Things to do in Toronto this week: July 5–11

This is the week Toronto's summer dining season officially opens. Summerlicious launches Friday, July 3, and runs through the following two weeks—230 restaurants citywide are dropping three-course menus to $20–$55 for lunch and $25–$75 for dinner. It's the city's biggest culinary festival, and the timing is perfect: you're transitioning from World Cup fever into long patio nights. The forecast stays mostly overcast through Wednesday with highs in the low-to-mid 20s, then Thursday brings thunderstorms, so front-load your outdoor dining early in the week. If you want a serious meal, Pizzeria Badiali on Ossington is worth a reservation—owner Ryan Baddeley just ranked 59th in the 2026 Best Pizza Awards, one of only two Canadian chefs on the global list of 100 elite pizzaiolos.

Sunday is the strongest day for live events. Taj Mahal, the American blues legend and multi-instrumentalist, plays the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatres at 8 p.m. His catalogue spans decades of American roots music—blues, folk, world rhythms—and at his age and stature, a Toronto show is the kind of night you don't skip. Earlier that day, if you want something higher energy, Two Friends (the LA DJ duo Matt Halper and Eli Sones) spin dance-pop at Cabana Pool Bar starting at 1 p.m., or catch Anjunadeep at Sunnyside Pavilion at 6 p.m.—the British house and trance label behind some of the decade's sharpest electronic music. Sunday's weather clears early (fog lifting by mid-morning, 19–24°C), so the Sunnyside Pavilion session, outdoors on the west side near the water, is the move if you're choosing between the three.

For sports, the Toronto Tempo (the WNBA expansion team playing at Coca-Cola Coliseum) host the Dallas Wings on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Tempo's first season in Toronto is a genuine civic moment—professional women's basketball at scale, finally, in the city. If you haven't caught a game yet, this is a good week to lock it in.

The FIFA World Cup is still underway at BMO Field. No Toronto fixture lands this particular week, but the tournament is one of the season's biggest events happening now. Check the full schedule at /toronto/fifa-world-cup to plan around matches.

Beyond the marquee, Ribfest is happening this weekend at Sankofa Square (Yonge and Dundas)—free to attend, outdoor barbecue from Friday through Sunday. It's casual, low-cost, and perfect for a sunny afternoon. Downtown is also feeling the Ronaldo effect from his World Cup visit; Portugal's training drew hundreds of fans to Centennial Park, and his family dined at Via Norte on College Street in Little Portugal, so expect that corridor to be buzzing.

If low-key summer dining appeals more than a full fest, grab one of the new canned low-ABV cocktails—Toronto makers are bottling light spirits with fresh fruit and local wine, ideal for long park afternoons without the hangover. Pair it with takeout and Trinity Bellwoods on a clear day.

With Thursday's thunderstorms looming, plan your outdoor time for Sunday through Wednesday, and lock in your Summerlicious reservation now. If I'm choosing a single night out, it's Taj Mahal at the Elgin on Sunday—that's the one that stays with you.