Swifties, plan ahead for six epic shows when Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour comes to Toronto in 2024.
Are you ready for it? You’ve scored tickets for one of Taylor Swift’s six shows at Rogers Centre in Toronto, Aka the hottest ticket in town.
Next step: Come November 2024, pack the best sparkly pieces from your wardrobe, stack on those friendship bracelets and be prepared to paint the town red with this ultimate Swiftie-themed Toronto getaway. Consider it your Taylor Swift x Toronto era.
Where to stay for the Eras Tour
We all know how important Taylor’s girl squad is to her. Book your gal-pals getaway in a neighbourhood where you can maximize good times with the crew.
In the Queen West and West Queen West neighbourhoods, you can step out the door and shop all of the cool boutiques (including Le Labo—their Santal 26 candle is reportedly a fave of hers), find several Starbucks locations to order Taylor’s Latte–Aka a grande caramel latte (or opt to get your caffeine fix from a local, independent coffee shop such as the super darling Cafe 23).
For a cool, design-forward spot to crash, book your stay at the Ace Hotel Toronto. Request one of the rooms that have a turntable so you can play your Orchid Marbled vinyl of Speak Now (Taylor’s Version).
Alternatively, stay midtown in Yorkville for some excellent retail therapy (hello, Gucci, Reformation and Versace—the latter being the designer behind many of The Eras Tour outfits). Then stock up on snacks at this posh neighbourhood’s Whole Foods outpost just like Taylor would.
And while we doubt Taylor’s got her cats Meredith Grey, Olivia Benson and Benjamin Button on tour with her, if you’re travelling with your own four-legged friend for luxe hotel accommodations that are chic, extra comfortable and pet-friendly, the Kimpton St. George ticks off all of the boxes (the hotel provides treats, a water bowl and even a dog bed).
Things to do before or after Taylor Swift’s concert
Maybe you’re looking to create “that red lip classic thing that you like” or perhaps it’s a cherry lips you’re after. Whatever shade, wrangle your squad over to Lip Lab on Queen St. W. to create your own custom lip colour.
You’ll start with creating your shade, which a Colour Expert will mix together for you, then choose a finish (matte, satin, sheer or balm) and flavour (we think Taylor would choose vanilla given her love of vanilla ice cream topped with mini M&Ms) and then because you’ll have a “Blank Space,” come up with a name for your lippie and have it engraved.
If you’ve got some final touches left to complete for your Eras Tour look, find the perfect sparkly, red or tulle piece at shops known for the prettiest dresses and fun, feminine accessories, such as Honey in the Toronto Eaton Centre and Original on Queen St. W.
Finally, pull your entire look together by getting an Eras Tour-inspired manicure; the team at Tips Nail Bar on the Danforth are known for some of the best nail art in the city (owner Leeanne Colley has done work on some very famous digits including Lady Gaga, Dua Lipa and Katy Perry).
If your whole squad needs manis, book appointments at the Yorkville location of Majesty’s Pleasure, a beauty studio decked out with sumptuous banquette seating and a full-service bar—enjoy a Paloma or two while you get pampered.
Swifties have honed their code-cracking skills with Taylor’s love of leaving Easter eggs in her lyrics. Put that knack for figuring out secret messages, hints and clues to work by hitting up an escape room such as Escape Manor on King St. W. or Casa Loma Escape Rooms just north of the Annex neighbourhood.
Or take your sleuthing skills outside and discover the city of Toronto in a new way with an Adventure City Games outdoor escape game—think of it as a treasure hunt/walking tour/escape room rolled into one.
Finally, hit up a karaoke bar to belt out all of your favourite Swift songs. Book for the night before the concert in anticipation of the Eras Tour spectacle or after the show to relive the show’s best moments.
Where to go? One of the private karaoke rooms at the aesthetic Forever Karaoke (think minimalist modern rooms with flattering pink lighting) so you can sing “Anti-Hero,” “Bad Blood,” and “Style” full out.
Where to eat
With hummus a staple in her own refrigerator, Taylor would feast well at Fat Pasha. This Middle Eastern/European Jewish restaurant from chef-owner Anthony Rose serves up some of the best hummus in the city.
Try the one that comes with chicken shawarma alongside other bursting-with-flavour dishes such as fattoush kale salad and whole roasted cauliflower. It’s an ideal cozy, unpretentious spot to fuel up well with your concert crew.
The morning after the concert, take a cue from Taylor, who loves buckwheat crepes, and hit up Yorkville Crepes for your morning latte and feed your Eras Tour withdrawal with any one of their 35 sweet or savoury crepes (the Marseille—a savoury option filled with black forest ham and swiss cheese–sounds like what Taylor would order).
Although if pancakes are more your thing, the pillowy stack at Pasaj in Leslieville, which is topped with housemade sour cherry jam, tahini halva, labne and pistachio, is ‘chef’s kiss.’
