ride.

The Broadview Hotel

If you want something with more character and don't mind being outside the Village, head east to the increasingly gay-popular Riverside neighborhood. The Broadview sits in a gorgeously restored 1891 building that's been transformed into one of Toronto's most stylish boutique properties. 

The rooms have an industrial-chic aesthetic with exposed brick, blackened steel, and floor-to-ceiling windows that frame dramatic views of the city skyline. The real draw is the rooftop bar, which offers some of the best skyline views in the city—CN Tower, downtown core, and Lake Ontario all visible from your perch seven floors up.