We all know that Queen West is arguably one of Toronto’s hippest neighbourhoods but have you ever taken a stroll even further west into the West Queen West hood? If not, then I strongly suggest you do ASAP. This strip from Bathurst over to Dufferin is filled with familiar gems as well as some spots that will be your new-to-you faves. If you’re up for some fall exploring, take a look at these places to check out along West Queen West!
While some of the spots might be temporarily closed, do keep them in mind when you’re in the area post-lockdown!
See also: This New Toronto Café is Serving Brunch Boxes >>>
Le Labo Fragrances
If your signature fragrance just isn’t doing it for you anymore, stroll on into Le Labo. It’s here that you’ll have the extremely difficult task of choosing which scent you want to take home. All set in the perfume department? The brand’s candles, body care, and grooming products are majorly worth checking out too. Even if you’re just looking to browse, the store is absolutely stunning on its own.
Euclid Farms
Got a thing for flowers and just cute stuff in general? Then Euclid Farms needs to be on your radar. This stunning flower studio opened on Queen West last year and supplies chemical-free flowers from May until November and is proud to be recycling and using as little plastic as possible. Expect to shop stunning blooms, dried flower bouquets, handmade candles, and much more.
Type Books
While there are lots of bookstores to choose from in TO, it’s the independent ones that need our help the most and one of my faves to shop is Type Books. It’s clear to see the passion as you step inside and whether your interests are cooking, literature, fiction, or beyond, you’re bound (get it?!) to find it here. In addition to the immense selection, TYPE also has a great collection of Indigenous readings as well.
We are we are
If you still haven’t got your hair sorted out from quarantine, then don’t wait on booking an appointment at one of TO’s coolest salons. We are we are, located at Queen & Crawford, is a collective hair studio and the talents of the stylists there know no bounds from cuts, colour, blonding, colour correction, and more. In addition to the amazing hair that you’ll walk out with, I absolutely adore the vibe here — it’s a chill ‘70s atmosphere that’s instantly calming and relaxing which is something we all need right about now, right?
The Drake Hotel
One of Toronto’s most iconic boutique hotels is The Drake and in addition to being a stunning place to stay, the hotel also boasts one of TO’s top restaurants. Thankfully you can safely enjoy its eats through takeout, delivery, or on the patio. Whether you stop by or order-in for brunch, dinner, or cocktails, your experience at The Drake will be top notch even during these strange times.
Fashionably Yours
If you have a thing for designer duds but don’t always have the bank account to match, Fashionably Yours has your back. Located on Queen just west of Bathurst, this consignment store houses a wide variety of designer labels as well as some high street faves that’ll give your wardrobe the extra oomph it needs.
Cocktail Emporium
Want to upgrade your at-home cocktail skills? Then you’ll want to pay a visit to Cocktail Emporium on Queen West as soon as possible. It’s here where you can shop literally everything you need to up your cocktail game with the store’s selection of bitters, cocktail recipe books, stunning glassware, garnishes and much, much more.
Nugateau Patisserie
All that exploring on West Queen West is sure to make you hungry so pop into Nugateau for a quick snack. This patisserie is all about eclairs and trust me — these aren’t your everyday eclairs. These works of art are absolutely stunning and they are equally as delicious as they are gorgeous.