The neighbourhood around 38 Broadway is a year-round hub of excitement and activity with great options for restaurants, shops, and spaces to feel inspired and relaxed all day long. When the sun is out and temperatures rise, there are even more unique opportunities to explore. Apply your SPF and get ready for the perfect summer day in midtown.
MORNING
First things first: coffee. Whether you’re in search of an Americano, a cold brew, a flat white, or just good old-fashioned drip, you’ll find a favourite spot nearby. Check out De Mello Coffee, just one block north, serving up freshly roasted gourmet beans, plus a mouth-watering assortment of pastries, baked daily in-house.
Summer is the perfect time to take a break from your flat iron, but if the thought of leaving the house with your locks au naturel is a little too daunting then pop in to Blo Blowdry Bar for a blow-out that will outlast the heat. Gents enjoy a beard trim or a straight razor shave at Mankind.
If it’s the weekend, then the next item on the agenda is definitely brunch, or maybe it’s a Wednesday and you’re playing hooky – we won’t judge. Either way, you can’t start your day on an empty stomach. Yonge and Eglinton is one of the best neighbourhoods in the city for a wide range of breakfast fare. Mars Diner offers a classic style eatery with a wide menu selection, or if you’re looking for a little less Formica and a little more formality, visit Bar Buca on Eglinton where scrambled eggs get a major upgrade with burrata & black truffles.
Time for a little window shopping along Yonge, popping in and out of midtown’s beautiful boutiques for style inspiration and a dose of cool air. From big name brands like Lululemon, Club Monaco, and Sephora, to local favourites like Want Apothecary and bluboho, you’ll find an eclectic mix for every style, taste, and occasion.
AFTERNOON
Ever thought that crispy cauliflower tacos might rival the real deal? Judge for yourself with a side-by-side lineup of Mexican-inspired lunch fare, light enough for summer, delicious enough to fuel you up for the afternoon. Vegetarians will love Fresh on Eglinton’s crispy cauliflower tacos bursting with jicama, avocado, lemon aioli, napa cabbage, and beet sauerkraut. Meat lovers can head 100 metres east to La Carnita and choose from delectable combinations made with chicken, shrimp, sausage, steak, or cod.
Time to take a page from the Europeans and sneak in a little afternoon siesta. You’re close enough to home to pop in for a nap, but if you can’t bear to be inside when the weather is beautiful then grab a book and head to a neighbourhood park. Eglinton Park and Sherwood Park are full of shady spots under a canopy of trees. Or walk to St. Clements-Yonge Parkette where you can stop and smell the roses.
If you’ve got a second wind then why not put it to good use with a workout? Close your eyes and let the ride fly by at SPINCO. Climb to new heights with a VersaClimber workout at Burnout Fitness. Pack more intensity into less time at F45. Or channel your inner Karen Kain at Barreworks. Then it’s a short walk home for a refreshing shower in your spa-inspired bathroom. The night is still young.
EVENING
Nothing says summer like al fresco dining and Sip Wine Bar is just the spot. Specializing in Neapolitan pizzas, this neighbourhood favourite boasts an authentic Italian pizza chef with a repertoire of nearly two dozen different pizzas, all flash-baked in an authentic wood-burning oven specially imported from the Old World. Taste wines from northern, central, and southern Italy. Don’t worry, it’s only a 4-minute walk to get home.
If you’re not quite ready to call it a night then take your pick from a Hollywood blockbuster, stadium seating, and surround sound at Cineplex Yonge and Eglinton; LOL-ing with North America’s best standup at Absolute Comedy; or a night of friendly competition at Snakes and Lattes Midtown.
Photo courtesy of blogTO