TORONTO: WHICH NEIGHBOURHOOD IS FOR YOU

With 90% of Canada’s population living less than 150 miles from the US border, it’s no surprise that Toronto accounts for nearly 8% of that, over 2.7 million people. When travelling outside of Toronto to other provinces or neighbouring cities or other countries saying “I’m from Toronto” will suffice. However, when inside the borders of the city everyone wants to know which neighbourhood you live in. There are no “bad” Toronto neighbourhoods, but they each have very distinct cultures and vibes that might not be for everyone.

Toronto is divided into four main subsections. (I am not going to cover North York or Etobicoke or East York as they are not part of Old Toronto)

The Downtown Core

If you like the busy life of Manhattan then this is for you. Bounded by Bloor Street to the northeast and Dupont Street to the northwest, Lake Ontario to the south, the Don Valley to the east, and Bathurst Street to the west. This is where all the trade and commerce is, the touristy stuff, nightlife, you name it, it’s here. It’s busy and bright, and almost everyone lives in condos. If you’re into Financial Bros, influencers and lawyers with sleek all glass skyrise condo buildings, you’ll fit right in in CityPlace, The Entertainment and Financial District. This is also where the viral ICE buildings are. 

Go a little to the East and you’re in St. Lawrence. Home to the famous St. Lawrence Market, here you’ll see your foodies, chefs & chefs in training, and a healthy group of tote bag chic fashionistas really only there for the perfect OOTD pic. A more easy going vibe, but still bustling with Front Street as the main artery for all car traffic. A bit south east, you’ll find the Distillery District. Still all condos, but with a more industrial loft feel all distillery themed keeping with its historic site designation. Personally I would not recommend living here, it’s more of a visit or day thing. Great restaurants and fun shops, but the annual Christmas Market makes November and December hell for everyone who lives there. As we keep moving east the more you’ll find traditional houses and less of the concrete jungle. Cabbagetown is very rich in history, one of the older neighbourhoods. It features mostly semi-detached Victorian houses and gets its name from the Irish immigrants that settled in the 1840s and grew cabbages in their front yards because they were so poor. Today it’s a diverse tapestry of people and cultures, and queer friendly.

St. Lawrence Market

The Distillery District

If Chanel, Dior, Hermes, Gucci are what calls you then Yorkville is where you want to go. This is where the flashy money is. If you think Toronto is expensive, go to Yorkville and order a drink at the Dbar. You’ll be spending half your rent in one evening. To the west is the University of Toronto and the neighbourhood that houses the students. This will be the Annex. Very quaint but still very much a student village. Most of the houses have been split into units, usually a basement apartment and then a main floor unit and second floor unit. You’ll also find Greek Row here. The vibe here is split between the quiet wealthy and the fickle hipster leaning student crews. 

If you’re part of the LGBTQ+ community, or you are looking for a place where everyone is family and a fun time, The Village is where it’s at. It can be a bit rough around the edges but all in all it’s a fun place to be, especially in June.

The East End

My stomping ground. I was born in Cabbagetown, but I lived my life in the East End. Home to Greektown, Little India, Leslieville, The Beach and Upper Beaches and the Studio District. I love it here, but I am biassed. The East End is filled with tree lined streets, schools, parks, everything you would need to raise a family. Like all the rest of Toronto each neighbourhood has everything you need a walk away, you don’t even need a car. I know because I lived 30 years here without even getting a driver's licence.

Greektown and Little India tell you the vibe in their names. Vibrant culture and stores and streets lined with true authentic Greek and Indian food. The Beach was originally built to be the beach house getaways for artists and the wealthy due to its proximity to the beach, so most of the houses are small semis or nearly palatial Victorian and Edwardian style homes with porches and decent sized backyards. Upper Beaches is the northern part, north of Kingston Road but south of Gerrard St East, it has a suburb feel without the spielberg land houses. Almost entirely families who prefer a bit of distance from the bustling Queen St East. Leslieville and The Studio District to the south are more your hip 30 something crowd. Some houses, some condos, some lofts. A bit of everything for everyone. This portion of Queen St E is home to great restaurants but also a bunch of small specialised businesses like Leslieville Cheese Market and Bonjour Brioche. When I moved there at 25 I felt like everyone was either a photographer, a graphic designer or worked at Revival Studios. 

North Toronto

North Toronto is the most quiet of them all. Very residential and very far removed from the lively circus that is Queen and King Street. Mostly houses with a few older condo developments, this is where you’ll find most of the older generational wealth in Forest Hill, Rosedale, and Summerhill. The Bridle Path is also in this area. Other than Drake’s massive house and Casa Loma, there isn’t much happening here, and if you have any friends south of Bloor, they will tell you, you live too far.

The West End

The West End is a weird one for me. There are parts with gorgeous houses and beautiful parks, but then you’ll find yourself on a dirty trash littered and rundown street with a bunch of boarded up storefronts. It’s also FAR, for someone who lives in the East End. Getting to the West End from the Beach is like flying from Toronto to Vancouver. It takes all day! But once you’re there it’s quite nice. Liberty Village has got a young professional community feel to it. Universal Music Group just opened up a new office here and there are more developments for more condo buildings.

Want the Artsy Hipster experience head on over to West Queen West. Everyone here is a graphic designer or designer of some sort. Roncy (or Roncesvalles) is also artsy and known for the bars and restaurants with live music. The area is also the centre of the Polish community, best pierogies are found here. There’s also Little Italy, Koreatown and Little Portugal, some of the best food you’ll ever eat. And then there’s Trinity Bellwoods, home to the white squirrel. The West End in general has more of an edgier style and vibe and a little rough around the edges but still a great place to explore and live.

Toronto is home to so many people from all over. No matter where you end up you’ll find your place and call it home.