West Queen West: A Walker’s Paradise

Nestled between Little Portugal, Liberty Village, and the Entertainment District, Toronto’s trendy West Queen West (WQW) is considered a “Walkers Paradise” by Walkscore.com. Errands don’t require a car, world-class public transportation is available via the Queen Streetcar, and the flat terrain lends itself to great cycling.

This stretch of Queen Street received an almost perfect Walk Score of 98, a Transit Score of 97, and a Bike Score of 78. Residents of WQW are spoiled by their proximity to some of the city’s best restaurants, boutique shopping, galleries, and beautiful parks. The street is also well-equipped for running errands and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. The neighbourhood is home to several excellent schools and a variety of amenities including the Downward Dog Yoga Studio, the Queen West Animal Hospital, a pharmacy (Shoppers Drug Mart), and most of the major banks.

For groceries, residents can shop at the Loblaws at Bathurst and Queen, or choose from a number of independent outlets. Appletree Natural Foods is stocked with bulk items and natural products, Sanko Trading Co. carries Japanese sushi and snacks, Feast provides allergy-friendly fine food, and Cumbrae’s is a third generation butcher carrying fresh meat and gourmet products.

Trinity Bellwoods Park

The neighbourhood is also home to great green spaces, most notably Trinity Bellwoods Park. Walking through the regal white gates on a sunny Saturday afternoon, you’ll be hard pressed to find a patch of grass unoccupied by groups of 20-somethings, dogs, and young families picnicking. Every Tuesday, a small farmer’s market pops up in the northwest corner of Bellwoods from 3 pm to 7 pm, rain or shine. Here, locals shop for seasonal Ontario-grown veggies, tasty treats, and everything you’d need for an impromptu picnic. The park also features a leash-free dog bowl, tennis courts, a children’s playground, an ice rink, and softball fields.

Arts & Culture

The neighbourhood’s recent explosion in popularity is partially due to the New York Times and Vogue Magazine, which have both taken note of WQW and its strong arts culture. The New York Times recently featured the area, specifically the Art and Design District around Ossington, as an up-and-coming creative urban neighbourhood. The article names several cultural centres and galleries on the strip including Craft Ontario, as well as neighbourhood gems including Camera, Rec+Art History, and Dynasty.

Only a few months later, Vogue named WQW one of the globe’s hippest neighbourhoods citing the street’s “hidden-from-view-galleries,” The Drake and Gladstone “art hotels,” the Museum of Contemporary Art, and Graffiti Alley as proof of the neighbourhood’s “chic and pragmatic” style. Local artists can also find supplies at Curry’s Artists’ Materials.

The Gladstone Hotel

The area’s like a living museum, punctuated by remnants of Victorian architecture from old Toronto. Several businesses and art spaces have made an effort to preserve the brick facades and elegant spires that have survived since the late 1800s. The Gladstone Hotel, originally built in 1889, is a stunning example of Romanesque Revival architecture. The formerly dilapidated structure is now a boutique art hotel featuring 37 artist-designed hotel rooms, two restaurants, and over 70 art exhibitions a year. Similarly, Anthropologie now inhabits a 19th century church, and “the building’s façade, its stained glass windows, and one intricately carved fireplace remain relatively untouched.”

Wining & Dining

Finding a great cup of coffee isn’t difficult on this stretch - the White Squirrel Coffee Shop has been servicing the Trinity Bellwoods crowd for years, while the South American-style cafe, El Almacen, is now serving up Yerba Mate. Locals and visitors also indulge in macarons at Nadege Patisserie, croissants from Clafouti, and gluten-free treats at Dufflet.

The foodie scene features some of the city’s best restaurants. Sitting on the corner of Queen and Crawford, Fresh has a great patio during the summer months. Just a few doors down, Oyster Boy serves up fresh seafood, while Terroni provides authentic southern Italian food and wine. A favourite of mine, The Good Son, has delicious shareable dishes and great decor, offering a unique dining experience. If The Good Son is full, head down the street to the Drake Hotel for cocktails. These days, it’s almost impossible for locals to find a seat at the Drake Sky Yard as residents from all over the city (and GTA) flock to this rooftop patio.

At Queen and Ossington, grab a spot on the patio at Sweaty Betty’s or Bellwoods Brewery, then indulge in late night eats at Oddseoul. Not far from the Ossington intersection stands Lipstick & Dynamite, a cozy bar featuring a bizarre collection of velvet art and a selection of local beers, where it’s not unusual to see 1960s Batman episodes playing behind the bar.

Treasure Trove of Independent Stores & Canadian Goods

WQW is a treasure trove of small and independent shops, many featuring Canadian-made goods. Ynot Cycle has a few stores around Toronto, including a shop in the heart of WQW. The small shop provides Canadian-made gear for all types of cycling. Similarly, the Drake Hotel General Store also stocks “clothing and curiosities” from Canadian-made brands and features a number of Toronto-themed shirts and housewares. The Coal Miner’s Daughter is another small boutique dedicated to stocking no less than 80% Canadian designers and brands. They specialize in Canadian jewelry, accessories, and clothing.

Strolling down Queen, it’s difficult to miss Poppies. This modern flower shop nestled between Good Son and Starbucks is easily spotted during the warm months as the shop’s merchandise overflows onto the sidewalk, creating a garden oasis. Type Books is also a neighbourhood staple, not only providing an amazing selection of books (including many independent magazines and newspapers), but also hosting a number of events such as book launches, readings, and literary festivals. Type Books is also home to the Down the Hall Bookclub and the store’s beautiful window displays are not to be missed. Next door, crafty locals frequent The Paper Place for beautiful Japanese papers and inexpensive prints. Vinyl collectors love Rotate This for picking up new vinyl and grabbing concert tickets.

Make WQW Your Home

There are plenty of opportunities to make the amazing WQW neighbourhood your home, starting with the aptly named West Queen West condo by Urbancorp. This condo is currently in the preconstruction phase near Queen and Shaw. The floor plans range from 435 to 1,050 square feet and prices start at $232,900.

Ten93 Queen West Condos by Pemberton Group

Another amazingly colourful and exciting condo is Ten93 Queen West at the corner of Queen and Dovercourt by Pemberton Group - this is where you want to live if you want to go to The Good Son every night. This boutique mid-rise condo features one- to three-bedroom floor plans, many of which come with dens. Ten93 is currently in the preconstruction phase.

SQ2 by Tridel

The third condo we want to mention is Epic on Triangle Park by Plaza and Urbancorp, located on Queen between Ossington and Dufferin. Epic is under construction and will eventually stand 15 storeys. And the last condo we want to mention is on the east side of the WQW neighbourhood, but it's worth mentioning because of how exciting the development is. Tridel's SQ and SQ2 are currently in the works in the Alexandra Park master-plan.

These three are just a handful of condo developments going up on and around Queen in the WQW neighbourhood. Visit Newinhomes.com to find more!