
Though solidly yuppified, this erstwhile eastern European enclave has held on to its tradition of thriving small businesses. Neighbours are genuinely chummy, moms trade intel on good nannies and bad teachers (between Pilates classes in the park), and the main drag offers almost everything.
Start the Bloor West Village tour »

My Place View »
2448 Bloor St. W., 647-348-4702

Sam’s Barber Shop View »
34 Jane St.

Cecil Ward and Sons Men’s Shop View »
2416 Bloor St. W., 416-767-0717

The Coffee Tree View »
2412, Bloor St. W., 416-767-1077

Serenity Nails and Spa View »
2410 Bloor St. W., 416-769-9904

Sweet Flour Bake Shop View »
2352 Bloor St. W., 416-763-2253

Carload Food Market View »
2334 Bloor St. W., 416-767-8661

Sweet Gallery View »
2312 Bloor St. W

Max’s Market View »
2299 Bloor St. W., 416-766-6362

Bloor Meat Market View »
2283 Bloor St. W., 416-767-2105

Snappers Fish Market View »
63 Durie St., 416-767-4083

Queen’s Pasta Café View »
2263 Bloor St. W., 416-766-0993

Ling’s Importers View »
2257 Bloor St. W., 416-767-6233

Capucci’s View »
2254A Bloor St. W., 416-766-3287

Mahogany View »
2242 Bloor St. W., 647-348-3327

Bread and Roses View »
2232 Bloor St. W., 416-769-9898

Hot Oven Bakery View »
2226 Bloor St. W., 416-762-3036

Groom Pet Shop View »
2203 Bloor St. W., 416-762-0297

Runnymede Library View »
2178 Bloor St. W., 416-393‑7697

Periwinkle View »
2137 Bloor St. W., 416-551-2553




What about Bryden’s? A true neighbourhood pub. Great indie beer selction and excellent food.
November 2, 2010 at 12:38 pm | by swanseakidIt is a shame that Dr Generosity has been left off of this list. That place is a true neighbourhood favourite! There is nothing better for brunch in the area on the weekend and welcoming and attentive staff only compliment the consistently well prepared food!
November 2, 2010 at 2:41 pm | by bloor westIt is a real shame that all the Polish and Ukrainian butchers and bakers have disappeared. The article is right when it says the area has become yuppified.
November 2, 2010 at 2:59 pm | by PipesGlad you omitted the Yellow Griffen. Never seen a groupp of service people so self absorbed and able to ignore the diners. Wow it used to be a grea burger spot, now a place ot avoid.
November 3, 2010 at 8:47 am | by rikBloor West Village has lost its charm. The quirky, eclectic boutique stores are rapidly disappearing, I assume because of high rents. Although it’s possible the retailers themselves are keeping people away. They’re definitely not a welcoming bunch.
Just this morning, I noticed a store was having a big sale. Well, actually, I noticed the piece of paper taped to the front window that said, “You’re too late. Sale has ended.”
November 3, 2010 at 11:33 am | by Bloor WestieThanks for deeming our neighbourhood worthy of coverage. Although the houses are ridiculously $$ and we seriously lack any kind of ‘cool local’ hangout, the humber river makes BWV a wonderful place to live…Places overlooked include Trixie, (do not go to Mendocchino or Merry Go-Round!) Diaper-eez, Evymama, Breathe Yoga, and the Cheese Boutique. People come from all over the city to shop here? And it’s somewhat sad but true, Bryden’s–a gritty, ambience-free sports bar is the best food on the stretch. I agree with an earlier comment, the high rents must keep anything eclectic out. I’ll still be sad to leave when our need for a marginally larger home forces us out of the enclave…
November 3, 2010 at 11:57 am | by JFDSeconding the above: you left off Evymama, a beautiful store at Jane/Annette which has a wonderful selection of baby carriers and maternity/nursing wear.
Runnymede library is wonderful!
November 3, 2010 at 2:37 pm | by RanaeHey how about Sharkey’s Village Cafe?…seriously though it has to be one of the worst restaurants in the city, if not the world.
November 3, 2010 at 3:15 pm | by mattagascarSharkeys.
Refurbished last year. Service & Food —–Dont Go they suck
November 4, 2010 at 8:20 am | by MichaelYou missed the fabulous Busy Bee scrapbooking supplies. Glad you didn’t list Merry-Go-Round — has the snottiest, most condescending, insincere service in the city. The girls in there give customers the up and down as they walk in and tell you everything looks good on you just to make the sale. It’s too bad, cause their stock is pretty nice. Shop girls not so much.
November 4, 2010 at 8:21 am | by KarenYou missed a little gem!” “For Friends” is new to Bloor West Village and has one of the best gift shops ever. Unique, specialty gifts for babies to brides,(or friends)
November 4, 2010 at 8:27 am | by Lynda Kellyand many gift items can be personalized with embroidery in your choice of colours and words. Great for people that are hard to buy for.
As neighborhoods become yuppified, Queen West, Roncesvale, Bloor West, Beaches, Leslieville, etc. places for us common folk are becoming scarce and I can visualize us congregating under the bridges of the Gardner and buying from vendors whose products are displayed in castoff shopping carts…are these the hallmarks of a World Class City? Where are the restaurants where the cooks trained in lumber camps rather than AGO, where the servers were plumb rosy cheeked nymphs encased in hair nets and slapped you on the back of the head if you didn’t finish your borstch and the list gones on and on. Much success to those psuedo elitists…you will see me periodically when I have a decent win at the track of lotto but you are not part of my social fabric.
November 4, 2010 at 10:16 am | by WalterPI agree, Dr. Generosity is one of the restaurants that has consistently good food. Shame to leave it out.
Also: Snapper’s fish market is on the NE corner of Bloor and Windermere, nowhere close to where it is on the map :)
November 4, 2010 at 3:35 pm | by collinskatieI guess you didn’t check out the women’s fashion retailers when you were compiling your BWV Guide. I have to give a shout-out to Everhart, Trove and Accessorize Me. Definitely worth a visit, staff are helpful and friendly. And I totally agree with Karen and JDF regarding Merry Go Round where the staff is snooty, insincere and you just know they make snarky remarks about you when you leave. Too bad, clothes selection is decent but not worth the attitude treatment.
November 4, 2010 at 4:07 pm | by clotheshoundAlso, you missed Amber Restaurant–a dependable neigbourhood favourite when you need that fix of perogies, Siberian dumplings, or one of their outsize, thin and crispy schnitzels.
glad to see cheese boutique wasn’t covered…bunch of *ssholes…come to club monaco on bloor to see some professionalism. so there!
November 5, 2010 at 7:21 pm | by v.r.lasting