Overview: a guide to Toronto’s iconic Casa Loma neighbourhood, including its history, architecture, cuisine, retail, events, activities and more.
Casa Loma: History & Geography
The neighbourhood began in 1911 with the construction of a Gothic Revival castle by wealthy financier Sir Henry Pallett.
With 98 rooms, 200,000 sq. ft. of space, and a price tag of $3.5 million (about $95 million in today’s money), Casa Loma was the largest private residence in Canada at the time.
But following World War 1, the Great Depression, and Pallett’s financial difficulties, the castle was left unfinished.
In 1924, the city of Toronto seized Casa Loma for unpaid taxes.
Over the next century the castle served many roles.
For example, in the late 1920s it became a luxury hotel.
During Prohibition, it was a popular nightlife destination for wealthy Americans.
When World War 2 broke out, its stables were used as a secret research and manufacturing facility.
From 1937 to 2011, it was leased to the Kiwanis Club and became a tourist destination.
Finally, in 2013 the city entered into a new lease agreement with Liberty Entertainment Group, under whose management it remains.
Today, Casa Loma is a family-friendly neighbourhood known for its stunning ravines and scenic parkland.
Its boundaries include St. Claire to the North, Dupont to the South, Bathurst to the West, and Avenue Rd to the East.
With fantastic food, amazing arts and culture, excellent schools, and exciting annual events—Casa Loma is the perfect place to raise a family.
Real Estate & Architecture
As one of Toronto’s wealthiest neighbourhoods, Casa Loma is lined with opulent mansions.
Toronto Life informs:
Anchored by the majestic Casa Loma castle and stretching to St. Clair Avenue, this mostly residential enclave comprises…a wealth of stately family homes dating back to the early 1900s, whose average cost in 2023 is a whopping $3.3 million.
Given that the average household income is $285,999, that shouldn’t come as a surprise.
Most homes in Casa Loma are detached houses in the Edwardian, Tudor and Georgian style.
Common architectural features of the above include: steeply pitched roofs, elegant stonework, red-brick exteriors, front gardens, wood-framed porches, large multi-panel windows, and intricate accents.
Can’t afford a $3.3 million mansion?
There are more affordable options:
For those looking for more modest accommodations, you’ll also find some low-rise apartment buildings, townhouses, and lofts, providing a foothold into this exclusive community.
Condos are also becoming more commonplace, with most located along Dupont St or St. Clair Avenue.
These include Foret Condos, ZIGG Condo, The Avenue, Imperial Plaza, and Bianca Condos.
So depending on your budget and lifestyle, Casa Loma has both affordable condos and lavish mansions.
The Best Places To Shop In Casa Loma
Most of these are found along Avenue Rd, Dupont St and St. Clair Avenue.
For fashion and accessories, there’s Joe Fresh and The Bag Bar Store on St. Clair.
While the former sells affordable clothes for the whole family, the latter specializes in handbags.
Avenue Rd contains Carbon, which carries both men and women’s fashion, while Vivian Shyu Boutique on Dupont caters exclusively to women.
Then there’s Hopson Grace on 200 Dupont, which has been featured in The Globe And Mail, House and Home, and GOOP.
blogTO gushes:
Hopson Grace is a sumptuous design boutique for those who appreciate the art of a well laid table. …While focusing on luxury entertaining, Hopson Grace is surprisingly affordable.
For something unique, check out City Uptown and City Downtown on 160 Kendal Ave.
The clothing store is run entirely by students of George Brown College’s School of Fashion & Jewellery.
Those looking for a more traditional shopping experience can head over to the St. Clair Centre, a shopping mall with Loblaws, Roots, TD Bank, restaurants, cafes and more.
Finally, having a Gothic castle in your neighbourhood is bound to attract the bizarre.
Enter The Occult House, which describes itself as “Your one-stop shop for quality occult, Pagan…and Wiccan spiritual supplies & gifts.”
The store has everything from herbs, crystals, swords and jewellery to over 2,000 magical oil blends.
The Best Places To Eat In Casa Loma
Given the neighbourhood’s picturesque greenery, dreamy castle backdrop, and its status as a tourist attraction, it’s no surprise Casa Loma is a culinary oasis.
Coffee lovers have an array of choices, from Creed’s Coffee Bar, Ezra’s Pound and Haute Coffee on Dupont, to Bakery Garden Cafe, La Barista Cafe and Stabucks on St. Clair.
Ezra’s Pound, which ranks 3rd on TorontoLife’s list of best iced coffees, is famed for its espressos, baked goods and sandwiches.
The neighbourhood also has some of the finest restaurants in Toronto.
Martino Pizza & Asian Fusion Kitchen combines Italian-style pizza with General Tao’s chicken.
Daily Hive declares:
Of course, pizza at Martino represents but a fraction of the menu. There’s also a pan-Asian array of noodles, stir-fries, and curries on offer too.
There’s also Scaramouche, one of the top-ranked restaurants in Toronto—and the world.
According to The World’s 50 Best Restaurants:
Panoramic views over the sparkling city skyline are the common factor that ties together this sophisticated top-floor restaurant and buzzing downstairs pasta bar.
The restaurant is known for its dedication to quality ingredients, classic flavour combinations, excellent service, and extensive wine cellar.
Other amazing restaurants in Casa Loma include:
- La Dolce (Italian)
- Roti Cuisine (Indian)
- Flor de Sal (Mediterranean)
- Playa Cabana (Mexican)
- Pisac Bistro (Peruvian)
- BlueBlood Steakhouse (surf & turf)
Bars & Nightlife
However, it does have a few watering holes.
The first of these is the Pour House Pub and Kitchen on 182 Dupont St.
The pub boasts a patio with amazing views, a large drink menu, bottomless mimosas on weekends, and hosts stand-up comedy events every Monday night.
It’s also known for its “Burn The Bill” event, which is described as:
When the Toronto Maple Leafs or the Toronto Raptors are playing in town, we will pick one lucky guest to have their entire bill burned right at the table.
The gastropub is also known for its grub, including nachos, wings, poutine and fish & chips.
Then there’s Wychwood Pub on 517 St. Clair Ave W.
The pub was featured on the TV show Restaurant Takeover where it received an interior facelift.
Praise for Wychwood includes its exotic ambience, incredible service, fantastic selection of drinks, and reasonable prices.
Finally, for those who prefer to stay in and enjoy a drink with friends and family, Casa Loma contains four LCBOs.
There’s one on 232 Dupont St, a second on 420 Spadina Rd, and two on St. Clair Ave W (111 and 396 St. Clair).
The Best Schools In Casa Loma
But it does have several amazing (non-magical) schools for kids of all ages.
According to HoodQ:
This neighbourhood has great elementary schools, great secondary schools, elementary special programs, and secondary special programs.
These include:
- Brown Junior Public School (JK-06)
- Hillcrest Community School (JK-06)
- The Wychwood School (01-08)
- Holy Rosary Catholic School (Pre-K-08)
- St. Michael’s College (private boy’s school; 07-09)
- Bishop Strachan School (private girl’s school; JK-12)
- Waldorf Academy (private school; Pre-K-08)
- Arrowsmith School (special needs; 01-12)
Bishop Stachan boasts a 100% acceptance rate to top colleges and universities around the world.
Streets of Toronto informs:
Renowned for its powerful learning approach…[Bishop Stachan ] offers innovative STEAM-focused academics, a robust athletics program and an expansive collection of co-curriculars.
Neither do the educational opportunities end after high-school.
That’s because Casa Loma is home to George Brown College.
According to Maclean’s Education:
George Brown has three main campuses in downtown Toronto, offering 174 full-time programs (including 10 degree programs) and 189 continuing education certificates or designations.
George Brown also ranks among the top 10 research colleges in Canada, and offers specialized facilities that simulate real-world work environments.
Things To Do In Casa Loma
Every October, the castle is transformed into a haunted house for its Legends of Horror event.
To Do Canada describes it as:
[An] immersive theatrical Halloween walking tour through the 5-acre grounds and the depths of the castle’s 90,000 square foot structure.
The event features over 70 actors, epic sets, and creatures from famous horror movies.
Perhaps you’d prefer something more family-friendly?
The castle also hosts two holiday-themed events: Christmas at the Castle and Holiday Lights.
The first features several family-friendly activities, including arts and crafts, live performances, and Christmas tree displays by famous Canadian designers.
The second consists of a dazzling display of lights in the castle gardens and tunnels, as well as live performances.
During the summer, Casa Loma holds a series of concerts in its gardens, with music ranging from pop, classical and jazz to your favourite Broadway hits.
Another popular activity at Casa Loma are the escape rooms.
According to City Pass:
The Castle Loma tower hosts the Castle Loma Escape Series, which offers interactive, theatrical “escape” games that blend fact and fiction.
These immersive games feature real actors, high-end props and unique settings.
For example, there’s the 1920s-themed King of the Bootleggers, the fantasy-themed Dragon’s Song, spy thriller Station M, and even one based on the TV show Murdoch Mysteries.
So if you’re looking for arts, culture, events, activities or entertainment, you’ll find them at the castle.
Other Location Highlights
- Minutes from The Annex, Yorkville and Yonge-St. Clair neighbourhoods
- Home to the Spadina Museum, Tarragon Theatre & Choirs Ontario
- 3 community centres, including Hillcrest, Arirang & Brown Community Centre
- Several grocery stores, including Loblaws, The Kitchen Table and Longo’s
- Family picnics at Nordheimer Ravine, Winston Churchill Park & Cawthra Playground
- 87 Transit, 78 Walk & 72 Bike Score + home to St. Clair West subway station
Casa Loma: Conclusion
And it’s not just because it has a castle—well, maybe a little…
It’s because it has everything you could ask for: amazing shops, world-class restaurants, incredible arts and culture, year-round events and activities, and some of the best schools in Toronto.
Sure, its real estate may be on the pricey side, but the neighbourhood is worth it.
Plus there’s always something to do, whether it’s visiting the Spadina Museum, hiking at Nordeheimer Ravine, or enjoying one of countless family-friendly events at the castle.
Looking for a home in Casa Loma? Contact me below for details.
Wins Lai
Real Estate Broker
Living Realty Inc., Brokerage
m: 416.903.7032 p: 416.975.9889
f: 416.975.0220
a: 7 Hayden Street Toronto, M4Y 2P2
w: www.winslai.com e: [email protected]
*Top Producer (Yonge and Bloor Branch) — 2017-2022