Shop the City: where to shop in Toronto

As the commercial centre of Canada, Toronto is home to myriad shopping options. Both established international labels and up-and-coming domestic brands regularly funnel in with flagship locations, bringing fresh appeal to a city already famed for its creative scene. Whether you’re looking for high-end designer goods, down-to-earth vintage fashion or one-of-a-kind pieces that put your love for Canada on full display, you’ll find it all in Toronto.

1. Eaton Centre

Named for Timothy Eaton, founder of Canada’s premier (now defunct) department store, Toronto’s main downtown mall, Eaton Centre, has it all. Four floors of high-end shops include splashy Canadian-born international brands such as Lululemon, Roots and Canada Goose, mixed with local labels, such as Ovo , Drake’s fashion house, and upscale womenswear retailer Aritzia . Across a skybridge sits Hudson’s Bay Company , the mid-range department store and Canadian institution that traces its heritage back to the 17th century fur trade.

2. Yorkville-Bloor

The Yorkville-Bloor district is Canada’s answer to New York’s Fifth Avenue. On the bustling Bloor Street, you’ll find all the luxury brands, as well as Holt Renfrew , a retail landmark of this upscale neighbourhood. Comparable to Lane Crawford or Nordstrom, this premium department store also stocks a sprinkling of local labels, like winterwear brand Moose Knuckles .

Lovers of all things sparkly can head to the jewellery retailer and designer Birks , whose 9,000sq ft flagship store is located at the prestigious Bay and Bloor intersection. Over at the hip and trendy Yorkville Village, you’ll discover a range of boutique shops, including Over the Rainbow , a family-owned boutique specialising in denim.

3. Queen and Dundas West

The streets on the northern and southern borders of Trinity Bellwoods Park both have a range of shopping options for the younger set. Queen West showcases some of Canada’s rising retail brands, including Vancouver leisure wear specialists Reigning Champ and Frank and Oak , a Quebec-based retailer known for minimalist essentials. There’s also The Latest Scoop , a multi-brand store that pushes an evolving collection of jewellery, homeware and gifts.

Over on the less densely populated Dundas West , you’ll find more affordable retailers like everyday jeweller Mejuri , speciality purveyors selling everything from skateboards and sneakers to Japanese designer brands, and thrift shops like Black Diamond Vintage .

4. Kensington Market

If you’re looking for more of a boho-chic shopping experience, skip to the western edge of Chinatown and explore the charming, ramshackle Kensington Market . The arty alcove is home to the city’s best collection of vintage shops. Courage My Love draws visitors with rows of cowboy boots on its front steps, backed by racks of hard-to-finds and upcycled collections. Lost Boys Vintage dishes out faded band tees, iconic movie merch and broken-in Carhartt jackets, while Urban Catwalk offers dizzying racks of army fatigues, sports jerseys, Hawaiian shirts and everything in between. For a slightly more curated experience, Flamingo has shelves of denim, sportswear and higher-end labels.

5. Distillery District

Set in the 19th-century buildings that once housed whiskey makers Gooderham and Worts, the Distillery District is now home to Toronto’s creative businesses. Arty types will enjoy wandering the cobblestoned, gallery-lined walkways and perusing the range of independent shops. Check out the brightly coloured, outlandishly designed footwear at John Fluevog Shoes and the impressively extensive array of high-end stationery at Toronto Pen Shoppe . The sportily inclined should head to Peace Collective , purveyors of well- made essentials embroidered with pithy city slogans and local team logos.

6. St. Lawrence Market

On the eastern edge of the downtown core is the handsome, high-arched St. Lawrence Market , which dates to 1803. Here, you’ll find rows of family-run cheesemongers, fishmongers, butchers and artisanal shops selling everything from local mustards (Kozlik’s ) to gravlax (Mike’s Fish Market ) and Montreal-style bagels (St. Urbain Bagel ). Plan your visit to the market at lunchtime and pick up the famous peameal bacon sandwich at Carousel Bakery . The market is due to move across the street to a newly constructed building in 2024, so try to catch it at its original site if you’re visiting this year.