All Communities
As a proud west end native and local Realtor®, Julian Pilarski knows the west Toronto real estate market like the back of his hand. So when it comes to Toronto’s individual west end neighbourhoods and communities, he’s got a lot of great recommendations.
Find out more about some of our team’s favourite places to work, play, and live in the west end by reading our Toronto neighbourhood guides below.
Roncesvalles Village
Named after the highly-popular north-south street of Roncesvalles Avenue, Roncesvalles Village is a vibrant, widely celebrated neighbourhood in Toronto’s west end.
What was once considered a slightly seedier neighbourhood in the not-too-distant past, Roncesvalles Village (or Roncy, as the locals call it) has blossomed into a west end epicentre for arts, culture, shopping, food, and so much more.
Bordered by Bloor Street West to its north, Queen Street West and the lakeshore to its south, and stunning High Park to its west, Roncesvalles enjoys close proximity to some of Toronto’s most coveted west end attractions and amenities.
Although Roncesvalles has seen some major developments in recent years, small businesses still dominate this charming west end neighbourhood. Between Roncesvalles’ vast assortment of vintage boutiques, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, specialty food shops, theatres, galleries, and so much more, you can find just about anything you could ever need right here within the neighbourhood.
When it comes to Roncesvalles real estate, this area has a lot to offer. While most of the homes here are semi-detached or row houses, there are quite a few detached properties as well. Almost all the homes in Roncesvalles share features of old-world, Craftsman-style architecture, though it’s quite common to see updated modern homes here too.
Unfortunately, for condo buyers, there isn’t too much Roncesvalles has to offer, though surrounding neighbourhoods and strips of Queen Street West do have options nearby.
High Park
A namesake of one of Toronto’s most widely-loved and celebrated green spaces, High Park, the residential neighbourhood of High Park doesn’t fall far behind in terms of praise and acclaim.
Bordered by Bloor Street West to its south and Annette Street to its north, High Park is a primarily residential neighbourhood that covers a vast area of Toronto’s west end sidestreets.
Perched up above High Park public green space, most of the residential streets within High Park feature winding roads along rolling hills with mature trees. This type of residential scenery makes for an idyllic community to raise children in, as parents can feel safe knowing their kids are exploring the neighbourhood.
Along with its child-safe topography and fantastic access to public transit, local amenities, and High Park and other green spaces, High Park is also a fantastic school zone.
Well-known for the collection of highly-regarded schools local to the High Park area, there are plenty of choices for children of all ages and grade levels when it comes to education, which only furthers the neighbourhood’s family-friendly reputation.
In terms of the homes within High Park, the older structures generally share Edwardian, Victorian, and Tudor-style architectural features, whereas the newer homes built in the early 1900s tend to contain more Craftsman-style features. High Park is also home to a number of condo residents, who mostly live in buildings closer to Bloor Street West.
Bloor West Village
Coining its name from the strip of Bloor Street West that runs directly through the middle of this Toronto neighbourhood, Bloor West Village is a west end community that continues to uphold its reputation as one of the city’s most desirable neighbourhoods to live in year over year.
Celebrated for its vibrant and eclectic amenities and small-town atmosphere, this far-west Toronto neighbourhood is a constant hub of life and excitement. BWV’s thriving strip of Bloor Street West between Jane Street and High Park is the epicentre of this charming neighbourhood, with most residential areas to Bloor Street’s north and south.
Bloor West Village is best known for its amazing array of local shops, restaurants, cafes, bakeries, grocers, specialty food stores, and more, making it a go-to destination for those who love food and culture.
With fantastic access to public transit, including multiple subway stations along the east-to-west Bloor-Danforth line, getting around in Bloor West Village is a breeze. This only contributes to the tight-knit community culture found in BWV, as familiar faces are bound to be around every corner.
Most of the homes in Bloor West Village are generally smaller in size, whether they’re detached, semi-detached, or townhouses. What they lack in square footage, however, they make up for in charm. Expect to find quaint tree-lined streets and beautiful gardens along the residential side streets of Bloor West Village, with plenty of friendly faces and children about.
The Kingsway
Situated in northwestern Etobicoke along the western shores of the beautiful Humber River, The Kingsway is an affluent, highly-regarded residential neighbourhood.
Although The Kingsway is technically located outside of Toronto’s city boundaries, this Etobicoke neighbourhood competes with some of the most expensive, well-to-do residential communities in Toronto — including Forest Hill and The Bridlepath.
The Kingsway was originally farmland until it was bought up by Robert Home Smith in the early 1900s. Smith’s idea to develop the area into a luxe planned residential community designed for affluent families looking to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto still holds true today.
This residential-focused neighbourhood features most of the traits and amenities you would expect to find in a family-friendly community. From tree-lined streets, pedestrian-sized walkways, multiple schools, shopping areas, and public green spaces, The Kingsway is the ideal place for families to live and play.
The stretch of Bloor Street West that runs along the southernmost border of The Kingsway is home to a great selection of shops, boutiques, restaurants, cafes, and specialty shops, which residents of this Etobicoke neighbourhood frequently visit. Alternatively, the stretch of Dundas Street West that runs along the northernmost border of The Kingsway is another fantastic strip of local shops and amenities, though slightly less “posh” compared to Bloor Street.
As you might expect, it costs a pretty penny to buy real estate in this high-class residential neighbourhood, with average home prices in the multi-million dollar range. If you have the cash, you’ll find large mansion-worthy lots with plenty of space and privacy here.
Sunnylea
Travel south of The Kingsway’s Bloor Street West border, and you’ll find yourself in Etobicoke’s picturesque neighbourhood of Sunnylea. Equally as desirable at a slightly lower entry cost, Sunnylea is one of the most beautiful neighbourhoods in the Etobicoke region.
With the stunning Humber River to its eastern border, the Mimico Creek and Trail running through its midsection, and numerous public parks and green spaces nearby, Sunnylea has an abundance of natural beauty within its bounds.
Due to its vast amounts of appealing outdoor areas and tight-knit community atmosphere, this residential neighbourhood feels more like a countryside community than a neighbour to downtown Toronto. With generously-sized suburban-style lots that extend all the way down to the pavement and streets lined with mature trees, Sunnylea has its own unique charm considering its ideal locale.
This family-friendly Etobicoke neighbourhood is known for its superb selection of local schools, which have attracted many young families with school-age children to the area, along with its high safety ratings and outdoor recreational areas.
Residents of Sunnylea enjoy the wide variety of boutique shops and businesses along the stretch of Bloor Street West the community shares with The Kingsway. Here, lots of upscale stores, restaurants, cafes, and more provide Sunnylea locals with almost anything they could ever need.
As for the homes in Sunnylea, the area isn’t dominated by one style of architecture in particular. Everything from restored hundred-year-old farmhouses, mid-century bungalows, split-level Craftsmans, and suburban estate can be found here. However, whichever type of Sunnylea property you’re after will take a bit of saving up to buy.
Mimico
Located just south of the desirable Queensway Village [link to Queensway Village page] neighbourhood, Mimico is one of Etobicoke’s most charming lakeside neighbourhoods.
This quaint residential area has a very tight-knit community feel, where everyone seems to enjoy the peaceful natural beauty the neighbourhood has to offer and participates in annual local events, such as the Mimico Festival and Lakeshore Community Festival. In fact, until 1967, Mimico was its own independent municipality before being amalgamated into the Borough of Etobicoke.
While Mimico residents love to take advantage of the breathtaking lakefront views and public parks, as well as the many recreational facilities nearby, Mimico is primarily a residential community.
One of the biggest selling points of Mimico is its close proximity to downtown Toronto. Being just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Toronto’s busy downtown core means it’s easy for many Mimico residents to commute to Toronto for work every day.
Both the Gardiner Expressway and Lake Shore Boulevard West flow right through Mimico, while public transport lines like the Go Transit are also conveniently located.
The Mimico real estate market isn’t necessarily dominated by one major architectural style either, as the older homes here include both Tudor-style and Craftsman-style detached homes alongside a number of contemporary new builds and modern renovations.
Additionally, there have been a number of recent condo and townhouse developments within Mimico, offering new residents a modern and cost-effective alternative to single family homes within the local real estate market.
Lorne Park
Located along the breathtaking western shoreline of Lake Ontario, Lorne Park is a suburban residential neighbourhood in southern Mississauga. This family-oriented community is among Mississauga’s most beautiful neighbourhoods, both in terms of the homes and the scenery.
While certain pockets of Lorne Park contain some of the most high-end luxury homes anywhere in Mississauga, the community wasn’t always known as being one of the most coveted in the city. In fact, Lorne Park’s humble beginnings date all the way back to early pioneer settlements in the early 1800s.
What we know as Lorne Park today was actually once a resort and recreational area that was a popular holiday destination among residents of Toronto in the late 19th century. Due to changes in the economy, the holiday park was then converted into individual private cottages, which began to form the suburban residential neighbourhood of Lorne Park we know today.
With a plethora of long, winding streets lined with beautiful mature trees and lush greenery, Lorne Park’s original cottage country scenery has definitely been preserved. And, due to the multitude of local parks, playgrounds, and proximity to the stunning shoreline of Lake Ontario, there’s every reason for locals to get outside and explore the natural beauty of this breathtaking residential neighbourhood.
Those who presently live in Lorne Park are generally very family-oriented people. You’ll find many families with school-aged children due to the collection of highly-acclaimed local schools and safe neighbourhood settings. While the community is generally quite wholesome and laid-back, those who live in Lorne Park are also quite clearly comfortable financially.
To say the homes in Lorne Park today are much more impressive than their modest past is an understatement. The large, coveted lots within Lorne Park now house some of the most impressive modern, cottage-style homes anywhere in Mississauga, with an average price point in certain pockets well into the seven-figure mark.
It isn’t just the stunning setting of Lorne Park itself that attracts local residents, however, as the neighbourhood is also very conveniently placed for daily travel. Situated between the Queen Elizabeth Way and Lakeshore Road West, those who regularly travel by car or commute to work in nearby communities have easy access to the two major roadways.
For those who prefer public transport, the Mississauga Transit system provides dependable bus service to the area, including the 23 Lakeshore and 14 Lorne Park routes. In addition, Lorne Park’s easy access to the local waterfront trail systems, along with the quiet residential streets, make cycling a popular option in the warmer months too.
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