Roncesvalles is locavore heaven and home<br />to the city’s best pierogies
Roncesvalles is locavore heaven and home
to the city’s best pierogies

Real Estate Guide › West

Roncesvalles

Median 2007 sale price:
$615,000
Property crime:
very low
Crime against people:
very low
Neighbourhood map:
See map

Unlike Parkdale to the south, Roncesvalles was spared from the past century’s blockbuster developments. Indeed, it is one of the leafiest areas in the city, with soaring oaks, blowsy perennial gardens and almost no front pad parking. Agents will tell you that the neighbourhood’s main selling feature is Roncesvalles Avenue’s quaint organic cafés, Thai restaurants, toy shops and greengrocers on every corner. But the well-preserved Victorian and Edwardians, featuring lot sizes that tend to be more deep and generous than their east-end counterparts, are as much of a draw. The once-strong Polish flavour (delis and bakeries are the remnants) has been almost entirely replaced by a Prius-driving crowd that sends its kids to nearby Montessori schools and jogs in Sorauren Park—site of an annual day-after-Halloween jack-o’-lantern display and, for the many dog owners, the destination of a thrice-daily pilgrimage. The vocal residents’ association is more than 30 years old, and recently transformed a former linseed oil factory on the edge of the park into a rec centre. Joining in on this community spirit doesn’t come cheap: with the recent real estate boom, a detached house in need of a gut job starts at half a million.

HOUSING STOCK: Expect a mix of well-preserved Edwardians and Victorians, often with finished third storeys and five big bedrooms. As the neighbourhood gentrifies, many homes are being converted back to single-family dwellings.

BARGAIN ZONES: Prices rise as you stroll close to Roncesvalles, and semis east of Sorauren that were once a steal now start at $500,000. Streets closer to Queen (Fuller, Virtue, Harvard, Callendar) still have semis under $500,000, but these are in need of total renos. The top stretch of Macdonell (near the GO Transit tracks) and its bottom quarter (near the gritty strip of Queen) await gentrification. North of Dundas, Morrow and Golden offer both cheaper worker’s cottages (just behind Loblaws) for those who are priced out of the grander streets to the south.

THE VERDICT: A favourite of stroller-pushing parents, Roncesvalles has family-sized houses, an excess of locavore amenities, quiet and shaded streets that are just a minute from the park—all at less than you’d pay in High Park or midtown.

NEIGHBOURHOOD HOT SPOTS:
Balluchon A new arrival in the area, Balluchon offers organic coffee and gourmet takeout made by Gamelle, a well-regarded College Street bistro. 221 Sorauren Ave., 416-516-8980.
Granowska’s Bakery The venerable bakery makes perfect Polish pastries and some of the city’s best pierogies. 175 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-533-7755.
Revue Cinema After neighbourhood outcry, the recently reopened Revue once again plays second-run movies. 400 Roncesvalles Ave., 416-531-9950.
Thin Blue Line Cheese Stop at this truly tiny fromagerie for outstanding artisanal cheese and bread. 93B Roncesvalles Ave., 416-840-6966.

Nearby Restaurants
Mitzi’s

Vintage ’50s Formica tables, a salvaged church pew and mismatched chairs seat locals cheek-by-jowl in ... (0.40 km away)

Aris’ Place Family Restaurant

With its wall-mounted antlers and men’s lodge vibe, this Roncesvalles Village restaurant offers a mix ... (0.58 km away)

Buddha Dog

This ain’t your average chemical-laden wiener and stale bun hot dog joint. Buddha Dog steps ... (0.59 km away)

Chopin Restaurant

An upright piano, framed sketches and regular classical performances serenade the composer’s ghost at this ... (0.59 km away)

Krak

Above the twinkling bar, a dragon breathes fire in a pretty pastoral scene at this ... (0.59 km away)

Granowska’s Bakery

This sweet Roncesvalles bakery is famed for its Polish jelly doughnuts (paczki), but it offers ... (0.59 km away)

Lala Bar Café

Romantic black-and-white posters and photographs line the exposed brick and cinnamon-coloured walls of this stylish ... (0.61 km away)

Nearby Shopping and Services
Balluchon

Raymond Emes, owner of this quaint French takeout spot, custom-roasts his fair-trade coffee beans in ... (0.15 km away)

Addison's Inc.

Shuttle back in time by exploring this hotbed of plumbing and heating artifacts, including antique ... (0.17 km away)

Addison's

Comprising nooks, crannies and seemingly secret passageways, Addison’s is the Old Curiosity Shop of the ... (0.19 km away)

Ko Fruit Market & Lol Juice Bar

After a 22-year run as a “buy low, sell low” veg store, a revamped Ko ... (0.62 km away)

Benna’s Bakery & Deli

Towering skids of eastern European treats—jarred pickles, sauerkraut, beets, herring—fill this bustling Polish deli. The ... (0.63 km away)

The Queen of Tarts

A tug on the airplane-shaped handle opens the door to a quirky, nostalgia-inducing realm where ... (0.64 km away)

Super Kolbasa

Matronly ladies behind huge display fridges dish out superb Old World savoury treats in this ... (0.64 km away)

Commuting
King and Bay:
4.9 km
Gardiner and 427:
9.4 km
401 and 400:
9.9 km
Subways:
Dundas West Station 1.4 km
Dufferin Station 1.6 km
Keele Station 1.7 km

Commuting and subway distances measured from neighbourhood centre.

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