Just a nip East of downtown lies an area of the city so picturesque, you’ll swear it’s a movie set. And you’d be right! Toronto’s Distillery District has been the backdrop for over 1700 movies, including Chicago, Cinderella Man, and X-Men.

Seemingly frozen in time, except of course, for the trendy lofts, cool art galleries, and chic residents, the Distillery District’s become the perfect amalgamation of old and new, and is wonderful place to while away an afternoon.

The History and Revitalization

Gooderham & Worts manufactured whiskey and various hard liquors as well as industrial alcohols and antifreeze, used in both World Wars. The oldest building in the area dates back to 1859, and the revitalization project was challenging and expensive.

But in less than two years, 13 acres and over 40 decrepit buildings were transformed into a visionary project that has become a trendsetter for industrial rehabilitation throughout North America.

Shopping

The revitalized pedestrian district is bustling with cafes, art galleries and studios, and retail shops, and oddly, Canada’s first and largest Segway dealerships.

Grab an excellent fair-trade coffee at Balzac’s, and take a wander over to Cube-Works to marvel at the artistic masterpieces all created from Rubik’s Cubes.  Horsefeathers, one of Canada’s largest and renowned antique stores has just opened a location at the Distillery District, as has Lilith, the chic “up-cycling” boutique that repurposes designer cast-offs and vintage pieces into new clothes and accessories.

Wind up your afternoon with dinner underneath the impressive 22ft. wine rack at The Boiler House, and then wander over to the Mill St. Brew Pub for a quick organic beer.

Best of the Modern and the Past

It’s hard to believe that less than 10 years ago, the Distillery District area was left fallow—all dilapidated buildings and crumbling cobblestones. Now this tiny urban pocket and its lucky residents enjoy the best of both worlds with modern conveniences in a historic surrounding.