The Upper Beaches are also known as Kingston Road. The basic boundaries are from Woodbine to Victoria Park along Kingston Road although we also include the small retail cluster around Main and Gerrard. Definitely off the beaten path for most Torontonians, the area is primarily frequented by locals, East Danforth and Beach residents. There are a number of small shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants in the area worth checking out.
The History of The Upper Beaches
Predating development along Toronto's Beaches, The Upper Beaches was a postal village called Norway., There is no evidence of Norwegian settlement in the area. Rather, the name likely comes from the Norway Pines that dominated the region, and whose harvesting was one of the main industries for the community. The most prominent landowner in the area was Charles Coxwell Small, who tried strenuously to have the town renamed to Berkeley, after his hometown in Britain. The name Norway stuck.
The village's post office was originally a wooden structure built in 1825, today the site of 320 Kingston Road. The Norway Steam Mills, a steam powered saw mill began operations in 1835 near Woodbine and Kingston Road, established by the iron mongers Wragg & Co., who advertised Norway pine as a specialty.
A toll gate resided at the Woodbine and Kingston Road. To the dismay of travelers, tolls were common along the stretch of Kingston Road during the 1800s as they funded the upkeep of the popular route from Toronto to Kingston, Ontario. It was main east-west land route through what was then defined as Upper Canada.
The community grew up in the 1840s around the toll station, saw mill and postal office becoming a popular stagecoach stop. The community was then at a distance of about five miles from the city at Woodbine, in a still largely wooded area. By 1850, the village's population had reached 100. At this point, the village also included a few inns, three taverns, a school and a blacksmith’s shop.
One of the popular inns was The Norway House Hotel, standing on the south side of Kingston Road just east of Woodbine Avenue and was typical of many hotels in the suburbs of Toronto, heavily patronized by farmers on their way to and from market. Another was James Shaw's Hotel and Tavern, described as a long low building painted dazzling white with green shutters.
In 1850 Charles Coxwell Small had donated three acres of land to be used for St John's Church, Berkeley. His church was a wooden structure built in 1850 and served the Anglican community. In 1853 a cemetery was added to the property. In 1893 the brick structure that resides in place today was constructed and the church was renamed St. John's Cemetery Norway.
In 1909 The Village of Norway was annexed to the expanding City of Toronto, one year after its neighbour to the east, East Toronto. The Village of Norway has long since been fully engulfed by the City of Toronto. Its name does persist in a number of places, including Norway Avenue, and the nearby Norway Public School. St. John the Baptist Norway Anglican Church, the attached St. John's Cemetery Norway were named after Canada's original patron; the later St John's Roman Catholic church and school also preserve the name.
A large part of the neighbourhood was laid out later as the residential heart of the short-lived Town of East Toronto. The area was also home to a number of industrial sites alongside the rail line, which runs just north of Gerrard. Today almost all of the industry has been forced out and replaced by large housing developments.
The housing types range from squat apartment buildings to particle-board-based single detached brick construction housing. Since there are limited links to the Danforth due to the local rail line to the north, the nearest main commercial strip in the area is much further south at Kingston Road, which is home to a mix of small shops and restaurants.
The Upper Beaches Today
The Upper Beaches form a pretty quiet, laid back residential community. It's neither the trendiest, nor the most affluent, nor crime-laden, nor raucous after dark. It's a rather normal and subdued bedroom community that's close to some pretty great entertainment and shopping areas, namely the Danforth for a livelier scene and kitschy Queen Street. There are a few playgrounds around for afternoons with the kids, like Cassels Park (it doubles as the dog park), or families can explore Small Creek in the west end of the community. For commuters, getting downtown is quick enough on one of three streetcar lines, or if you prefer to skip town for the weekend, Kingston Road makes it easy to head east and the Don Valley Parkway is close enough for travelling north to the lakes. Otherwise, for a getaway closer to home, just take a short jaunt south to the Beaches for some time on the sand along the lakeshore.
Want to get out of the house? There are tons of places for a bite to eat if you know where to look. Right within the Upper Beaches neighbourhood are a few hotspots, like where Kingston meets Victoria Park. Head a little north to the Danforth and you've got the endless selection of bars, cafes, Greek bakeries, shops and galleries of Greektown. Or get your fix of antiques and vintage trinkets on Queen Street farther south in the Beaches.
The Upper Beaches Real Estate
The hugely varied housing stock, which ranges from one-bedroom condos to stately Edwardians, attracts a wide range of buyers. Young professionals priced out of the downtown core have been fueling recent condo developments, while new families are attracted by the reasonably priced mid-century semis complete with deep backyards. The mid-rise rental buildings along Gerrard are home to a wide range of tenants from new Canadians to recent college grads.
Families who bought into the neighbourhood ten years ago could score a handsome semi for around $400,000. These days there are still deals to be found, but usually along the still-gritty borders of the ‘hood. While the recent real estate developments may have boosted property values, the clumps of new townhouses north of Gerrard lack charm.
Looking for the best of Upper Beaches?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in Upper Beaches
Restaurants
Bodega Henriette: This airy hangout offers morning coffee and pastries, sandwiches at lunch and sharing plates for dinner.
Boukan: Easygoing eatery with a colourful décor serving Haitian street food like beignets and fritay platters.
The Beech Tree: Restaurant and bar serving an eclectic seasonal menu and cocktails in a snug, stylish setting.
Cafés
Morning Parade Coffee Bar: Bright café with exposed-brick walls preparing espresso drinks and offering fresh baked goods.
Black Dog Café: Relaxed café preparing espresso drinks & teas, plus sandwiches, empanadas, cookies and cakes.
Bud’s Coffee: Four stools provide a people-watching perch at this java shop with artisanal brews, teas and pastries.