1. Nathan Phillips Square

    1. Nathan Phillips Square

    0

    Toronto, ON

    Nathan Phillips Square

    4.2 (113 reviews)

    Nathan Phillips Square Photos

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    Nia D.

    During our day of exploring areas of Toronto, we stopped by Nathan Phillips Square to check it out. It was a beautiful day for a Friday afternoon that was originally forecasted for rain and cooler weather - ended up being very sunny and warm. When we arrived, we saw some games taking place over in the field area. I went over to ask a player what was going on and he let me know it was an annual rugby tournament in support of a local charity and for us to stay and watch. He was a great example of the kind, welcoming demeanor we typically experienced throughout our visit in Toronto. We stayed for a bit to watch, took a photo "with" the Toronto sign that's there and then headed to the next spot on our self guided tour. A good place to relax, people watch and have lunch in a public square.

    Siyu T.

    Ice skating rink with beautiful views near Eaton mall too. They had free skating rentals on Saturday for the holidays and it was a nice experience and vibe to skate together in celebration!

    Taste of India festival stage
    Somya S.

    Food, performances and the crowds.. oh the Humanity. Went after 9 pm and it was still crowded. Had food and dessert .. really should not have done so! Oh well! They are on tomorrow as well.

    Gayan P.

    I don't know Nathan, but his Square is a solid spot for communities to gather. A great space to visit, whether for events or just to take it all in.

    Kristen H.

    Lovely little outdoor square with the iconic Toronto sign. Great spot for pictures. Right next to Eaton center so conveniently located off the path. For the holidays they've got a lovely light show at night. Ice-skating also.

    Purpose T.

    I would easily give 5 stars if I was able to get closer to the infamous TORONTO sign. Nevertheless, it is a beautiful sight to see, however close you can get. At the time I was there, the ice skating rink was not open. The area is both busy and serene, if that makes sense. Being from a metropolitan city, I speak the language of hustle and bustle. It's a big open space and prime for people-watching, if you're into that sort of thing. If you grab something quick from a food truck, there's ample space to sit and enjoy it. Also, close to a lot of other attractions.

    Alaleh P.

    I love Nathan Philips Square as there's alway some exciting event happening here; food events, Nuit Blanche, cultural events, etc. It's easily accessible by subway, streetcars and there's a GreenP parking close by, if you're driving (which I don't recommend). There are many hotdog and street food trucks available if y'u want to buy comfort food at a fair price. Also, the new Toronto sign with indigenous art is very nice.

    Tank G.

    This is a neat and hip little hangout spot located in central downtown Toronto. There is metered street parking within a reasonable walking distance, but the easiest parking location is the commercial garage located right under the square. That is what I did. The Square also has a few bus stops as well, if you wish to take public transit. It is named after Nathan Philipps, mayor of Toronto from 1955 to 1962 and dates back to 1965. There have been many modifications and upgrades since then. The Square is a decent size, spanning 12 acres and is located in the shadow of Toronto's city Hall. It is a symbol of peace and remembrance. The Square features the world-famous LED multi-color changing Toronto sign. It is definitely worth checking out. The sign serves as the backdrop to the Square's water features that is a reflecting pool in the warmer months and a full-fledged skating rink in the winter. I visited in the winter, so the skating rink was in full effect. In addition to the sign, the Square has a peace garden, which was created as a memorial to the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, a stage and several pieces of public art that include the Three Way Piece No.2: Archer The Square offers skate rentals, but a lot of people had their own. It is Canada. The Square also has a snack bar and usually has a food truck or two about on high traffic days. You will find a few cement benches to sit on while you are here and stairwells throughout the park that lead down to the underground parking garage. This spot is used to host some of the city's special events including the Cavalcade of Lights, New Year's Celebrations, Remembrance Day Celebrations, concerts, festivals and rallies. The Square is a popular spot among locals and tourist alike. The place was packed when I was there with skaters and visitors, but it was New years Eve. They did shot the skating off at 10PM that night. I really enjoyed hanging out at the Square. There is not a lot to do, outside of ice skating, but there is so much to see. Be sure to get a picture in front of the Toronto sign while you are there. It was a bit busy, but nothing too unbearable. The line for the skate rental was ridiculous, but I stayed away from it. Anyway, this is a must see while you are in Toronto and I highly recommend checking it out.

    the rink - note the surface
    Jen P.

    This review is for the ice rink at Nathan Phillips Square, based on a mid-day, mid-week visit. First - there's ample and cheap parking underneath the square in a multi-level underground lot - you access it off of Bay Street. Second, Nathan Phillips Square is the only rink in the city that rents skates. Adult rentals are $15 for 2 hrs. Beware that the skates may not be very sharp. There are many many rinks all over the city that are free if you have your own skates. Third, the quality of the rink ice is terrible. The surface was gouged and rough from so many skaters and did not appear to be regularly maintained. In other cities the rink is smoothed with a zamboni every couple or three hours. The quality of the surface made skating challenging and dangerous for novice skaters and we saw many wipe outs. Fourth, this rink is crowded at all times of day and night, and people take baby strollers and pets out onto the ice with them, so this is definitely a skate-at-your-own-risk kind of place. That said, the festive holiday lights and Toronto sign make it great for photos, so it's sure to remain popular despite the poorly maintained surface. Finally, there are public restrooms, plenty of benches and a fast food kiosk right there at the square, making it easy to change, grab a hot beverage or snack, or sit and wait/watch the skaters. And there's also a first aid booth just in case...

    Jennifer R.

    Toronto has many beautiful parks and this is another gem. It is perfectly situated for incredible views of the Toronto skyline. The park has several food trucks, restrooms, a water feature (that becomes a skating rink in winter) and the iconic Toronto sign. It is the home of several festivals throughout the year.

    Adri R.

    Nathan Phillips Square truly is a vibrant hub for cultural events and community gatherings. Not only just to take pictures of the Toronto sign.

    Jayme H.

    What a lovely space in the middle of downtown Toronto. I was in town for a few days and when I travel I love to just walk. I could walk for miles just exploring. And that's exactly what I did... and I ended up right smack dab in the middle of this lovely square. The giant Toronto sign surely makes for an Instagrammable photo op. The letters light up, there's a nice city skyline in the back, and the fountains too, of course! It's a rather touristy area but it's magical in its own right. I'm so glad I stumbled upon this space and I highly recommend it if you're into touristy type stuff or simply exploring. I hear in the colder months they have ice skating here!

    Mary M.

    Visited during the holidays and got to check out the Holiday Fair in the Square. Admission free! On a weekend, it's chaos navigating around trying to find parking. Skating: The line ups for the skating are long so best to bring your own. The seating space is limited especially on the weekend so most people were sitting along the rink edge to put their skates on/off. The rink it self was busy and every so often they had the Zamboni come out. Food: pricey, paid $18 for a funnel cake which in my opinion was over-fried and too sweet. Unfortunately, it was discarded after a few bites. Most of options include: poutine, tiny donuts, beaver tails, corn dogs, bubble tea, hot chocolate stations, burger/fries etc. There is a children's area (limited options) and markets through out the fair. The lights are the most exciting part, the area is lit up with the most prettiest twinkle lights! Overall, worth checking out

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    Clean minimalistic setting to enjoy the city and its denizens in the heart of downtown Toronto. Nice to see this space get so much use.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Nathan Phillips Square Reviews in Other Languages

    Review Highlights - Nathan Phillips Square

    Ever since the Toronto sign (the temporary one) was installed at NPS, I never headed down to my hometown to see it.

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    CN Tower - CN Tower by Union station

    CN Tower

    3.9(1k reviews)
    1.1 kmEntertainment District

    This is a worthwhile tourist destination. The regular ticket gets you up in the tower, where there…read moreare two levels to look out at the 360 view. They have additional paid options to go up higher, or tether yourself outdoors if you are the daring type. While I enjoyed the visit to the top, the snack bars gave me what I would call the worst hot dog of my life. I honestly didn't even finish it. It was discolored, undercooked, and tasteless. Ack! They have a huge gift shop to visit after. I wouldn't recommend ordering from their snack bars at the top, but otherwise, this was a good visit. It's walking distance from the Union Station subway stop.

    If you are in Toronto, the CN Tower is a mandatory stop. What stood out most was the organization…read moredespite the heavy crowd the staff kept everything moving smoothly. The staff: were very professional. They guide you throughout security efficiency and are happy to answer questions. Food: we tried to burgers and pizza at the casual eatery upstairs, and they exceeded our expectation for tourist food very flavorful. atmosphere: it's a photographer dream. Seeing everyone getting expired for their shot at to the creative live. Everyone is on their thing so there is no feeling intimidated on recording or snapping your pictures. Value: by using the city pass, we found the cost to be very reasonable for a family outing. The facility are clean and well maintained whether you are interested in the history of the structure or just want the best view of Canada, this place delivers 100%. Walking on the glass floor was the highlight of the day plus the fallen on the 45 angle degrees.

    Photos
    CN Tower - Rogers Centre with the CN Tower

    Rogers Centre with the CN Tower

    CN Tower - Light view of the city from CN Tower

    Light view of the city from CN Tower

    CN Tower - 2025.07.18

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    2025.07.18

    Sankofa Square - The City Sightseeing bus stop is in front of Sankofa (Yonge-Dundas) Square.

    Sankofa Square

    3.4(73 reviews)
    0.5 kmDowntown Core

    Last Saturday for the 2nd year in a row I attended PoutineFest (aka Smoke-A-Palooza) at Dundas…read moreSquare. I first started attending Events at the Square in 2008, when I came with a social Group for the opening night of Luminato, an annual Event in Toronto. I attended opening night for the same Event the following two years, and all 3 featured great live entertainment (including Randy Bachman and Sass Jordan) which was very enjoyable to watch and listen to. Some other Events I've attended there were a flash mob Event in 2011 and the launch of a new beer in 2013. The Square has hosted a quite wide variety of Events over the years since it opened; obviously the location couldn't be better as it's so centrally located Downtown with a subway station literally underneath.

    I went here after dinner around 8:53pm on a Tuesday and it was so lively! I also visited this place…read moreduring the day too and it seems like it's a popular place. There's also a lot of businesses around this area too. This area is always so lively, but it seemed even more lively when I went there at night! I'm not really sure if it was lively because there was probably an event happening at night that day (they were putting up fences) OR because it's always lively at night. Anyways, when I went here during both day and night, there was always a lot of people. To me, it looked like what I think would be a mini Times Square, but the Canadian version of it. Another cool thing about this place is how they have water that randomly shoots out from the ground where the holes are at. Ok enough about how cool I think this place is, I also think it seems more dangerous at night. Reason why is because I saw a random group street fight break out that day, so I ended up leaving/ran away to avoid that area. I'd still recommend this place! Even though a random fight happened when I went there at night, it's still a fun place. I ended up finding other cool businesses nearby when I left the main part of the square. I was only at the square for 10 minutes before things happened, but I also visited this place during the daytime on a Saturday around 12:18pm and it was still just as lively.

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    Sankofa Square - Life guards at Amazon Prime Day

    Life guards at Amazon Prime Day

    Sankofa Square - 7/22/2025

    7/22/2025

    Sankofa Square - PC Financial booth - free prizes

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    PC Financial booth - free prizes

    The Distillery District - Exterior - "Love" (09/02/25). @DistilleryTO @Destination_Toronto #Art #Brewery #Restaurants #Shopping

    The Distillery District

    4.1(266 reviews)
    1.9 kmDistillery District

    Absolutely a waste of time for hardy any shops and high end eating! Public restrooms near locks on…read moretank House street. I was a tourist age 75 and would not waste my time

    (Visited 09/02/2025 TU @ 8:30pm): Distillery may have been its history, but this open-air district…read morehas become more than that! After I imbibed at Old Flame Brewing Co., I explored The Distillery Historic District where it was located for a leisurely first evening in Toronto. Over 20 years ago, a small group of visionary developers looked at a derelict collection of Victorian Industrial buildings that had been pronounced a national historic site and imagined transforming it. They wanted to create a place that would excite and inspire the senses. Where people could experience new ideas, new foods, new designs and new ways of living and working. The vision was to combine the romance and relaxing atmosphere of European walking and patio districts with the hip, cool dynamic of an area like New York City's SoHo or Chelsea, where creative minds got together and you felt as if anything could happen. Their dream was to provide a place where artists, artisans, entrepreneurs and businesspeople could rub shoulders and inspire each other. So, they began plans to restore the 47 buildings known as the Gooderham & Worts Distillery. They went to great lengths in the restoration process to repurpose original materials and brilliantly blend them with today's modern materials and green technologies. One could only marvel at the authentic exterior restoration that was achieved. But it was when you stepped inside the buildings that you truly realized the magnitude of what was accomplished. What you found was a dramatic fusion of old and new. An inspired blend of Victorian Industrial architecture and stunning 21st century design and creativity. The result was an internationally acclaimed village of one-of-a-kind stores, shops, galleries, studios, restaurants, cafes, theatres and more. The Distillery Historic District opened in 2003 and today is widely regarded as Canada's premier arts, culture and entertainment destination. A place brimming with creativity and creative people, that could inspire dreams, and a place that could help them come true. Was history on my side to revisit this district that actually had a distillery shop onsite that I missed!? PURCHASE(S) (N/A): I spent some money at Old Flame Brewing Co. (read my review of that) but nowhere else, and certainly nothing directly with the facility itself. Of course, you had ample opportunity to spend your money with other businesses or onsite parking, or simply nothing at all as you just hung out. EXPERIENCE I lazily walked throughout the premises as I checked out the storefronts of mostly closed businesses for the night, people-watched, but mainly admired several art displays https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=1tmuPlZ1LXRKNJC6ViM-vw and enjoyed the nice cool evening weather. SERVICE Besides the employees who worked inside the various businesses and possibly a guard who managed the parking lots, there were no other services available. At this time of night, I didn't see any cleaning crew or security staff - "nuff said. PARKING (Varied; N/A this instance): It was a flat 15-minute walk from my Airbnb. Otherwise, there were both onsite and offsite lots, numerous public transportation options, and rideshares - 'nuff said. ATMOSPHERE, DÉCOR, AMBIENCE A large outdoor area filled with 19th-Century buildings repaired and repurposed to house new businesses https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=fGw7y2G0RTwKqQnQ6VEynA with walking paths https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=xf2flq93fGxjt4L2oJAhmw and open sections for gatherings and live entertainment, and a decent amount of places to sit. Plenty of natural lighting since you were completely outside while a ton of various electric lights and those along the street filled in the rest. There were no TVs on the exterior while the only background noise were the sounds of passing vehicles and the chatter of patrons. https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=8jVT2inwc8GIQ6sH2UG9Vw&start=24&select=oF-rbwyZqdtP9nryC8CVRA ATTIRE Totally casual, so I would normally be in a t-shirt, boardshorts, and flip-flops. OVERALL The Distillery Historic District was very cool, and I would gladly visit it again the next time I was in Toronto. There were so many things to try and take part in given a full day. There were enough varied businesses to spread the money around... or simply just chill. And, I always loved supporting small businesses and efforts whenever possible. I found complete value based on the prices, service, and experience noted above (TOTAL paid experience was around $0.00 BEFORE any discounts and/or tip). And, many of businesses accepted my credit card of choice... AMEX! 5.0 STARS

    Photos
    The Distillery District - Entrance to the place

    Entrance to the place

    The Distillery District - One of the distillers building

    One of the distillers building

    The Distillery District - 2025.07.18

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    2025.07.18

    Nathan Phillips Square - landmarks - Updated July 2026

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