Have you ever wondered what it was like living in The Annex & Seaton Village neighbourhood of Toronto?
Sandwiched between Yorkville and Christie Pits, few Toronto neighbourhoods are as elegant and beautiful as The Annex & Seaton Village neighbourhoods. Full of historic charm and character, the area is a harmonious mix of more than 15,000 prominent artists, affluent families, professionals, hipster U of T students and professors, renters and owners alike. They all seem to share the love of its bohemian yet authentic, pedestrian and bike-friendly culture and that there’s a little something for everyone thinking of living in The Annex & Seaton Village neighbourhoods.
Originally home to some of the city’s most elite residents, Annex homes are architecturally grand Victorian and Edwardian beauties situated on quiet, mature, tree-lined streets. Seaton Village, otherwise known as West Annex (north of Bloor to Dupont, west of Bathurst to Christie) features many real estate options.
The row, semi-detached and detached residences are more modest in scale and price to the Annex proper, but as one of the city’s most desirable neighbourhoods, brings the steep price tags to match.
What makes living in The Annex & Seaton Village so great?
Despite the steep real estate prices, the celebrity spotting and swanky shopping nearby, it is diverse and authentic with an incredible vibe & strong sense of community. Some of my best friends were just new neighbours 14 years ago when I moved here, and now we are raising our kids together! I don’t think that is often the case in a city the size of Toronto!
While there is certainly no shortage of cool places to shop, eat and play in The Annex/Seaton Village (depending on what you’re looking for, this is by no means a comprehensive list!) here are some of the places my family and I love and frequent the most!
Best of The Annex Restaurants:
Fat Pasha: 414 Dupont St., we order the salatim platter at least once/week!
Bar Begonia & Madame Boeuf: 252 Dupont St., brunch or steak frites, you won’t be disappointed.
Rose and Sons: 176 Dupont St., diner turned deli. I go for my Montreal smoked meat fix!
Full disclaimer: I am not related to or receive any freebies from Anthony Rose and his growing Dupont St. Empire, I just really really love his food.
New Generation Sushi: 493 Bloor St., super kid-friendly, reasonably priced with great service.
Sweet Jesus: 416 Bloor St., enjoy your most memorable ice cream experience ever!
Sunrise House: 661 Bloor St., authentic Korean family-style fare – we love the Pork Bone soup, spicy and delicious!
Napoli Centrale: 964 Bathurst St., absolutely the best Naples-style pizza for the whole family and great staff!
Apiecalypse Now: 735 Bloor St., for delicious vegan options.
Ghazale: 504 Bloor St., my “go-to” for shawarma or falafel.
White Brick Kitchen: 641 Bloor St., hands-down my kids’ #1 choice for burgers & fries, milkshakes and the city’s best fried chicken! The staff is also wonderful.
Parks in The Annex & Seaton Village:
Jean Sibelius: picnics, soccer field, climbing wall, sandpit, ice rink and lots of green space
Vermont Square: picnics, ping-pong table, wading pool/splash pad, dog park, playground, sand and friendly neighbours
Christie Pits: EVERYTHING! picnics, baseball games, basketball court, soccer field, outdoor pool, skating rink, sliding hill, community garden, wading pool/splash pad
Community (Family-Fun) Centers:
St. Albans Boys and Girls Club: 843 Palmerston Ave. A daycare, drop in community and childcare centre, a neighbourhood hub for swimming lessons, skateboard lessons, sports, after-school programs, summer camps and many other recreational and educational programming options on offer to the community.
Bill Bolton Arena: 40 Rossmore Rd. The best neighbourhood skating lessons, hockey games and & free family skate… with a canteen that boasts ridiculously (and dangerously) delicious french fries, onion rings and hot chocolate.
Grocery Stores:
Fiesta Farms: 200 Christie St., arguably the city’s best, definitely our favourite independently-owned grocery store and garden centre. Amazing selection of high quality produce, fish and meat, and not uncommon to find yourself shopping alongside some of the city’s most recognizable chefs!
Best Schools in The Annex & Seaton Village:
- Huron Jr. Public School (JK-Grade 6) 541 Huron St.
- Palmerston Public Junior School (JK-Grade 6) 734 Palmerston Ave.
- Hawthorne II Bilingual Alternative (JK-Grade 6) 50 Essex St. (technically situated in Christie Pits neighbourhood, but my kids go here and we love it!)
You can see a more complete list of schools in The Annex & Seaton Village here.
I hope you’ve found this neighbourhood snapshot helpful. I truly love where I live and work, and equally enjoy helping others discover the same. If you are thinking about moving into the area, you can see some of the best available listings here. If you would like to hear more about what makes living in The Annex & Seaton Village neighbourhoods so great, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’m equally skilled at playing tour guide as I am neighbourhood real estate agent.