Kensington Market

Kensington Market is not a single market building but rather an entire neighbourhood — a patchwork of narrow streets packed with independent food shops, vintage stores, cafes, fruit stands, and some of the best street art in Toronto. Located just west of Spadina Avenue between College and Dundas streets, it has been a landing place for immigrant communities for over a century, and that layered cultural history shows in every block.

For families, Kensington Market works as a walkable food adventure. The streets are lined with vendors selling cuisine from around the world at affordable prices — Mexican, Jamaican, Portuguese, Ethiopian, Middle Eastern, Chinese, and vegan options all within steps of each other. Kids can try empanadas, tacos, roti, custard tarts, fresh-squeezed juice, and more without sitting down at a single restaurant.

It is the kind of neighbourhood where everyone eats while walking.

The visual appeal is a major part of the experience. Nearly every building facade is painted, muralled, or decorated in some way, creating an open-air gallery effect that keeps kids looking up and around as you walk. Vintage clothing shops, record stores, and quirky specialty shops give older kids and teens plenty to browse, while younger children are captivated by the produce displays, live fish markets, and bakery windows.

Bellevue Square Park sits at the heart of the market and provides a much-needed play break for families. The playground has swings, slides, and climbing structures, and the surrounding benches give parents a chance to rest while kids burn energy.

The ultimate family experience is Pedestrian Sundays, held on the last Sunday of each month from May through October. During these events, the main streets close to vehicle traffic and fill with live musicians, street performers, buskers, and food vendors. The festival atmosphere is infectious, and the car-free streets let families walk at their own pace without dodging traffic.

The neighbourhood is compact — you can walk the main circuit (Augusta Avenue, Kensington Avenue, Nassau Street, Baldwin Street) in under an hour, or spend 3+ hours if you stop frequently for food and shopping. Sidewalks are narrow and can be crowded on weekends, so a compact stroller or baby carrier is recommended over a full-size stroller.

Kensington Market is a 5-minute walk from the Art Gallery of Ontario and adjacent to Chinatown, making it easy to combine into a multi-stop downtown day. The Spadina streetcar and multiple bus routes serve the area. There is limited street parking — arriving by transit is recommended.