Toronto, Canada: where to stay, eat, drink and shop

Canada is in a party mood this year as it celebrates its 150th birthday, and Toronto is no exception as it gears up for its four-day bash in July.

In the meantime, Canada’s largest city is getting ready for six days of live music all across town during Canadian Music Week (April 18-23).

Toronto rivals London and New York in its huge range of cultures, many with their own district and restaurant scene. Not one but five separate Chinatowns join Little Italy, Greektown, Little Portugal, Korea Town, Little India, Little Jamaica and other enclaves where you can find Mexican, Ethiopian, Eastern European, Vietnamese and Filipino food. You don’t have to go far to find the world on your plate.

Where to stay

Splash out on one of the chic Asian-themed rooms at the five-star Shangri-La (001 617 788 8888; shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila). Its prime downtown location on University Avenue puts you within sauntering distance of the Entertainment District, the financial centre and the shops and bars of Queen Street West.

Floor-to-ceiling windows reveal cityscape views, which you can also see from the fifth-floor spa with its glass-ceilinged indoor pool. Doubles from $504 (£310), room only.

Where to eat and drink

One of Toronto’s top tables — literally, as it’s on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower — Canoe (001 416 364 0054; canoerestaurant.com) is an excellent spot for contemporary Canadian fine dining. Come at lunch for city views including the CN Tower and savour maple-cured salmon with Newfoundland crab and smoked avocado.

While Queen Street West gets more hipster the further west you go, you don’t have to stray too far from the centre to find classy Nota Bene (001 416 088 6400; notabenerestaurant.com). It has a delicate touch with Canadian seasonal ingredients, mixing Italian and Asian flavours in a creative menu. Try the fresh-tasting crisp duck salad with mint, papaya and chillies.

As with Queen Street, Bloor Street to the north has been rejuvenating itself. Way out west in Bloordale Village past Dufferin is Burdock (001 546 4033; burdockto.com), a lively combination of a restaurant, live-music venue and craft- beer shop. Its sharing platter for two featuring melt-in-the-mouth beef korma, pork shoulder and spicy chickpea salad is a standout dish.

Head up Dufferin, where you cross into Bloorcourt and a new addition to the booming craft-beer scene. The Greater Good (001 647 348 2339; thegreatergoodbar.com) rotates its selection of mainly Ontario craft beers in a cavernous, industrial-chic space. If you want something truly rustic, pop around the corner on Geary Avenue to the tiny Blood Brothers microbrewery (bloodbrothersbrewing.com) for a small but select range of craft beers.

Where to shop

West Queen West — the stretch of Queen Street between Bathurst and Dufferin — is the place to check out Canadian designers as well as fun, quirky shops. Vancouver native John Fluevog (001 416 581 1420; fluevog.com) has been making fantastically funky shoes for more than 40 years, which you can browse at his branch at number 686. Cocktail aficionados will have their minds boggled at BYOB Cocktail Emporium (001 647 727 3600; cocktailemporium.ca) at number 927, where practically every conceivable cocktail ingredient and implement is on display.

What to see and do

The Art Gallery of Ontario (001 416 979 6648; ago.net) has a vast, enthralling collection of art from the first century onwards. Look out for galleries showcasing Native Canadian art, works by the pioneering Canadian Group of Seven artists, Flemish and Impressionist painters and a gallery devoted to Henry Moore.

For one of the most jaw-dropping experiences of your life, strap yourself in for the EdgeWalk in the CN Tower (001 416 868 6937; cntower.ca). Attached to a harness, you’ll be doing a hands-free walk at a height of 365m — outside the tower.

Details: Toronto

Toronto is served by Air Canada (0871 220 1111; aircanada.com) and British Airways (0344 493 0787; ba.com) from Heathrow and Air Transat (020 7616 9187; airtransat.com) from Gatwick.

Tourist boards: seetorontonow.com; destinationcanada.com.