Toronto’s King West Neighborhood

Toronto’s King West neighborhood is a fast-growing area that is very popular for young city professionals. Because it has all the features needed for a modern lifestyle and is close to Downtown Toronto office towers. Toronto’s King West also includes some parts of Toronto’s famous Entertainment District, Financial District and Fashion District.

King West is not only a major commercial thoroughfare in Toronto, but also a hub for music, journalism, dance, sports, entertainment and broadcasting. Canada’s Walk of Fame is also located in King West, and the neighborhood hosts the Toronto International Film Festival and attracts movie stars every year. Let’s review all the attractive features of Toronto’s King West neighborhood.

History of the King West

In 1793 when Toronto was still called York, this area was named after George the 3rd. It was one of the first roads of the old city. King West Village was part of York City’s military reserves, and Victoria Memorial Square was actually a military cemetery. After the development of the area in the 1830s, the area was extended to Garrison Creek. Then, the arrival of railroads in Toronto in the 1850s changed the nature of the neighborhood significantly. Little by little, King West became a bustling industrial and manufacturing center.

Many of the old industrial buildings of the 1800s have now been converted to residential and commercial use. Finally, in 1901, King Street West took on its present form and extended to the intersection of Roncesvalles and Queen Streets. Restaurants and nightclubs were added and created this energetic new downtown neighborhood.

Related articles: Top 5 condos in Toronto’s King West neighborhood

Buildings of King Street West

Buying a condo in King West Village can be one of the best decisions you can make, as the area has a diverse collection of the best condo apartment buildings in Toronto. Units with high ceilings and private balconies with attractive views of downtown Toronto. You can also find some authentic old hard loft buildings and heritage row houses in this neighborhood with beautiful red brick designs and large windows showing they date back to the 1880s.

But what stands out the most in the King West Village neighborhood is the strong condo market and new construction projects, and that most of their buyers intend to live and work in downtown Toronto. King West is a popular neighborhood, especially among professional youth.

The variety of the condo units in King West is ranging from 400 to over 1,000 square feet, to larger penthouses and duplex apartments. A short walk to shops, bars, the lake, and some of the best restaurants in Toronto has made King West a desirable spot for those who seek to live near all the best that Toronto has to offer. For more information about the King Street West condos you can ask a professional Toronto real estate agent who knows and covers the neighborhood.

Services and amenities in King West

In Hammam Spa located at 602 King St West, you can enjoy a different experience of spa plus algae wraps, massage therapy, sunless tanning, clay wraps and Turkish baths. Or for high quality nail salons, spas, barbers, and hair salons you can try Her Majesty’s Pleasure at 556 King Street West, Beauty Line Nail Spa at 100-465 King Street West, and Steinberg John & Associates Studio at 585 King Street West.

If you have fitness plans here are your best options in the King West neighborhood: Totum offers different programs, including rhythm boxing, Muay Thai and strength healing, located at 445 King St West. Or you can relax at the SAANA Yoga located at 577 Wellington St West. You can also check Imprint Pilates at 101 Spadina Avenue for professional fitness programs.

Read More : The Best Hair Salons in Toronto

Where to eat in King West neighborhood

King West neighborhood has the most elegant café and restaurants to enjoy your meetings or friendly gatherings in the evening.

Anejo is a Mexican restaurant with a large dining area, perfect patio space and an impressive bar. So, after a long working day, you can enjoy your tequila, watch people on this sidewalk patio. Or have splendid Mexican food at the basement space of this heritage building decorated with folk art. Don’t forget to try their wonderful margaritas.

Lavelle can be your perfect escape spot 16 stories above the city. This wonderful restaurant is a 16,000 square foot rooftop pool and patio bar which has a lounge bar, dining room, three pools, cabanas and a professionally managed restaurant. You can order Japanese or Brazilian cuisine or enjoy your cocktail in the pool watching the nightlife of Toronto.

Petty Cash is a lovely social house with a beautiful patio space and super friendly atmosphere located in the vibrant neighborhood of King West.

You can also book their fully-customizable private event space with natural light and a private entrance for special occasions. The cocktails are wonderful and don’t forget to try their savory burgers. You may see Shawn Mendes over there while drinking your pineapple zaddy sprawling at the sofas at your picnic table.

If you are looking for a high quality coffee around the king west neighborhood to start your day superbly, try Jimmy’s Coffee. They have a cozy vibe and a small-but-vibrant patio and a menu with almost everything. You can grab your snack or take away coffee and start a refreshing day. If you want to sit and enjoy the minimalist design while drinking your coffee, you should check Early Bird Coffee and Kitchen. It is the best place to study or work without any distraction. So take your laptop and enjoy your brunch with blueberry ricotta toast and the astonishing smell of espresso.

Famous Landmarks on King Street west

The enchanting King West neighborhood stretches from Queen West and Bathurst streets to Front Street and Spadina Street. You have many choices to explore in this part of Toronto, including local food and coffee shops with a cozy and comfortable patio, fitness studios and fresh grocery stores, the best nail salons and eclectic boutique shopping locations.

Roy Thomson Hall

This marvelous curve-lined glass concert hall located at the city’s entertainment district was opened in 1982. Now, it is a not-for-profit charitable organization which is home to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra and Toronto Mendelssohn Choir. Its astonishing architecture was designed by Arthur Erickson and Mathers and Haldenby. The architectural design of the Roy Thomson Hall was influenced by Arthur Erickson’s journeys in Japan and his relationship with the North American Aboriginals. The courtyard pond was supposed to be a skating rink in the winter at first.

The hall seats 2,630 guests and hosts over 350 events each year. The Yamaha CF-2 concert grand piano was acquired from the estate of Glenn Gould in 1983. In 2002, It was renovated over a period of six months to improve the quality of its acoustics.

Roy Thomson Hall is one of the main venues used by the Toronto International Film Festival. The Hall is the main stage for the International Bach Competition and Bach 300 Festival. In 2011, the hall was also used for the funeral of Federal Leader of the Official Opposition and NDP leader Jack Layton. Recently, the popular series of “The Boys” also used this location as the bottom base for the superheroes’ tower.

Princess of Wales Theatre

The Princess of Wales Theatre is a modern, 2000-seat playhouse which was opened to the public with the musical Miss Saigon on May 26, 1993. The theatre has maximum flexibility and its stage is one of the widest and deepest in North America. The architecture of The Princess of Wales Theatre is a stunning combination of traditional and contemporary design elements.

This large, modern theatre with a huge stage and fly offers exceptional experience for guests, showing the elegance of a traditional nineteenth century theatre. It has three levels for orchestra, dress circle and two-balconies connected to the proscenium by box seats. All the 2000 seats were designed not to be farther than 85 feet from the stage. So all the guests can enjoy the same excellent sight in an acoustically perfect auditorium.

Canada’s Walk of Fame

Canada’s Walk of Fame is an organization for celebrating the spirit and achievement of famous Canadian people to keep alive the story of their lives and successes. It was launched in 1998 to create Canadian legacy through monuments for extraordinary Canadians to share their stories in their walk to fame.

Over more than 20 years, there are over 180 Inductions into Canada’s Walk of Fame. It has five Pillars of Achievement dedicated to Arts and Entertainment; Business and Entrepreneurship; Science, Technology and Innovation; Philanthropy and Humanities; and Sports and Athletics. Their goal is to bring Canadians together to inspire and celebrate successful Canadians and their culture and to positively influence the lives of others.

First Canadian Place

This 978 ft shining skyscraper in the Financial District of Toronto, is located right at the northwest corner of King and Bay streets. It is Canada’s tallest skyscraper and the 15th tallest building in the North. It was constructed in 1975 and named after Canada’s first bank, the Bank of Montreal. The building has 29 elevators and it is connected to Toronto’s underground PATH system.

The lower floors of the building consist of 120 stores, 6 restaurants, over 30 eateries, Medical Centre and dental clinics, spas, beauty salons, dry cleaning and shoe repair, post office and a small park on King Street, between the FCP and the Exchange Tower.

For more shopping opportunities you can find Italian dresses, skirts, blouses, coats, jackets, shoes, handbags and scarves at the Maska located at 100 King St West. In Davido Afnani you will find professional luxury fashion products for men, including men’s fragrances, bags and clothes, located at 766 King St West. However, If you love vintage furniture or silverware, vases and sculptures, you better check out the Cynthia Findlay located at 284 King St West.

Read More : Top Toronto Landmarks