Welcome to The Annex
Toronto’s oldest neighbourhood is a historic treasure with vibrant nightlife bordering the University of Toronto
As one of the city’s oldest neighborhoods, stepping into The Annex almost feels like you’re going backward in time, but in a good way. With so many beautiful Edwardian and Victorian houses built in the early 20th century, the entire neighborhood has such an elegant and refined ambiance.
Bordering the University of Toronto, The Annex is a hip and student-friendly neighborhood with plenty of charm. Primarily residential, The Annex is known for having a vibrant nightlife with plenty of restaurants, bars, and shops nearby to appease its younger population. This historic and sophisticated Toronto neighborhood has plenty of multi-unit homes and single-family residences to appease its growing population.
What to Love
- Sophisticated and historic neighborhood
- Vibrant nightlife, great bars and restaurants
- Gorgeous older homes
- Borders University of Toronto
People & Lifestyle
Apart from students, The Annex is also popular with artists, entrepreneurs, and University of Toronto faculty members. The area is revered for its incredible homes and architecture. Many of the homes date back to the 1800s. This unique style of housing is pure Toronto and even colloquially known as “The Annex style.”
It was also recently revealed that the now-closed Honest Eds, a landmark discount store, is being preserved and slowly transformed into new condominiums. Most of the people who live here come from affluent families, are students or artists, or are successful business people.
Dining, Entertainment & Shopping
Satisfy your craving for Mediterranean and Middle Eastern fare by visiting the lively and colorful
By the Way Cafe. The menu features a wide selection of dishes, including savory chicken and lamb kebabs. Vegans and vegetarians name
Fresh on the Bloor as their local favorite. For years, Fresh on the Bloor has been Toronto’s original source of plant-based food.
Students frequent
The Madison, a casual pub serving homemade grub and great drinks. There’s also
Chadwick’s, a craft kitchen and neighborhood bar serving global-fusion comfort food and local brews. If you love wood-fired pizzas and Italian cuisine, you’ll probably adore
Piano Piano, a whimsical little establishment serving delicious and traditional fare.
The Annex Food Hall is a fun and unique place to eat in this trendy neighborhood. Here you’ll find many different food vendors, primarily selling authentic Chinese cuisine like classic steam bun sandwiches. It’s a curated collection of some of Toronto’s best food all in one place.
For something unique, visit Toronto’s
Bata Shoe Museum which is a museum of footwear and calceology near the northwest of the University of Toronto.
Things to Do
Central Tech Stadium is a track and field training venue open daily boasting a brand new field and a great central location. The sports teams of the University of Toronto often train at the
Varsity Stadium, an outdoor collegiate stadium home to the Toronto Varsity Blues, which is the University of Toronto’s athletic teams.
Vermont Square Park expands more than an acre near Dupont Street and Bathurst Street. The park features several amenities such as bocce ball courts, an off-leash area for dogs, a wading pool, and a playground.
The Annex hosts the annual
Annex Festival, an extravagant street festival with entertainment for all ages. This free downtown event is a great way to spend time with your family and friends with tons of food, live music, and more.
Schools
The Annex is a great little residential neighbourhood with lots of character. It’s home to several great schools like the language school Alliance Francaise and the globally top-ranked public research university, the University of Toronto.
Other notable educational institutions in the area include: