by Lindsay Hughes & Annalyse Powell
Toronto is a hotspot for all things music, from concert venues that host the most prevalent music stars of this generation, to local record shops with everything from ABBA to Zara. This city has a way of making you want for more, and for music lovers especially–there’s always a reason to extend your visit. While in the city it’s inevitable you’ll find yourself at the iconic Needle, so while you’re there check out these music hotspots, all a short walk away. Here are five spots we love as visitors who come to Toronto to enjoy concerts!
#1: The CN Tower
Everyone who visits Toronto ends up with at least one picture with the Canadian National (CN) Tower (aka “The Needle”). But get on in there and get to know it. Completed in 1976, the crown-jewel of the city stands tall and proud at 1,815.5 feet (or 553.33 meters, if you will). You can’t visit The 6ix (city nickname for its area codes 416 and 647) and not pay homage to the Needle–you just can’t. Once at the top of the tower (accessed by one of eleven elevators) you can see all around the city, as well as Lake Ontario.
Annalyse has had a personal affinity for clouds since childhood, and always want to be as close to the sky as possible. My wishes were achieved through the tower experience. Yes, it’s worth the money to explore the top and see the city from a unique perspective! Walking the circular interior is a fun way to get your steps in and take elevated pictures you wouldn’t have been able to capture without the structure’s height.
For the rest of your stay, use the tower as a guidepoint as you make your way through each stop, with each location below a pretty close walking distance from this Canadian beacon.
2. Kost: The 44 Story-High Restaurant
Now that you’ve been up in the Needle, admire it at eye level at Kost. It’s the perfect spot to eat before catching a show at Rogers Centre (more on that below).
Located in the city’s entertainment district–perfect for all music lovers, naturally–the restaurant offers typical brunch options, but elevated by way of dish presentation and ingredients. Their tropical pancakes, smoothie bowl, and eggs benedict are a very attractive selection for those in need of a morning boost.
Annalyse got the Kost smoothie bowl and it was love at first bite. To date, the vegan tropical bowl has no rival for her within the breakfast smoothie scene. They also offer lunch and dinner options with fresh seafood selections from Lake Ontario. Their beef tartare, east coast oysters, and octopus carpaccio are fine delicacies you won’t be able to say no to.
You might be wondering… why not just eat at the tower’s restaurant? We think Kost is better. If you only have the time or budget for one Toronto restaurant, let it be this one.
3. A Two-story, Independent Record Store: Sonic Boom
Now that you’re fueled up, walk 20 minutes to Sonic Boom, a two-story record store perfect for any vinyl enthusiast and every music lover. Sonic Boom is Canada’s largest independent record store, established in 2001. Walking through the doors transports you into a world where every artist has a spot on the shelf, and if you’re not careful, you’ll spend the entire afternoon filling every hole in your collection.
Lindsay had the best time getting lost in the shelves here on a recent trip, finding hidden gems like albums dedicated to a single band’s top hits. She loved how there was more than just vinyl there, catering then to all formats of music love. On each floor you can find collectors items such as Funko Pops, turntables, gifts, books, CDs, speakers and more! If you visit at the right time, you may even be lucky enough to catch one of their in-store performances, such as Angel Olsen who played there back in 2014, or Mac Demarco, who is currently on his own international tour.
4. A Nature Escape: Toronto Music Gardens
Traipsing around a big city can be tiring, revive with a different sort of musical appreciation at the Toronto Music Gardens. Its design was inspired by Bach’s first suite for unaccompanied cello. The garden includes six distinct sections, each an interpretation of the traditional dance forms featured in the cello suite’s six movements.
The stunning garden overlooks the Inner Harbor, just a 14 minute walk from The Needle. If you head to the Gigue section (or the bowl) you can get the perfect shot inside the gardens with tower in the background.
What Lindsay loves most about this garden is that you don’t need to be a big classical music fan to appreciate what they’ve done here. Anyone with any appreciation for nature can feel the thought and care that was put into the design. If you’re looking for a place to relax, see the water, and meander through a musical landscape, this is the place for you!
5. Rogers Centre
There’s a high likelihood the show you’re in town for is here at Rogers Centre. When it’s not filled with music fans, it is the home of the Blue Jays. This massive baseball stadium, the first stadium to have a fully retractable motorized roof, hosts some of the best artists of this generation.
Lindsay saw Taylor Swift’s iconic The Eras Tour here in 2024 and was captivated by the experience (along with nearly 50,000 other Swifties). The seats were surprisingly spacious with plenty of room to sing and dance the night way. That same year Rogers Centre was renovated, providing social spaces, bars, and premium clubs. From the friendly employees to the never-ending spots for food and drink, by the end of the night she was wishing this stadium was in her hometown back in Michigan. (Luckily, not that far of a drive away!)
When Lindsay visited, she found it easiest to park in a structure in the downtown area, and make the rest of the short way there on foot. Toronto also has tons of public transportation options, great for if you choose to stay outside the city center. Be careful not to confuse it with Rogers Stadium, another concert venue in the city.
If you wanna go all out and not have to hoof it after the concert or a game, you’re in luck! Rogers Centre has a hotel attached!! That’s right. Move us in!
As you can see on the map below, everything we’ve just highlighted is all doable on foot and not too far away… and conventiently fits into one perfect weekend in Toronto.
Music fuels the soul, and we hope these stops turn the volume up for you.
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