The Annex: Toronto

The Annex has long been called an elite neighbourhood and is characterized by beautiful residential streets, independent shops and high quality restaurants. Despite the cost of the Victorian and Edwardian era homes that dominate its street scape, the Annex is a central housing zone for University of Toronto students and faculty alike. Long-term residents blend with transient students and young families, giving the neighbourhood a lively, eclectic vibe. Big names in the Canadian writing scene (like Margaret Atwood) have settled here and arts venues dot the area, making the Annex an important presence in Toronto's cultural scene. 

Economical food and drink options abound along Bloor Street, while Harbord Street to the south boasts many high-end restaurants and cafes - as well as excellent bookstores.  With its expanded borders, the Annex blends into the thriving nightlife in Little Italy and the budget-friendly shopping in Kensington Market. Markham Street, one of the prettiest and most commercially developed in the neighbourhood, is home to Honest Ed's (a massive discount store and one of the Annex's most notorious claims to fame), and some of the best patios and alternative culture stores in the city. Those that adventure into Honest Ed's can recover from the spectacle of it all in the low-key shops and hip bars that surround it.

© NileGuide