St. Lawrence Market, Toronto

The St. Lawrence Market is a historic institution in Toronto, built in the 1800s and home to more than 100 vendors over three different buildings. Easily located a short walk from many of the downtown hotels, this should be one of your first stops during a day in the city.

Open every day except Sunday and Monday, this is a spot for a quick breakfast, a snack or just to walk around, observing the hubbub of the crowds and the vendors. Not to mention, the foodie paradise is perfect for taking in all the gorgeous displays of baked goods, produce, seafood and more.

Given the general vibe in the market, it seems the most famous booth belongs to Carousel Bakery. Known for its peameal bacon sandwich, it proudly boasts celebrity endorsements from everyone from Anthony Bourdain and Emeril Lagasse, to Catherine Zeta-Jones and Drake.

So, what’s a peameal bacon sandwich? Peameal bacon is a Canadian thing — lean bacon made from pork loin, rolled in cornmeal. Not like your typical, see-through strips of white and red bacon in the States, this is a thick, hearty slab of pork. The sandwich itself is simple, just a heaping pile of the bacon on a soft bun, with or without a dab of mustard. The bakery dishes out about one sandwich every 15 seconds on an average Saturday.

If you’re not there for the salty, fattening goodness of a bacon sandwich, there’s plenty more to catch your eye. Try a Montreal-style bagel at St. Urbain, or a lobster roll at Buster’s Sea Cove. If you’ve got a sweet tooth, try one of several vendors serving up treats like croissants, macarons and more.

If you’re lucky, you’ll arrive at the market when they’re hosting one of their regular events, from live music to cooking classes. Nearly every Saturday, the Market Kitchen holds a class on some kind of culinary skill, from preserving fruit to using up all those summer tomatoes.

Just keep in mind, it’s a good idea to get some Canadian cash before you go. Some of the vendors won’t accept U.S. cards.

St. Lawrence Market

92- 95 Front St East
Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1C3
(416) 392-7219