The Annex is one of the most lively downtown communities in Toronto and surrounds the University of Toronto. Stretching for a kilometre along Bloor Street West the Annex offers visitors an intoxicating blend of beautiful old homes, art galleries, theatres, coffee shops, bookstores, restaurants and bars.
Living in The Annex
The Annex is Toronto’s most diverse community. Its residents include successful business people, prominent artists, University of Toronto students and faculty, and people from all walks of life. With its tree-lined streets, great indie stores and student energy, the Annex – bordered in the north by Dupont, in the south by Bloor and by Bathurst and Avenue Road on the west and east respectively – is a dynamic neighbourhood with a buzzing nightlife and vibrant street scene.
When it comes to living in The Annex, there is no shortage of things to do in here, making it a destination on weekends for those exploring Toronto. You can find times to visit one of Canada’s most intriguing museums, the Royal Ontario Museum (or ROM for short). Watch documentaries and movies that have more clout than cash at Hot Docs Cinema or indulge your shoe fetish at the Bata Shoe Museum.
Where to Eat and Drink in The Annex
The Toronto institution of “brunching” has taken over the city, and there is no shortage of options in The Annex. Long-running brunch locations like Bloor’s Insomnia (order the Caesar with horseradish to help with the hangover) and Bathurst’s Grapefruit Moon (Morning Glory Burger is a must) have helped residents start their days for decades. Up on Dupont, Fanny Chadwicks does crepe-like Finnish pancakes and bennies with beer-infused hollandaise.
If you’re looking for a spot to impress a first (or second) date, Fat Pasha is always a good idea, where you’ll find fantastic sharable Middle Eastern/Jewish eats. The colder winter months are perfect for a visit to Rose & Sons where comfort food is their specialty. Another favourite of ours has to be Playa Cabana where you’ll find perfect tacos and the best tequila selection around.
The Annex Real Estate
The Annex real estate is mainly residential, where streets are lined with huge trees dwarfing the massive Victorian and Edwardian homes and mansions, most of them built between 1880 and the early 1900s. The 1950s and 1960s saw the replacement of some homes and mansions with mid-rise and a handful of high-rise apartment buildings, but thanks to the Government freeze of development in 1975 for any buildings higher than 45 feet, most of the homes have been unscathed.
There are now over 500 buildings in the Annex protected by the Historical Board of Toronto, so developers have less chance of maximizing their ventures by tearing down old mansions and developing low rises and townhouse complexes. Because of its proximity to the university, the Annex has a high rate of seasonal tenant turnover, and its residents range from university students to older long-time residents. Many of the rooming houses and multi-unit homes in the Annex have recently been converted back to single family houses reflecting the return to prominence of this historic Toronto neighbourhood.
For those looking for a vibrant neighbourhood with plenty of character and charm, living in The Annex should be at the top of your list.