Toronto is a city where hood loyalty runs deep. Everyone has an opinion about which pocket has the best food, nightlife or overall vibe, but according to one travel publication, there’s a clear winner when it comes to the city’s coolest neighbourhood.
Brooklyn Of has officially dubbed West Queen West the “Brooklyn of Toronto,” naming the stretch of Queen St. W. between Bathurst St. and Gladstone Ave. the city’s coolest spot for indie shops, street art and “restaurants that punch way above their weight.”
The guide breaks down the neighbourhood into the best places to stay, eat and shop, and naturally, one of the sweet spots is Trinity Bellwoods Park. You can enter the 15-hectare communal backyard through the restored wrought-iron gates of the original Trinity College (bonus: the space offers free outdoor gym equipment, so you don’t need a gym membership to stay in shape).
“Bring a blanket on Saturday afternoon, keep an eye out for the famous white squirrels south of the rec centre, and accept that you’re not leaving anytime soon,” the guide said.
And then there are the chic indie businesses. Type Books on Queen St. W. is considered one of the best independent bookshops in the city (we’re also partial to Hopeless Romantic), while Youngplace on Shaw is a converted school that hosts epic gallery shows and workshops.
Stroll over to Ossington Ave., which has officially been named one of the coolest streets on the planet. The sweet spot is between Queen St. W. and Dundas St. W., where you’ll find dozens of trendy restaurants and bars squeezed together (better yet, check out our offbeat guide on how to spend a perfect day on Ossington).
Next up is Graffiti Alley, which runs a full block parallel to Queen and boasts some of the city’s most iconic street art (it’s “best entered from Spadina on a weekday when you’re not dodging shoots,” the publication adds).
For best eats, the guide’s picks include Matty Matheson’s Prime Seafood Palace, Korean fusion spot Tiger Blues, La Banane and Mamakas Taverna, which sits at the southern end of the Ossington strip and serves elevated, rustic Greek fare. Or perhaps sip a delicious cocktail or two at BarChef, Prequel & Co. Apothecary or Bar Poet, with its old-world ambience and too-good-to-be-true prices.
For a caffeine hit, Library Coffee, Highly Likely Coffee, Cafe23 (yes, you can bring your leashed dog here), Sam James Coffee Bar OZ and White Squirrel Coffee Shop are the guide’s picks. We’d also make a case for Rooms Coffee and, if you like your espresso with a side of classic charm and vintage chairs, I Deal Coffee & Wine, both nestled on Ossington Ave.
You can also turn your Queen West outing into a staycation! Check out boutique hotels like Gladstone House and The Drake Hotel.
Of course, crowning any neighbourhood in the 6ix as the city’s coolest is bound to start an argument. Kensington Market was a close contender, earning a shoutout for its diverse shops and cheap eats.
Davenport, between Dupont and St. Clair, also came close, with Brooklyn Of describing it as a quieter creative corridor filled with Portuguese bakeries, small galleries and studios. Not surprisingly, this hood was also recently named Toronto’s coolest by another publication (check out how to spend a perfect day here)!