Explore the ‘Nabe: Queen West

Editor’s note: This feature story was published in summer 2015. For up-to-date info about Queen West, refer to our 2016 neighbourhood guide.

WHERE TO SHOP:

Queen West is a promenade lined with 35 design showrooms and boutiques that include big boxes and stalwarts, dives and the divine. Shown above, Stylegarage‘s new Ossington outpost, replete with refurbished flooring, is the perfect backdrop for its industrial-chic wares.

The products in the collage above provide more ideas of what can be found in this ‘nabe, including (clockwise from top) Shale credenza by Blu Dot, at Urban Mode; Solar Queen by Kikkerland, at Neat; Cyborg Ply chair by Magis, at Quasi Modo; Flocked letter cushion, by Everyday Housewife; New Toronto T-shirt by Shared, at Drake General Store.

WHERE TO EAT:

CAFFEINE FIX:

“Sam James Coffee Bar (3 Ossington Ave) is not a lounging-around spot. It’s for hardcore espresso lovers who want the purest cup.” – Gunnar van Vliet, owner, Planet of Sound

MORE MORNING JOE: “Dufflet Pastries has a great selection of treats to help get the morning going. The smart, clean decor is courtesy of the owner’s husband, architect Martin Kohn.” – Martin Myers, owner, Quasi Modo

“I’m all coffee-ed out lately, but I like to hit up Bolt for fresh juice! The meat locker-y fridge in the back is funny, because they stock healthy veggie juices and kombucha instead of cured meats and pâtés.” –Joyce Lo, co-director, Drake General Store

LUNCH SPOT:

“Sud Forno (716 Queen St W) is my favourite for a slice of pizza. The designers (Giannone Petricone Associates) made great use of steel elements.” – Martin Myers, owner, Quasi Modo

MORE MIDDAY MEALS: “Burger’s Priest. I rave about the Cali Burger to anyone who will listen. It’s not on their “secret menu,” which I think just makes it cooler.” –Joyce Lo, co-director, Drake General Store

“County General is a great business lunch spot. It’s relaxed enough for serious conversations but hip enough to impress clients. The Southern-inspired food is exceptional.” – Gunnar van Vliet, owner, Planet of Sound

BRUNCH:

“The Drake Hotel (1150 Queen St W), of course. I prefer to sit in the cafe where the atmosphere is bustling and the art is super fun.” – Joyce Lo, co-director, Drake General Store

 

COOL CULTURE:

 

MOCCA (952 Queen St W), which hosted the recent Douglas Coupland exhibition seen above, loses its lease in August, so check out its final show on Queen West and bid adieu to the longtime neighbourhood staple. After it leaves the area, great art can still be found at photography gallery Stephen Bulger (1026 Queen St W) and contemporary hot spots O’Born Contemporary (131 Ossington Ave), Angell Gallery (12 Ossington Ave) and Cooper Cole (1161 Dundas St W). This May, the latter hosts Road to Ruin, a group show dedicated to capturing the beauty in decay.

SITE SEEING:

Massey Hall (178 Victoria St) is being remastered for today’s concert goers. The first phase of a seven-year revitalization by KPMB Architects, in collaboration with GBCA, will add better facilities to the venue. The ongoing Live at Massey Hall concert series offers music fans a chance to see national treasures like the Great Lake Swimmers and new Q host Shad on Canada’s most storied stage for a great price – $18.94 – to commemorate the year the hall opened.