Leslieville has all the charm of Cabbagetown’s adorable houses and tree lined streets, mixed with the diversity Toronto is famous for.
Things to do
Leslieville is mostly known as a place to brunch, shop, and hang out in charming coffee shops. There are plenty of bars, restaurants, and coffee shops to keep you busy. There’s also the Crow’s Theatre and a few art galleries.
Transit
Leslieville isn’t on the subway line, but it might be one day soon. The Relief Line promises to stop in the neighborhood.
In the meantime, we’re stuck with the streetcars and the buses. Service is frequent and they’re pretty reliable. Leslieville is still close enough that you can bike into downtown.
Leslieville is one of those places where you don’t need a car, but it’s pretty convenient to have one. Street parking gets to be a hassle if you’re dealing with it regularly, but it’s easy enough to rent a spot if your place doesn’t come with parking.
Shopping
Leslieville is very well served with services, from big box essentials to charming boutiques. Queen Street and Gerrard are both lined with shops and cafes. Carlaw and Dundas also have a bit of commerce.
Gerrard has two large discount grocery stores as well as a number of smaller Chinese and Vietnamese grocers. The neighborhood is well served by banks, pharmacies, dry cleaners, takeout places, bakeries, and other essentials.
Gerrard Square isn’t the fanciest shopping center, but it’s great to have a Home Depot and a Walmart right in the neighborhood. There’s an LCBO just outside Gerrard Square.
Housing
Most of the homes in Leslieville are duplexes, with single family homes and condos mixed in. The neighborhood is mostly low-rise, with quiet, narrow, tree lined streets.
Safety
Leslieville is safe, with neighbors and shopkeepers keeping an eye on the streets.
Affordability
Leslieville homes have increase in price along with other homes in Toronto. Because they tend to be more modest in size, they’ve remained relatively affordable.
Because there are relatively few apartments and condos in Leslieville, demand keeps prices up. However, they tend to be a bit less expensive than their west side counterparts.
Leslieville has plenty of upscale eateries, but it also has a great selection of affordable cafes, shops, and grocery stores.
