Shopping · Toronto · Canada
Shopping in Toronto
Shopping streets, markets and souvenirs worth the suitcase space.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Dillan Payne, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Toronto shopping centres on the Eaton Centre and Yorkville's designer streets, with independent fashion and vintage on Queen West and in Kensington Market. Sales tax of 13% is added at the till. Best souvenirs: Maple syrup, Icewine and Indigenous art.
Key facts
- Shopping areas
- 4
- Markets
- 3
- Top souvenir
- Maple syrup
Where to shop
Toronto Eaton Centre
A huge glass-roofed downtown mall at Yonge and Dundas, linked to two subway stations and the PATH.
Bloor-Yorkville
Luxury flagships along Bloor Street's Mink Mile and boutiques on Yorkville Avenue and Cumberland Street.
Queen Street West
Canadian designers, streetwear and vintage between Spadina and Ossington.
Kensington Market
Vintage clothing, records and global groceries in a few compact blocks.
Markets
St. Lawrence Market
Food, cheese and local products in the historic South Market, with farmers in the North Market on Saturdays.
Evergreen Brick Works farmers' market
A Saturday market of Ontario growers and food makers in the Don Valley.
Distillery Winter Village
Seasonal stalls of gifts and decorations in the historic distillery lanes.
What to buy
Maple syrup
Syrup in tins or bottles, plus maple butter and candy, from markets and food shops.
Icewine
Niagara icewine in small bottles; LCBO stores and the wineries sell gift packs.
Indigenous art
Prints, carvings and beadwork from Indigenous-run galleries and shops; buy from artists or reputable dealers.
Butter tarts
Fresh from market bakeries, they keep for a few days in a sturdy box.
Team jerseys
Maple Leafs, Raptors and Blue Jays jerseys and caps from official team stores.
Streets and markets worth a wander
Market · Old Town
St. Lawrence Market
Toronto has had a market on this site since 1803.
- Time needed
- 1–2 hours
- Cost
- Low cost
- Food
- History
- Rainy day
- Shopping
Historic site · Distillery District
Distillery District
The Victorian brick buildings of the former Gooderham and Worts distillery, once among the largest in the world, form a car-free quarter of galleries, cafés, chocolate shops and a craft brewery on cobbled lanes.
- Time needed
- 1.5–2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Architecture
- History
- Shopping
- Couples
Neighbourhood · Kensington Market
Kensington Market
A tangle of streets west of Spadina Avenue, Kensington Market mixes vintage clothing shops, cheese and spice stores and food counters from Jamaica, El Salvador, Portugal and beyond, in Victorian houses painted every colour.
- Time needed
- 2 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Food
- Shopping
- Photo spot
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Street · Queen West
Graffiti Alley
Rush Lane, running behind Queen Street West between Spadina Avenue and Portland Street, is an alley of about a kilometre covered in murals and graffiti that change constantly.
- Time needed
- 30–45 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Free
- Art
- Photo spot
- Off the beaten path
Food and drink to take home
Edible souvenirs travel best when they are dry or sealed: consider Peameal bacon sandwich, Butter tart, Double-double and Timbits and Icewine. Carousel Bakery and other counters at St. Lawrence Market. Check your home country's rules on bringing food and drink back.
Shopping by neighbourhood
| Area | Price level | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town and St. Lawrence | $$$ | Victorian streets, St. Lawrence Market and the Distillery District |
| Yorkville | $$$$ | Designer shops, galleries and luxury hotels beside the ROM |
| Queen West and Ossington | $$$ | Independent shops, galleries and bars along Queen Street West |
| Kensington Market and Chinatown | $ | Vintage shops, global cheap eats and Spadina's dim sum halls |
| The Annex | $$ | Victorian houses, the university and Bloor Street cafés and bars |
| Leslieville | $$ | Brunch cafés, vintage furniture and a village feel on Queen Street East |
Paying and bargaining
Prices are in CAD. Tip 15–20% of the pre-tax bill in restaurants and bars, and about 10–15% for taxis and hairdressers. Card machines prompt for a tip; at counter-service cafés it is optional.
- Queue in an orderly line at streetcar stops, shops and food counters; pushing in is frowned upon.
- Menu and shop prices exclude 13% HST, and restaurant tips of 15–20% go on top, so budget about a third more than menu prices when eating out.
When to shop
Shops and markets are quietest in January–March and November; the busiest months are July–August.
- April: Hot Docs — documentary film festival (usually late April to early May)
- June: Pride Toronto — parade and street festival (usually the last Sunday of June)
- June: TD Toronto Jazz Festival (usually late June)
- August: Canadian National Exhibition — late-summer fair (mid-August to Labour Day)
- September: Toronto International Film Festival (usually early to mid-September)
- November: Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (usually early November)
Staying near the shops
$$$$ · Best for luxury, shopping, couples and culture
Yorkville
Designer shops, galleries and luxury hotels beside the ROM
Questions travellers ask
+What should I buy in Toronto?
Maple syrup, Icewine, Indigenous art and Butter tarts.
+Where is the best shopping in Toronto?
Toronto Eaton Centre: A huge glass-roofed downtown mall at Yonge and Dundas, linked to two subway stations and the PATH.
+What are the best markets in Toronto?
St. Lawrence Market, Evergreen Brick Works farmers' market and Distillery Winter Village.