Cameron Bailey of TIFF: A Local's Guide to Toronto

Cameron Bailey, artistic director of the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) and a Toronto native, shares his guide to exploring the city with Condé Nast Traveler.

Queen Street Streetcar

“In the couple of hours it takes to ride from Long Branch in the west end to the far beaches in the east, Toronto reveals itself. The Queen Street rails run through the city's hipster labs of Parkdale and the Ossington district, through downtown and right past the retro space-age City Hall, and out into gentrifying the Leslieville and gentrified Beach neighborhoods. But beyond the real estate gazing, the passengers who get on and off the car, with their briefcases, tattoos, shopping bags or private dramas, are the real show.”

The Shangri-La Hotel

“For my one local hotel stay of the year, when I'm working long days and nights at the Film Festival, I'm devoted to the Four Seasons. But for casually dropping in during the rest of the year, there's nothing like the Shangri-La. The lobby, with its statement fireplace and attentive staff, is a haven. The fitness centre is bright and efficient. In the evenings, the lobby bar is hopping, with musicians like pianist Thompson Egbo Egbo setting the atmosphere. This place is my fantasy second home.”

The Gladstone Public Library recently completed a massive renovation.


Gladstone Public Library

“I love the Gladstone Public Library. Toronto has one of the best public library systems on the planet. It's how I first began browsing through all the world had to offer and now there's nothing more satisfying than bundling into a neighborhood library with my son and letting him run wild amidst all that knowledge. For city families, there's nothing better.”

Toronto Islands Ferry

“Take the sunset ferry back to the city. Take an early ferry out to the Toronto Islands and spend as much of the day there as you can. Doesn't matter which island; you can choose the kids' fairground or the tony boating club or the nude beach. The key point is to time your exit. As the sun descends, make sure you're on the beach that faces the city. There you will see Toronto laid out before you in all its glory. From many vantage points, this isn't a pretty city, but nothing shows off this town better than the view from the island at sunset. Then the ferry back to town takes 10 minutes.”

Lee Garden

Esplanade Theaters by the Bay

“Choose a Chinatown. The downtown Chinatown centerd at Dundas and Spadina is a hodgepodge of produce markets, fantastically inexpensive consumer goods, and superb restaurants like Lee Garden. The eastern Chinatown at Dundas and Broadview is smaller but has its unique gems. The northern Chinese neighborhoods in suburban Markham and Scarborough are magnificent. This is final stop on the migrant path that, for many, went from family suffering and striving through much of the 20th century in Asia to consumerist triumph marked by new, giant homes, new German sedans, and glorious restaurants like Magic Wok that are the equal of Hong Kong and Shanghai.”