5 Neighbourhoods that Make Toronto Unique
By: Zohaib Shahab| Tolobi
Like most cities, Toronto has a variety of unique neighbourhoods to offer, but few cities have within their districts such outstanding and lively places for residents to play, shop, and explore.
Kensington
The cultural mecca of Toronto is undeniably Kensington Market. With an eclectic mix of cafes, specialty food shops and restaurants, rowdy bars, vintage stores, as well as bustling streets with performers seemingly at every corner, this neighbourhood is where everyone wants to call home.
Narrow streets deter car traffic and make this neighbourhood the dominion of the pedestrian, while major sites of attraction like the Art Gallery of Ontario and Chinatown nearby draw people from all over to spend the better part of their weekends and evenings here. In the summer, festivals add additional bursts of excitement and entertainment to the area.
First established by British settlers, Kensington Market saw an influx of Jewish immigrants from eastern Europe in the early 20th century. At that time, the neighbourhood was also referred to as “the Jewish Market,” but by the 1950s, immigrants from all over the world began to move into the area’s colourful homes, bringing their own charms to the already colourful houses that line the streets.
Yorkville
One of the most exclusive neighbourhoods in all of Canada is Yorkville. After all, this is the home of the Mink Mile, one of the most luxurious shopping districts on the continent. But Yorkville wasn’t always this way.
Yorkville was once associated with the hippies and the counterculture of the 60s, being home to the city’s first cafe culture, as well as drug culture. And before King West took over the Toronto International Film Festival, the famed TIFF was hosted here in Yorkville.
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Despite being sometimes associated with high-end frivolity, Yorkville still boasts one of the largest public libraries in Toronto, the Toronto Reference Library, as well as the largest museum in Canada, the Royal Ontario Museum of Canada. Another local favourite, Yorkville Park, draws people from all walks of life to the neighbourhood.
Wexford
Though New York City or London are often known as multicultural hotspots, Toronto may be the strongest contender for the title of the most diverse city on the planet. With the highest percentage of foreign-born residents of any of the major global cities, Toronto is home to over 250 ethnicities and more than 170 languages can be found spoken in the city. And nowhere is this better reflected than the city’s Wexford neighbourhood in Scarborough.
Wexford is the destination to go for adventurous foodies. It has one of the most diverse lineups of restaurants in the city, though locals often cite it for its famed shawarma and kebab joints, as well other halal restaurants, Middle Eastern dessert shops, and shisha lounges. Most notably, Wexford is home to the annual Taste of Lawrence, when foodies flock each year, and which is Scarborough’s largest street festival.
Toronto Islands
For those interested in the outdoors, Toronto has a one of kind landscape just a ferry ride away. Known as the Toronto Islands, this group of islands in Lake Ontario was at first a peninsula before being broken up by a violent storm in 1858. Today, it is home to parklands, beaches, yacht clubs, the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport, and a residential area.
From the Toronto Islands, you’ll enjoy one of the most marvellous views of Toronto’s skyline. Often used as a weekend getaway, the islands boast a wide array of recreational opportunities, such as cycling, suntanning, and paddle-boarding. The islands bustle with patios galore, and are also home to one of the country’s few clothing-optional beaches, Hanlan’s Point!
Distillery District
For those looking to be immersed in history, architecture, and art, there’s the Distillery District. Located just east of downtown Toronto, this architectural treasure makes up a unique pocket of Vicotrian-era industrial architecture in an otherwise city of concrete and glass.
The story of the Distillery District begins in 1831, when James Worts arrived in Canada and opened a mill with his brother-in-law, William Gooderham, along with their families. Soon after, they built a whiskey distillery, the largest in the world at that time, and Worts and Gooderham became one of the largest exporters of spirits in the Americas.
Now a National Historical Site of Canada, the district is now the domain of artists. Exciting works are coming out of the Arts Gallery, Corkin Gallery, Thompson Landry Gallery, as well as Artscape Distillery Studios and the dozens of adjacent speciality shops. At the end of the year, the district hosts the long-time favourite Toronto Christmas Market, where tourists and locals alike join to enjoy hot chocolates and bright lights in the crisp winter air.
Toronto is unique in many ways, and its colourful neighbourhoods distinguish it from other major cities. Even its financial district, home to the famous Bay Street, is a place of interest, being home home to the PATH, the largest underground shopping complex in the world, a much appreciated feature of the city for anyone who has ever had to endure the city’s winters. And boasting some 140 neighbourhoods, many locals haven’t even explored the better half of the city. For more tips on which neighbourhoods would be the right fit for you to call home, reach out to our team!
