The 10 best malls and shopping centers in Toronto, ranked
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Business magazines claim that the shopping mall is dying a slow ugly death. As people get accustomed to shopping in their pyjamas with a glass of wine in hand, a trip to the mall can seem like a plebeian undertaking.
Shopping malls won’t go down without a fight, however, and for the present moment, there are a ton of malls and centres that are more than happy to take your plastic, your cash or your soul if it comes down to it.
Canadians still have an affinity for retail establishments, because they allow us to be in society without being outdoors during the colder winter months. Toronto has some terrific shopping options. There are plenty of malls offering convenience and a good selection of brand name products, such as the bright and airy Toronto Eaton Centre. However, shopping in person does not require being inside, as trendy neighbourhoods like West Queen West demonstrate, with row after row of quirky, one-of-a-kind stores. (Getting flexible with the term “mall” is what makes this list so special.)
Supporting local businesses is big in Toronto and you’ll find plenty of eclectic boutiques, funky vintage shops and antique stores sprinkled throughout the city. Whether you’re shopping in a particular neighbourhood market or a sprawling mall, these top ten places will be happy to relieve you of your heavy wallet.
Photo courtesy of Courtesy of Yorkville Village
Upscale shopping at its best; this Bloor-Yorkville destination has been at the top of the list for visiting celebs and well-to-do Torontonians since it opened back in the 1970s. Look for shoes, handbags and couture from designers such as Badgley Mischka, Christian Louboutin, Monique L’huillier, Michael Kors, Carolina Herrera, Stella McCartney, Vivienne Westwood and Zac Posen. Shop for organic groceries at Whole Foods (often dubbed as Whole Paycheck) with the cloth bag-touting elite. Pick up a bottle of wine. Go to the Yorkville Club for a sweaty yoga class or spinning session. Whatever you do here, it will be stylish because it’s all about location, location, location.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: From designer groceries to designer dog duds, this is where you shop when you need something original.
Courtney’s expert tip: There are complimentary dog-sitting services while you shop in this high-end paradise.
Read more about Yorkville Village →
Photo courtesy of Kevin Cabral
Toronto’s Distillery Historic District began in 1859 as the site of the Gooderham and Worts whiskey distillery. 100 years later, the distillery was producing nearly half of the total volume of spirits in the province of Ontario, making it one of the country’s most important manufacturing facilities (People like their spirits!). As war, prohibition and outsourcing changed the face of Toronto, it did its number on the distillery which closed in 1990. However, 13 years later this historic district got its second chance and became a charming pedestrian-only village. This area of Toronto today is like no other, with cobblestone pathways and Victorian-era buildings housing restaurants, boutiques and art galleries.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Victorian-era buildings house local boutiques in this charming, pedestrian-only village.
Courtney’s expert tip: The Distillery Historic District still maintains some of its alcohol-producing roots. Ontario Spring Water Sake Company opened eastern North America’s first sake brewery onsite in 2011, featuring a tasting bar where you can sample the company’s products. Also, Mill Street Brewery produces some great beers and operates a pub in the district.
Read more about Distillery Historic District →
Photo courtesy of St Lawrence Market
Did you know Toronto is home to the world’s best food market? According to National Geographic magazine, the St. Lawrence Market in the southeast end of the city’s downtown core has the globe’s greatest collection of vendors selling all manner of food. Walk around the indoor marketplace, in operation since 1803, and you’ll find permanent vendors hawking the freshest seafood, cheeses from around the world, and meats and produce grown just outside the city. But as glorious as the St. Lawrence Market’s food selection is, that’s not all you’ll find here. There is one-of-a-kind jewellery, fresh flowers, clothing, gifts and souvenirs. Join one of the market’s daily walking tours to discover the area’s fascinating history and its importance in Toronto’s growth as a city.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Antiques, collectables and fresh flowers. But let’s be honest, you’re really there for the food.
Courtney’s expert tip: Everything needed for a great picnic can be found at the market. Bring a cooler, visit the market vendors and head out to Toronto Island for the perfect picnic spot.
Read more about St. Lawrence Market →
Photo courtesy of Open Grid Scheduler
In the 1960s, this neighbourhood in the heart of downtown was Toronto’s hippie haven. But today, it is the city’s heart of haute couture. The area nicknamed the Mink Mile boasts one of Canada’s greatest collections of high-end shops, including the likes of Luis Vuitton, Prada and Vera Wang. And while you’re more likely to see Ferraris cruising the streets in Bloor-Yorkville than just about anywhere else in Toronto, the area is also home to many mid-market shopping options such as Banana Republic and H&M. There is truly something for everyone. In between store visits, be sure to pause for an espresso or lunch at one of the many area cafes and bistros. The patios and park benches that dot the neighbourhood are perfect for people watching and celebrity spotting, especially during the famed Toronto International Film Festival that takes place each fall.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: The place for celebrity spotting as well as stores that require an expense account.
Courtney’s expert tip: When planning your visit to Yorkville, be sure to leave time to explore the neighbourhood’s many small art galleries as well as Toronto’s Royal Ontario Museum.
Read more about Bloor-Yorkville →
Photo courtesy of Andrzej Wrotek
In a city of neighbourhoods, Kensington Market easily qualifies as Toronto’s most unique. The small residential and commercial hub sits between Bathurst Street and Spadina Avenue on its west and east boundaries, and College Street and Dundas Street to the north and south. One of Toronto’s oldest neighbourhoods, it’s been home to many different cultural groups over more than 125 years –Irish and Scottish labourers, World War 1-era European Jewish immigrants, and more recently, people from China and Latin America. Many original Victorian rowhouses still line the narrow streets, and the wares of produce vendors and clothing stores are still displayed along the sidewalks as they were 100 years ago. Check out the eclectic variety of cultural and vintage items available in Kensington Market’s shops. And if you’re looking for Toronto’s best selection of Mexican and South American foods, you’ll find it here.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: If a regular mall were the colour beige, Kensington Market would be fuchsia.
Courtney’s expert tip: The market was the setting for one of Canada’s best-known sitcoms of the 1970s, King of Kensington. Al Waxman, who played the eponymous King and grew up in the neighbourhood, is memorialized with a statue in a local park.
Read more about Kensington Market →
Photo courtesy of Diego Torres Silvestre
Ever wonder what is happening below the surface? People in Toronto don’t. Toronto’s famous underground walkway connects 30 kilometres of shopping, services and entertainment. It makes it possible for a Canadian to own a winter jacket, but never use it even with subzero temperatures. More than 50 buildings are connected through the PATH, which also links some of Toronto’s biggest tourist attractions, such as The Air Canada Centre and the CN Tower. This underground maze began construction in 1900 when Eatons connected its store with its bargain annex by underground tunnels. It took until the early 1990s to get signage to help people to navigate the underground, but better late than never.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: This is a Guinness World Record holder for the largest underground shopping complex.
Courtney’s expert tip: Each letter in the PATH sign stands for a different direction: P (red) representing south, A (orange) representing west, T (blue) representing north, H (yellow) representing east.
Read more about PATH →
Photo courtesy of Rina Pitucci
When Yorkdale opened in a north Toronto suburban area 1964, it was the world’s largest mall. Although it no longer holds that title, Yorkdale is no less impressive a paradise for shopaholics. More than 400,000 customers visit each week, but Yorkdale’s spacious hallways and 27-foot high ceilings give shoppers the feeling of space even on the busiest days. Throughout the past decade, stylish renovations have helped Yorkdale draw an increasing number of upscale retail tenants, including Michael Kors, Tiffany & Co. and even Canada’s first Apple store. The fall 2016 $330 million expansion made the mall beautifully modern to match its high end stores. Hungry shoppers can call ahead to reserve a table at Yorkdale’s food court (Dine on 3), while a concierge desk offers everything from complimentary reading material to post-meal mints.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Easily accessible from public transportation to car, Yorkdale is a luxurious way to get whatever you need.
Courtney’s expert tip: Yorkdale’s redesigned food court includes an outdoor terrace, so shoppers can take in some fresh air while they enjoy a meal.
Read more about Yorkdale Shopping Centre →
Photo courtesy of Jeff Hitchcock
Travel several km west of Toronto for the spacious Sherway Gardens mall in Etobicoke. Open since 1971, this mall has expanded every decade to include 1,182,000 square feet of retail, with a recent slant to more luxury brand and fashion-conscious items. The mall somehow seems much smaller than it is, with low hanging ceilings and a figure-8 layout. A recent $550 million dollar expansion make Sherway look gorgeous and modern. Sherway also has a farmer’s market every Friday from 8am-2pm featuring farm-fresh eggs, baked goods and organic fruits and vegetables. There are now 215 stores, with Saks Fifth Avenue (150,000 square feet) and Nordstrom (140,000 square feet) recently added to the mix.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: Sherway Gardens is just out of the way enough to feel more intimate than most downtown Toronto malls.
Courtney’s expert tip: Parts of the movie Mean Girls and The Sentinel were filmed in Sherway Gardens.
Read more about Sherway Gardens →
Photo courtesy of Nicole Breanne
The Eaton Centre is eastern Canada’s largest shopping mall, and Toronto’s top tourist attraction. Each week, the mall plays host to more than 1 million visitors, who come to shop to their hearts’ content at more than 230 stores spread across 1.7 million square feet of enclosed space. The Toronto Eaton Centre offers fashion from some of the leading retailers from Canada and around the world, including Steve Madden, Aritzia, Coach and Forever 21. After a long day of searching for trends and bargains, shoppers can relax with a great meal at one of nine restaurants located in the Eaton Centre, or quick eats from one of over 30 outlets in the Urban Eatery food court.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: More than 200 stores, 50 places to eat and 1.7 million square feet. Just don’t come on Boxing Day (December 26).
Courtney’s expert tip: Check out Yonge-Dundas Square just outside the Eaton Centre doors. The public space, at one of Canada’s busiest intersections, plays host to concerts and events throughout the year.
Read more about Toronto Eaton Centre →
Photo courtesy of www.facebook.com
Queen Street stretches right across Toronto, from east to west. Given its length and the fact that the Queen streetcar makes it possible to travel the street’s full distance, it makes sense that Queen Street is dotted with neighbourhoods that have their own unique vibe and stores that range from mega-retailers to mom-and-pop shops. The stretch from University Avenue west to Spadina Avenue, known locally as Queen West, was the epitome of cool for shopping and entertainment in the 1980s and 1990s, and is still lined with leading U.S. retailers and great music venues. The street’s gentrification has continued west of Spadina over the years, and today so-called West Queen West is home to great shopping for those interested in boutique design, vintage furniture and clothing and an almost overwhelming number of amazing dining options.
Recommended for Shopping Malls and Centers because: One of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world might also be one of the best places to shop in Toronto.
Courtney’s expert tip: Download the west queen west app (of course there is app) for today’s deals and events.
Read more about Queen Street West →