Discover The Distillery District In Toronto

Located east of the downtown core, the Distillery District offers a mix of residential and commercial spaces. As you walk into the Distillery District, you are immediately whisked back in time to the Victorian era with its heritage brick buildings, cobblestone streets and winding walkways. It’s a breath of fresh air from the concrete jungle only blocks away.

The Distillery District Dream

The Distillery District dream started two decades ago by a group of developers. Their vision was to create a unique space that preserved the old industrial buildings and combine them with new contemporary design. The result is a heavenly marriage of old and new. Overall, the restoration of the Victorian buildings was meticulous and wandering through, you can’t help marvel at the design and attention to detail. While many of the original buildings date back to the 19th-century, much of the old wooden beams, ironwork, stone, and brick was preserved. It took a skilled team of tradesmen many years to complete the visionary dream, and the Distillery District was opened in 2003.

The Distillery District Today

Once an old distillery district owned by Gooderham and Worts, it’s now a trendy destination for locals as well as tourists. This pedestrian-only zone houses an array of restaurants with outdoor patios, interesting antique boutiques, swanky shops and a vast collection of art installations. Being an artist, I was mesmerized by the giant spiders, love lock installation, and creative art structures dotted around the entire area. In fact, the visionary developers have done a remarkable job of creating a unique place void of the usual chain stores. Instead, there is a feeling of romanticism, and I can picture the Distillery District as a great place to spend an evening with your loved one.

Distillery District Shopping

It’s lovely to visit a shopping district that offers something out of the ordinary. Here, you will not find any chain stores or popular franchises. Instead, find a unique gift for the hockey fan at The Sport Gallery. Or how about a colorful pair of trendy socks at Floorplay Socks? If you love shoes, John Fluevog has a fabulous collection of styles to satisfy every discerning buyer.

Segway Tours

If you are planning on visiting the Distillery District and looking for a unique way to visit, consider a Segway tour. Tours vary from a quick 30 minutes to a full hour. You must be at least 12 years old and weigh between 100 and 280 pounds to ride a Segway. If you have never ridden a Segway, it’s an absolute blast and very easy to learn and maintain your balance. Hey, why walk when you can ride, right?

The one-hour Segway ride not only gives you more time to enjoy your ride but it includes a complimentary tasting at two of the Distillery District businesses. After your brew, be sure not to ride over any toes on your return route.

Dining

If you’re a foodie, you must take some time to peruse the dining options in the Distillery District. It was terrific to see Balzac’s Coffee Roasters and Arco Coffee instead of your traditional Starbucks. If you’re a chocoholic like me, check out Cacao 70 where every moment of the day is the sweetest. At Cacao 70, they invite you to crunch, sip, slurp and savor your way to a state of chocolate. That’s music to my ears, lol.

Many of the dining venues offer outdoor patios with fire pits and outdoor lanterns. This is the perfect spot to enjoy a pint or two after a hard day at the office. 

The Distillery Sunday Market

Being half-British, I love shopping at markets. It probably comes from my upbringing and the need to buy the freshest produce from local vendors. The Distillery Sunday Market runs from the end of May until mid-October, on a Sunday as its title says. This market is unique in that it does not allow mass-produced products, imported items or items manufactured from another area.

Goods that can be purchased include locally made cheeses, preserves, dressings, fruits, meats, pet treats, and my favorite, gluten-free products.

Art Installations

Performing Arts

With the development of the Distillery District came a new theatre, the Young Centre for the Performing Arts. This theatre serves as the home of the Soulpepper Theatre Company. If you are looking for some live entertainment, check out this fantastic theatre or stop by the Ernest Balmer Studio.

Also, The Distillery District houses Artscape Distillery Studios. These vibrant studios offer artists a place to create ceramics, fabric art, and paper crafts, and metalwork to name a few. Stop by and shop the first floor for unique artisan items and visit the upper level to see the open artist studios. Being a fiber artist myself, I love to watch others creating in their favorite medium.

Happy travels ~ Karen!