Kensington Market
Kensington Market
4
About
Immerse yourself in the heart of Toronto’s bohemian culture at Kensington Market. Restaurants and hole-in-the-wall eateries offering food from all over the world are interspersed with vintage thrift shops, coffee joints, tattoo parlors, bars, art galleries, and Victorian-style houses. The area is part gritty, part chaotic but it has tons of personality. The best time to visit is on Pedestrian Sundays (last Sunday of the month from May to October), when street parties and festivals are the highlights. Take public transportation to get there as parking is hard to come by. You can experience the neighborhood on a food, walking, or bike tour. – Tripadvisor
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Chinatown
Toronto's main Chinatown has the honor of being the largest in North America. Gaping down across Dundas Street West and Spadina Avenue, the area is a wonderful medley of shops and restaurants, busy signs and bright red gates, a destination for foodie fun. Chinatown's streets are always bustling, packed with people and outdoor stalls hawking fresh produce and products. The restaurants and authentic marketplaces that shoulder in against each other display shining roast ducks and menus studded with dumplings and noodle bowls. The air is pervaded with music. different languages, and the smell of fried food and mouth-watering desserts. Chinatown's restaurants represent a broad range of fare, from traditional Szechuan and Shanghai foods, to other Asian delicacies, including some of the top Japanese, Vietnamese, and Korean spots in the city. Whether you're in the mood for a sit-down tea house or a bubble tea to go, Chinatown is the spot to enjoy an exciting walk and the promise of leaving satisfied.
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See what travellers are saying
  • Aerowing
    Monee, Illinois5,039 contributions
    4.0 of 5 bubbles
    Worth a Visit
    This is a bohemian style neighborhood in Toronto worth checking out at least once when you’re here There’s plenty of shops and restaurants to see. It’s very close to the Chinatown part of the town too. There’s plenty of thrift shops along the streets as well, but they tend to be a bit pricey. Plan on spending at least 2 to 3 hours here to check out everything.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 22 September 2023
  • therichastill
    Stevenage, United Kingdom2,719 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    A Market for Outsiders
    In the spirit of other markets around the world Kensington Market is a place to visit if you like things a little different. It is reminiscent of Camden Market in London and there are shops and stalls to get things like hats or sunglasses. There are also stores selling vintage clothes and food from around the world too. One thing you will see here that you will not see in London is the dispensaries where you can buy cannabis. It's legal in Canada but make sure if you do want to buy something that you have your ID. One of the things I loved was the street art which is in abundance on walls and also on the roads as well. There is also a car there that has become art. It is covered with different designs and has plants growing out of the windows too. Superb! Go and check it out. You may come away with an opened mind.
    Visited October 2023
    Travelled with family
    Written 18 November 2023
  • Stewarts Vacation
    1,035 contributions
    3.0 of 5 bubbles
    Wrong timing!
    Unfortunately we visited the area too early in the day. Most of the shops were closed and the area was pretty deserted with none of the vibe that we had read about. We still enjoyed walking through the eclectic neighbourhood with colourful shop fronts and Victorian row houses. I'd definitely suggest an afternoon/evening visit.
    Visited September 2023
    Travelled as a couple
    Written 30 December 2023
  • Ari G
    Rosenberg, Texas3 contributions
    5.0 of 5 bubbles
    Stores of curiosity in the
    Over the weekend I had chance to finally visit Toronto. I asked some locals about things to do in there and everyone suggested going to Kensington Market. I love this place because it was just average type of flea Market but you had a variety of different stores and restaurants. Rather you are looking for trendy fashion or thrifting. The food restaurants available were all over the place and they had some really great sweet shops. Also enjoy all the street art and murals all around.
    Visited January 2024
    Travelled with friends
    Written 20 January 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

Popular mentions

4.0
4.0 of 5 bubbles2,975 reviews
Excellent
1,322
Very good
1,003
Average
419
Poor
144
Terrible
87

Svetlana K
2 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
It was awful with nothing to do. It was disgusting with homeless drunk people all over the place there was a répondant smell and it is extremely overrated.
Written 8 March 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ari G
Rosenberg, TX3 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Jan 2024 • Friends
Over the weekend I had chance to finally visit Toronto. I asked some locals about things to do in there and everyone suggested going to Kensington Market. I love this place because it was just average type of flea Market but you had a variety of different stores and restaurants. Rather you are looking for trendy fashion or thrifting. The food restaurants available were all over the place and they had some really great sweet shops. Also enjoy all the street art and murals all around.
Written 20 January 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Stewarts Vacation
1,035 contributions
3.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
Unfortunately we visited the area too early in the day. Most of the shops were closed and the area was pretty deserted with none of the vibe that we had read about. We still enjoyed walking through the eclectic neighbourhood with colourful shop fronts and Victorian row houses. I'd definitely suggest an afternoon/evening visit.
Written 30 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

erica H
Ankara, Türkiye12 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Dec 2023 • Family
This is a small Gym in Toronto and a great place for local color/fare. Gus's tacos are supposedly the best in Toronto, there is a Birriaria, and Brunner Vegan bakery.
Written 26 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

therichastill
Stevenage, UK2,719 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Family
In the spirit of other markets around the world Kensington Market is a place to visit if you like things a little different.

It is reminiscent of Camden Market in London and there are shops and stalls to get things like hats or sunglasses. There are also stores selling vintage clothes and food from around the world too. One thing you will see here that you will not see in London is the dispensaries where you can buy cannabis. It's legal in Canada but make sure if you do want to buy something that you have your ID.

One of the things I loved was the street art which is in abundance on walls and also on the roads as well. There is also a car there that has become art. It is covered with different designs and has plants growing out of the windows too. Superb!

Go and check it out. You may come away with an opened mind.
Written 18 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Pete B
Skipton, UK6 contributions
5.0 of 5 bubbles
Nov 2023 • Family
Liked it. Good selection of quirky shops. Lots of choice, lots of variety.
An under rated part of town.
Written 13 November 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JoeRockhead321
Norwood, Canada54 contributions
2.0 of 5 bubbles
Oct 2023 • Solo
If inhaling smoke from all the pot smokers/addicts is your thing then the Kensington Market is the place for you. Two overdosed individual that required naloxone was the highlight. The cat calls and aggressive pan handlers were awesome too. I think there is a homeless shelter where two guys got into an all out brawl after a screaming match was a highlight as well. I learned some new word combinations I had never heard before. The shops are run down, the streets are dirty (watch out for needles/syringes). Lots of places to eat if you dare.
Written 21 October 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Aerowing
Monee, IL5,039 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Sept 2023 • Couples
This is a bohemian style neighborhood in Toronto worth checking out at least once when you’re here
There’s plenty of shops and restaurants to see. It’s very close to the Chinatown part of the town too. There’s plenty of thrift shops along the streets as well, but they tend to be a bit pricey.
Plan on spending at least 2 to 3 hours here to check out everything.
Written 22 September 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

telekenetic
li, ny11 contributions
1.0 of 5 bubbles
Aug 2023 • Friends
Awful. Run-down collection of uncaring merchants capitalizing on what may have once been legitimate bohemian cachet. Filthy streets and storefronts just waiting for rock bottom value before Toronto’s grey/blue glass sky-tower developers raze the whole place. Proximity to homeless shelter and Chinatown skid row creates a self-perpetuating supply of roving mental patients that adds to the overall low-key threatening ambiance. An overnight in Toronto’s drunk tank lockup is a good bet for a similar experience.
Written 26 August 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

PattyG08
Livonia, NY38 contributions
4.0 of 5 bubbles
Jun 2023 • Friends
Interesting shops and tons of food. Made the mistake of going after lunch & couldn’t eat all the wonderful things we saw! Churros, birria tacos, all the things looked delicious.
Written 10 July 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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KENSINGTON MARKET: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

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