Living in Toronto when you’re young is an incredible experience. The food, the nightlife, the nonstop events, and the abundance of dating opportunities make Toronto one of the most exciting cities in Canada for young professionals.
That said, rent in the city can be expensive, and unless you have the luxury of splitting your rent with a partner, you need to make sure you can find a place that’s both in a great neighborhood and affordable enough that you can still afford to go out and enjoy all that the city has to offer.
5. Willowdale/Koreatown North
While many Torontonians will point to Bloor and Christie if you ask where Koreatown is, those who know that Toronto doesn’t end north of Bloor will tell you that you’re missing out if you haven’t been to Koreatown North.
Located on the stretch of Yonge from Finch south to Sheppard in a neighborhood officially called Willowdale, this area is home to a ton of tall apartment and condo towers right along the Yonge subway line. The area has an abundance of apartments for rent in North York, and right at Yonge, you’ll find plenty of restaurants, karaoke bars, dessert spots, bubble tea shops, and 24-hour spots that can keep you fed no matter how late it is.
4. Waterfront
The Toronto Waterfront is a new neighborhood in the city, having mostly been built in the last few years. In fact, in the past 5 years alone, 20,000 people moved into the area. The newness of the area also means that it hasn’t quite settled into its identity yet.
The area has seen several restaurants, gyms, and other shops opening up with the influx of residents, but community services have yet to catch up. The Waterfront has tons of housing options, and it’s right next door to downtown, but the area itself still leaves a bit to be desired.
3. Yonge and Eglinton
Further south down Yonge, you’ll find mid-town. Once known as Yonge and Eligible, this corner is known for its concentration of high-rise apartments and condos, attracting the set of twenty-and-thirty-somethings with relatively high incomes who tend to dominate the dating scene.
Partly as a result, Yonge and Eglinton have some great date spots, including fine French and Italian dining, late-night eats, delicious baked goods, and funky places to go shopping.
2. Riverside
East of the Don Valley is Riverside, an old, well-established neighborhood with lots of new things going on. The corner of Broadview and Queen has seen a ton of new developments lately, expanding housing options in an area rich with entertainment venues, bars, restaurants, bakeries, and clothing boutiques. Riverside is a quick streetcar ride from downtown and right next to other east-end neighborhoods like Leslieville, East York, and the Beaches. There’s a lot to love about the east end!
1. Downtown West End
Anytime you read a ranking of the best neighborhoods of Toronto, there are going to be a few familiar faces at the top: Little Italy, Trinity Bellwoods, Little Portugal, Roncesvalles, etc. They’re all incredible neighborhoods, and for the sake of simplicity, we’ll simply call it the “Downtown West End.”
You have tons of areas to choose from here. Whether you love waking up to fresh cannoli from Riviera Bakery or finishing your night off at the latest hip spots on Dundas West, the West End is the most happening part of the city and one of the most desirable neighborhoods in the GTA.
