James AllenWhen I’m bored on my day off and I don’t know what I want to do, the HarbourFront Center is where I go. This waterfront landmark is full to the brim with fun activities, such as browsing contemporary art and attending an arts and crafts workshop!
There are also amazing food spots here, including one that specializes in wild-looking and super-sweet desserts. Sometimes, eating a good treat while enjoying the waterfront view is all I need to have a good day.
Planning to visit soon and want to make the most of your time? Here’s a full guide to help you out.
- Things to Know
- What to Do
- Skate away during DJ Skate Nights
- Learn through play during KidSpark
- Browse beautiful art at The Power Plant
- Attend a class or workshop at the Craft and Design Studio
- Attend a festival
- Buy arts and crafts from local vendors at the Lakeview Market
- Watch a live performance
- Join the summer camp
- Stroll along the boardwalk
- Where to Eat
Things to Know
Address: 235 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours: Wednesday to Sunday—12 pm to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169734000
How to Get Here
By Subway: Take the Yonge-University Line (southbound) and alight at Union Station. Then walk to the center. It should only take about a few minutes.
By Streetcar: You can ride either 509 Harbourfront or 510 Spadina streetcars. Then, alight at the HarbourFront Center stop.
By Car: Drive westbound on Queens Quay West and then make a left turn at Lower Simcoe Street. The center should just be a short distance away. For parking, there’s underground parking available at 235 Queens Quay West.
What to Do
Skate away during DJ Skate Nights
– From: harbourfrontcentre
Does a skating dance party sound good to you? If your answer is yes, then you’ll love DJ Skate Nights at the HarbourFront Center!
Held on Saturdays, this recurring event lets you skate around a rink while DJs drop the catchiest beats. To make things better, DJ Skate Nights often have themes! For example, during Halloween, you can skate wearing the most absurd costumes.
If you don’t have any skating gear, don’t worry because there are skate rentals here for all ages and sizes.
Learn through play during KidSpark
– From: harbourfrontcentre
If you have a curious child who is interested in all things science, they’ll love KidSpark. This program is done through a collaboration with the Ontario Science Center, and it’s a learn-through-play experience.
What’s so great about this program is that it has practical and simplified demonstrations of common scientific concepts. There are also sections that invite the children to experiment and tinker with the components to see what would happen.
By the end of this experience, your child might become an aspiring scientist!
Browse beautiful art at The Power Plant
– From: thepowerplantto
As an art lover, I’m thrilled that The Power Plant is located in HarbourFront Center. It’s an art gallery specializing in contemporary art by local and international artists.
I love exploring the different mini-galleries here. For me, contemporary art always takes up a lot of brainpower because the intent and meaning of the work aren’t clear all the time, but I enjoy coming up with my own interpretations.
There are also fascinating exhibitions being hosted here from time to time. Usually, these exhibitions are focused on one particular artist. I love meeting artists and asking them about their work!
Attend a class or workshop at the Craft and Design Studio
– From: harbourfrontcentre
Aside from loving art, I’m also a massive crafty person. So, whenever I feel like learning a new skill or improving on one craft I already know, I just book a class or workshop at the Craft and Design Studio.
In particular, I’m always looking forward to the classes on embroidery and other types of textile arts because it has been my goal to make my own clothes. Aside from that, you can find classes and workshops on glass fusing and blowing, ceramics, and more!
Attend a festival
– From: harbourfrontcentre
HarbourFront Center is the go-to spot for many organizers, so expect to find a slew of festivals being hosted here every year!
One that I’m always looking forward to is the Winterfest Toronto, which usually runs from November to January. This holiday market-slash-festival is always so whimsical with all its sparkling lights, and it features a wide array of stalls offering tasty offerings like s’mores and mulled wine.
Summer Garden in the Music is another one I love. I mean, I get to have a picnic on the green while enjoying live music!
Buy arts and crafts from local vendors at the Lakeview Market
– From: harbourfrontcentre
HarbourFront Center is also home to Lakeview Market, which usually happens in the summer and/or fall. This is one of my most anticipated happenings in the center because the market features a diverse range of crafts and goods!
I’ve lost count of how many times I found gems here. I mostly buy handcrafted items from this market, such as crocheted plushies and knitted wearables, but sometimes, I splurge on sparkling pieces of jewelry or rare antiques. The options are endless here!
Watch a live performance
– From: harboufrontcentre
The center has two theatres within its premises: the HarbourFront Center Theatre and Flack Dance Theatre. So, you might as well take advantage of the opportunity and watch a live performance at either location—or even both!
The shows I usually watch are play productions by local acting troupes, but I’ve enjoyed the live music concerts of local bands as well. One I’m looking forward to this year is a dance showcase.
Join the summer camp
– From: harbourfrontcentre
If your young child is bored during summer, they might be interested in joining a summer camp hosted at the center instead!
The great thing about the summer camp here is that there are different programs you can specialize in. My nieces and nephews love the visual arts and performing arts programs, but you can also find options for circus arts and marine science!
There’s even a program catered to Dungeons and Dragons enthusiasts. Truly, summer camps at the center are full of fun. I wish they had a camp for adults!
Stroll along the boardwalk
– From: harbourfrontcentre
Sometimes, a good old-fashioned stroll along the waterfront is more than enough to lift my mood. Fortunately, HarbourFront Center offers a wide boardwalk for me to stroll on and a gorgeous view that I can enjoy in the meantime.
The boardwalk is also the best time to people-watch. It’s so lovely seeing people come together and enjoy a moment of peace. (There’s also drama sometimes and admittedly, those are fun to watch as well!)
Where to Eat
Food Lab
– From: harbourfrontcentre
If you’re visiting during the summer, you’re in luck because that’s when the Food Lab is active at the HarbourFront Center. Essentially, the Food Lab is a market where professional kitchens set up their own stall here, allowing you to enjoy delicious dishes in a waterfront setting.
Every time I visit the Food Lab, I order all sorts of treats. I love the classic American hot dog with a cup of lemonade, but sometimes, I want to indulge in a wood-fired pizza with fresh mozzarella slices and San Marzano tomatoes.
The only downside is that this isn’t available year-round. So, I have to wait every year just to get this experience again.
Amsterdam BrewHouse
– From: amsterdambeer
Address: 245 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 11 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 2 am
Contact Number: +14165041020
What better way to unwind by the waterfront than drinking a pint (or two) of beer and eating your favourite comfort foods? Nothing, I tell you! If this is what you’re looking for at the center, then you need to head to Amsterdam Brewhouse ASAP.
The smoked brisket is my absolute favourite thing to get here. It’s cooked for 12 hours, so the meat becomes so tender that it practically falls off the bone. The dish is also served with a spicy and tangy coleslaw and cheddar hush puppies, making it a super filling meal.
Boxcar Social
– From: boxcar_social
Address: 235 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—9 am to 4 pm
- Friday and Saturday—9 am to 8 pm
- Sunday—9 am to 7 pm
Contact Number: +18447269227
Boxcar Social is the best spot to go if you want to enjoy a casual brunch by the waterfront.
The shakshuka here is a must-try. The combination of tangy, acidic tomatoes and rich, silky poached eggs is absolutely divine. The Merguez sausages add a kick of spice that I really like.
To complete your brunch experience, order any of the bottomless drinks. The mimosas, in particular, are sweet and refreshing.
The Goodman Pub and Kitchen
– From: thegoodmanpub
Address: 207 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11:30 am to 10 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11:30 am to 11 pm
Contact Number: +16473412337
Feeling like unwinding inside a pub? Then, you’ll like The Goodman Pub and Kitchen.
You can’t go wrong with the classic fish and chips. The haddock is perfectly coated and fried, and the fries are thick and perfectly salty. The dish is served with a tartar sauce that adds a tangy punch to every bite.
Pie Bar
– From: piebarto
Address: 207 Queens Quay W #155
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—12 pm to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 10 pm
Contact Number: +16473417221
Italian cuisine has to be one of my favourites, so I’m delighted to know that there’s an Italian restaurant at HarbourFront Center: Pie Bar. As you can suggest, this restaurant is best known for its delicious pasta dishes and pizzas.
If you’re a pasta lover, I recommend the lobster ravioli; the lobster meat is tender and mildly sweet, and the sauce is sweet and nutty. If you prefer pizza, then you must order the chicken pesto pizza. It has that smoky-savoury flavour that’s just irresistible!
BeaverTrails
– From: beavertails
Address: 145 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14163608245
If you’re on a diet, then don’t step foot inside BeaverTrails. This shop boasts a wide array of insane desserts, and it will have you crumbling in no time!
The Brwownie is aptly named because it does WOW me. This pastry is topped with a thick chocolate hazelnut spread, fudgy brownie pieces, and crunchy white chocolate chunks. Every bite is an explosion of chocolatey goodness, sending me to dessert heaven (and spiking my blood sugar).
Lisa’s Ice Cream
– From: lisasiscream
Address: 235 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours:
- Wednesday and Thursday—2 pm to 8 pm
- Friday to Sunday—12 pm to 8 pm
Contact Number: +16475510071
No matter the weather, I’m always craving ice cream, and that’s why I stop by Lisa’s Ice Cream often.
What I love about this shop is that their ice creams are always so colourful. I feel like a kid being let loose in a candy shop!
I love combining flavours here. My go-to combo is the chocolate and bubble gum one. I know it sounds strange, but it actually works. The rich chocolate paired with the bright fruity sweetness from the bubblegum—yum!
Ice Creamonology
– From: icecreamonology
Address: 250 Queens Quay W
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Sunday—1 pm to 10 pm
Another fantastic ice cream shop you need to check out when visiting HarbourFront Center is Ice Creamonology. This shop tends to specialize in classic flavours like cookies and cream and chocolate brownie, but it also has fun flavour combos.
I’m obsessed with the blueberry cheesecake ice cream. It’s made with wild blueberries, and it’s also mixed in with cheesecake crumbles and homemade blueberry jam. It’s sweet, buttery, and tart—just like the real thing!
