Toronto Neighbourhoods
Come explore colourful and diverse Toronto Neighbourhoods! One of the things I enjoy best about visiting a city for the first time is exploring its neighbourhoods. I lived in Toronto for 6 years and still visit frequently, and never get tired of discovering its nooks and crannies. On this page, I'll give you an overview of some of the neighbourhoods that are popular destinations for tourists, and then for those of you who wish to delve deeper, I'm adding some of the lesser-known neighbourhoods. Top Toronto Neighbourhoods for Tourists Harbourfront Centre Toronto – The number one tourist district in Toronto. This area of the waterfront is popular for boat rides, concerts, shopping, ice skating and just general play-in-the-sun. The site of many summer-time festivals and the International Festival of Authors. Yonge Street – Yonge is the longest street in the world, but when Torontonians say "Yonge Street", they're usually referring to the part in downtown Toronto, which is the main shopping street in the city. Here you'll find the Toronto Eaton Centre and College Park (both are malls) and major stores, bars and restaurants, chains and independents. Yonge-Dundas Square is just across from the Eatons Centre; this is where you can buy discount theatre tickets and see free outdoor concerts during the summer on some weekends. Toronto Entertainment District – Theatres, sports and concert stadiums, the CN Tower, bars, restaurants, an antique centre … if you're looking for entertainment in Toronto, chances are you'll be heading here. Stretches from Queen Street West in the north to the waterfront in the south, and from Yonge Street in the east to Spadina Avenue in the west. For more information see http://www.thedistrict.ca. Other Toronto Neighbourhoods: For curious explorers Queen St. West Toronto & West Queen West – The strip between University Avenue and Bathurst Street used to be the "cool" shopping district in Toronto, where artists and artisans sold their wares. Here you could find art galleries, funky up-and-coming fashion designers, textile stores, antique stores, pawn shops, chic furniture, second-hand bookshops, cool bars, cafes, diners and restaurants. The textile stores are still there, but the high rents have forced almost every one else out. Now it's mostly chain stores (yawn). However, if you go west of Bathurst, you'll enter the district known as "West Queen West" where the "creative class" hang their shingles these days. Chinatown – Toronto boasts several Chinatowns, but the largest and oldest district is "Chinatown Downtown", around Dundas and Spadina. My favourite place for a dish of delicious shark fin dumplings or an egg tart is the Kim Moon Bakery (438 Dundas St. W.). Chinatown is also a great place to shop for inexpensive household furnishings. There's another smaller "Chinatown East" on Gerrard Street East between Broadview Avenue and Carlaw Avenue, and a few in the suburbs as well. Little India - Gerrard Street East from Greenwood Avenue to Coxwell Avenue. This is the place to enjoy authentic curries and tandooris, and buy tinned pappadum, gold-threaded saris and colorful Mughal-style miniature paintings on silk. Greektown/The Danforth – Danforth Avenue between Broadview Avenue and Pape. This used to be mainly Greek restaurants, taverns, and fruit and vegetable markets, but you can also find Indian food, Japanese restaurants, an Irish pub and other cuisines as well. Trendy boutiques and cafes abound. Church Wellesley Village – Buzzing with cafes, restaurants, bars and boutiques catering to gay and gay-positive clientele. Around the corner of Church and Wellesley Streets (hence the name), east of Yonge Street and north of Gerrard. Bloor West/Yorkville - Around Bloor Street and Yonge. This area is home to some big cultural jewels: The Royal Ontario Museum, The Gardiner Museum (ceramic art), University of Toronto, Bata Shoe Museum. Yorkville has boutiques and great little art galleries, including some fantastic places to see and buy Aboriginal art and handmade Canadian crafts (at the Guild Shop of the Ontario Craft Council). Distillery District Toronto - Trinity and Mill Street. Toronto’s “newest old” neighborhood is a vintage Victorian brick and cobblestone treasure, frequently used as a backdrop for Hollywood films. It has just been converted into a home for art galleries, restaurants, coffeehouses, and the Mill Street Brewery, which makes certified organic beer. I like the old-Paris look of Balzac's Café (not bad for a chain café). This district is fun when there's something going on, like a jazz festival or fashion show, but rather quiet when there's nothing happening, so check ahead if your time is limited. Beach – Toronto's former "cottage" district. Walk along the boardwalk or dip your toes into Lake Ontario. Shop at the boutiques along Queen Street East. Enjoy a concert at the free Beaches International Jazz Festival. Some people call it The Beach and some people call it The Beaches, but it's the same place.
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