Kensington Market and Spadina Avenue, Toronto > Reviews (2)

From May until October, on the last Sunday of each month, Kensington Market operates a pedestrian day. On this day, the area is completely free from cars and traffic, making it a lovely day with no interruptions. However, there is no actual market on Sundays, like there is the rest of the week so it is quite a big thing to miss out on. Still, you are still free to look in all the weird and wonderful shops there are or you could go and get a drink outside, weather permitting and take in the views.

The area itself used to be residential back in the late 1800s when houses were built for Scottish and Irish immigrants going over to Toronto for work. Although there are still houses here, the main attraction is obviously what else is on offer. The market itself was set up in the 1900s by Jewish immigrants and then other cultures came along a bit later on. Some of the shops here though are actually old Victorian houses now that they are no longer used for that purpose.

What is so great about Kensington Market is the fact that it is so multicultural, showing the history of the area. The food shops and markets have offerings from all over the world and you can find pretty much anything here. Many of the market stall holders are very willing to give out small free samples in the hopes that they will eventually get a sale out of you. This gives you a chance to try something you maybe wouldn’t normally and to find something new and exciting. The staff on the stalls are always extremely helpful and polite and this makes a visit here so much more pleasant.

During the warmer months of the year, many of the cafes and restaurants have patio areas with tables and chairs placed outside.