Overview
The central business district of the GTA, Ontario and often for the country at large, Downtown Toronto is the place to be. Downtown Toronto is where “greats,” are a guarantee. From the best in food and theatre to the biggest festivals in the country, Downtown is where people really want to be when they think about moving to the big city. Take in the paintings of Canadian greats like Tom Thomson as well as contemporary artists at the Art Gallery of Ontario. Downtown Toronto is where you’ll find shows at the National Ballet of Canada and award-winning productions at Ed Mirvish Theatre. The remains of ancient civilizations at the Royal Ontario Museum and city landmarks like the CN Tower, Exhibition Place and Nathan Phillip Square. Shopping is as diverse as the city itself! Check out the international flavors and bohemian trinkets available at Kensington Market. Looking for a mall with all your favorites like Zara and Club Monaco, check out the Eaton Centre, a shopping destination since the 1950’s. Looking for something more upscale? Stroll the streets of Yorkville where you’ll find stores like Hermes, Burberry and Chanel. But Toronto also has a historic fashion and textile district located between Bathurst and Spadina on Queen West, which is still lined with unique retailers like T.O. Leather Fashions and King Textiles. It is Downtown Toronto that is home to the oldest university in Ontario, University of Toronto as well as institutions like Ryerson University, George Brown College and OCAD University, the largest and oldest art and design school in Canada. Join the festivities at Pride Parade, the largest LGBTQ celebration in North America or the Caribbean Carnival, one of the largest diasporic events of its kind. A bike friendly city, the Toronto Bike Share has 200 bike stations and thousands of bikes all over the city.
Best For
What is the benefit of living in the most culturally diverse city in the world? The likelihood of finding any kind of cuisine in the world is…high. Hungarian, Singaporean, Tibetan foods and many more all have a thriving restaurant scene in Downtown Toronto. Looking for something more upscale or experimental cuisines, check out one of the city’s trendy food hubs like Dundas West, Ossington or King West.
Homes
Condos, condos everywhere. New and sleekly designed condos with amazing amenities are the real estate staple of Downtown Toronto. There are also condos built in many historical buildings like churches and halls all over the city that maintain the original integrity of the structures they are built in and on. In areas of Old Toronto like Corktown and St. Lawrence, condominium lofts are a mainstay. Not looking for a condo? Downtown Toronto also has a variety of early 19th century Victorian Style townhomes dispersed in between uniquely designed single family homes that show off the cutting-edge styles in architecture.
Fun Facts
Downtown Toronto has the third largest concentration of skyscrapers in North America after New York City and Chicago.
Why We Love Downtown
The highlight of Toronto is the diversity of all the neighborhoods in the city and how the cultural landscape changes from one area to the next. From the multicultural and artsy alternative vibes of Kensington Market, to the refined and elegant lifestyle of Yorkville and the nostalgic vintage brick of Victorian Industrial Distillery District. Downtown Toronto is truly a pedestrian’s city and one that begs to be savored and explored.
