Short on funds doesn’t have to mean short on fun. Toronto has so many great things to see and do in the summer, and we’ve scoured the city’s best deals on dining, live entertainment and activities to bring you the ultimate guide to getting out and about for less.
From free outdoor movie screenings to $5 happy-hour specials, free historical re-enactments to pay-what-you-can park yoga, here are 30 wallet-friendly ways to make this summer your most fun one yet.
Dining and cocktail deals
Plenty of Toronto’s swankiest establishments are offering killer specials this summer — you just have to know when to go. Here’s where to visit, what to order and what it will set you back.
$1 buck-a-shuck oysters on the patio and at the bar on Thursdays, plus half-price rosé and prosecco, or $10 martinis every Wednesday and Sunday at Myth (522 King St. W.).
$2 One of the coolest new bars in the city offers an ever-changing wine menu that’s priced by the ounce, starting at $2. The swishier $5-an-ounce pours are a steal, too, given that they would usually go for $130 to $220 a bottle, allowing you to try higher-end wines without having to commit to a full bottle — and a big bill. At Pinot Grouchio’s (1609 Dundas St. W.).
$5 lamb rib, arugula salad and Spanish mackerel crostini during aperitivo hour from Tuesday to Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Contrada (537 College St.).
$5 prime rib sliders, $11 martinis and $15 prawn cocktails daily from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Riley’s Fish & Steak (155 Wellington St. W.).
$8 chicken wontons and $13 Tea Ceremony communal cocktails served tableside from Tuesday to Thursday until 7 p.m. at Mimi Chinese (265 Davenport Rd.).
$12 negronis, margaritas and lychee or espresso martinis Monday to Friday from 3 to 5 p.m. at Living Room at the W Hotel (90 Bloor St. E.).
$12 Limoncello spritz or olive-juice-spiked dirty Aperol spritz during happy hour on the patio, Tuesday to Saturday from 5:30 to 7 p.m., at Martine’s Wine Bar (293 Palmerston Ave.).
$12 cocktails daily from 5 to 7 p.m. — on the whole drinks menu, even on Friday and Saturday! — at Cocktail Bar (923 Dundas St. W.).
$20 for three mini Wagyu hot dogs, Wednesday to Friday from 4 to 7 p.m., when everything on the menu is half off, at Powder Room (129 Yorkville Ave.).
$25 three-course “girl dinner” including sweet potato fries or salad, sushi roll or truffle cream rigatoni, dessert and a choice of white sangria, espresso martini or prosecco, daily at Mademoiselle Raw Bar + Grill (563 King St. W.).
$30 cocktail flight featuring three tiny ’tinis daily, $12 classic martinis on Thursdays and half off natural wine bottles on Sundays at Simpl Things (269 Dunn Ave.).
$40 Grey Goose martini and 3 oz. Imperial Kaluga caviar during happy hour Sunday to Thursday from 5 to 7 p.m. at Maxime’s (77 Portland St.).
Movie and performance deals
There’s plenty of entertainment on offer beyond pricey theatre tickets and the same old multiplexes. Here are some fresh things to get out and see this summer, at a fraction of the cost.
Free Watch fun classics like “Dirty Dancing” and “Moulin Rouge!” by the water at the Free Flicks series in July and August at Harbourfront Centre (235 Queens Quay W.).
$5 See spirited amateurs and civilians read new plays aloud during Warm Company’s cold readings series at Society Clubhouse (967 College St.).
$10 Cheer on the performers at Toronto’s longest-running burlesque night, Pussywhipped Wednesdays, at Bovine Sex Club (542 Queen St. W.).
$18.50 Catch a Saturday morning all-you-can-eat-cereal and cartoon party, raucous screenings with director and actor Q & As, and food and live music film pairings — general admission tickets for special events are typically $15 to $25 — at Revue Cinema (400 Roncesvalles Ave.).
$25 and under Get guffawing at open mic nights or shows by local performers at the Backroom Comedy Club (814 Bloor St. W.) or the Corner Comedy Club (243 Queen St. W.).
Live music deals
At all times of day and night, there’s a less-expensive way to enjoy live music in this tune-filled town.
On your lunch hour Take in a free organ recital featuring visiting artists on a hulking, 5,000-pipe organ on Tuesdays at 1 p.m. at the Cathedral Church of St. James (106 King St. E.).
Make a day of it Create your own ad hoc music crawl on Queen West by hitting up a few afternoon into evening shows, ranging from PWYC to $25, at the Rex Hotel (194 Queen St. W.), the Cameron House (408 Queen St. W.) and Drom Taberna (458 Queen St. W.).
An evening out Soak up jazz performances and chill vibes for free, with a food or drink purchase, Thursday through Sunday nights at Small Talk martini bar and jazz club (110 Ossington Ave.).
Hobby deals
Add a fresh activity to your repertoire with one of these free or pay-what-you-can ways to learn a skill, have fun and make new friends.
Hug a tree Take a free tree tour and learn about the fascinating variety of local greenery, from maple tree walking tours to ancient tree cycling tours, with the Long Branch Neighbourhood Association in Etobicoke.
Make art Drink and draw with new creative pals — non-artists are also welcome to just hang out and watch — on the second Sunday of every month, PWYC, at Art Club at Swan Dive bar (1631 Dundas St. W.).
Play games Join a free round of Werewolf, a fun and interactive Mafia-esque hidden-role game, at various parks, bars and venues across the city. Upcoming games are listed on the Werewolf Toronto Eventbrite page.
Fitness deals
Get your body moving this summer with these easy-breezy options.
Walking soccer Got a case of World Cup fever but not sure you can keep up with a rec league? The Toronto Walking Soccer Club hosts games across the city for women over 40 and men over 50, and there’s no running allowed. Everyone is friendly and encouraging and the go-at-your-own-pace directive means it’s actually accessible for all fitness levels; you’ll often spot octogenarians and knee braces on the field. The first time is free, then drop-in games are $20.
Roller skating Rent roller skates, lace them up and glide around the Evergreen Brickworks for $18 on July 17, Aug. 28 and Sep. 20 courtesy of the Ontario-crossing mobile roller skating supply van Skatevan (550 Bayview Ave.).
Outdoor yoga Limber up at yoga on the grass in parks across the GTA, held by the long-running Park Yoga Toronto. Class is PWYC and a portion of proceeds go to Nellie’s Shelter.
English country dancing Try this traditional blend of formal court and folk dancing at a beginner class — the first one is free, then it’s by donation — on the first Friday evening of every month with the Toronto English Country Dance Assembly at Ralph Thornton Centre (765 Queen St. E.).
History deals
Kid-friendly re-enactments On summer Saturdays, you’ll find historical re-enactors offering tea parties, quill writing and croquet games, and traditional artisans showing off skills like tinsmithing, wool-spinning and cobbling, all for free, at Berczy Park, Market Street Stage and St. James Park in Toronto’s Old Town.
Explore Queen’s Park Learn fascinating factoids about Ontario’s historic Legislature with a free tour of the building, gardens, Indigenous art collection and more at Queen’s Park (110 Wellesley St. W.). Or splurge on an English-style afternoon tea and tour for $45.
Solve a mystery game Buddy up with friends to spend a night solving the clues of a game based on Toronto history tidbits, like the urban legends inspired by Mimico’s Lakeshore Psychiatric Hospital, from meeting points across the city via R.A.D.E. Games ($50 per group).
Take an Indigenous walking tour Explore the Indigenous cultural roots of Tkaronto and Ishpadinaa (Spadina Road) for a $2 to $5 donation, including a visit to the largest collection of Canadian Indigenous artwork in the city, with the Native Canadian Centre of Toronto (16 Spadina Rd.).
