Ok, so I was not entirely sure what to expect here, I pictured in my head a marketplace with a bunch of trinkets and shiny things to peddle to tourists. What it actually is, is a small neighborhood of fantastic little boho shops, restaurants and cafe's. There is artwork all over the place, on buildings, for sale in yards, featured in most of the shops. It is just so relaxing, and a great way to destress, just walking around this area, talking to people, popping into shops and enjoying some coffee. I highly recommend adding this stop when visiting the city, public transportation has stops all close enough to easily get here and enjoy your day! read more

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Quirky neighborhood, a few blocks of stores, restaurants, and services. Many options for ethnic food options. Cannabis and mushroom stores are available. read more

This is a cool area because you get to be a part of the bustling environment where there's a bunch of restaurants and thrift shops. This is literally the hub if you want to see thrift shops and then grab a brunch or lunch after. We made the mistake of going too early in the morning before anything opened though so maybe go at like 12 pm. We had some great matcha and an eggs Benedict around the area after we went thrifting. Great selection of items for pretty decent prices. Lots of variety, and not much to say about service! read more

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It was mid. I didn't find many pieces I liked. The food shops near were pretty okay, though. A lot of the staff were kind.

If you have an afternoon to spare and want to explore a neighborhood on foot, then Kensington Market is your place. It is the most walkable neighborhood, full of independent shops, nearly dilapidated houses being still lived in, and brightly colored alleyways. The 'backstreet' vibe shifts to thrift-store/flee market vibe into food street within minutes. There is always more to discover and explore when you are done exploring. An afternoon is well-spent at Kensington market. read more

Kensington Market - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

This is a great bohemian section of Toronto, not far from Chinatown. Kensington Market is a neighborhood that draws artists and tourists to its indie shops, vintage boutiques and arts spaces. The Market area itself is also home to a wide array of specialty grocers, bakeries and cheese shops. Hipsters frequent trendy bars, cafes and international restaurants that range from casual to fine dining. We loved spending time and checking out the different restaurants, cafes and vendors.... On the last Sunday of the month, they close the main street for pedestrians only. read more

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This neighborhood turned outdoor market area is so stinking cute and 100% our family's vibe. We kept reading bad reviews and eventually realized they must have been written by pretentious a-holes, because we loved our time here! The shops are so eclectic so there was a huge selection - you could definitely find what you're looking here somewhere if you search hard enough! Loved our time here and strolling through the neighborhood and shops (both indoor and out!) read more

This is a cute little outdoor marketplace in the heart of Toronto. Do not go here thinking it's an indoor building with markets inside them. I initially thought that's what it was and was surprised to find that it was a collection of vendors around a couple of blocks. The vibes are sooo artsy and eclectic. There are a lot of different vendors, from bakeries, takoyaki shops, taquerias, pubs, tapestry shops, jewelry shops, etc. It was just fun to go around and see everything that's going on. There are a lot of different places to stop by and try different things, so if you have time to casually walk around, Kensington Market has a lot to offer. read more

To really appreciate this neighborhood you need the history. I hate tours. But if your interested in the Jewish history of this area or want to explore the depths of this area, you need to take the Jewish Walking Tour by Michael Wex, author of Born to Kvetch. Michael Wex is a gold mine. His Toronto Jewish Walking Tour through the Old Jewish Kensington Market neighborhood is a vibrant tour bringing the rich past history of this neighborhood, its people, culture and community back to life. Michael knows the history but also lived in its midst. Even more than the tour itself is Michael. A very humble and unassuming fellow sojourner and seeker in life. If you desire to explore or expand your knowledge and experience of authentic Jewishness or Jewish living and our Jewish ancestors that fled persecution and immigrated to the United States, come hang out with Michael. Michael can easily field general or specific questions about Jewish life, customs and teachings. He clearly has the learning, training and teaching acumen of the most famous and learned Rabbis. Arrange time for your small group to walk or just meet and sit down and talk. He is knowledgeable in the Torah; the Prophets; Jewish Traditions; the major and minor prophets; the Talmud; Midrash; Jewish history; famous commentators including Rashi, Maimonides and others; extremely knowledgeable in World Religions; and well versed and comprehends the Christian perspective and can respectfully share a completely authentic Jewish interpretation of it as any great professor should. Personally, I search for meaning in life, in my life. I question and wonder and marvel and fret over life. I grew up Jewish but in a very secular non-Jewish world. I didn't know how Jewish I was until I went to work in L.A. at a Jewish law firm (Fischer, Krane, Jacobs and Kabat; and then Spolin Krane et al.) Michael helped me put greater depth and understanding to my human experience and in being Jewish. Michael did not ask me to write this and I did not know him prior to spending an hour and a half with him on his tour. I just found the time very profound and enthusiastically just want others to experience the same. Michael is a great non-intrusive resource to anyone desiring a deeper understanding and experience of what is authentically Jewish. In my book, he is the quintessential Jew. Does he Kvetch or maybe give you reason to Kvetch, sure, that's what makes him the most perfect Jew. Is there any one way to be Jewish? Of course not. I think he would protest any description of himself of being any type of Jew, he is just jewish. read more

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Kensington Market is such a beautiful, eclectic radius of mural art and food! Paradise for me!!! There's absolutely too much explore just one time, so I look forward to roaming the area again when I'm in town. One of the things I like the most is how it's its own centerpiece in a bustling area. First, I explored on my own, then, later a friend (who's also a local) showed me around and gave recommendations on the best food spots. There were endless blocks and alleys of mural art paintings and a new place to eat at every turn. The competing aromas of food in the air pulled me in every direction. I loved it!!! If you're ever in the Toronto area, do yourself a favor and check it out! read more

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Not your average market. It's more of a neighborhood filled with eclectic shops, restaurants and bars. I loved the vibe . So laid back easy going and filled with so much food I'd never tried before . Be warned it's not a indoor market. Total street market . Lots of cool vintage shops, with fun gift things or a random tshirt. We loved the food as always . We tried the moonbean coffee company, they carry some amazing pastries and snacks and the real deal coffee and drinks. Then we had the taki yaki . Amazing. The Momos at Tibet cafe a must! The Jamaican beef Patties at the Caribbean store. A fabulous treat and the original The churros at I love churros. Melt in your mouth with the chocolate inside. Delish and a great way to get a sweet treat. We ended with an amazing affagato at Dolce. Yes do this . You won't regret it. Located near Chinatown and with some great artsy graffiti along the street alleys this is a great location and a must do in Toronto. read more

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"I'm in love with the Queen of the Supermarket As the evening sky turns blue A dream awaits in aisle number two" (Bruce Springsteen) I'm guessing that Kensington Market is a little more interesting and vibrant on weekend nights than it was on the Thursday afternoon we visited. It's not a market in the traditional sense of the word, like the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Quincy Market in Boston or Parkville Market in Hartford. Instead, the word "market" describes a neighborhood full of food, clothing, souvenir stores, ice cream and coffee shops, and taverns. I just checked out the Market's website and stopped counting after I hit 120 businesses, so there's plenty to choose from. We ducked into a few stores and I picked up some apples from Oxford Fruits- that was a very cool store with a ton of great merchandise. I'm sure that a big crowd when they close the streets to traffic brings a lot more energy to the neighborhood than we saw. read more

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This is a cool place to visit whether you're shopping, eating, or drinking. You don't need a car to come here, you can easily walk or take the TTC. I would describe this area as hipster/trendy, judging from the artwork and restaurant buildings. This is not just one street area, there are multiple streets so make sure you check out everything. Food is diverse, I saw Mexican, Jamaican, pub, vegan, Indian, etc. Most places that I saw had some seating inside, but you can also take your food and eat it at the nearby park. read more

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I have a ton of fond memories visiting Kensington Market. When I was a kid, it was primarily my mom who took me to this area after visiting Chinatown. In Cantonese, my parents referred to this place (I'm translating) as the Jewish street market. It didn't make sense to me growing up. It was more a multicultural, vibrant mixture of stores, eateries, and more that made it special. It turns out that this neighbourhood's origins were Jewish, and changed over time as Caribbean and Asian immigrants came over here. We often dropped by to get produce. It always looked fresh and colourful to this kid. I have a feeling that I had my first beef patty here, but I don't recall the name of the place. When my parents and I moved to Markham (my first stint), we ended up getting patties in Scarborough, so I rarely hit Kensington Market. I loved looking at all the colourful, eclectic clothing. It was culturally fascinating to me. I spent more time in this neighbourhood in my high school years. I took Cantonese classes on Saturday in Chinatown. I'd often walk over to Kensington Market, grab a snack or something to drink, and head home on the streetcar or bus. The Spadina 77 trolley buses have been replaced by streetcars. Memories of hauling bags of groceries with my mom on the bus and trying not to fall over still endure. I recently returned briefly to Kensington Market to visit Little Pebbles Cafe. Man, has this area changed! It felt like I had moved away from Toronto again and came back scratching my head, trying to figure out what used to be there. It feels more commercialized. You can still get patties and roti. There are more cafes and street food that you wouldn't imagine seeing a decade ago or more, such as takoyaki from Takoyaki Six or croffles from Little Pebbles. I enjoyed getting a hot chocolate from a robot at RC Coffee. It would have been weird a decade ago or earlier. My recent visit was my first time driving to this area as an adult. It felt weird. It was pretty busy on a Friday afternoon. There were more preppy people parking on the street, with cars far more expensive than mine. The times, they are a-changing, sang Bob Dylan. The colourful Victorian-style homes are still there. I do remember them and am glad that they still exist. I would be mortified if they were torn down in favour of cookie-cutter condominiums. I have always enjoyed walking down the narrow streets and checking out the businesses. I need to return and do it. However, I'll probably do it on a weekday when it's not rush hour and crazy busy. Kensington Market is cool and is worth dropping by, whether you are a local or a tourist. I feel like I'm both these days and there's plenty to discover and take in, from gifts to street food. (101) read more

Kensington Market - Little Pebbles Cafe - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

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This was a cute area to visit. It's a street with a bunch of different store that's you can stop and visit. The items are very eclectic and there is a wide variety of stores to visit. Its simple and cute and around the corner from another strip of clothing stores. It was nice to walk around and check out what everyone was selling. They also had some cute food spots: there was a bakery and also the patty spot. It was a very low key vibe which I feel would be completely different at another time of day. I definitely think it's worth a second visit perhaps when more things are happening. If you enjoy window shopping than this place is definitely for you because there's so many different shops to visit. read more

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Definitely one of the must visit neighborhood of Toronto according to TripAdvisor. B and I came to visit this neighborhood and they have some pretty interesting food/restaurants. There are lots of artistic murals and of course graffiti as well on top. It is a busy neighborhood with lots going on. The vibe is different compared to the other neighborhood. Only thing is that I am not sure what makes this neighborhood to be a must visit tourist attraction. Is it the trendy vibe? or is it the younger crowd vibe? is this similar to Chinatown or Little Italy but this neighborhood more Jamican focus? Kensington Market is close to Chinatown. read more

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Ok I'll admit I was at first disappointed by this market. Walking the perimeter I thought this is it? What the heck? But as we started to move inward, the streets were lined with cute local stores with gifts, food, cheese, sweets and thrift shops. We had already eaten brunch so we weren't too tempted but a couple spots where pretty packed for a Thursday afternoon. Would recommend you stop by.. you never know what you'll find :) read more

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Cute fun thing to do when walking around on a nice day. Different places to eat and drink, some small fun art and attractions. Very walkable and a lot of places to just go grab a snack or a bite or two. read more

What a cool neighborhood and great market. An eclectic mix of delicious eateries with global cuisine offerings in an arts filled neighborhood. Make sure to grab some Caribbean Meat Pies and try the takoyaki shop while here. Also, the best selection of Vintage Clothing stores in one place in North America. Must stop when in Toronto. P.S., take the stairs to the top of the parking garage for one of the best views in Toronto. read more

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Nice stop for lunch. The seafood place was amazing! We had yummy po-boys. Don't miss this stop

Kensington Market is a pretty unique and eclectic neighborhood. We stopped by here before visiting Chinatown nearby just to check out what all the hype was about. Most of the stores do not open until 10/11 am. For those of you who are early risers, I'd recommend coming here later in the afternoon/ evening because most stores are closed in the mornings. There were a lot of ethnic shops, organic grocery stories, coffee shops, and everything in between. Overall, a good time to take a stroll around the neighborhood! read more

If I had to recommend ONE place in Toronto to visit... Kensington Market. Queen W is a shell of its former self. Yonge St is a combo of vacant, depressing, bubble tea, and mostly boring. Kensington has tons of food and vintage store options. Just avoid driving in it (and weekends), claustrophobic. read more

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Fun eclectic stores you won't find anywhere else! Not much is open before 12 so definitely visit later in the day.

According to the website, Kensington Market is a "vibrant and diverse neighbourhood", and apparently, it's a a popular tourist attraction. While I didn't have any particular interest in Kensington Market, it was high on my husband's list of places to visit, and I always like walking around and exploring different neighbourhoods in the cities I visit, as you never know what interesting things you'll discover. I have to say, I don't understand the hype for Kensington Market. Sure, there are some good restaurants (reviews to come) and "funky" shops, but I don't care for noise and crowds, I don't like beer (Kensington Market is a great place to go if you're a beer drinker, but if you're a wine drinker, you're out of luck), nor do I have any interest in buying bongs and cheap clothing. So while it was interesting to walk around, it's not a place I would highly recommend or go out of my way to see -- it's just a noisy and crowded neighbourhood full of restaurants, bars, and shops that sell assorted junk. However, there was a cool shop that sold all sorts of bartending items and accessories (I am blanking on the name), and there were two restaurants that my husband and I really liked: Pancho y Emiliano and The Last Temptation. In summary: an overhyped neighbourhood that I personally wouldn't go out of my way to visit, but I wouldn't be opposed to visiting again, and there are interesting things to see and some good places to eat and grab a drink. [Yelp collections: Toronto/Niagara Falls 2021] read more

I spent a great deal of my early life at Kensington Market. As a kid, I went there with my mom to pick up fruits and vegetables at the various grocers there, eggs at the now defunct St. Andrew Poultry, and meats at European Quality Meats (no longer in Kensington Market). As I got older and was able to go out on my own with friends, I enjoyed going to Courage My Love, Exile, and the other vintage clothes stores in my grunge hippie days when I loved the smell of patchouli. Throughout, I would love getting beef patties at Patty King (now rebranded as Golden Patty). Then I moved away from Toronto, but as a student I would return every summer and I would love going to King's Café and Buddha's Vegetarian (these 2 restaurants are still in business!). These days, I am rarely in Kensington Market, and boy has it changed over the years. So, just bit of history, in the early 1900s it was a Jewish marketplace, then after World War II Carribean and Asian immigrants moved in, it gradually became more multicultural, and in the late 1990s/early 2000s a large number of Latin American eateries opened up. Today, the neighbourhood is very diverse with stores and restaurants from all over the globe represented in Kensington Market. Ever since I've known it, it has always had a bohemian feel to it with an eclectic mix of businesses. However, in recent years it has definitely gentrified. Once exclusively a working-class neighbourhood, it is now full of yuppies and hipsters, and expensive lattes and pricey pastries. The streets are very narrow, and there are lots of beautiful colourfully painted Victorian styled homes. The neighbourhood is very photo worthy (although I realize that the one picture that I managed to snap on my most recent visit would suggest the contrary, lol). If you are a tourist, you definitely should visit Kensington Market. It has a look and feel like no other neighbourhood in Toronto. read more

Kensington Market - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

It was a warm day to be out and about in downtown Toronto's Kensington Market neighbourhood. Every large city has its own vintage walkable all-round tourist draw like this one lined with speciality shops, eateries & bars, and the odd tenant that doesn't seem to blend in. With COVID-19 social distancing protocols in effect, eateries have had to establish makeshift patios onto sidewalks and local streets. This is my first trip here since my Grandparents passed away over a decade ago having lived a few blocks away. Lots of great memories... The neighbourhood has progressed somewhat and I still recognized Oxford Fruit as an anchor from the past. Please support local businesses! read more

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For a first-time visitor like I was, I didn't think it was much of a stretch to assume that Kensington Market would be a market like St. Lawrence Market where a big building houses several small businesses serving food and related goods. But no, it's a neighborhood much like the Haight in San Francisco or the West Village in NYC. Only once monthly on the last Sunday do they shut down the streets to become what you would expect an outdoor market. Otherwise it's a chaotic but stimulating scene with funky shops and ethnically diverse eateries. It's definitely worth a stroll, and in hindsight, I'm glad I bypassed the Cheetos doughnuts (photo). RELATED - Traveling to Toronto? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: bit.ly/2LETSfV read more

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Not a market. An eclectic neighborhood of ethnic restaurants, unique shops, bars, tattoo shops, etc. Very crowded. A lot for the senses to take in. Was glad to have experienced it, but not really my scene. read more

Kensington Market is a fantastic eclectic neighborhood with a wide range of restaurants and patios. The vibe at the market is very relaxed. It feels welcoming because of the mix of people and the casual attitude of everyone in the neighborhood. This is a great area to walk around, absorb the energy, and find some food that you fancy. read more

Very cute area! Super convenient and a great way to spend an afternoon. Highly recommend.

We went here on one of the Pedestrian Sundays and had a great time. The road was automobile-free, filled with pedestrians, street food, and artists performing various acts. There are plenty of shops, mainly eateries but quite limited vegan options - hopefully, it'll be better this year. Having said that, the ones we found - mainly street food - were great. While walking down the market, one can also witness amazing wall art (murals). I couldn't resist taking some pictures. Overall, if you're in Toronto, this is definitely the place to be. read more

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Visited Toronto with my family from the USA. Wanted to see Kensington Market because of all the hype. Went on a nice sunny afternoon during the week. We were really dissapointed. This place was ghetto. Sure there were some nice looking places to sit and eat and have a drink, so this review is nothing against the businesses there. But man, this place reaked of piss and cannabis. Many dispensaries here. Sidewalks were dirty. Lots of shady characters walking around. Saw a person tweaking on one corner. A bunch of people were high and were yelling on the street. Few homeless people were sleeping on the sidewalk by a little park there. The flea market there was basically people selling old clothes on the driveways of houses on the street. The street art they talk about really looked like some basic graffiti. I actually though it was vandalism until someone said its supposed to be art. My 9 and 11 year old kids and my wife wanted to leave ASAP. Don't take kids to this shady smelly ghetto with drugged up people walking around. Never been here at night. I think for young college kids looking to party and get high, this place would be fun at night. But this is not worth for a family or anyone with kids to visit. read more

[55/100] I wished there was a Kensington Market here in Los Angeles. I wouldn't need to go anywhere else. This place is the epitome of cool and it has everything from vintage clothes, yummy cheese shops , a house turned coffee shop, fresh produces, hipsters... you name it! It's about 4 - 5 blocks long and there is so much to see! I enjoyed a cup of coffee at Fika and then just walked around like a kid in a candy store. Parking was free and I was lucky. Definitely one of the reasons why I can't wait to visit Toronto again! read more

Kensington Market - IG: pachie_deperalta - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I will have to agree with my yelp friend Colaine B., you will either love love love this place or HATE it.Thank god I'm not from the latter category. So for me eating has to come with an experience be it at high end restaurant or street kinda joints.The experience must leave a memory and a sense of urge to come back. Kensington market is my most fav place for quick eats and I can happily spend my entire day being there. So here's my day at KM.I love to start with coffee at Cafe Pamenar along with a bagel from the historic Nu Bagel. Then with a full belly I like to stroll around and shop for fruits which are fresh and much cheaper than regular grocery store.I also pay a visit to this store which has amazing organic honey and breads.I just don't remember the name :( By this time I'm so so hungry for the best tacos from Seven Lives Taco.I usually end my day with churros from Panchos. I highly recommend this place for delicious and quick eats.Though there are many fancier spots to eat here as well but I always end up choosing repeating my favorites here. Tip:-When here be ready for tons of walking and comfy shoes are a must. read more

Kensington Market - All fruit $9 - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

I think the word "market" is a little bit misleading because I would describe Kensington Market as a small neighborhood / district with various restaurants and unique vintage shops. Personally I prefer an indoor market like St. Lawrence Market because Toronto starts to get fairly cold in November. No only that, most shops / restaurants in Kensington Market are scattered across 3 ~ 4 blocks and navigating around this area is not simple as 1-2-3. Parking: There's is a parking structure (Green P Carpark 68: 20 St Andrew St, Toronto, ON M5T 1K6, Canada) on St Andrew St. Now there is one thing that makes this market stand out - this is a very diverse market with unique personality. Tons of super interesting vintage shops (handmade products from Latin America, African Art, etc) with multi-cultural food options in one tiny neighborhood. Taco? Check. (Seven Lives Tacos Y Mariscos) Fish & Chips? Check. (Fresco's Fish & Chips) Caribbean? Check. (Rasta Pasta) Coffee? Check. (Jimmy's Coffee) Beer? Check. (Kensington Brewing Company) Virtual reality experience? Check. (Toronto VR Games) Chinatown is also just around the corner, so don't forget to check it out too! I will agree with Yelp Colaine B. below - you either love or hate this market. P.S. - Come here come on Pedestrian Sunday (happens on the last Sunday of every month from June to October check calendar on the website) to fully experience what Kensington Market has to offer. read more

Kensington Market - Map (Nov 2017) - Flea Markets Near Me - Toronto, Ontario

So this is one of the places where I grew up. I spent weeks every summer and weekends in between living here with my Dad, and then I lived here a couple times myself in my twenties. Kensington changes constantly so it's different now then it was then, and that's ok. This area is one of the most diverse in the entire world and it is glorious. The local residents protect their village and though the pressures of capitalism are constantly threatening to choke off the life here, they resist together and fight for a vision of a future that we can all learn from. There are amazing delicious shops here that speak to what this place was like 100 years ago, cheese and bakery, fruits and vegetables. And since Kensington is held in the heart of Chinatown (or sort of sitting on it's hip like a kid on a multitasking mama) there is a beautiful blend here with Buddhist iconography, a synagogue, families of all nationalities starting small businesses and trying to survive in Toronto and take care of each other. The thrift shops are mostly higher end vintage now, and there's a proliferation of trendy tiny takeout eateries and a couple great grimy gorgeous bars and cafes. To know more about the history of the iconic area and what it tells us about the history and values of Canada, check out the Kensington Historical Society - https://www.kmhs.ca/ For me, Kensington is home, one of my favourite places in the world, forever 5 stars. read more

A place I wish I lived close too. I fricking love Kensington Market. I mean what's there not to love? The endless food places from burgers to churros to tacos. Lots of Breakfast eat-in like Kos. And let's not forget the cute grocery stores that have less plastic packaging. I could write a book part 1 and 2 just professing my love for Kensington Market. If downtown wasn't so expensive, I would move super close. But regardless, I drive or take the bus just to enjoy what's at Kensington market. Oh dear..... read more

If you find yourself in the Toronto area please visit Kensington Market. I was excited to go to this location as it had so much going on in the 2-3 blocks that this area consisted of. There were many shops, coffee spots, bars, restaurants and a few markets sprinkled in between. You can probably spend hours shifting from store to store, each store more unique with its own specialty than the one before. Not only are the vendors one of a kind but so is the vibe and the colors. With each step you take there's another photo opportunity waiting to be discovered. This part of town is so diversified that there so many fusion food places, its wonderful! I can't explain it better than it already has been but I would strongly recommend when visiting the Toronto area. read more

When I went here, it was just for a couple hours. We found parking on the outside block of the Kensington market streets. Inside, there's so much food. I suggest looking a reviews of the places before picking one spot to eat at. There's so much food and a lot of places are vegetarian/vegan friendly, which is a huge plus for me! We picked 3 different places to eat. One, was incredibly bad and probably violated several health code violations. Another was a vegan place, amazing. And the last was a taco spot which was also good. I wish I could remember the places but we went here back in June or July. Either way, check it out if you are in the area! Eat some good food!! read more

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Fun place to visit and see all the vegetables and fruits and goodies. Would like to have spent more time. read more