I am not one to go wild for street art and graffiti. But I do however go crazy for unique art, local culture and off-the-beaten path locales. And after three days of exploring modern-day Toronto and being stuck in a dark convention center for TBEX, I just had to escape the conventional. I was craving to roam the streets of Toronto in search for beautiful architecture and adventure.
The timing couldn’t have been better. My flight going back to NYC had been cancelled and I was miserable. To make up the time I lost on the phone calling and rebooking, I headed out to Kensington Market and Chinatown.
Filled with eclectic shops, artsy cafes and hipster vibes, Kensington Market is the most distinctive, multicultural neighborhood in downtown Toronto. But what I wanted to see most were the century old Victorian homes.
I first stopped at Amadeus Restaurant, a Portuguese eatery with an outside terrace. The band playing on Sunday afternoon sold me instantly; the perfect remedy to cure my conference overdose.
To follow, I strolled the streets up and down and discovered one too many graffiti walls and unique storefronts. It was evident, Kensington Market wasn’t just a charming neighborhood, it was a vibrant one. The blend of classic Victorian row houses, next to the graffiti painted ones from Chinatown was one I did not expect to work; but it did.
It reminded me of Williamsburg, especially given the quaint cafes of Toronto. Sonic Café blew me away with its quirky, urban bicycle décor, while Moonbean will forever remain in my mind as the best jasmine matcha latte I’ve ever had.
And so, it’s settled. Forget about CN Tower; Kensington Market is where you’ll find me getting lost in Toronto.
