Distillery District

The Distillery District in Toronto is slowly becoming one of my favorite places to go to in the city. For those of you who are following me on my twitter account may have remembered me gushing about my first visit to the District when I went to Balzac's Coffee. Well, since then I decided to come back and actually explore the neighborhood a little bit more in the daylight.

For those of you who are not aware, the Distillery District was a manufacturing area for alcoholic beverages back in the 1800s, founded by a company called Gooderham and Worts. They were once the largest distillers of alcohol in Canada and eventually closed down in the 20th century. Since then, it has been redeveloped to become one of the most historically preserved neighborhoods in Toronto presenting a mixture of Victorian and modern architecture.







The District almost feels like a calming getaway from the hustle and bustle of downtown Toronto. Hidden in a little corner off of Parliament street, any tourists would not even realize the place existed. I almost got lost trying to find it, but once you actually get there, you ultimately feel like you've been transported into a different world. While its architecture does make you feel like you're wandering the streets of 18th century Europe, its unique boutiques, restaurants, cafes and art galleries brings you back to the distinctiveness of the city of Toronto.





Some of my must-visits there include: Balzac's Coffee, Bergo Designs (a modern furniture store) and Soma Chocolate Maker.

Soma Chocolate Maker is probably my favorite eatery there after Balzac's Coffee. It's one of those unique places that when you walk in, you can't just leave without buying or trying anything. So of course, I had to. The unique thing about them is that their chocolate is made in their store. Their cocoa beans aren't local and bought from plantations all over the world, some of which include Madagascar and Costa Rica. AND it's all fair trade and organic. Of course the price range is a little steep, but it is definitely worth it. The chocolate is so delicate that when shopping around, you can't really hold onto the chocolate for too long because it melts at body temperature. I tried their Peruvian milk chocolate and of course their famous hot chocolate to wash it down with and needless to say, it was to die for.







Whether you're a local or just visiting, the Distillery District is definitely a place to hit for anyone who hasn't been there yet. I am personally looking forward to the summer, where I probably will spend a great deal of my time there.



Until my next adventure, good night and good reading!