No longer the hippest address in town, the original Queen West is now a retail strip fronting global brands like Zara, H&M and Lululemon mixed with sneaker shops and longtime indie favourites that continue to persevere despite sky-rocketing rents. Things get a bit more interesting west of Spadina where locals favour spots like Tequila Bookworm, Fressen and The Cameron House. Not to be missed are the galleries and rooftop garden at nearby 401 Richmond.
The History of Queen West
Since the original survey in 1793, Queen Street has had many names. For its first sixty years, many sections were referred to as Lot Street. The section west of Spadina was named Egremont Street until about 1837. East of the Don River to near Coxwell Avenue was part of Kingston Road, and was the westernmost section of an historic route to Kingston, Ontario. The first park lots laid out in the new city of York (which would be renamed Toronto in 1834) were given to loyal officials who were willing to give up the amenities of modern cities to take up residence in the forests north of Lot Street. These lots were placed along the south side of the first east–west road laid in York, Lot Street. In 1837 Lot Street was renamed “Queen Street” in honour of Queen Victoria.
"Queen West" is a local term which generally refers to the collection of neighbourhoods that have developed along and around Queen Street. Many of these were originally ethnically-based neighbourhoods. The earliest example from the mid-19th century was Claretown, an Irish immigrant enclave in the area of Queen Street West and Bathurst Street. From the 1890s to the 1930s, Jewish immigrants formed a neighbourhood known as "The Ward", for which Queen Street between Yonge and University served as the southern boundary. The intersection of Queen and Bay Streets also served as the southern end of a thriving Chinatown in the 1930s. From the 1920s to the 1950s, the area was also the heart of Toronto's Polish and Ukrainian communities. From the 1950s through the 1970s, many immigrants from Portugal settled in the area. Gentrification over the past twenty years has caused most recent immigrants to gradually move to more affordable areas of the city as desirability of the area drives up prices.
Like other gentrified areas of Toronto, the original "Queen West" - the stretch between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue - is now lined with upscale boutiques, chain stores, restaurants, tattoo parlours and hair salons. Perhaps the best-known landmark on this section of Queen West is the broadcast hub at 299 Queen Street West, formerly the headquarters of Citytv and MuchMusic and earlier the site of the Ryerson Press, now housing the broadcast operations of a number of television outlets owned by Bell Media.
Until the 1940s and 50's, Queen Street extended west (in several sections) along what is today The Queensway, with the name changed through the westernmost segment though the former Etobicoke in 1947 to avoid confusion due to the break. The other sections were a stub of the street continuing west of Roncesvalles and ending at Colborne Lodge Drive by High Park, and a short side street in Swansea running west from Ellis Avenue. When The Queensway was extended east in the 1950s, the latter two section where absorbed into it, rather than having the name "Queen Street" restored to the now-continuous street, likely due to the Borough of Etobicoke desiring a counterpart to another street called The Kingsway.
Queen West Today
If you’ve heard about Toronto, you’ve heard about Queen West. It's the place to be if you want to have fun in the city. All along Queen Street, you’ll find some of the best shops, attractions, and restaurants that the city offers.
Queen West is home to hipsters, coffee shops and cool little spots that have helped define Toronto as one of the cultural capitals of the world. Every night is a night out on the town in Queen West.
People love visiting Queen West, but they love living here even more. The distinct charm of the area is highly attractive to buyers young and old, because as much as there is going on it still retains a certain neighbourhood charm.
The best part about Queen West is just how unique everything is. You’re not going to find anywhere else like it in Toronto, so take a stroll down this street and just take it all in. You could spend an entire day snacking, sipping, and shopping along this stretch of downtown real estate.
Queen West Real Estate
There’s an increase in the number of condos you can find along Queen West, alongside the typical townhomes and freeholds. This is a great place to invest, but it doesn’t come cheap. The area also demands its own type of tenants: young, established professionals who enjoy living in Queen West for all the fun you can find.
The condos far outnumber houses in this area. There are hardly any houses here, and of the few that do exist, many come with historical designations that you may love or hate depending on your point of view. What’s important is that the demographics in the neighbourhood are broad, and the condo offerings here have grown to meet the varied needs that this variety of people want.
There are a number of authentic loft conversion buildings here, the type that attract the young urban hipsters that want to live here. Exposed beams and ductwork, concrete floors and exposed brick are all abundant in these buildings. These lofts are very desirable, and also very expensive. As a result, soft lofts have been built here, along with more traditional condo construction that opens up an opportunity for first time buyers to explore ownership here.
The area is not just for first-time buyers. Many of the buildings in the area house half and full-floor bespoke suites that are very luxurious and expensive. These suites may have private elevators, huge terraces with spectacular views, and monthly condo fees are often very high.
Looking for something specific in Queen West?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in Queen West..
Restaurants
Queen Mother Café: Relaxed fixture with a back garden patio, serving international dishes and Laotian-Thai specialties.
Aloette: Evoking a chic diner, this narrow eatery serves elevated comfort dishes plus French staples.
La Palette: Relaxed French bistro with an open kitchen, serving classic dishes alongside long wine and beer lists.
Cafés
HotBlack Coffee: Bustling spot for coffee, espresso and baked goods in a contemporary setup with a small back patio.
Java House: Comfy spot for informal eats, such as all-day breakfasts, pad Thai & fajitas, plus pitchers and pints.
Early Bird Wine and Coffee: Buzzy operation with an easygoing atmosphere for coffee drinks, small bites and baked goods.