Average sold price freehold: N/A

Average sold price condo (2009): $298,249; (2010): $312,852; (2011):$317,816; (2012): $399,837

Boundaries: King St E to Gardiner Expressway; Parliament St — Yonge St

Subway Stations: King St and Union

What the neighbourhood is commonly known for is the St Lawrence Market — where people from all corners of the city hurry down on a Saturday morning to buy an assortment of imported cheeses, meats and fresh locally grown produce. It’s not the only historical landmark; however, the area is also famous for the Flatiron building at the corner of Church and Wellington.  Much of the old industrial buildings have been torn down though, and replaced with dozens of condos — where many of the financial district’s yuppies call home.

Real Estate: You’ll find a number of older condos of the 1990s along The Esplanade and Front St, but you’ll also find a few lofts along King St E. The St Lawrence Market Lofts, once used as a warehouse, are now converted into units any foodie would die for — with exposed brick, wooden beams and hardwood flooring throughout.

Parks: St James Park, located next to St James Cathedral, is a quiet little green space with a few sculptures here and there, well kept gardens and a gazebo in the centre. It’s mostly used by yuppies walking their dogs before and after work, the occasional homeless person lying around, and wedded couples posing for photos in June.

Hot Spots:

Sony Centre for the Performing Arts — 1 Front St E
Currently undergoing extensive renovations, the Sony Centre is set to reopen October 2010. Through innovative programming on the stage and the use of state-of-the art technologies throughout the venue, the Sony Centre will entice and engage the community as a Theatre of the 21st Century.

Origin – 107 King Street East
A newly opened Tapas restaurant at the corner  of King St E and Church, Origin is the latest endeavor by Claudio Aprile (of Colborne Lane). It has gorgeous décor and a full flavor menu, it’s place you’ll find yourself coming back to again and again.

Pravda – 44 Wellington Street East
Toronto’s original vodka cellar which houses Pravda’s extensive vodka selection. It caters to an older crowd, but a place anyone with a liking for vodka and old Russian décor should experience. The Russian national anthem is played every hour on the hour.

Average sold price freehold (2009): $558,690; (2010): $634,972; (2011): $671,484; (2012): $831,980

Average sold price condo (2009): $444,730; (2010): $463,501; (2011): $506,202; (2012): $469,120

Boundaries: College St – King St W; Bathurst St — Dovercourt Rd

Subway Stations: Christie, Ossington and Bathurst

Often described as one Toronto’s ‘cooler’ neighbourhoods, its home to young hipsters, creative types and the newly redeveloped CAMH — centre for addiction and mental health . You’re sure to find it’s one of the busiest neighbourhoods on the weekend, when Torontonians from every side of the city will venture down to Trinity Bellwoods park to play with their dogs or hang out with friends. It’s also the area where some of Toronto’s most renowned Restauranteurs have opened their modern age, extremely artistic eateries and modish bars.

Real Estate: You’ll find everything here, from sad looking 2 bedroom fixer-uppers where 6 student renters share a single bathroom to gorgeous tall, narrow Victorian homes with beautifully landscaped gardens. At the corner of Queen St W and Crawford, stands the remarkable Candy Factory Lofts — the original hard loft conversion that started the ‘must-have-a-loft’ craze.

Parks: Trinity Bellwoods, mostly known as the leash-less dog park, has two indoor pools, gymnasium, fitness centre, indoor walking/running track and multi-purpose rooms. Adjacent to the centre, in the park, are a volleyball court, large playground, and children’s outdoor wading pool. Also in the park are eight outdoor tennis courts located in the south-east corner and an outdoor ice skating rink at the north-east boundary. There is also field space for soccer, football, and rugby, as well as three softball fields along the east boundary.

Hot Spots:

Nyood — 1096 Queen Street West
Rooted in the tradition, yet influenced by the contemporary, Nyood is a celebration of food in its purest essence. But if the menu doesn’t win you over, the over the top futuristic décor will.

The Drake Hotel — 1150 Queen Street West
The Drake Hotel is one of the sleekest joints in town. It has 19 crash pads, a European-influenced lounge, raw sushi bar, neighbourhood cafe, licensed rooftop patio, yoga studio, treatment room, restaurant and last, but not least – The Underground.

69 Vintage — 1100 Queen Street West
Owned by the same people who run the Social, right next door, this is the one of the best vintage clothing shops in the city. You’ll find re-worked vintage and other unique finds at a bargain price.

Average sold price freehold (2009): N/A

Average sold price condo (2009): $325,598; (2010): $366,546; (2011): $350,541; (2012): $410, 484

Boundaries/Map: GO train tracks — Gardiner Expressway; Strachan Ave — Dufferin St

Closest Subway Stations: St Andrews and Union

It feels like a city within a city, Liberty Village is a haven for art galleries and home design shops. The quiet neighbourhood is west of railway tracks, away from the loud hustle and bustle of the downtown core. The area was once an industrial park, but now many of the old abandoned factories have been converted into lofts, design studios and restaurants.

Real Estate: You’ll find rows and rows of indistinguishable modern condominium-townhomes along Western Battery Rd and Lynn Williams St. 

Also to the north of King along Laidlaw and Joe Shuster Way there are rows upon rows of reddish bricks and white trim.

Head over to the west end of the neighbourhood and you’ll find the charming Toy Factory Lofts on Hanna Ave. Converted from the old Irwin Toy Factory, the developers kept the original solid Douglas fir posts.

Over the last three years, more and more condo towers have popped up somewhat saturating the area. However, good design and generous amenities keep residents happy. 

Parks: Head south and you’ll run into the Exhibition Place – a 197—acre area which features expo, trade, and banquet centres, theatre and music buildings, parkland, sports facilities, and a number of civic, provincial, and national historic sites. Go north and you’ll find the Lamport Stadium, marked mainly for Canadian Soccer.

Hot Spots
Kingwest Fitness – 171 East Liberty Street #275
Kingwest Fitness is a spacious fitness club in a beautifully restored factory; it has massive windows, soaring ceilings, wooden beams and the whole nine yards.

Haveli Home – 171 East Liberty Street #113
This furniture store is part shop, part museum of Indian collectibles. A lot of the pieces feel like ancient relics, snippets and bits of ancient cultures air-dropped into Canada.

Maro — 135 Liberty St
Maro, a stunning Pan-Asian-inspired restaurant offers guests an exciting “East meets West” menu followed by a lively post-dinner experience.

Average sold price freehold (2009): $559,816 (2010): $646,078; (2011): $682,190; (2012): $782,461; (2013): $858,106

Average sold price condo (2009): $363,136; (2010): $375,869; (2011):$390,594; (2012): $398,071; (2013): $426,647

Boundaries: College St — Queen St W; Bathurst St — University Ave

Subway Stations: Queens Park, St. Patrick and Osgoode

Kensington Market is definitely a little neighbourhood, but certainly has more character than any other area in the city. On any given day, you’re sure to find Toronto’s neo-hippies walking in and out of the vintage shops along Augusta, artist types sipping on a café latte at the popular ‘I Deal Coffee’ Café or students on bikes looking for $3 pho. However, the neighbourhood is mostly known for its charming Chinese grocery stores and fruit stands along Spadina.

Real Estate: The Kensington Lofts on Baldwin and Nassau are a popular choice for students and young professionals. The buildings were originally used as a part of George Brown College and were converted in 1999. You’ll also find a mix of late Victorian fixer-uppers and a characteristic array of row houses built in the late 1800s.

The Gardens at Queen is a condo townhouse development built in 2006, featuring beautiful rows of cream coloured stucco tucked away on the quiet Carr St. Surrounded by green trees and quaint lamp posts, you wouldn’t know you were just a minute away from the loud and chaotic Queen St W.

Parks: Grange Park, west of OCAD and south of AGO, features a wading pool, children’s playground, and numerous trees and walkways.

Hot Spots
Globo Cheese Shoppe — 76 Kensington Ave
Your go to place if you’re hosting a wine and cheese soiree. They offer more than 150 varieties, from mild bocconcini to the greenest of Gorgonzola, and the staff is generous with samples.

Art Gallery of Ontario — 317 Dundas St W
The AGO’s collection includes more than 68,000 works spanning the 1st century to the present-day. It’s a perfect place to bring your friends from out of town.

Free Times Café — 320 College St
A staple on the Toronto roots music scene for three decades, the Free Times Café is the place for meeting friends and listening to intimate music performed by soulful artists.

Average sold price freehold (2009): $877,902; (2010): $972,196; (2011): $947,180; (2012): $1,143,765; (2013): $1,067,914

Average sold price condo (2009): $458,350; (2010): $427,006; (2011): $447,406; (2012): $423,136; (2013): $485,321

MLS Boundaries: Briar Hill Ave – Chaplin Cres/ Avenue Rd – Yonge St

Subway Stations: Eglinton, Lawrence and Davisville

Also known as ‘Yonge and Eligible’, this uptown neighbourhood is crawling with yuppies. It has the ‘rush’ of downtown, yet the ‘calm’ of uptown. With countless number of restaurants, outdoor patios and boutique shops, it’s the hottest place to be on Saturday afternoon. The area is home to a number of businesses, notably Canadian Tire, whose corporate head office is located in the Canada Square office complex.

Real Estate: For the  most part, the neighbourhood offers mainly 2 storey semis and classic 2 storey detached — with a classic look and feel. 

There are very few condo buildings on the west side – the very popular development of condos and apartments for rent can be found on the east side of Yonge Street. Quiet boutique condos can be found along Edith and Oriole Parkway, and they tend to be bigger in size. The former Hunt Eglinton Hunt Club clubhouse is located at 1111 Avenue. Today, the Hunt Club is a luxurious condo conversion, featuring 21 rarely offered units. 

Parks: Eglinton Park, located a few blocks west of Eglinton Subway Station, has two baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a splash pool, and a kids playground. Outdoor tennis courts are turned into skating rinks in the winter.

Hot Spots
SilverCity Yonge-Eglinton Centre – 2300 Yonge Street
This movie theater is located in the heart of Yonge and Eglinton and it’s the perfect place for friends to meet up or couples who want to catch a flick after dinner.

North 44 – 2537 Yonge Street
Named after the city’s latitude, this contemporary restaurant offers its sophisticated guests an elegant dining experience.

Planet Nails – 2313A Yonge Street
This cute little salon is the place to go for a budget mani/pedi. They have hundreds of colours to choose from and you can be certain they’ll do a thorough job.

955 Queen St West

This beautifully engineered building is composed of two early 20th-century buildings linked together by a brand new building along Queen St West.

Specs: The original loft architecture includes wood slate or corrugated steel ceilings, wooden posts, steel beams, exposed brick, huge windows, and high ceilings. New construction offers barn style doors, concrete ceilings, and steel beams, floor to ceiling windows. Most units are bright and airy, many have French balconies and private gated courtyard entrances. Penthouses have terraces and two- storey designs.

Amenities: 24 hour concierge and a fitness room. Trinity Bellwoods park is right across the street, there is a countless supply of restaurants, clothing and antique shops in the neighbourhood, and the streetcar runs 24 hours a day along Queen St West.

363 and 369 Sorauren Ave

This gorgeous structure built in 1903, was once The Robert Watson Candy Factory Warehouse. Divided into two buildings, it is now a true hard loft conversion. The original building #363 preserves the original brick, wood beams and columns. The second building #369 is a new construction of concrete, steel and glass.

Specs: Units in the original building have exposed century-old brick, wood ceilings/columns, 10- to 16-foot ceilings, massive windows and are loaded with spectacular raw finishes including granite and stainless steel appliances. The units in the new loft building have polished concrete floors, concrete columns, and expansive glass with spectacular views of the city skyline. Units on the first floor level walk out to a front yard terrace, while upper level units feature long bbq friendly balconies.

Amenities: The two buildings share a landscaped courtyard — where neighbours passing through engage in pleasant conversations. Also just a short walk to High Park and Roncesvalles where you can find lots of shops and trendy restaurants

384 Sunnyside Ave

A rare find and truly spectacular, this former neo-Gothic Methodist church has been converted into 24 units in the heart of Roncesvalles. It has light grey limestone walls and glorious stained glass windows. The developers even kept the three original solid wood arched doors fronting onto a 30 ft terrace.

Specs: Almost every unit has exposed limestone walls, some have magnificent stained glass windows with 13 ft ceilings and sunken living rooms. The lofts don’t come on the market often, but when they do you can expect to pay a high price for this address. The first floor units walk out to a lovely terrace, perfect for entertaining.

Amenities: None, but it’s just a short walk to High Park and Roncesvalles where you can find lots of shops and trendy restaurants. Also a short walk north to Bloor Street, where you can hop on the streetcar or catch the subway train.

637 Lake Shore Blvd

The place to be if you love sailing — the building is next door to Toronto’s highly reputable National Yacht Club. The building was originally built in 1929 for the Tip Top Tailor clothing company, a popular men’s clothing chain in Canada.

Specs: The units have the concrete pillars and exposed duct work. The two storey units have soaring floor to ceiling 13 ft windows and Juliette balconies. The Tip Top lofts feature 256 lofts ranging in size from 600 to 2,580 square feet with over 50 unique floor plans. The 1 bedroom units start in the mid $300s and the 1 bedroom plus den start at the low $400s. The few penthouses that do come on the market can go from $1,000,000 – $2,000,000.

Amenities: Next door to National Yacht Club and Alexandra Yacht Club. The building is at the foot of the Martin Goodman Trail — perfect for runners and cyclists and just a short walk away from Harbourfront. Residents can enjoy a fully equipped fitness centre,
yoga/aerobatic room, concierge and bbq patio.

183 Dovercourt Rd

This Edwardian building is the former home of the Ideal Bread Company. Keeping in line with its historic purpose, what was once the corner bakery entrance, is now the loft’s front door. In short, this is one very industrial looking building.

Specs: These units showcase exposed ductwork, hardwood floors, schoolhouse looking windows and high ceilings. While most units do not have balconies, the 2 storey penthouse units showcase tremendously tall floor to ceiling windows and large terraces with spectacular views of the city. Units range in size from 500 square feet to 1,600 square feet+.

Amenities: None, but walk a few blocks south and you can find a countless supply of restaurants, clothing and antique shops in the neighbourhood, and the streetcar runs 24 hours a day along Queen St West. Trinity Bellwoods Park is just around the corner.