Things to Do in Kensington Market

Kensington Market in Toronto feels less like a single market and more like a living, breathing neighborhood that happens to spill its guts onto the sidewalk. You'll see vintage clothes hanging from metal railings, smell the sharp tang of fermenting pickles from a barrel, and hear the clatter of skateboards on cobblestones mixed with the sizzle of chorizo from a street cart.

It's the kind of place where a barber shop might sit next to a store selling only hot sauce, and where conversations in Portuguese, Spanish, and Mandarin weave through the narrow streets. The air often carries the scent of roasting coffee from a nearby roastery and, depending on the wind, the faint, earthy smell of fresh produce from the crates lining Augusta Avenue.

For decades, it's been a first landing spot for waves of new arrivals to Toronto, and that layered history gives it a texture you can feel underfoot, a jumble of cultures that refuses to be smoothed out. The buildings, a mix of Victorian houses and low-rise commercial fronts, are painted in faded, peeling colors, and in the summer, the humid air seems to hold the sound of reggae basslines spilling from an open doorway.

Kensington Market is very walkable. But its narrow, sometimes crowded streets can feel cramped. The Toronto streetcar is your best bet for getting here from elsewhere in the city. The 506 Carlton car runs along College Street just to the north, and the 510 Spadina car runs along the eastern edge. Both are cheaper than a rideshare for a single traveler.

From the subway, the best stations are Spadina or St. Patrick, followed by a short walk south. If you drive, be prepared for scarce parking and tight spaces; it's often more hassle than it's worth.