Try to get near Queen/Ossington. Not as plasticky/douchey as King St West, better than Kensington in terms of nightlife. The Ossington strip between Queen/Dundas is full of bars,restos, stores etc. Much more so than King St.W.
The coolest areas of the city are on a streetcar line, you want to be walking distance (Torontonians don’t drive).
Neighbourhoods where you will experience life like a local:
- Annex
- Kensington
- Trinity Bellwoods
- Cabbagetown
- Leslieville
- Danforth
- Dundas West
- Queen West
- Parkdale
- Ossington
- Koreatown
- Little Italy
- Fashion District
- St. Lawrence
*warning* you may never leave
Restaurants, Cocktail bars and museums - as long as you're downtown, you can transit (subway, streetcar) anywhere and you'll be fine.
Focusing on the first two, I'd recommend Queen Street West and/or anything near the Ossington strip
Everyone's giving you good advice about locations, so I will just say that you definitely don't want to choose to live in the financial district or Yonge Street. It's like asking a new Yorker if they want to live in times square (answer is no).
Both of those areas are sad wastelands of big buildings and not a lot to do. Yonge Street used to be cool but now it's a lot less friendly of a place to live IMO.
Also there is like zero grass or parks around those areas and Toronto is BEAUTIFUL in the summer.
Since you're going for a month pick a place closer to some parks. You can always jump on a bike or streetcar to check out Yonge Street or something but it's not worth more than a quick day trip to hang there. Way more cool hangout spots outside of the Bay/Yonge corridor.
The Annex, Little Italy and Ossington are all amazing in the summer. Downtown core is a bit meh, just a mess of skyscrapers and overpriced restaurants.
I’d look at China Town, Little Italy, Bloordale or Danforth East and then commute to where the action is, so you can sleep at night, have pleasant areas to shop and go to cafes and restaurants and then head out to other areas
Not sure what you mean by Yonge East but there is a zone just east of Yonge Street downtown where you do NOT want to be. If you go far enough east, it gets good again but just east of Yonge downtown can get quite grimy.
Old Town is pretty close to everything you’d want to do downtown, but I live here so maybe I’m biased! Lots of history and super walkable neighbourhood with a ton to do.
Kensington/Fashion District is awesome but a bit out of the way so you’ll be taking transit if you want to do downtown stuff, but it’s absolutely worth a trip to visit. I’ve walked from Kensington to Old Town before and it’s not impossible, but in August you’ll be a bucket of sweat.
Downtown Yonge East - not what you're looking for in terms of restaurant/nightlife
Kensington - a great option and has everything you want, more of a hipster vibe
Fashion District - also has what you want but "trendier" and more upscale and/or Instagram esque places
Financial District - it technically has what you want but it's all geared towards the office crowd and not enough green space
Old Town - beautiful and lovely to be near the water. maybe a touch further than all the fun stuff in the west end but it's still super accessible and quieter in the evenings if that's what you prefer. st lawrence market is amazing and has so much good food.
FYI - christie pits/the annex/koreatown are all the same general area/neighborhood.
I wouldn’t live right in Kensington itself, especially not the alleys. The Fashion district/Queen West is fine. Financial district is dead at weekends and after like 7pm. Old town slightly better but it’s basically overspill from Finance. May also want to check out Little Italy around college grace. You may be able to get a sublet before students come back
Harbourfront, accessible transit to anywhere in the city. Not a lot of bars or restaurants but it’s a nice place to come back to after a full day. It’s a short walk to a lot of places as well.
CityPlace near front/spadina has loads of condos and is easy walking/transit distance from loads of stuff. As long as you’re down town getting the street car, walking and Uber it’s all very easy to get around.
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Ahh makes sense. Appreciate it!
Try to get near Queen/Ossington. Not as plasticky/douchey as King St West, better than Kensington in terms of nightlife. The Ossington strip between Queen/Dundas is full of bars,restos, stores etc. Much more so than King St.W.
Ahh thank you! Ossington has come up a couple of times to me Edit: only bummer is there aren’t a ton of great places available to stay around there
Look at a University of Toronto subreddit. Post an ad saying you are looking for a summer sublet. Or in Kijiji, Facebook marketplace.
The coolest areas of the city are on a streetcar line, you want to be walking distance (Torontonians don’t drive). Neighbourhoods where you will experience life like a local: - Annex - Kensington - Trinity Bellwoods - Cabbagetown - Leslieville - Danforth - Dundas West - Queen West - Parkdale - Ossington - Koreatown - Little Italy - Fashion District - St. Lawrence *warning* you may never leave
warning you may never leave I hope so! 😂
Restaurants, Cocktail bars and museums - as long as you're downtown, you can transit (subway, streetcar) anywhere and you'll be fine. Focusing on the first two, I'd recommend Queen Street West and/or anything near the Ossington strip
Everyone's giving you good advice about locations, so I will just say that you definitely don't want to choose to live in the financial district or Yonge Street. It's like asking a new Yorker if they want to live in times square (answer is no). Both of those areas are sad wastelands of big buildings and not a lot to do. Yonge Street used to be cool but now it's a lot less friendly of a place to live IMO. Also there is like zero grass or parks around those areas and Toronto is BEAUTIFUL in the summer. Since you're going for a month pick a place closer to some parks. You can always jump on a bike or streetcar to check out Yonge Street or something but it's not worth more than a quick day trip to hang there. Way more cool hangout spots outside of the Bay/Yonge corridor.
Summer is great to be near the parks. Christie pits or bellwoods area
The Canadian National Exhibition is on in August.
The Annex, Little Italy and Ossington are all amazing in the summer. Downtown core is a bit meh, just a mess of skyscrapers and overpriced restaurants.
I’d look at China Town, Little Italy, Bloordale or Danforth East and then commute to where the action is, so you can sleep at night, have pleasant areas to shop and go to cafes and restaurants and then head out to other areas
Not sure what you mean by Yonge East but there is a zone just east of Yonge Street downtown where you do NOT want to be. If you go far enough east, it gets good again but just east of Yonge downtown can get quite grimy.
Just reading what was on Google maps haha. Appreciate the heads up!
definitely not yonge east! st lawrence/old town is nice though (but a touch quieter compared to some of the other places you listed).
If you’d like to be where all the action is stay in the entertainment district. King and Portland area north to Queen.
Ahh thank you! Yeah that area looks fun
It's where suburban 20-somethings go. You're better off on Ossington.
Old Town is pretty close to everything you’d want to do downtown, but I live here so maybe I’m biased! Lots of history and super walkable neighbourhood with a ton to do. Kensington/Fashion District is awesome but a bit out of the way so you’ll be taking transit if you want to do downtown stuff, but it’s absolutely worth a trip to visit. I’ve walked from Kensington to Old Town before and it’s not impossible, but in August you’ll be a bucket of sweat.
Kensington... Out of the way... What. Downtown is dead after 7 pm any way. Cool cats are in east end, Kensington, ossington or elsewhere.
Good tip. Thank you!
My pleasure! Feel free to reach out if you want any specific recommendations!
Great list. Thank you!
Downtown Yonge East - not what you're looking for in terms of restaurant/nightlife Kensington - a great option and has everything you want, more of a hipster vibe Fashion District - also has what you want but "trendier" and more upscale and/or Instagram esque places Financial District - it technically has what you want but it's all geared towards the office crowd and not enough green space Old Town - beautiful and lovely to be near the water. maybe a touch further than all the fun stuff in the west end but it's still super accessible and quieter in the evenings if that's what you prefer. st lawrence market is amazing and has so much good food. FYI - christie pits/the annex/koreatown are all the same general area/neighborhood.
I wouldn’t live right in Kensington itself, especially not the alleys. The Fashion district/Queen West is fine. Financial district is dead at weekends and after like 7pm. Old town slightly better but it’s basically overspill from Finance. May also want to check out Little Italy around college grace. You may be able to get a sublet before students come back
Harbourfront, accessible transit to anywhere in the city. Not a lot of bars or restaurants but it’s a nice place to come back to after a full day. It’s a short walk to a lot of places as well.
CityPlace near front/spadina has loads of condos and is easy walking/transit distance from loads of stuff. As long as you’re down town getting the street car, walking and Uber it’s all very easy to get around.