If you’re heading into the Easter long weekend it is important to note that Good Friday and Easter Sunday are statutory holidays in Ontario , which means most businesses and services shut down—but not everything. In fact, it might surprise you to learn that more things are open on the Friday than on the Easter Sunday.

Let’s take a close look first at what is closed and what you won’t be able to do specifically on Good Friday, before focusing on what will still be open and running.

What’s CLOSED

Government & Public Services

• Federal, provincial, and municipal offices (e.g. ServiceOntario, Service Canada)
• City Hall and civic centres
• Schools and most public institutions

Libraries & Mail

• Toronto Public Library branches
• Canada Post (no mail delivery)

Banks

• Most banks are closed

Shopping & Retail

• Most malls (e.g. Yorkdale, Scarborough Town Centre)
• Many retail stores (due to Ontario’s holiday shopping laws)
• Big-box stores (Costco, Walmart, etc.)

Groceries & Alcohol

• Most major grocery chains
• LCBO locations
• The Beer Store

City-Run Facilities

• Community centres and recreation facilities
• Many museums operated by the city

What’s OPEN (or Partially Open)

Select Shopping Malls and Essentials

• CF Markville – 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• CF Toronto Eaton Centre – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Pacific Mall – 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
• Toronto Premium Outlets – 9:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Convenience stores and pharmacies (e.g. Shoppers Drug Mart, Rexall)
• Specialty grocers (e.g. Rabba, T&T, Pusateri’s, Loblaws at Maple Leaf Gardens)
• Also, these select Farm Boy locations –
• College and Bay (777 Bay Street)
• Yonge and Silvermaple
• Harbourfront (207 Queens Quay West)
• St. Clair (81 St. Clair Avenue East)
• Sugar Wharf (100 Queens Quay East)

Basic rule of thumb for Toronto on Good Friday: Most retail is closed—but exceptions exist, especially in tourist zones or for essential services.

Restaurants & Cafés

• Most restaurants, bars, and cafés remain open, including Tim Hortons and Starbucks (often normal or slightly reduced hours)

Attractions & Things to Do

Many major attractions stay open, making Good Friday a surprisingly good outing day:

• Toronto Zoo
• Ripley’s Aquarium
• CN Tower
• Royal Ontario Museum
• Art Gallery of Ontario
• Casa Loma

Parks & Outdoor Spaces

• Toronto Island ferries (regular seasonal service)
• High Park Zoo, Riverdale Farm
• City parks and trails (open as usual)

Transit

• TTC: Holiday schedule
• GO Transit: Weekend/holiday schedule

Things That Vary (Check Ahead)

Some categories are mixed depending on location:

• Some Grocery stores (a few open with reduced hours)
• Pharmacies (most open, but hours vary)
• Shopping malls (as mentioned, most are closed with some exceptions like Eaton Centre)
• Restaurants (generally open, but not guaranteed)

Quick Final Summary

Closed:

• Government offices, banks, libraries
• Most malls and big retail
• LCBO & Beer Store
• Most grocery stores

Open:

• Restaurants and cafés
• Attractions and tourist sites
• Parks and outdoor spaces
• Transit (holiday schedule)
• Select pharmacies & small grocers

This may be a wrap on all things you need to know about what’s open and closed in Toronto on Good Friday, April 3, 2026 but for Easter Sunday rules for Ontario and the GTA please visit our companion article, here.

Other articles from totimes.ca – otttimes.ca – mtltimes.ca