Entertainment District

Is The Entertainment District a good place to live?

When talking about the lifestyle of The Entertainment District, everything you really need to know is already in the name — this is the hub for entertainment in Toronto.

This is where you’ll find award-winning musicals, some of the most exotic fine dining restaurant experiences, the iconic Roy Thompson Hall theatre, the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF), the stadiums of various Toronto sports teams, and a wide variety of the city’s most popular and extravagant hotels, bars, and nightclubs.

You can grab delicious Thai food at PAI, stroll down to the TIFF Bell Lightbox to catch a film, or spend an evening at Ripley's Aquarium. The entire time, you'll be surrounded by the vibrant lights of the city and exciting energy that electrifies all forms of life in the Entertainment District.

Here are just a few reasons to love living in The Entertainment District:

• The Inspiring Food Scene - a plethora of amazing restaurants right at your fingertips.
• The Shopping - the neighbourhood’s stretch of Queen Street West houses some of the best shopping destinations in the city.
• Getting Around - walking, cycling, or taking the TTC are the best ways to traverse this colourful neighbourhood.
• The Vibrant Nightlife - whether it’s dinner, drinks, or a show, you can find whatever you want right here.
• The Landmarks - some of Toronto’s most recognizable parks, buildings, and landmarks can be found here.

Sky-high condo, business towers, and Toronto landmarks — like the CN Tower — intermingle with an eclectic mix of low-rise retail and restaurant buildings in The Entertainment District. At one end, you have some of the city’s most productive, high-functioning tech and finance offices. At the other end, you have some of Toronto’s most in-demand clubs and bars.

This contrasting mix of buildings provides a very unique vibe to The Entertainment Industry, juxtaposing high and low, business and pleasure, high-class and gritty, and polished and relaxed.

The Demand

As you might expect, living in The Entertainment District appeals most to the younger crowd. Owning a stylish pad just steps from the city’s liveliest bars, restaurants, and nightclubs scores major points among millennials, though the young at heart also enjoy living within such close proximity to the action downtown.

It’s not exclusively young people that live down here, however. You’ll also find some of Toronto’s most luxurious condos, penthouses, and lofts in The Entertainment District too. Just like the surrounding theatres and hospitality destinations here, the housing market is full of drama and show-stopping features.

The Opportunity

While there isn’t much in the way of standalone homes here (with only a few sparse townhouses in the area), The Entertainment District’s condo market is thriving. There are new buildings all over the place, and you can find plenty of beautiful condo units right off of King Street West on streets like John, Simcoe, and Blue Jays Way.

Thanks to its central downtown location, living in the Entertainment District is a highly liveable neighbourhood to call home — if you’ve got the means.

Between the various bars, restaurants, theatres, cinemas, art galleries, gyms, and public parks and green spaces, there’s almost nothing The Entertainment District doesn’t provide. Even the Metro Toronto Convention Centre is down here!

Whatever you’re looking for, chances are you’ll find it within crawling distance from wherever you find yourself in The Entertainment District.

Where to eat in The Entertainment District

• PAI Northern Kitchen - Looking for some of the best Thai food in Toronto? Look no further than PAI Northern Kitchen, where authentic Thai dishes will inspire you to expand your palette.
• Byblos Downtown - Let Byblos’ Entertainment District location transport you to a small Mediterranean town where the freshly-caught seafood is just as alluring as the warm, welcoming atmosphere.
• Momofuku - Chef David Chang’s Toronto branch of his celebrated Momofuku restaurant chain combines a high-class Asian-influenced menu (think: fresh ramen and steamed buns) with a stunning interior design experience in his breathtaking Entertainment District restaurant.
• Akira Back - This deep, dark, and moody below-ground sushi restaurant is set in the basement of the very upscale Bisha Hotel, where the restaurant’s namesake Michelin-starred sushi chef is given free rein to showcase his full talents at one of Canada’s best sushi restaurants.
• KOST - Head up to the 44th floor of the same Bisha Hotel to find KOST, where sweeping views of Toronto’s skyline are perfectly paired with an equally exciting menu of California-inspired dishes, focusing on fresh ingredients and a laid-back yet hyper-focused approach.

What to do in The Entertainment District

Away from the abundance of top-class Toronto restaurants, there’s a seemingly endless amount of things to do and places to see in The Entertainment District. No matter what you feel like doing with your day, everything is made possible when you’re based here.

Head up to Queen Street at the very northern border of The Entertainment District to find an eclectic stretch of retail stores that sell everything under the sun, from high fashion to vintage furniture and more.

Then, grab a coffee and a handmade Croissant at one of the adorable little cafes along Richmond or Adelaide Streets. All this walking got you feeling a little tired? Treat yourself to a massage at one of the various luxury hotel spas in the area — we recommend the Shangri-La.

Stop off for lunch at Alo and experience a fine dining tasting menu experience like no other, blending classical French dishes with avant-garde modern plating. End your afternoon by slowly strolling down Blue Jays Way to catch a baseball game at the Rogers Centre.

End your evening with a nightcap at the very stylish rooftop bar at The Beverley Hotel, where you can take in the sights and sounds of downtown on one of the city’s trendiest patios.

Where is The Entertainment District?

The boundaries of The Entertainment District can loosely be defined as Queen Street West to the north, University Avenue to the east, Union Station to the south, and Spadina Avenue to the west. However, the true essence of The Entertainment District extends far beyond those lines.

Who Lives Here?

Generally, younger members of Toronto’s well-to-do class live here, though the neighbourhood is highly appealing to many. Anyone who enjoys luxury accommodation and amenities, top-class multi-cultural cuisine, and living the exciting nightlife will value living in The Entertainment District above anywhere else.

The Transit

Getting around couldn’t be easier when living in The Entertainment District. Whether you’re taking the bus, streetcar, or subway, public transportation lines flow through the area about as frequently as anywhere else in the city.

If you’re driving, you might find the traffic a bit bumper-to-bumper at street level, though both the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard (just a few streets south) will get you where you need to go in no time at all.