Queen Street West
Queen Street West
4.5
About
Often compared to New York City's Soho, Queen Street is the place to go for trendy dining and nightlife, plus cutting-edge fashion, art galleries, antique shops and bookstores.
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The area
Neighborhood: East End
The East End is an eclectic amalgamation of areas that team up to make this district one of the most multi-faceted and alluring. Home to Toronto's LGBT community hub, Gay Village is alive and pumping day or night with friendly bars, nightclubs, and cafes – its thumb is on the pulse of excitement. For a more relaxed day, the East End has the largest collection of restored Victorian homes, and its stately streets, tree-lined and bursting at the seams with affluence, often sport farmers markets and street artists, epitomized by the effusive St. Lawrence Market. One of the most gorgeous of Toronto's neighborhoods, it also straddles Lake Ontario in an area called The Beach, where you'll find folks cycling and strolling along the sandy shorelines, getting some sun or enjoying shopping, dining, and pub options. For some fabulous food, the vivacious personalities running the restaurants in the East End's Greektown is only equaled by the fun and authenticity of the street stalls and restaurants at its expansive Indian Bazaar. 'Something for everyone' has never been so accurate.
Best nearby
Restaurants
4,267 within 3 miles
Attractions
754 within 6 miles
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.5
708 reviews
Excellent
338
Very good
280
Average
63
Poor
22
Terrible
5
James A
Windsor, Canada19,856 contributions
May 2022 • Solo
When I was a kid queen street was a great place to hang out. Great restaurants, cool shops, music stores and dive bars. Some of those things are still there but everything here is expensive when it wasn’t always the case. Still a nice place to hang out but it was better 20 years ago.
Written June 10, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Vanessa P
Calgary, Canada1,462 contributions
May 2023 • Couples
This is a long street in Toronto. You can get into a bus, sit, and enjoy the view. Some parts of the city are not as cool as the rest of Toronto. Like some parts of these streets, I would not go. It seems shady. But as Toronto is a big city, Queen Street is also in good areas.
Written May 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Frances A
7 contributions
Sep 2022 • Solo
I have been visiting and staying on this vibrant street since 2016, except for 2020 and 2021 (because of the pandemic). It's a multicultural , buzzy alternative area and I love it .Today was my first time back since the pandemic .There are far too many cannabis shops ! Also empty shops , which is sad .Still my favourite area but could the rents be lowered to attract back the small independent businesses that were lost in the pandemic ? The bug name chains have survived but we need the character it used to have back.
Written September 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Jonathan
Toronto, Canada6 contributions
Jul 2020
Queen St. is my favourite street in the city. It’s long and dissects the whole city. There are so many different types of shops and restaurants and a nice mix between luxury, artsy, and working class atmospheres.
Written August 2, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
salm140
Toronto, Canada8 contributions
Mar 2020
Take a streetcar ride from one end to the other. Walk so you don't miss an attraction or event or store. All the big chain stores are here as well as local artisans sell used and new.
Every km on this street has something for everyone.
East to west your eyes will be exhausted with all the various things to do.
Every km on this street has something for everyone.
East to west your eyes will be exhausted with all the various things to do.
Written March 25, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
InnaYYZ
Toronto, Canada1,496 contributions
Feb 2020
Went shopping for a gift. There are many trendy retailers, east of Spadina and west of University Ave. To take a break from sopping, we stopped for a light lunch at one of the many eateries.
Written March 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KodoDrummer
Buenos Aires, Argentina70,626 contributions
Aug 2018 • Friends
This is a long street which runs both east and west of Toronto’s Yonge Street. Most sightseers are along the strip from Church Street to Spadina Avenue. I frequently dine at restaurants between University Avenue and Spadina Avenue. The Queen West part is considered a cool area, especially between University Avenue and Spadina, where there are lots of restaurants, boutiques, galleries, cafes, bars, tattoo parlours, and more. That said, it does not have the celebrity status of Yorkville Village, but at the same time, the restaurants and boutiques sell their cuisine and merchandise at a significantly lower price, albeit the quality is good but not upscale like Yorkville.
Some portions of Queen West and East are a touch on the seedy side, but over the years crime has been reduced, and the seedy portions are getting smaller and less dangerous.
Queen West is also home to The Bay, Eaton Centre, New City Hall, Old City Hall (used as a courthouse), Osgoode Hall and more.
Some portions of Queen West and East are a touch on the seedy side, but over the years crime has been reduced, and the seedy portions are getting smaller and less dangerous.
Queen West is also home to The Bay, Eaton Centre, New City Hall, Old City Hall (used as a courthouse), Osgoode Hall and more.
Written August 10, 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Damien S
Adelaide, Australia6,925 contributions
Jul 2019 • Friends
Go for a stroll through painted alley ways. There is slot of great culture in this area. Well worth a visit....to look it will cost you nothing. Pack comfortable walking shoes.
Written July 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
len0ckav
Bratislava, Slovakia11 contributions
Sep 2016 • Couples
I think this is the worst part of Toronto I've seen. Everytime I walked on the street I had to pass many homeless people who were constantly begging money from me or just starring like they want to rape me or kill me. Didn't feel safe at this place. Street especially the west part was very dirty and there was trash everywhere. Smell of a grass at every corner was annoying also. I think goverment has to do something with this because homeless is a big problem there and in whole Toronto. I've been to New York and there was only half maybe less of homeless people I've seen in Toronto. Wishing them good luck with solving problems and helping these people :)
Written October 6, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
smileme2you
Aberdeen, UK94 contributions
Apr 2015 • Solo
Looking to try an activity that would allow me to stay dry and warm but still see some of the City I thought I'd give the streetcar 501 a go. I read it as being described as one of the longest tram routes in North America and the number one tram ride in the world by National Geographic so thought I'd give it a go! I bought a day pass for transport on the TTC system for $11. All I needed to do was hop on the stop at the junction of Queen Street and Yonge Street heading west and sit tight for the journey. The journey is fascinating, a really good challenge for kids would be to give them a map of the world and ask them to tick off or colour countries as you see them represented in the shops you pass. I think it takes about 35mins to slowly trundle its way to the terminal where there is a 5 min wait then making sure you sit on the same side as last time the journey continues into town showing you the wonders on the other side! The East route is also good, much more 'chilled' less variety but still interesting. See the city in all its multicultural wonder, whilst staying dry and warm for very little cash expenditure! What else does a traveller need!
Written April 21, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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