A Day in Leslieville
The East End neighbourhood is more than just a place for families to buy homes—spend a day discovering all of the dining and design options Leslieville has to offer
Known for its plentiful cafes, vintage shops and red brick semis, Leslieville is a great place to walk around for the day. Use this itinerary to hop from hidden gem restaurants to design destinations, starting and ending on Gerrard Street East. From a cult-favourite sourdough pizza spot to a gallery filled with Canadian artists and a place to pause for a mindfulness moment—consider this your guide to the perfect walkable loop of the ‘ville.
Image courtesy of Alice Marie.
Alice Marie, 807 Gerrard Street East
At coffee shop and bakery Alice Marie, a fluted wood island is topped with stacks of pastries made by owner and pastry chef Rachelle Cornish, formerly of Michelin-recognized White Lily Diner. Grab a silky espresso drink and perfectly crispy-on-the-outside, squishy-soft-on-the-inside cheddar and chive scone or the signature Deep N’ Nostalgic chocolate cake to start your day.
Slow Medicine Co., 250 Carlaw Avenue, Suite 101
Tucked into the side of an unassuming industrial building, Slow Medicine Co.’s interiors (courtesy of Studio One Fifty) will immediately relax you. The burgundy-tiled front desk is flanked by a matching bar for tea and water and a built-in sofa and neon sign reminding you “slow down, you’re doing fine.” Stop in for everything wellness from acupuncture to emotional well-being workshops, yoga classes or even a soundbath under cloud-shaped pendant lights.
Image courtesy of Bettencourt Manor.
Image courtesy of Bettencourt Manor.
Image courtesy of Bettencourt Manor.
Bettencourt Manor, 1097 Queen Street East
Make your way over to Bettencourt Manor on Queen Street. The chic black-painted exterior and gold sign beckon you into a shop filled with contemporary furniture and decor, vintage accents and Matthew and Rick Bettencourt’s design studio. Don’t miss the pair’s new collaboration with San Marco on a line of lime mineral paint inspired by an Italian vacation.
Image courtesy of Black Rooster Decor, Leslieville.
Black Rooster Decor, 1075 Queen Street East
Just a few doors down is Black Rooster Decor, a furniture showroom featuring a rotating selection of everything from rugs to lighting, including new collections by Jonathan Adler. Simple white walls and concrete floors showcase the store’s focus on North American and sustainable furnishings, while hundreds more products are available online.
Image courtesy of Luminaire Authentik.
Luminaire Authentik, 1027 Queen Street East
The design sojourn continues on Queen East with Luminaire Authentik and its stunning Canadian designed and crafted light fixtures. Inspired by organic and minimalist styles, custom lighting for residential and commercial projects is its specialty, but you can also select from a variety of recent collections showcased in this outpost.
Photography by Hector Vasquez.
Slowhand Sourdough Pizza, 99 Pape Avenue
Less than a block away, stop in to Slowhand Sourdough Pizza for Detroit-style deep dish pizza. Opt for a classic like Double Trouble with pepperoni, tomato sauce and mozzarella or think outside the box and order the What’s The Dill Yo? topped with roasted garlic sauce, mozzarella and swiss, dill pickles and finished with a mustard drizzle—just trust us.
Image courtesy of Good Neighbour.
Clothing shops in Leslieville.
Good Neighbour.
Good Neighbour, 935 Queen Street East
A local favourite, Good Neighbour has a curated selection of impeccable clothing and shoes, homewares and great gifts. The converted heritage house, which used to be a production facility for Degrassi, has all the charm you’d want for the area. Make your way up to the second floor to explore a variety of colourful dishes, bar accessories and kitchen tools.
Queen Books.
Queen Books.
A Leslieville Neighbourhood Guide.
Toronto’s East End Bookshops.
Queen Books in Leslieville.
Queen Books, 914 Queen Street East
Head down the street to indie shop and Leslieville treasure Queen Books for its fiction-filled windows topped with books carved into the wood exterior and paintings of people reading. Inside are a wide-selection of volumes or check the events calendar for genre-focused book clubs and author events.
Image courtesy of Dianna Witte Gallery.
Dianna Witte Gallery, 1122 Dundas Street East
Dianna Witte Gallery is a contemporary art gallery focused mainly on Canadian artists, including an exhibition that just wrapped up for Jeff Depner and his geometric works. Pop in to discover other Canadian artists like Kim Atlin and her forest-inspired paintings or Corri-Lynn Tetz’s unique take on portraiture.
Photography by Lauren Wesanko.
Photography by Lauren Wesanko.
Photography by Lauren Wesanko.
Photography by Daniel Neuhaus.
Photography by Daniel Neuhaus.
Wynona, 819 Gerrard Street East
Make your way back up to Gerrard Street East to finish the day at Michelin Bib Gourmand restaurant Wynona. Whitewashed brick walls and slatted wood booths line the cosy stylish Leslieville bistro. But the real eye-catcher is the open kitchen pumping out beautiful Mediterranean dishes like the branzino with brown butter, cerignola olives and capers. The perfect finishing note for your day.
