West Queen West was voted the world’s second “coolest neighbourhood” by Vogue magazine in 2014. Toronto's Queen St West is the city’s hub for locally and independently-owned galleries, restaurants, cafes, boutiques, and shops. It is also a popular filming location. Here are some places to visit while exploring this popular neighbourhood.
Graffiti Alley
When talking about Queen Street West’s art scene, you can’t miss Toronto’s destination for colourful and bright murals. Graffiti Alley is the only legal spot for graffiti in Toronto, it stretches an impressive 1,000 feet, a perfect spot for your next Instagram post. The alley runs from Spadina Ave to Portland St. If you’ve already been to the alleyway it’s worth a revisit since artists are constantly covering up and drawing around each other’s works so there is always something new to see.
Trinity Bellwoods
One of the largest parks in the downtown core, at Trinity Bellwoods there’s always something to do. In the warmer months from the blooming of Cherry Blossoms in the spring to the weekly farmer’s markets in the summer. The park also makes a lovely daytime spot where you can enjoy an assortment of outside activities utilizing the baseball diamonds, tennis courts and picnic tables. In the colder months, the foliage turns into various shades of reds, browns, yellows and oranges transforming the dreamy landscape into the perfect fall walk, and once the snow hits, it is the ideal spot for all your winter outdoor activities like tobogganing and skating.
Bellwoods Brewery
Bellwoods Brewery is a popular neighbourhood brewpub and bar located on Ossington Avenue just a bit north of Queen St W. It began as a small brewpub in the west end of Toronto in 2012 and has since grown to encompass two retail shops selling fresh cans and bottles, and a production brewery in North York. The brewery is known for its immaculately brewed beers alongside delicious seasonal fare. Chef Jason Browne’s dynamic menu is celebrated for being inviting, uncomplicated, and thoughtful – a culinary parallel to the award-winning Bellwoods beers.
If you are looking for a place to enjoy great beer and food with friends and families, Bellwoods Brewery may surprise you with its unique features.
Dog & Bear
Dog & Bear is a sports-friendly pub that mirrors the traditional English Pub and has comfortable u-shaped booths lining the east brick exposed wall, purposely set up to face the bar. It is equipped with several TVs as well. The menu boasts items such as burgers, all day breakfast, wings and nachos.
Dog & Bear has 20 beers on tap and is quite popular in the neighbourhood thanks to its sports-friendly atmosphere and traditional pub offerings. If you are looking for a casual place to hang out with some friends while enjoying some good food and drinks with sports playing on the TV, you won’t be disappointed by this charming spot!
Cafes
There are also tons of cafes located on this strip, a Twist staff favourite is Forno Cultura, a local coffee chain that has amazing coffee and desserts, as well as the popular Cafe 23 located near trinity bellwoods, which is known for its beautiful garden patio.
Dessert
Delysees Luxury Desserts is a bakery and French pastry shop located on Ossington Avenue. Thye offer a variety of exquisite curated desserts for any special occasion. Their menu includes top-of-the-line French pastries, macarons, cakes, eclairs, classic French baked goods along with a selection of modern gluten-free and vegan desserts. They also offer sophisticated cocktails that can be paired with their desserts.
Delysees Luxury Desserts is definitely worth checking out if you are looking for a place to buy some treats for a date, or simply want some luxurious dessert experience for your refined palette.
Best Pizza Places
The Queen West neighbourhood is also the ideal place to explore some of the best pizza spots in downtown Toronto.
Blondies Pizza and Pizzeria Badiali are two of Toronto’s most popular pizza places. While both are known for their delicious pies, some differences set them apart.
Blondies Pizza is a chain known for its New York-style pizza. They have several locations on both the East and West sides of Toronto, one of them being on Ossington Avenue only a bit north of Queen Street West. They offer a variety of toppings and have a great selection of vegetarian options as well. Blondies also have a great selection of craft beer on tap.
Pizzeria Badiali, on the other hand, is a small Neapolitan-style pizza place tucked away in a residential area of the west side of Toronto. They use fresh ingredients and cook their pies in a wood-fired oven, giving them a unique flavour that sets them apart from other pizza places in the city.
Both places have great reviews and are highly recommended by locals and visitors alike. If you are looking for a delicious slice of pizza in Toronto, you can’t go wrong with either of them!
Shopping
Shopping on Queen St. West is always a must, this area contains many interesting and unique stores. When it comes to grabbing a gift, you may want to check out Hanji Gifts, a gift shop that carries items from Korea including ceramics, stationary and some locally sourced items like teas and soaps. They also offer a free gift wrapping service for items bought in store. Another store you may want to look out for is Helen and Hildegard, an apothecary and beauty store run by a mother and daughter duo. The store carries copious local and global green beauty brands as well other gift worthy items like jewelry and tote bags.
Twist Gallery
A New York style loft with large French arched windows, during the day Twist features the artwork of local Toronto artists. The current exhibition for April and May is titled VIVID, featuring eight different artists’ journeys with their use of colour. Twist receives its name from the twist of the gallery turning into an event venue at night, hosting various events including weddings and an upcoming paint night session hosted by You And I Paint. Twist was recently named one of Canada's Top 4 wedding venues by Narcity.
Images Cited (In Order):
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