Best of Toronto gay guide

There’s no wrong year to celebrate Pride in Toronto, but there’s definitely a right one and it’s 2016. Every summer, queers from around the globe barnstorm Canada’s largest city for an energetic, rainbow-splashed celebration that easily rivals the ones happening in New York and San Francisco, but this year will be even better. Not only has Canada officially declared June Pride Month for the first time ever, but comely Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will serve as the Grand Marshall for the Pride Parade happening Sunday, July 3 and that’s got to be about the coolest thing ever. We could go on and on and on about how great this city is, but our queer guide should help visitors to Toronto get their gay groove going.

Related: The hottest gay destinations of 2016

Spotted: Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and comedian Colin Mochrie at Pride 2014 | Flickr CC: Joseph Morris

Church and Wellesley, aka the Village

If a queer Canadian were to flee the country in search of gay freedom in the big city, they’d want the bus to drop them at the intersection of Church and Wellesley, ground zero for Toronto’s LGBT community. Although the city as a whole is quiet LGBT friendly, it is here where that person might stumble into Glad Day Bookshop (the oldest queer bookstore in Canada), stock up on underwear, cheeky T-shirts and adult toys at gay department store On the Street, have a drink at Black Eagle, Byzantium or Pegasus Bar or see live performance at Buddies in Bad Times Theatre. Just walking Church Street is aperfectly enjoyable way to experience the gayborhood.

Queen Street West

There are more than 300 galleries located in this scruffy chic neighborhood and the art alone should signal that the Queen Street West (a.k.a. Queer West Village) is a hipster magnate akin to Williamsburg in Brooklyn or the Mission in San Francisco. Most of the action is situated along Queen Street itself and includes all kinds of LGBT-friendly cafes, shops and restaurants. Don’t miss the Museum of Contemporary Canadian Art, the Drake Hotel (see below) and queer nightlife offerings including the Beaver and Big Pimpin’ First Fridays at Wrong Bar.

Soak up the sun with or without your skivvies | Flickr CC: Joseph Morris

Hanlan’s Point Beach

Few seem to know that the Great Lakes are full of islands, but that is indeed the case. The aptly named Toronto Islands are a string of islands located within city limits and are in fact just a short ferry ride from downtown Toronto. They are so close to the shore that a visit to them makes for a perfect afternoon getaway from the city and most gays make their way to the beach at Hanlan’s Point, an official clothing optional beach that is stunning in summer and very popular with gay sunbathers.

Check in to one of the “crash pads” at the Drake Hotel | Photo courtesy of the Drake Hotel

The Drake Hotel

The concept of an indie, cool small hotel outfitted with ridiculously hip crash pads came early to Toronto as the Drake has been a scene fixture since 2004. Formerly a punk bar and before that a hotel also called the Drake, this current incarnation was imagined as the city’s response to the Hotel Chelsea in NYC in that it would be a haven for artists. Although room rates may nudge past what a starving artist can actually afford, the hotel is undeniably cool and LGBT friendly and plays hoststo all kinds of events. Its onsite diner is borderline awesome and don’t forget to visit the Drake General Store, the onsite gift shop.

Getting steamy | Photo courtesy of Steamworks

Steamworks

If you’re expecting everything in Canada to be cleaner in comparison to the U.S., your preconceived ideas won’t be shattered by Steamworks, an immaculate bathhouse located in the beating heart of the Gay Village. To be fair, this private men’s playground is connected to the same brand that also boasts stateside locations in Chicago and Berkeley (which are also quite clean). Regardless, ifyou’re a man on the make and looking to cry out ‘Oh, Canada!” with a cute stranger, this is your place.

Getting lost in color at Kensington Market | Flickr CC: Andrzej Wrotek

Kensington Market

While it may sound like a market in name, Kensington is actually a neighborhood and partly an outdoor market and also one of the most eclectic places to visit in the entire city. This Canadian National Historic Site is justly famous for its historicVictorian homes, funky shops and cafes, radical politics, public art, boho spirit and large population of immigrants from all corners of the world whose influence has made the neighborhood a culinary delight. It’s also one of the most queer-friendly neighborhoods in the city—although you’d be hard pressed there days to find anywhere in Toronto that isn’t accepting.

Woody’s (and Sailor)

Our memories of this lively taproom are few and far between, but that’s only because our time spent there was obscured by excessive imbibing. A bona fide fixture within the Church and Wellesley Gay Village, sprawling Woody’s is a must-do destination for gay men and the scene is virtually doubled by adjoining bar Sailor. Squint your eyes just right you may notice that the facade is the very same one featured in the Showtime series Queer as Folk which frequently filmed scenes on the street out front. Weekends include drag shows and also a hot booty contest (if you decide to participate, we won’t tell).

The design of the Art Gallery of Toronto is just as spectacular as the art | Flickr CC: Rick Ligthelm

The Art Gallery of Ontario

If handed the phrase Canadian artist, most Americans would conjure up a plethora of names including Celine Dion, Drake and, sadly, Justin Bieber. But if that field is narroweddown to visual artist, we would all most likely come up empty handed. That’s why LGBT visitors to the city should rip themselves away from their feather boas and glitter long enough to visit the AGO, a celebrated museum whose permanent collection spans two millennia and includes the world’s largest collection of Canadian Art. Check out important works from the influential Group of Seven, a gang of early 20th century artists who created a body of Canadian art influenced by the natural landscape, and don’t miss the Frank Gehry-designed gift shop!

El Convento Rico

It’s hard to do justice when describing this subterranean Latino drag bar located in lively Little Italy, a historic neighborhood that otherwise entices with its sidewalk cafés crammed with people twirling fettuccine around their forks and sipping cappuccinos. Much of the week at El Convento Rico is spent paying lip service(pun intended!) to gender-bending entertainment and there’s also a male revue on Saturday. But what makes this off-the-beaten path bar a true gem is that folks of all ages, races, gender identities and sexual orientations come here to samba and it’s a sight to behold!

Cellblock/Zipperz

On the right night, Cellblock and Zipperz is the most fun you can have on the town. A duel personality bar, Zipperz has a piano as its centerpiece so look for musicians tickling its ivories and serving up large doses of popular show tunes. Cellblock, meanwhile, brings revelers to its dance floor including raucous drag shows and the best retro night in town which happens every Sunday. Be prepared for large crowds on weekends.

Tagged: Hotels