Events in toronto: 5 neighbourhoods to stay in when visiting Toronto

Saturday, October 10, 2015

5 neighbourhoods to stay in when visiting Toronto

best toronto neighbourhoods Toronto is a city of neighbourhoods so when choosing where to stay it's worth looking beyond parts of town that cater to business travellers, package tours and conference organizers. While the Yonge subway line and the Financial District might be a hotbed for major hotel chains, the areas below are where you might opt for a cozy Airbnb, furnished apartment or boutique hotel while getting to know places where locals live and play.

Here are my picks for 5 neighbourhoods to stay in when visiting Toronto.

WEST QUEEN WEST
The second coolest neighbourhood in the world is filled with restaurants, bars and cafes as well as an assortment of shops and galleries. It's an easy area to wander through and the 501 streetcar line makes it a perfect launching ground for exploring the rest of the city.

Notable attractions: Boutique shopping, Trinity Bellwoods Park, The Theatre Centre
Popular restaurants: Terroni, The County General, Oyster Boy, Fresh, Dandylion
Where to drink: Bar Fancy, Drake SkyYard, Wayward
Morning coffee: Sam James, Dark Horse Espresso Bar, White Squirrel, R Squared
Where to stay:The Gladstone Hotel, The Drake Hotel and plenty of affordable airbnb rentals.

KING WEST
This condo dense Toronto neighbourhood is filled with ad agency workers during weekdays and revellers on weekend nights. While there are a slew of bars and restaurants dotting King West, the area is also home to historic architecture, some of the city's best chefs and of course, a large chunk of the entertainment district.

Notable attractions: Mirvish theatres, TIFF Bell Lightbox, Fring's (Drake's new restaurant)
Popular restaurants: Buca, Patria, Gusto 101, WVRST, Khao San Road
Where to drink: Bar Hop, Odd Thomas, SpiritHouse
Morning Coffee: Jimmy's Coffee, Portland Variety, Thor Espresso Bar, Bar Buca
Where to stay: Hotel Le Germain, The Thompson Hotel, Templar Hotel

KENSINGTON MARKET/CHINATOWN
A trip to Toronto isn't complete without wandering through Kensington's many vintage shops and food stores. The neighbourhood is generally packed, especially on the last Sunday of the summer months (generously from May-October). Stay here and experience the wonderful, multicultural fabric of this city.

Notable Attractions: The neighbourhoods alone are the attraction.
Popular Restaurants: Mother's Dumplings, People's Eatery, R & D, Pizzeria Via Mercanti, Seven Lives
Where to drink: Cold Tea, Handlebar, Poetry Jazz Cafe
Morning Coffee: Cafe Pamenar, Jimmy's, I Deal Coffee, Dark Horse
Where to stay: Planet Traveler, Hotel Ocho, Super 8

KING EAST / ST. LAWRENCE MARKET
These neighbourhoods are two of the oldest in Toronto and appear rather grand thanks to a number of historic buildings that are still in use today. King East is well known for its design stores and the St. Lawrence Market, the biggest in the city, is still the best place in town for a classic peameal sandwich.

Notable attractions: St. Lawrence Market, Distillery District is just a walk away.
Popular Restaurants: Le Petit Dejeuner , Market St. Catch, Mengrai Thai, Origin
Where to drink: Pacific Junction Hotel, Triple A Bar, The Cavern Bar, DW Alexander
Morning Coffee: Rooster Coffee House, Neo Coffee, Black Canary, Tandem, Odin
Where to stay: Hostelling International, King Edward, The Ivy

LITTLE ITALY
Devoid of any notable hotels, this lively neighbourhood is chock full of restaurants, bars and accommodations via Airbnb. See Toronto through the eyes of a resident by checking for concert tickets and new releases at the local record shop, watching a flick at the local cinema, browsing at a book store or filling up on one of the best veal sandwiches in town.