Seek and find
Fancy some shopping in Toronto? Discover the best spots here!
Whenever I travel to a new city like Toronto, I always look for the best concept stores. I love browsing these trendy shops where they sell all sorts of things. Will I discover new brands that aren't sold in Amsterdam yet? Will I find the perfect souvenir to take home? Or just browse and get inspired. Toronto has many great shops, and there are a few streets where you'll find them all. Don't miss Queen Street West (near the Drake Hotel), Dundas Street, and Ossington Street. Here you'll find numerous boutiques that often sell items from local designers. In this blog post, I've listed my favorite concept stores in Toronto!
7 Concept Stores in Toronto You Need to Know
Drake General Store: This store is part of the Drake Hotel of the same name, which, as I write this blog, is the city's hippest hotel. At the Drake General Store, you'll find a well-curated collection of home accessories, gadgets you never knew you wanted, and fun travel items. Definitely pop in if you're on Queen West Street! Tip: this store has several locations throughout the city.
1151 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – drakegeneralstore.ca
TDM: In the enormous hall with the word "TDM" written above it in bold letters, you'll find several small designers under one roof. This stands for Toronto Designer Market, and it's a kind of indoor market with permanent stalls selling all sorts of things from young local designers. From vintage to locally made beauty products and art. It's a fun place to browse if you're in the Parkdale neighborhood!
1605 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – torontodesignersmarket.com
CT
Longing: If you wander around Dundas Street West, you'll notice that this neighborhood is also known as Little Portugal. That's why the concept store Saudade sells only items from Portugal. I have to say, I was quite greedy for the lovely items they sell. From mugs, plates, and other tableware to soaps, postcards, and leather bags.
1191 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – saudadetoronto.com
Crywolf: On trendy Ossington Avenue, this is undoubtedly one of the best shops. Delightfully hipster, it boasts a great selection of items ranging from clothing to accessories like hats, bags, and pins. A bonus: many of the products are made in Toronto by local designers.
91 Ossington Ave, Toronto, Canada – crywolfclothing.com
Easy Tiger Goods: On Dundas Street West, near the trendy The Federal and Antler (both great for brunch!), you'll find the concept store Easy Tiger Goods. This is the perfect place for trendy souvenirs, from clothing to accessories and other fun must-haves. With a bit of luck, the item you buy might even be from an up-and-coming Toronto designer. You'll recognize the store by its black facade with its street-art-esque tiger designs. The store looks small from the outside, but it's bigger than you think and definitely worth a visit!
1447 Dundas St W, Toronto, Canada – easytigergoods.com
Easy Tiger Goods
Victoire: Also on Ossington Avenue and just as charming as Crywoldf is the store Victoire. Fashion lovers should definitely stop by. They have Canadian design that's spot-on with the latest trends. I personally loved their collection of jewelry by young designers. If I really want to treat myself, I often buy jewelry by international designers. Items you can't easily find at home and that not everyone has!
129A Ossington Ave, Toronto, Canada – victoireboutique.com
Crowne Flora Studio: The bright pink brick building alone is enough to make you want to pop in. The chances of you buying anything to take home are slim, though. As the name suggests, Crowne Flora Studio is the place to be for the most beautiful flowers, plants, and green accessories.
1233 Queen St W, Toronto, Canada – crownflorastudio.com
Toronto Travel Tips
>> HOW TO GET THERE: Jet Airways Fly daily from Amsterdam to Toronto from €402. You're there in just over eight hours! I flew in their Premier Class on my last trip, and the food was truly delicious. Highly recommended if you, like me, love Indian food!
>> WHERE TO STAY: Toronto has several nice neighborhoods where you can stay, but if you like the trendier areas, then the area around Queen Street West and Ossington Ave is recommended.
- Drake Hotel: Without a doubt, the hippest hotel in Toronto. With only 19 rooms and a fantastic rooftop bar where you can enjoy drinks after a day exploring the city.
- Shangri-La: If budget isn't an issue, you can't go wrong staying at the Shangri-La. If only for the Momofuku restaurant!
Happy travels!
TIP: discover more great addresses and travel tips in my books THE AMSTERDAM CITY GUIDE & WANDERLUST!
PSSSST... did you know we have many more city guides?
WITH LOVE,
ANNE
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