Wins Lai - Toronto Real Estate Broker

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Over 16 years of experience and 850+ successful transactions.

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Connecting you with buyers looking to settle in Toronto from Hong Kong, China, Dubai, Singapore, the United States, Vancouver and more.

Helping new immigrants, returning Canadian citizens and permanent residents is my niche!

Areas I serve: Yorkville, Yonge and Bloor, King West, Trinity Bellwoods, Rosedale, the Waterfront, Downtown Toronto, North York, Markham, Vaughan, Richmond Hill and surroundings.

Ready to get started? Contact me now.

Contact Number: 416.903.7032 

E-mail: [email protected]

Yonge and Dundas: A Profile of Toronto Neighbourhoods

Posted on by editor
Photo of Yonge and Dundas in Toronto with large billboards people walking on street.
Yonge and Dundas has been aptly described as a tourist magnet.

An Overview of Yonge and Dundas

Yonge and Dundas has come a long way since the seedy 70s.

Once famous for its crime and adult entertainment venues, it’s now one of Toronto’s most popular tourist destinations.

And for good reason….

The neighbourhood is home to the city’s best bars, movie theatres, retailers, restaurants, public spaces, and Toronto’s biggest mall.

Let’s take a closer look at what makes Yonge and Dundas so special.

Best Places to Shop in Yonge and Dundas

Street view of Aura at College Park condo and mall in Toronto.
Aura at College Park is a shopping complex located in Canada’s tallest condo.

Yonge and Dundas is—without a doubt—one of Toronto’s greatest shopping destinations.

For example, Aura at College Park houses over 150,000 sq. ft. of retail space, including brands like Marshalls, Winners and Bed, Bath & Beyond.

If that wasn’t enough, Yonge and Dundas is also home to Toronto’s largest mall: the Eaton Centre.

Top-down view of stores and shoppers at Eaton Centre in Toronto.
Toronto’s biggest mall and tallest condo are both in the same neighbourhood (Charina Duenas, Flickr).

At 2 million sq. ft., the Eaton Centre contains over 250 shops selling everything from apparel to electronics.

Want to upgrade your phone or laptop? Drop by the Apple Store or Best Buy.

Need the latest in fashion for men, women or children? Check out Ann Taylor, Saks, Hugo Boss, Nordstrom, H&M or Zara.

Shoppers Drug Mart store on Yonge and Carlton St Toronto.
Picking up a prescription? Eaton’s also has a Shoppers Drug Mart, or you can stop by this one on Yonge St.

Other nearby shopping centres include The Atrium, College Park and First Canadian Place.

Dark gray sign for College Park mall in Toronto above store.
College Park is a mall, condo and office building all rolled into one.

In short: the neighbourhood has everything you need, whether its luxury fashion, consumer electronics or essential services.

Best Places to Drink & Dine in Yonge and Dundas

Starbucks sign over store in Yonge and Dundas Toronto.
You don’t have to go far for a cup of coffee.

That’s because the neighbourhood is peppered with cafes, bakeries, juice bars and dessert shops.

Can’t get enough caffeine? Check out Infuse Cafe on 354 Yonge St for some organic tea and coffee.

Love Bubble Tea? Head over to Chacago on Elm Street, Green Gene on 121 Dundas, or CoCo Fresh on 372 Yonge.

Sidewalk in Dundas, Toronto with pedestrians and stores, including Bubble Tease.
There’s also the playfully-named Bubble Tease on 111 Dundas.

Crave some dessert?

Tsujiri on 147 Dundas specializes in Japanese matcha, while Bake Island (372 Yonge) serves up delicious treats from Asia and Hong Kong.

Store display with colourful desserts at Bake Island in Yonge and Dundas.
Bake Island has a colourful array of cakes, rolls and pastries.

Yonge and Dundas is also home to some wonderful restaurants.

For example, Basil Box is a Southeast Asian joint located in Ryerson’s Student Learning Centre.

Sign for Basil Box restaurant in Ryerson University Student Learning Centre in Toronto.
You don’t have to be a student to eat at Basil Box.

Its mouth-watering menu includes lemongrass chicken, coconut curry tofu, Thai brown rice, sweet mango parfait, and much more.

Exterior of modern and stylish Ryerson University Student Learning Centre in Toronto.
Ryerson’s Student Learning Centre is worth visiting just for the architecture.

Other great restaurants in the neighbourhood include Adega (Portuguese), Donatello (Italian), Burrito Boyz (Mexican), Matagali (Indian) and Urban Herbivore (vegetarian).

Best Bars & Nightlife In Yonge and Dundas

Aerial view of Yonge and Dundas in Toronto during night with electric billboards, buildings and pedestrians.
The neighbourhood really comes alive at night (The City of Toronto, Flickr).

Yonge and Dundas is home to some of Toronto’s best bars, clubs and lounges.

For instance, Imperial Pub on 54 Dundas offers a wide selection of premium, domestic, imported and craft beer.

Close up of man playing guitar.
Besides a ground-floor bar, it also has an upstairs library, rooftop patio, and live music (Pixabay).

The Bar + Karaoke Lounge on 360 Yonge is perfect for a night out with friends.

You can rent rooms, choose from a long list of songs in English, Korean, Chinese or Japanese, and let loose.

Cocktail glass with salted rim and blue liquid closeup.
Of course, it’s easier to sing after you’ve had a cocktail or two (Pixabay).

For club lovers, there’s Vertigo and Club 120, both of which feature live music, DJs and dancing.

Best Arts & Entertainment In Yonge and Dundas

Exterior of Ed Mirvish Theatre on Victoria St in Toronto with pedestrians and billboards.
The historic Ed Mirvish Theatre on Victoria St (booledozer, Flickr).

The neighbourhood is also rich in arts and entertainment, with several theatres within walking distance of Yonge-Dundas Square.

These include the Stratford, Ryerson, Elgin and Le Théâtre français.

Arabian Nights performance at Ed Mirvish Theatre in Toronto.
The Ed Mirvish Theatre is known for staging lavish productions (Imagine Communications, Flickr).

For art connoisseurs, Yonge and Dundas has countless galleries with works from around the world.

For example, you’ll find Canadian art at the Northern Expressions Inuit gallery and Ryerson Image Centre, as well as global artists at the International Gallery of Arts.

Small vases on shelves at the AGO (Art Gallery of Ontario).
You can also browse over 90,000 works at the AGO (Reg Natarajan, Flickr).

Other nearby galleries include Arcturus, Bau-Xi and the Mayberry Fine Art Gallery.

Best Events & Activities In Yonge and Dundas

People and electric billboards at Yonge-Dundas Square in Toronto at night.
New York has Times Square; Toronto has Yonge-Dundas Square (Pedro Szekely, Wikimedia).

There’s always something to see, hear and do in Yonge-Dundas Square.

In fact, the venue has hosted over 1,250 concerts, art exhibits, music festivals and other public events.

Rainbow-coloured Volkswagen Beetle at Pride Week celebrations in Toronto.
The Square also marks important cultural occasions such as Pride Week and Youth Day (Stephen Weppler, Flickr).

And there’s something for everyone, whether it’s the Toronto International Film Festival for movie buffs, Luminato for art enthusiasts, NXNE for music fans, or weekly Yoga sessions for fitness lovers.

Two musicians on stage at NXNE concert in Yonge-Dundas Square.
NXNE features hundreds of bands from Canada and across the world (Y’amal, Flickr).

Another great event space is The Carlu on 444 Yonge St.

The 50,000 sq. ft. venue was built in 1930 and is famous for its Art Moderne design, earning it the status of National Historic Site.

Closeup of The Carlu sign over door.
Frank Sinatra, Billy Holliday and Duke Ellington are just some of the musicians to headline here.

Today, The Carlu serves as the ultimate event space for weddings, receptions and corporate functions.

Yonge and Dundas: Conclusion

Street view of condos, people, Canada Life Building and CN Tower from Yonge and Dundas.
The historic Canada Life Building and the iconic CN Tower are just part of the view.

Yonge and Dundas is one of Toronto’s most exciting neighbourhoods.

It’s home to the city’s biggest mall, the city’s busiest intersection, the city’s tallest condo, and some of the city’s best bars, clubs, restaurants, theatres, galleries and museums.

If you love the energy and adventure of downtown life, then there’s no better place to be than Yonge and Dundas.

Want to know more about this incredible neighbourhood? Contact me below with your details.

 

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Wins Lai – Toronto Realtor