4 Shops to Hit on Toronto’s Queen Street West

How to shop and dress like a local in the YYZ.

Boutique shops and cafés in quaint low-rise storefronts line this epic strip of Queen Street West (a 40-minute-plus walk if you’re not stopping), and no stop is a bad stop. Start at Beaconsfield Avenue and work your way east.

1. Zane

A cool design mecca for everything from Toronto-made leather goods to bargain eyewear—plus legitimately great sales (like $20 Brixton hats in every colour).

2. Brika

Cute and cheerful boutique flush with adorable gifts, stationery, small geometric planters and avocado-shaped jewellery holders from talented local makers.

3. The Cure Apothecary

Nitasha Goelʼs well-curated shop is all about all-natural and small-batch products from quality makers (local and abroad). Find buzzed-about face masks from Artifact Skin Co. alongside hand-made lavender and herb Mabrook and Co. deodorant and new hand-picked skin-care favourites you haven’t heard about yet.

4. Neat

An organizer’s dream of space-editing essentials. Locals may gravitate to the bigger home stuff in the back, but my heart beats for the robust travel accessory section (packing cubes, GoToobs, fitness kits with tensor bands). I will be back.

What the Locals Are Wearing

T.O. gets a rep for being more metropolitan in the face of our West Coast casual, but really they’re a big town that loves to rock tried-and-true basics that take you from Jays game to after-work cocktails.

The JacketFor women it was all about the black leather moto. Cropped and belted, itʼs thrown over everything from black tights with oversized tees and black runners to LBDs. Madewell, $664, nordstrom.com

The HatThis classic Toronto Blue Jays cap was the No. 1 accessory for men and women, day or night, even when hitting the town. (Jays pride goes with everything.) $43, lids.ca

The SweaterA cheeky staple from locally founded brand Peace Collective. The one-for-one company donates a portion of its sales to kids in need and has a flagship store on Ossington Avenue. Obviously, outside of Toronto, itʼs only to be worn as jammies. $65, peace-collective.com

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