Kensington Market

This neighborhood turned outdoor market area is so stinking cute and 100% our family's vibe. We kept reading bad reviews and eventually realized they must have been written by pretentious a-holes, because we loved our time here! The shops are so eclectic so there was a huge selection - you could definitely find what you're looking here somewhere if you search hard enough! Loved our time here and strolling through the neighborhood and shops (both indoor and out!)

This is a great bohemian section of Toronto, not far from Chinatown. Kensington Market is a neighborhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market area itself is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. We loved spending time and checking out the different restaurants, cafes and vendors.... On the last Sunday of the month, they close the main street for pedestrians only.

This is a cute little outdoor marketplace in the heart of Toronto. Do not go here thinking it's an indoor building with markets inside them. I initially thought that's what it was and was surprised to find that it was a collection of vendors around a couple of blocks. The vibes are sooo artsy and eclectic. There are a lot of different vendors, from bakeries, takoyaki shops, taquerias, pubs, tapestry shops, jewelry shops, etc. It was just fun to go around and see everything that's going on. There are a lot of different places to stop by and try different things, so if you have time to casually walk around, Kensington Market has a lot to offer.

This is a cool place to visit whether you're shopping, eating, or drinking. You don't need a car to come here, you can easily walk or take the TTC. I would describe this area as hipster/trendy, judging from the artwork and restaurant buildings. This is not just one street area, there are multiple streets so make sure you check out everything. Food is diverse, I saw Mexican, Jamaican, pub, vegan, Indian, etc. Most places that I saw had some seating inside, but you can also take your food and eat it at the nearby park.

To really appreciate this neighborhood you need the history. I hate tours. But if your interested in the Jewish history of this area or want to explore the depths of this area, you need to take the Jewish Walking Tour by Michael Wex, author of Born to Kvetch. Michael Wex is a gold mine. His Toronto Jewish Walking Tour through the Old Jewish Kensington Market neighborhood is a vibrant tour bringing the rich past history of this neighborhood, its people, culture and community back to life. Michael knows the history but also lived in its midst. Even more than the tour itself is Michael. A very humble and unassuming fellow sojourner and seeker in life. If you desire to explore or expand your knowledge and experience of authentic Jewishness or Jewish living and our Jewish ancestors that fled persecution and immigrated to the United States, come hang out with Michael. Michael can easily field general or specific questions about Jewish life, customs and teachings. He clearly has the learning, training and teaching acumen of the most famous and learned Rabbis. Arrange time for your small group to walk or just meet and sit down and talk. He is knowledgeable in the Torah; the Prophets; Jewish Traditions; the major and minor prophets; the Talmud; Midrash; Jewish history; famous commentators including Rashi, Maimonides and others; extremely knowledgeable in World Religions; and well versed and comprehends the Christian perspective and can respectfully share a completely authentic Jewish interpretation of it as any great professor should. Personally, I search for meaning in life, in my life. I question and wonder and marvel and fret over life. I grew up Jewish but in a very secular non-Jewish world. I didn't know how Jewish I was until I went to work in L.A. at a Jewish law firm (Fischer, Krane, Jacobs and Kabat; and then Spolin Krane et al.) Michael helped me put greater depth and understanding to my human experience and in being Jewish. Michael did not ask me to write this and I did not know him prior to spending an hour and a half with him on his tour. I just found the time very profound and enthusiastically just want others to experience the same. Michael is a great non-intrusive resource to anyone desiring a deeper understanding and experience of what is authentically Jewish. In my book, he is the quintessential Jew. Does he Kvetch or maybe give you reason to Kvetch, sure, that's what makes him the most perfect Jew. Is there any one way to be Jewish? Of course not. I think he would protest any description of himself of being any type of Jew, he is just jewish.

Kensington Market is such a beautiful, eclectic radius of mural art and food! Paradise for me!!! There's absolutely too much explore just one time, so I look forward to roaming the area again when I'm in town. One of the things I like the most is how it's its own centerpiece in a bustling area. First, I explored on my own, then, later a friend (who's also a local) showed me around and gave recommendations on the best food spots. There were endless blocks and alleys of mural art paintings and a new place to eat at every turn. The competing aromas of food in the air pulled me in every direction. I loved it!!! If you're ever in the Toronto area, do yourself a favor and check it out!

Not your average market. It's more of a neighborhood filled with eclectic shops, restaurants and bars. I loved the vibe . So laid back easy going and filled with so much food I'd never tried before . Be warned it's not a indoor market. Total street market . Lots of cool vintage shops, with fun gift things or a random tshirt. We loved the food as always . We tried the moonbean coffee company, they carry some amazing pastries and snacks and the real deal coffee and drinks. Then we had the taki yaki . Amazing. The Momos at Tibet cafe a must! The Jamaican beef Patties at the Caribbean store. A fabulous treat and the original The churros at I love churros. Melt in your mouth with the chocolate inside. Delish and a great way to get a sweet treat. We ended with an amazing affagato at Dolce. Yes do this . You won't regret it. Located near Chinatown and with some great artsy graffiti along the street alleys this is a great location and a must do in Toronto.

"I'm in love with the Queen of the Supermarket As the evening sky turns blue A dream awaits in aisle number two" (Bruce Springsteen) I'm guessing that Kensington Market is a little more interesting and vibrant on weekend nights than it was on the Thursday afternoon we visited. It's not a market in the traditional sense of the word, like the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Quincy Market in Boston or Parkville Market in Hartford. Instead, the word "market" describes a neighborhood full of food, clothing, souvenir stores, ice cream and coffee shops, and taverns. I just checked out the Market's website and stopped counting after I hit 120 businesses, so there's plenty to choose from. We ducked into a few stores and I picked up some apples from Oxford Fruits- that was a very cool store with a ton of great merchandise. I'm sure that a big crowd when they close the streets to traffic brings a lot more energy to the neighborhood than we saw.

Cute fun thing to do when walking around on a nice day. Different places to eat and drink, some small fun art and attractions. Very walkable and a lot of places to just go grab a snack or a bite or two.

This was a cute area to visit. It's a street with a bunch of different store that's you can stop and visit. The items are very eclectic and there is a wide variety of stores to visit. Its simple and cute and around the corner from another strip of clothing stores. It was nice to walk around and check out what everyone was selling. They also had some cute food spots: there was a bakery and also the patty spot. It was a very low key vibe which I feel would be completely different at another time of day. I definitely think it's worth a second visit perhaps when more things are happening. If you enjoy window shopping than this place is definitely for you because there's so many different shops to visit.

I have a ton of fond memories visiting Kensington Market. When I was a kid, it was primarily my mom who took me to this area after visiting Chinatown. In Cantonese, my parents referred to this place (I'm translating) as the Jewish street market. It didn't make sense to me growing up. It was more a multicultural, vibrant mixture of stores, eateries, and more that made it special. It turns out that this neighbourhood's origins were Jewish, and changed over time as Caribbean and Asian immigrants came over here. We often dropped by to get produce. It always looked fresh and colourful to this kid. I have a feeling that I had my first beef patty here, but I don't recall the name of the place. When my parents and I moved to Markham (my first stint), we ended up getting patties in Scarborough, so I rarely hit Kensington Market. I loved looking at all the colourful, eclectic clothing. It was culturally fascinating to me. I spent more time in this neighbourhood in my high school years. I took Cantonese classes on Saturday in Chinatown. I'd often walk over to Kensington Market, grab a snack or something to drink, and head home on the streetcar or bus. The Spadina 77 trolley buses have been replaced by streetcars. Memories of hauling bags of groceries with my mom on the bus and trying not to fall over still endure. I recently returned briefly to Kensington Market to visit Little Pebbles Cafe. Man, has this area changed! It felt like I had moved away from Toronto again and came back scratching my head, trying to figure out what used to be there. It feels more commercialized. You can still get patties and roti. There are more cafes and street food that you wouldn't imagine seeing a decade ago or more, such as takoyaki from Takoyaki Six or croffles from Little Pebbles. I enjoyed getting a hot chocolate from a robot at RC Coffee. It would have been weird a decade ago or earlier. My recent visit was my first time driving to this area as an adult. It felt weird. It was pretty busy on a Friday afternoon. There were more preppy people parking on the street, with cars far more expensive than mine. The times, they are a-changing, sang Bob Dylan. The colourful Victorian-style homes are still there. I do remember them and am glad that they still exist. I would be mortified if they were torn down in favour of cookie-cutter condominiums. I have always enjoyed walking down the narrow streets and checking out the businesses. I need to return and do it. However, I'll probably do it on a weekday when it's not rush hour and crazy busy. Kensington Market is cool and is worth dropping by, whether you are a local or a tourist. I feel like I'm both these days and there's plenty to discover and take in, from gifts to street food. (101)

Nice stop for lunch. The seafood place was amazing! We had yummy po-boys. Don't miss this stop

Fun eclectic stores you won't find anywhere else! Not much is open before 12 so definitely visit later in the day.

Definitely one of the must visit neighborhood of Toronto according to TripAdvisor. B and I came to visit this neighborhood and they have some pretty interesting food/restaurants. There are lots of artistic murals and of course graffiti as well on top. It is a busy neighborhood with lots going on. The vibe is different compared to the other neighborhood. Only thing is that I am not sure what makes this neighborhood to be a must visit tourist attraction. Is it the trendy vibe? or is it the younger crowd vibe? is this similar to Chinatown or Little Italy but this neighborhood more Jamican focus? Kensington Market is close to Chinatown.

Ok I'll admit I was at first disappointed by this market. Walking the perimeter I thought this is it? What the heck? But as we started to move inward, the streets were lined with cute local stores with gifts, food, cheese, sweets and thrift shops. We had already eaten brunch so we weren't too tempted but a couple spots where pretty packed for a Thursday afternoon. Would recommend you stop by.. you never know what you'll find :)

Very cute area! Super convenient and a great way to spend an afternoon. Highly recommend.

What a cool neighborhood and great market. An eclectic mix of delicious eateries with global cuisine offerings in an arts filled neighborhood. Make sure to grab some Caribbean Meat Pies and try the takoyaki shop while here. Also, the best selection of Vintage Clothing stores in one place in North America. Must stop when in Toronto. P.S., take the stairs to the top of the parking garage for one of the best views in Toronto.

Kensington Market is a pretty unique and eclectic neighborhood. We stopped by here before visiting Chinatown nearby just to check out what all the hype was about. Most of the stores do not open until 10/11 am. For those of you who are early risers, I'd recommend coming here later in the afternoon/ evening because most stores are closed in the mornings. There were a lot of ethnic shops, organic grocery stories, coffee shops, and everything in between. Overall, a good time to take a stroll around the neighborhood!

If I had to recommend ONE place in Toronto to visit... Kensington Market. Queen W is a shell of its former self. Yonge St is a combo of vacant, depressing, bubble tea, and mostly boring. Kensington has tons of food and vintage store options. Just avoid driving in it (and weekends), claustrophobic.

Not a market. An eclectic neighborhood of ethnic restaurants, unique shops, bars, tattoo shops, etc. Very crowded. A lot for the senses to take in. Was glad to have experienced it, but not really my scene.

According to the website, Kensington Market is a "vibrant and diverse neighbourhood", and apparently, it's a a popular tourist attraction. While I didn't have any particular interest in Kensington Market, it was high on my husband's list of places to visit, and I always like walking around and exploring different neighbourhoods in the cities I visit, as you never know what interesting things you'll discover. I have to say, I don't understand the hype for Kensington Market. Sure, there are some good restaurants (reviews to come) and "funky" shops, but I don't care for noise and crowds, I don't like beer (Kensington Market is a great place to go if you're a beer drinker, but if you're a wine drinker, you're out of luck), nor do I have any interest in buying bongs and cheap clothing. So while it was interesting to walk around, it's not a place I would highly recommend or go out of my way to see -- it's just a noisy and crowded neighbourhood full of restaurants, bars, and shops that sell assorted junk. However, there was a cool shop that sold all sorts of bartending items and accessories (I am blanking on the name), and there were two restaurants that my husband and I really liked: Pancho y Emiliano and The Last Temptation. In summary: an overhyped neighbourhood that I personally wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but I wouldn't be opposed to visiting again, and there are interesting things to see and some good places to eat and grab a drink. [Yelp collections: Toronto/Niagara Falls 2021]

I spent a great deal of my early life at Kensington Market. As a kid, I went there with my mom to pick up fruits and vegetables at the various grocers there, eggs at the now defunct St. Andrew Poultry, and meats at European Quality Meats (no longer in Kensington Market). As I got older and was able to go out on my own with friends, I enjoyed going to Courage My Love, Exile, and the other vintage clothes stores in my grunge hippie days when I loved the smell of patchouli. Throughout, I would love getting beef patties at Patty King (now rebranded as Golden Patty). Then I moved away from Toronto, but as a student I would return every summer and I would love going to King's Café and Buddha's Vegetarian (these 2 restaurants are still in business!). These days, I am rarely in Kensington Market, and boy has it changed over the years. So, just bit of history, in the early 1900s it was a Jewish marketplace, then after World War II Carribean and Asian immigrants moved in, it gradually became more multicultural, and in the late 1990s/early 2000s a large number of Latin American eateries opened up. Today, the neighbourhood is very diverse with stores and restaurants from all over the globe represented in Kensington Market. Ever since I've known it, it has always had a bohemian feel to it with an eclectic mix of businesses. However, in recent years it has definitely gentrified. Once exclusively a working-class neighbourhood, it is now full of yuppies and hipsters, and expensive lattes and pricey pastries. The streets are very narrow, and there are lots of beautiful colourfully painted Victorian styled homes. The neighbourhood is very photo worthy (although I realize that the one picture that I managed to snap on my most recent visit would suggest the contrary, lol). If you are a tourist, you definitely should visit Kensington Market. It has a look and feel like no other neighbourhood in Toronto.

It was a warm day to be out and about in downtown Toronto's Kensington Market neighbourhood. Every large city has its own vintage walkable all-round tourist draw like this one lined with speciality shops, eateries & bars, and the odd tenant that doesn't seem to blend in. With COVID-19 social distancing protocols in effect, eateries have had to establish makeshift patios onto sidewalks and local streets. This is my first trip here since my Grandparents passed away over a decade ago having lived a few blocks away. Lots of great memories... The neighbourhood has progressed somewhat and I still recognized Oxford Fruit as an anchor from the past. Please support local businesses!

For a first-time visitor like I was, I didn't think it was much of a stretch to assume that Kensington Market would be a market like St. Lawrence Market where a big building houses several small businesses serving food and related goods. But no, it's a neighborhood much like the Haight in San Francisco or the West Village in NYC. Only once monthly on the last Sunday do they shut down the streets to become what you would expect an outdoor market. Otherwise it's a chaotic but stimulating scene with funky shops and ethnically diverse eateries. It's definitely worth a stroll, and in hindsight, I'm glad I bypassed the Cheetos doughnuts (photo). RELATED - Traveling to Toronto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2LETSfV

Kensington Market is a fantastic eclectic neighborhood with a wide range of restaurants and patios. The vibe at the market is very relaxed. It feels welcoming because of the mix of people and the casual attitude of everyone in the neighborhood. This is a great area to walk around, absorb the energy, and find some food that you fancy.

This area may be fine for adults but is not family friendly. The is a very large homeless camp in a park across the street and we had several homeless men cursing and yelling at everyone. The food was OK if you like street food but we didn't find anything really great. There were no shops with anything that was worth the trip there. It was also very dirty and had grafitti (the bad kind, not the art) all over windows and shops. If you're young and into the bar scene you'd like it, but we are not fans.

Visited Toronto with my family from the USA. Wanted to see Kensington Market because of all the hype. Went on a nice sunny afternoon during the week. We were really dissapointed. This place was ghetto. Sure there were some nice looking places to sit and eat and have a drink, so this review is nothing against the businesses there. But man, this place reaked of piss and cannabis. Many dispensaries here. Sidewalks were dirty. Lots of shady characters walking around. Saw a person tweaking on one corner. A bunch of people were high and were yelling on the street. Few homeless people were sleeping on the sidewalk by a little park there. The flea market there was basically people selling old clothes on the driveways of houses on the street. The street art they talk about really looked like some basic graffiti. I actually though it was vandalism until someone said its supposed to be art. My 9 and 11 year old kids and my wife wanted to leave ASAP. Don't take kids to this shady smelly ghetto with drugged up people walking around. Never been here at night. I think for young college kids looking to party and get high, this place would be fun at night. But this is not worth for a family or anyone with kids to visit.

We went here on one of the Pedestrian Sundays and had a great time. The road was automobile-free, filled with pedestrians, street food, and artists performing various acts. There are plenty of shops, mainly eateries but quite limited vegan options - hopefully, it'll be better this year. Having said that, the ones we found - mainly street food - were great. While walking down the market, one can also witness amazing wall art (murals). I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Overall, if you're in Toronto, this is definitely the place to be.

Fun place to visit and see all the vegetables and fruits and goodies. Would like to have spent more time.

[55/100] I wished there was a Kensington Market here in Los Angeles. I wouldn't need to go anywhere else. This place is the epitome of cool and it has everything from vintage clothes, yummy cheese shops , a house turned coffee shop, fresh produces, hipsters... you name it! It's about 4 - 5 blocks long and there is so much to see! I enjoyed a cup of coffee at Fika and then just walked around like a kid in a candy store. Parking was free and I was lucky. Definitely one of the reasons why I can't wait to visit Toronto again!

I will have to agree with my yelp friend Colaine B., you will either love love love this place or HATE it.Thank god I'm not from the latter category. So for me eating has to come with an experience be it at high end restaurant or street kinda joints.The experience must leave a memory and a sense of urge to come back. Kensington market is my most fav place for quick eats and I can happily spend my entire day being there. So here's my day at KM.I love to start with coffee at Cafe Pamenar along with a bagel from the historic Nu Bagel. Then with a full belly I like to stroll around and shop for fruits which are fresh and much cheaper than regular grocery store.I also pay a visit to this store which has amazing organic honey and breads.I just don't remember the name :( By this time I'm so so hungry for the best tacos from Seven Lives Taco.I usually end my day with churros from Panchos. I highly recommend this place for delicious and quick eats.Though there are many fancier spots to eat here as well but I always end up choosing repeating my favorites here. Tip:-When here be ready for tons of walking and comfy shoes are a must.

I think the word "market" is a little bit misleading because I would describe Kensington Market as a small neighborhood / district with various restaurants and unique vintage shops. Personally I prefer an indoor market like St. Lawrence Market because Toronto starts to get fairly cold in November. No only that, most shops / restaurants in Kensington Market are scattered across 3 ~ 4 blocks and navigating around this area is not simple as 1-2-3. Parking: There's is a parking structure (Green P Carpark 68: 20 St Andrew St, Toronto, ON M5T 1K6, Canada) on St Andrew St. Now there is one thing that makes this market stand out - this is a very diverse market with unique personality. Tons of super interesting vintage shops (handmade products from Latin America, African Art, etc) with multi-cultural food options in one tiny neighborhood. Taco? Check. (Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos) Fish & Chips? Check. (Fresco's Fish & Chips) Caribbean? Check. (Rasta Pasta) Coffee? Check. (Jimmy's Coffee) Beer? Check. (Kensington Brewing Company) Virtual reality experience? Check. (Toronto VR Games) Chinatown is also just around the corner, so don't forget to check it out too! I will agree with Yelp Colaine B. below - you either love or hate this market. P.S. - Come here come on Pedestrian Sunday (happens on the last Sunday of every month from June to October check calendar on the website) to fully experience what Kensington Market has to offer.

So this is one of the places where I grew up. I spent weeks every summer and weekends in between living here with my Dad, and then I lived here a couple times myself in my twenties. Kensington changes constantly so it's different now then it was then, and that's ok. This area is one of the most diverse in the entire world and it is glorious. The local residents protect their village and though the pressures of capitalism are constantly threatening to choke off the life here, they resist together and fight for a vision of a future that we can all learn from. There are amazing delicious shops here that speak to what this place was like 100 years ago, cheese and bakery, fruits and vegetables. And since Kensington is held in the heart of Chinatown (or sort of sitting on it's hip like a kid on a multitasking mama) there is a beautiful blend here with Buddhist iconography, a synagogue, families of all nationalities starting small businesses and trying to survive in Toronto and take care of each other. The thrift shops are mostly higher end vintage now, and there's a proliferation of trendy tiny takeout eateries and a couple great grimy gorgeous bars and cafes. To know more about the history of the iconic area and what it tells us about the history and values of Canada, check out the Kensington Historical Society - https://www.kmhs.ca/ For me, Kensington is home, one of my favourite places in the world, forever 5 stars.

A place I wish I lived close too. I fricking love Kensington Market. I mean what's there not to love? The endless food places from burgers to churros to tacos. Lots of Breakfast eat-in like Kos. And let's not forget the cute grocery stores that have less plastic packaging. I could write a book part 1 and 2 just professing my love for Kensington Market. If downtown wasn't so expensive, I would move super close. But regardless, I drive or take the bus just to enjoy what's at Kensington market. Oh dear.....

If you find yourself in the Toronto area please visit Kensington Market. I was excited to go to this location as it had so much going on in the 2-3 blocks that this area consisted of. There were many shops, coffee spots, bars, restaurants and a few markets sprinkled in between. You can probably spend hours shifting from store to store, each store more unique with its own specialty than the one before. Not only are the vendors one of a kind but so is the vibe and the colors. With each step you take there's another photo opportunity waiting to be discovered. This part of town is so diversified that there so many fusion food places, its wonderful! I can't explain it better than it already has been but I would strongly recommend when visiting the Toronto area.

When I went here, it was just for a couple hours. We found parking on the outside block of the Kensington market streets. Inside, there's so much food. I suggest looking a reviews of the places before picking one spot to eat at. There's so much food and a lot of places are vegetarian/vegan friendly, which is a huge plus for me! We picked 3 different places to eat. One, was incredibly bad and probably violated several health code violations. Another was a vegan place, amazing. And the last was a taco spot which was also good. I wish I could remember the places but we went here back in June or July. Either way, check it out if you are in the area! Eat some good food!!

This neighbourhood is my jam. Bright coloured buildings, vintage store after vintage store, fancy bakeries and even cheesemongers. It reminded me of cool, areas in UK cities. I felt really at home here. Breathless was the first store we went into, so many nice bags, and amazing collection of jackets. I got a cool 50s style dress while I was in here but wanted to buy so much more. Some of my favourites from Kensington Market: + Space Vintage + Cocktail Emporium + Courage My Love + HI + Breathless + Blackbird Baking Co If like me, all that shopping made you hungry defo time to hit up Blackbird Bakery after!

Barbie never sang many songs at Karaoke, but I heard Ken-sing-tons of them. He wasn't very good though, but when he took his shirt off, people didn't care. Speaking of not caring, a lot of the regulars at Kensington outdoor market (which is more like a really cool area of shops and food than an actual market) spend a lot of money and time trying to look like they don't care. What to do: a fish taco from Seven Lives, a Churro from Pancho's, a custard tart from Carousel and/or My Market Bakery, a crepe from Millie, and wander over to nearby Chinatown for literally the best dumplings you will ever have anywhere, at Dumpling House on Spadina. I almost gave KM a 4 because the prices are shockingly high for most things, and a lot of the food is gentrified and homogenized and hipstery. But there are some real gems hidden in between (such as those named above), if you avoid the tourist traps and the crap. And every city should have areas like this, where people roam free and do whatever they feel like. The car with a garden growing in it - a peace & love VW Bug that would have been at home in the 60's - really sets the scene. Parking in this area is difficult but it's one of the coolest little areas in the city to walk around. If you want a traditional food market, go over to St. Lawrence Market instead, but for something outdoor and completely different, give this place a look. And whatever you do don't miss Dumpling House on Spadina (fried pork and chive). Massive credit must go to the owners Kenny "Kensington" Rogers and Kenny "Kensington" Chesney for this market's existence. And the city of Toronto, which in some ways it Ken contradict, and in other ways, it Ken really typify.

Kensington is more than just a market. It is an old neighborhood in the original heart of Toronto, where waves of immigrants have occupied the small houses on those narrow streets over the past century. The residents opened shops selling everything from produce to clothing to building materials to ethnic dishes is tiny front room or sidewalk cafes. All those enterprises continue to this day in one form or another with the addition of more contemporary occupations like cannabis shops and cupcake havens. What was once among the cheapest places in town to live has become much more expensive, but has not been overly gentrified due to the foresight of the city fathers in the 1960's deciding to avoid the thrust of too many cities to tear down its history and develop modern town cores (and parking lots). So, Kensington remains linked to Toronto's past, while offering a microcosm of its broad diversity. It is a wonderful area to explore on foot, and with appetite. Our parking angel found us a spot right on Augusta Street, up the block from the car planter. We strolled the warren of one way streets, stopping in vegetable stalls, and window shopping all the cafes and international restos from Portuguese to Mexican - a myriad from every continent. The air was full of multilingual conversation, live music and barkers selling out of backpacks and small tables along the curb. It was an international bizarre. We found an all day breakfast house in a bright yellow brick rowhouse and went inside to eat. Our table was waiting. We chilled from the heat of the morning with excellent coffee and tasty dishes. An hour later we were back on the sidewalk cruising a zigzag path back to our wheels, and totally enthralled with Kensington Market. Along with St. Lawrence Market, it is the beating heart of this city.

It's a quirky neighborhood of shops and not really a "market". Absolutely a must-do when you are in Ontario and bring your appetite! The smoked trout bagel sandwich, peruvian empanadas, and Tibetan dumplings were the standouts for us. Also there's a shop called Cheese Magic which is just as incredible as it sounds. The pot shops near the Jamacian street food area were an experience and we spent quite a bit of money there. We had 10 days to spend in Toronto and walked to Kensington three times to try different foods.

You're going to either love this place or hate it; but one thing is for sure, Kensington market has alot of personality. I'm used to going to odd places in the name of good food: gas stations (butter chicken, authentic Texas BBQ, super fresh salad bar, gourmet pizza slices), food trucks (50 cent street tacos, cupcakes, gourmet food), Mexican grocery stores (authentic Mexican street tacos with a whole grilled jalapeno and home made pico de gallo), hole in the wall restaurants (authentic, delicious, cheap Thai food). I love thrift stores, swapmeets and farmer's markets; so naturally, I feel right at home here in Kensington Market. I was here with a friend and we just did a quick hit and run. She took me first to Cheese Magic. We picked up some slices of provolone and a small wedge of Oka cheese from Quebec. We then walked across the street to Golden Patty for some warm coco bread. I was in heaven thoroughly enjoying the delicious simplicity of my provolone and coco bread sandwich. Not only a place for tasty treats but KM is also a feast for the eyes with different forms of artwork scattered around the neighborhood.

Cool place to walk around and see some cool vintage styled clothing. More of a hippie area which I love. A bunch of street art and graffiti displayed everywhere which creative the vibe. Cool place to check out with secret hidden food gems!

Hands down, the best coconut cream pie I have EVER had! The whole experience of visiting Wanda's was something else. From the bright colors on the walls, to the decor - everything about it just radiated sunshine and joy. The servers had a smile on their face and genuinely wanted to help customers make the best choice! The indoor outdoor feel of the restaurant also really makes one feel at home. As if you were having homemade pie in your backyard! The pie itself was rich and creamy - and yet light at the same time. The coconut was toasted to perfection. I'm drooling thinking about it and wish I could have another, even though I'm stuffed silly! Definitely a must visit!

Kensington Market when I look it up on Google Maps defines the boundaries as from Dundas to College (south to north) and Bathurst to Spadina (west to east). It's a Toronto neighborhood so I suppose you have to set the boundaries somewhere. Realistically as far as the "market" portion goes it really is more of the streets that include Baldwin, west of Spadina, Kensington Ave from Baldwin to Dundas and pretty much all of Augusta Ave between Dundas and College. This is where almost all the commercial area of the market is located. I don't really include the strip of Spadina between Dundas and College and really consider that a continuation of Chinatown instead. Kensington Market is just that, it's a neighborhood but it's also an area that currently has a unique vibe to it. The stores include specialty food, specialty restaurants, vintage and used type of clothing including a very diverse mix of culture. Because of this diversity it is such a great representation of Toronto and what Toronto has to offer in what equates to just a few streets in a small neighborhood. As far as food goes this is a foodie heaven in such a tight, walkable space. Augusta, Baldwin and Kensington Avenue if you weren't stopping you could probably walk the entire thing in 10 to 15 minutes. If you were hungry and looking for a place to eat and had trouble deciding you could be there for much longer. There are simply so many different offerings in this small space that someone like me could easily be overwhelmed. While there are some favorites to be had here, there always appears to be something new and different. There are some long time anchors in this area however. Sanagan's meat right at the corner of Kensington and Baldwin is a heavy rep in the area. Don't get me started on Global Cheese. That place has my heart and my wallet because if you love variety and cheese, good luck leaving without buying anything. There's also some unusual specialty restaurants you won't see just anywhere like Rasta Pasta, Moo Frites, Otto's Berlin Doner, Seven Lives, and the list goes on and on. Fish and chips, burgers, gelato, churros, pizza, poke, fried chicken, pasties, dry goods, coffee, popcorn - it goes on and on. Really if you can't find a place to eat in Kensington, you can't find your head on your shoulders. Besides the food because there's plenty there's such a mix of retail as well. From stores for cool but strange needless things or gifts like Blue Banana to vintage places like Courage My Love there's such a spectrum of things here that just are a break from mainstream that it's just so new and refreshing. As far as being a place to visit, I always take out of towners to Kensington to both eat and get a different view of the city since it changes pretty dramatically from Chinatown and the more known businesses on major streets like Spadina, College and Dundas. Kensington is just a unique pocket in the city that is more laid back and fun all around. The last time I was there, Bellevue Square park at Denison and Augusta was being renovated. Besides Bellevue Square the only other park in Kensington I know of is Sonya's Park which is a tiny patch of grass behind El Trompo on Oxford. While the streets can be very tight and almost always packed with cars, there is a city parking lot off Baldwin.

So I went to Kensington Market with no previous research and thought it was just one large market. Nope, it's a strip of stores in a cozy neighborhood in Toronto. And it's awesome! Rows and rows of different sorts of stores ranging from clothes to cannabis products to knick knacks. They also have quite the variety of food to break up your shopping adventure. We stopped by a Mexican spot and had delicious tortas. Down the block there were pupusas and next to that were Jamaican beef patties. There is something for everyone here and it's definitely worth a visit while in Toronto.

One of my pet place to hangout in Toronto, when I am in a mood to explore the local eateries. The neighbourhood is a enriched with a lot of unique vegan food places along with many amazing regular restaurants and cafes. Bring your camera, its a stunningly colourful Muriel's hub. Walk around, enter any cafe or food joint, there would be something unique offered. You could be lucky to spot some street performers or live music. There is this amazing gifts store "Blue Banana Market", sure worth a visit. Moonbean cafe is a vegan cafe, with an amazing variety of drinks and desserts. Hibiscus, Veggie D'light, king's cafe,the witches brew- a Kombucha cafe, cosmic treats, grasshopper, Vegetarian Haven, are some of other vegan/vegetarian places. I love guacamole of El Trempo, churros of Pancko's bakery. Crepe of Hibiscus. My hubby is crazy for tacos from seven lives, however there is just one vegetarian taco - mushroom n cactus, which I have not tried. Trinity common is a nice pub with decent collection of beers and cocktails. Ah well, there is a lot more to explore! Every time I visit Kensington I discover something wonderful.

Can't believe I've been in Toronto almost 12 years and didn't check out Kensington until now! ‍ A bunch of friends decided to do our own food tour in Kensington this past weekend, and if was such an amazing experience! We had tacos, churros, vegan donuts and the famous fluffy pancakes.. all in one afternoon! The vibe is great.. especially for those spring/summer afternoons. Everyone's eating or enjoying the various street vendors. Seriously takes you into another cultural experience, and you forget yours in Toronto!

More of a street full of interesting stores this. Market. Packed with people having a good time, you will find a few streets of small foodie joints from Empanadas to sushi to gelato, you will defiantly find something to satisfy that hunger. There's also a brewery and a number of bars throughout the streets. Mixed with this are vintage stores selling old ripped jeans, leather jackets and tees as well as Nepali gear and a few tattoo parlours. We bought a few things like an old school Hawaiian shirt and food. We had the most amazing ceviche to eat, as well as a Mexican bowl and an empanada. Superb! We recommend a visit here because it's quite an interesting look around.

What a fantastic neighbourhood for those who love thrifting! Rather than one great store you have multiple blocks of fantastic, curated selections! Vintage Depot & Exile Vintage were the fan favourites of the day.