Best neighborhoods in Toronto

6 areas in Toronto, Canada — what each one feels like, who it suits, and roughly what it costs.

• Queen West ($$) — Galleries, bars, boutiques Best for Nightlife + design. Bar and gallery strips running west from downtown, busy every night. Toronto's creative spine — increasingly polished, still lively. Getting around: Streetcar 501 along Queen
• The Annex ($$) — Victorians, students, bookshops Best for Quiet + walkable. Brick Victorians near the university with cafes along Bloor. Leafy, central and the classic Toronto residential street. Getting around: Lines 1 and 2 at Spadina
• Downtown Toronto ($$) — Towers, waterfront, PATH Best for First-timers. Walk to the CN Tower, the islands ferry and most of the museums. Convenient and dense; condo living with everything underfoot. Getting around: Line 1 and Union Station
• Kensington Market ($) — Vintage stalls, murals Best for Independent + food. A few blocks of produce shops, taquerias and second-hand clothes. Scruffy, central and genuinely independent — rare in Toronto now. Getting around: Streetcar 505/510 to Spadina
• Leslieville ($$) — Brunch strip, young families Best for Families. Queen East's cafes and brunch spots with the beach a walk away. East-end family living with good food and a slower pace. Getting around: Streetcar 501 east
• Distillery District ($$) — Cobblestones, Victorian brick Best for Dining + strolling. Pedestrian brick lanes of restaurants and galleries in old distillery buildings. Handsome but small; most residents live in the condos around it. Getting around: Streetcar 504/514 to Cherry

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