The Distillery Historic District: Toronto Travel Guide

Brick, iron and whisky ghosts

You don’t need to look for cars here, because there aren’t any. The lanes are paved in brick and run between red-brick warehouses with tall chimneys and painted signage. Gooderham & Worts opened the distillery in 1832, and by the late 1800s it was among the largest in the world. It closed in 1990 and reopened in 2003 as a pedestrian district.

The result is often described as North America’s best-preserved collection of Victorian industrial architecture. Trinity Street and Gristmill Lane are the main spines. Film crews use the place all the time; Chicago and several X-Men scenes were shot on these lanes. Allow 1.5–3 hours, longer if you’re staying to eat or catch a show.

What fills the old buildings

The former mash houses and storehouses now hold small businesses rather than stills:

• Galleries and design shops selling Canadian art, jewellery and homewares
• Cafés and restaurants, plenty with patios set out on the brick
• Large outdoor sculptures in the squares, which are free to walk around
• Soulpepper Theatre at the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Toronto’s main repertory company

From mid-November to late December the lanes host the Distillery Winter Village, previously called the Toronto Christmas Market. Expect lights, stalls and a big tree. Weekend entry is often timed and ticketed, so look at the official Distillery District website before you go.

Reaching Mill Street

The district sits southeast of downtown, between Parliament and Cherry streets.

• Streetcar: the 504A runs along King Street to Distillery Loop on Cherry Street, a minute’s walk from the gates.
• On foot: St. Lawrence Market is roughly 15 minutes west, so the two pair easily for a half-day. Union Station is about 25 minutes away.
• Bus: the 121 stops on Mill and Front streets.
• Driving: there are paid lots on and around the site. Prices are posted at the entrances, and they fill up early on weekends.

After your visit, Corktown Common and the newer Canary District are a short walk east. They’re good for a quieter stroll.

Beating the weekend crush

This is one of Toronto’s most-visited sights, so timing makes the biggest difference. Shops currently open at 10am Monday to Saturday and at 11am on Sunday. They close at 8pm Monday to Wednesday and on Sunday, and at 9pm Thursday to Saturday. These times can shift, especially in winter-market season.

• Weekdays: it’s quietest from 10am to 11am. On Thursday and Friday the 8pm–9pm hour is also calm, which suits dinner and an after-dark walk under the lights.
• Saturday: come at the 10am opening. The lanes stay packed from 1pm to 9pm, which is exactly when most visitors arrive.
• Sunday: arrive at the 11am opening, before the afternoon rush builds.

Getting around is easy. Cards and tap-to-pay are accepted almost everywhere, and in Canadian restaurants the usual tip is 15–20%, added on the card terminal. Book popular restaurants ahead on Friday and Saturday nights, and Soulpepper performances too. The brick paving is uneven and the gaps catch heels, so wear flat shoes. Strollers bump along slowly.