Kensington Market, Toronto

What is Kensington Market?

Kensington Market is a district of Toronto that, for many decades, has been devoted to commerce with an international flair. For nearly a century, shop owners here have sold goods from around the world, offering customers and window shoppers a unique experience.

Today, Kensington Market, Toronto remains as diverse as ever, and it is a haven of secondhand shops, vintage stores, and food shops. You’ll also find many bars to hang out in and have a few cheap drinks.

Shopping

With a name like Kensington Market, Toronto, you would expect this neighborhood to have a thriving market. And it surely does. There are many secondhand clothing shops and independent boutiques along Kensington Ave. and Augusta Ave., including Courage My Love, a well-known vintage clothing shop, and Bungalow, a shop famous for its collection of retro furnishings and carefully selected clothing items.

You’ll also find a well-stocked army surplus store, an anarchist bookshop, and designer shops, like Iki and Gale Designs. One of the best places to shop is Trend Setter Company, which deals in inexpensive (but very trendy) imported clothing.

Food and Drink

In addition to clothing and hard goods, Kensington Market, Toronto also has many fine restaurants and food shops. If you like cheese, you can’t miss Global Cheese. It’s arguably the best food shop in the city, and the shop staff is more than happy to help you pick out cheeses for yourself or as souvenirs. My Market Bakery is one of the better bakeries in the city, and if you need a quick pick me up, look for Jumbo Empanadas, where you’ll find an inexpensive meal to keep you going.

Visitors seeking a more traditional restaurant atmosphere should check out herbivore.to or Supermarket. herbivore.to is a hip vegan restaurant that specializes in soups and sandwiches, making it a great lunch option. Supermarket is one of the area’s nicer restaurants, and it has an impressive menu of Asian-inspired dishes.

There are also a number of bars in the area. Head to locations like Ronnie’s Local 069 and Last Temptations for moderately priced drinks and inviting atmospheres. Caffeine-fiends will be happy to know that Kensington Market, Toronto has many coffee shops, and you’ll just need to keep an eye out for one. Really, they’re all pretty great.

Things To Do

Kensington Market, Toronto continues to thrive because of its vibrant arts community. The neighborhood is a have for the artistically inclined, with numerous galleries open for your viewing pleasure. Most are free, allowing you to catch a glimpse into Toronto’s young arts talent. If you come to Kensington Market, Toronto during the summer, expect to see small concerts at the shops and cafes. On Sundays, the streets are shut down to traffic, and the market comes alive with concerts and performances.

If you find that exploring Kensington Market has left you too tired to check out the city’s restaurants, consider choosing one of the many great Toronto food delivery options, which bring food right to your hotel or office.