The most bohemian, multicultural pocket of the city — the ramshackle vintage shops, cafés and global food stalls of Kensington Market, spilling into the bustle of one of North America's biggest Chinatowns. Colourful, cheap and endlessly eatable, central and walkable; the base for travellers who want character, diversity and the best casual food in Toronto.
A look around
What you’ll be living next to. Swipe through.
€150–260
typical per night in Canada
The sensible middle
Typical prices for Toronto — neither steal nor splurge.
Where it sits
The circle is Kensington & Chinatown and roughly a 10-minute walk around it.
How far is everything?
From the middle of this area to the city's headline sights — pick your own on the city page and these become your list.
- Graffiti Alley9 min walk728 m
- Royal Ontario Museum18 min walk1.5 km
- The CN Tower21 min walk1.7 km
- Queen Street West21 min walk1.8 km
- St. Lawrence Market7 min taxi2.4 km
- Casa Loma8 min taxi2.7 km
- The Distillery District10 min taxi3.3 km
- The Toronto Islands12 min taxi4.1 km
On your doorstep
What you’re living next to if you stay here.
- 3.Kensington Market — The soul of bohemian Toronto — a ramshackle, colourful warren of vintage clothing shops, record stores, murals, cafés and food stalls from every corner of the world, refreshingly scruffy amid the gleaming towers. Wander with no plan, graze your way around the globe, and browse the thrift shops; car-free on summer Sundays. The city's most characterful and creative neighbourhood.
- 6.Toronto's global food — One of the world's most multicultural cities eats like it — some of the best Chinese, Sri Lankan, Ethiopian, Korean, Italian and Caribbean food anywhere, from Chinatown dumplings to Little India curries to a peameal-bacon sandwich at St. Lawrence Market. Graze the neighbourhoods and markets; eating your way around the globe without leaving the city is one of Toronto's great pleasures.
- 9.Art Gallery of Ontario — One of North America's great art museums, wrapped in a stunning Frank Gehry redesign — a huge collection spanning the Group of Seven and Canadian art, European masters, Indigenous and contemporary work, and the sweeping wooden Galleria Italia. World-class and beautifully spaced, right by Chinatown; a rewarding couple of hours and a highlight for art-lovers.
When are you staying?
Booking.com & Airbnb open searched to Kensington & Chinatown; flights via Google Flights.