Destination: Toronto

From shoe museums to swanky hotels, we uncover where to sleep, shop and eat in Toronto.

By Karen Higginbottom
When you think of Toronto, a Canadian city geared towards business travellers springs to mind. However, Toronto confounds those stereotypes by having a lot to offer ladies who love shoes, shopping and cuisine that tantalises the taste buds.

Where to stay
Where else but the Soho Metropolitan Hotel, a luxury 92-room hotel with a relaxing spa and an award-winning Senses bakery and restaurant in the heart of the entertainment district of Toronto. My executive suite was a delight with its Molton Brown amenities and Frette linens and towels. But if you've got the cash to spare, you can enjoy the sumptuous luxury of the 4000 sq ft penthouse suite, featuring an en-suite glass lift, therapeutic Kohler infinity soaker tub, two-state-of-the-art kitchens and two bedrooms. Both P Diddy and Madonna have enjoyed their stay here.

Where to eat
Toronto is a foodie paradise. Depending on your mood, cuisine from the four corners of the globe is available. Of particular note is Lai Toh Heen where you can eat divine dim sum dishes such crystal shrimp dumpling or a vegetarian roll of truffle, exotic mushroom and bean curd.

One little known fact about Toronto is that it has an Italian population larger than Florence, so try out Noce which serves marvellous Italian food or if you fancy sampling 20 different varieties of oysters, try Starfish. If you've willing to travel further afield then visit the Hillebrand Winery restaurant in Niagara-on-the-lake. From memory, I had delicious seared scallops and short rib of beef washed down with Hillebrand wines. Remember to try the wonderfully honeyed Ice wine, a speciality of the Ontario winemaking region.

Where to drink
The Senses bar at Soho Met Hotel is a delight. The walls are covered with rich, red velvet and makore wood panelling. Softly lit for an intimate atmosphere, it's the perfect place to sip seductively-named cocktails such as Sinful, Temptation and Desire and share tapas.

Other night-time venues worth a visit is the Bar at Canoe sited on the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower where you can sip vodka-infused cocktails while enjoying the magnificent views of Lake Ontario.

Alternatively for a more lively evening, try Cameron House, a former flop house where you can listen to up-and-coming musicians and even Prince has stopped by to play the piano.

Where to shop
For designer shops visit the Yorkville suburb and Queen West for local designers, art galleries and interior design stores. If you want the mall experience, then don't miss Eaton Square with more than 300 stores. Bloor Street between Church Street and Avenue Road is filled with designer boutique stores from Tiffany, Hermes and Chanel. If you are a lover of vintage clothing and furniture from the 1960s and 1970s, then head for Queen Street East.

Where to relax
If you're tired of pounding the pavements visiting designer shops, then relax at Salon Daniel, a spa within the Soho Metropolitan Hotel. You can get a blow-dry, manicure or pedicure if you so desire.

Highlights of the city
A must for lovers of Jimmy Choos and shoes in general is the wonderful Bata Shoe museum boasting a collection of 12,000 artefacts spanning 4,500 years. Of particular interest to celebrity lovers would be the red pumps worn by Marilyn Monroe and the platform boots of Elton John.  Other Toronto landmarks include the CN Tower for a panoramic view of this bustling city and the fabulous Kensington Market where traders from as far afield as Somalia, Italy, China and Jamaica compete for your custom.

What to do if you've got time to spare
Take a helicopter ride above Niagara Falls to get an entirely different perspective of the world famous horseshoe falls where between four and six million cubic feet of water goes over its crest every minute. It's impossible to convey the grandeur of scale until you've flown over it with Niagara Helicopters.

How to get there
ZOOM Airlines offers return fares to Toronto starts from £299 including all taxes. Premium class upgrade is available for a £99 supplement. For more information and reservations, please visit www.flyzoom.com  or call 0870 240 0055.

For more information on planning a visit to Toronto, visit www.torontotourism.com

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