According to clinical psychologists – who actually ran laboratory experiments to prove their hypotheses – retail therapy works. According to those scientists, we get stressed or sad because of a perceived lack of control. When we feel powerless in the presence of random chance and other people’s whims, we need an outlet for exercising our agency. Shopping, with its emphasis on personal selection and “treat yourself” abandon, fits the bill perfectly.
Do we really need a scientific explanation before we break out the credit card and go tap-wild on a slew of stores across the city? Probably not. But it’s nice to know there are wellness benefits!
Whether you’re shopping to de-stress or buying necessities for your home and wardrobe, you’ll find several shopper’s paradises dotted across the Six. In this article, the best real estate agency in the city takes you on the spree of a lifetime, hitting various neighbourhoods in Toronto renowned for their shopping scenes.
Grab a credit card, flex your bag-carrying arms, and let’s hit the town.
The Lap of Luxury: Bloor-Yorkville
If your version of retail therapy involves dropping thousands on a Prada bag, Gucci sunglasses, or Balenciaga shirt, head straight for Bloor-Yorkville. The Bloor strip east of Avenue is sometimes called the “Mink Mile” for its collection of ultra-high-end luxury outlets: Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Tiffany & Co., Coach, and many more.
However, the area isn’t all European fashion houses and American jewelry giants. Bloor-Yorkville is also home to a flourishing ecosystem of local, independent businesses operating with the same attention to quality as those big-name places. For more information, visit Harvey Kalles’ full article on shopping in Yorkville at the link.
What’s Happening Now: Queen West and Its Orbit
Recently, Vogue named Queen Street West one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world. Walking along its graffiti-strewn alleys, through its neon-washed dive bars and snug coffee shops, it’s easy to see why. The area just exudes cool.
Its hipness is also apparent in Queen Street West stores, which offer everything from international high-fashion to independent and locally made wares. Whether you’re after some hip wall art for your new condo, mid-century furniture to complement your Toronto house, or the bleeding edge of Toronto fashion, you’ll find it in the Queen West orbit. Take detours to the Ossington Strip, Dundas West and Parkdale to complete your shopping tour of the area.
Hectic and Eclectic: Kensington Market
Kensington Market moves by the beat of its own bongo drum. It’s buzzing, often chaotic, and always surprising. It’s also a strong contender for one of the city’s best shopping districts.
Don’t expect haute couture or locked jewelry cases in Kensington Market. The name of the game here is Bohemian chic. Its smattering of thrift stores, vintage shops, army surplus suppliers, and quirky gift stores cater to an eclectic crowd who put their unique spin on style.
And if all that rifling through vintage clothing bins works up an appetite, Kensington delivers a diverse culinary spread – from Jamaican jerk to Belgian waffles and most things in between. Afterward, visit the market’s many vegetable stands, cheese shops, and butchers to gather supplies for dinner.
Shopping with a View: The Distillery District
A shopper’s paradise isn’t just about the stores themselves. It’s about the whole package—the sights, sounds, and small details that colour the experience.
As such, The Distillery District handily earns a spot on the list. Yes, the shopping is top-notch, defined by a mix of locally-owned boutiques, high-end design stores, tasteful outfitters, French patisseries, and more. However, the real draw is the experience. As we’ve covered on this blog, The Distillery District is one of Toronto’s visual gems, a locked-in-time, brick-lined wonderland dating back to the 1830’s.
Winding through its pedestrianized walkways and tastefully restored buildings, you can imagine a bygone Toronto of horse-drawn carts, freshly combed mustaches, and boisterous stallholders. It’s the ideal backdrop for a therapeutic day of shopping in the Six.
Where Mainstream Meets Underground: The PATH
It isn’t a neighbourhood, per se – more of a subterranean mall. However, the PATH is a uniquely Torontonian shopping experience. With 371,600 square metres of retail space, it holds the Guinness World Record for being the largest underground shopping complex in the world.
If you’re trying to avoid the sun for some reason (let’s say it’s August in Toronto, and the heat climbs to over 30 degrees), the PATH is your go-to, air-conditioned, underground refuge. And you can find just about anything here, provided you show up with a detailed map. If you get lost, simply pop your head to the surface, get your above-ground bearings, and head back into the fray.
Shop Local: Leslieville
Leslieville might not have the counter-culture cred of Kensington Market or the upper-crust sheen of Yorkville, but don’t let its laid-back casualness fool you. It’s a serious competitor among the shopping and fashion scene in Toronto.
The neighbourhood is a hotbed of local businesses, proudly showcasing Canadian-made products in all major retail categories. It’s cool without trying to be too hip. It’s high-end without being stuffy. It’s family-friendly without being solely focused on kids. And it’s home to some of the city’s best cafes, pubs and brunch spots (shout-out to the Michelin-recommended Maha’s Egyptian Brunch). If your shopping whims take you east of the downtown core, Leslieville is a must-hit spot.
Besides being shopping paradises, each of the neighbourhoods above (minus the PATH) is immensely liveable and beautiful. If you’re starting a real estate search in the city and want to be close to the shopping action, contact the expert agents at Harvey Kalles Real Estate to tour available properties in these neighbourhoods.
We’re happy to show you around, chat about options, and show off the fantastic businesses that make these neighbourhoods shine. Shopping for a home is the ultimate form of retail therapy – one that we approach with unparalleled professionalism and hard work.
