Queen West walk

Queen Street is one of the main east-west streets in Toronto, and the western stretch passes through several trendy areas. A walk along it will show you a variety of neighbourhoods, independent businesses, and interesting street art.

I'm not going to call out all the interesting businesses to see along this walk: that's up to you. I'll mention a few easy-to-overlook places, though.

Parkdale and Queen West

I would start somewhere in Parkdale and head east, but you don't have to. You could start all the way down at the corner of Roncesvalles Avenue and Queen Street West, but anywhere in Parkdale is fine. Parkdale has a mix of new-wave shops and older businesses, mostly independent. It also has a large Tibetan community, so get some momos if you fancy a snack. There are several good coffee places, but Capital Espresso is the best. Parkdale also has a bunch of vintage stores. These are mostly focused on clothes, but Studio 1484 has some nice antiques and is a fun place to check out. Gallery 1313, by Dollarama, is also worth a look as you walk past.

Parkdale has an established population of red-tailed hawks. Look at the tops of buildings, any large birds flying overhead, or flocks of freaked out pigeons, and you'll probably spot one.

Once you cross Dufferin Street you've left Parkdale and entered Queen West. Things get a bit more glam here. You'll pass Major Treat coffee, which is excellent. Look behind you when you hit the Drake Motel, to see the Blue Jays mural. Just past Dovercourt, don't miss the You've Changed mural behind you either.

A bit further on you'll pass Ossington Avenue. This is a north-south street, and also a trendy area. It's a bit more upmarket (ie. expensive) than Queen West, and honestly the shops aren't all that, but there's a good indie record store up near Dundas, and some good coffee places (I Deal Coffee and Pilot Coffee Roasters) too. Bellwoods Brewery also has a shop/bar here. Detour if you like, but don't feel obliged.

The corner of Strachan Avenue (pronounced "Strawn") has Hanji, a cute store and good for gifts. You can also detour north along Shaw Street to visit Artscape Youngplace, an arts centre/gallery. It's normally pretty quiet, and has a few small art exhibitions you can check out. Again, this is optional.

Trinity Bellwoods

As you continue eastwards along Queen Street you'll pass Trinity Bellwoods Park. This is a nice spot for a picnic, or some takeaway. Trinity Bellwoods has a small population of albino squirrels, so keep your eyes peeled. They're the namesake of White Squirrel coffee, my favourite Trinity Bellwoods café.

Trinity Bellwoods is a popular summer hangout, both because it's reasonably central and because there's a lot of condo-dwellers nearby who don't have gardens. Drinking in public is against the law; every summer, the police pick a couple of days to blitz through and collect some fines. (You'd think this would be a no-brainer, but the best the city can do is agree to study it.) So keep your drinks in a paper bag, or a travel mug.

The park has some interesting history, though not much evidence can be seen today. There used to be a college here (now demolished). There's also a buried bridge near the dog bowl, and the now-underground Garrison Creek flowed through the park. There are some pavement markers to spot for the last two.

Queen West continued

Trinity Bellwoods marks a change in neighbourhood feel, for me. As you continue east you should check out Sanko. I've never been in Doc's Leathers, but apparently it's more than a leather store and has a collection of trinkets, novelties, and historical items.

Once you're past Bathurst Street you're getting close to graffiti alley. All the alleys around here are filled with murals, but this is the well-known one. It's worth a look; expect murals and selfie-takers.

Spadina Avenue

The end of graffiti alley drops you on Spadina Avenue. This is one of the main north-south streets in Toronto, and offers a decision point. You can stop this tour here, and do something else:

• There's a lot of good food options near here. Maybe it's time for lunch/dinner?
• You could head north to Chinatown and Kensington Market.
• The Art Gallery of Ontario is a 10-15 minute walk from here.
• You could stop off in 401 Richmond, another arts centre with galleries, cafés, and shops. Spacing has a store here, if you want Toronto-specific gifts for someone. It's worth checking this out even if you're going to continue along Queen Street.
• Just south of here is the entertainment district. If it's late and you want to hit up a trendy bar, you could.

Or you can continue east along Queen Street. You'll start seeing more and more chain stores & international brands, but there's still a few things to see.

The Black Market is on this next stretch of Queen Street, and is a Toronto institution. You'll also pass the CTV studios; you might see them filming something inside, and can definitely see the breaking news car.

Around University Avenue you'll see the Campbell House Museum. Unusually, this house was originally 1.5km away; it was moved in 1972. Osgoode Hall is over the road. (I've never visited either).

Past University Avenue

You're now very close to Nathan Phillips Square, which has the photogenic new town hall and "Toronto" sign. If it's a summer weekend, there's probably an event happening. Next door is old city hall, and next door to that is the Eaton Centre.

Even if you don't want to visit the mall, it's worth stepping inside to see the geese. There's also a food court, if you want some food and/or a sit down.

This is where our tour ends! There's Queen subway station here, as well as the Queen streetcar. You're a 5 minute walk from Dundas or King Street, which also has streetcar connections. The Image Centre is about a 15 minute walk away, if you want to continue your day with an art gallery.