This vibrant west-end neighbourhood is the place to be for your next girlfriends’ getaway or bachelor(ette) weekend.
From white-collar workers celebrating the weekend, to party chasers getting ready to hit the club circuit, King Street West is a beacon to locals and visitors alike each Friday night. Adjacent to Toronto’s Entertainment District—home to theatres and performing arts venues, as well as nightclubs, bars and lounges—it’s the place to be for exciting days and late, late nights.
King West comes alive at night
The neighbourhood
Although King Street West (the street) crosses much of the city, King Street West (the neighbourhood) consists of the downtown stretch bracketed by Bathurst Street on the west and Spadina Avenue on the east. Also known as simply “King West,” this walkable neighbourhood is close to many downtown hotels, and easily accessible from via the 504 King streetcar.
Besides nightlife, King West is home to stellar shopping, dining and spa-ing. Planning a girlfriends’ getaway, bachelor or bachelorette weekend? This is where you need to be. Here’s how your 48-hour getaway could shake out.
Saturday morning: coffee & endorphins
Kickstart your weekend with a light breakfast from Forno Cultura (609 King St. W.), an Italian-style bakery-café owned by a third-generation baker. Step inside and take in the luxurious smell of freshly baked biscotti, focaccia and pizza. Grab pastries and an Americano to fuel up for the morning ahead.
Next, chase a group endorphin boost at one of the King West neighbourhood’s trendy boutique gyms and studios, including elle fitness (580 King St. W.), F45 (67A Portland St.) and Fit Factory Fitness (373 King St. W.). For fast-paced group workouts, consider Barry’s bootcamp (310 Richmond St. W.) and SPINCO (129 Spadina Ave.).
Saturday afternoon: spa time & shopping
You’ve worked up a sweat, so a little pampering is in the cards. Head over to Majesty’s Pleasure (556 King St. W.) for spa treatments accompanied by snacks and refreshments including coffee, tea, juice—or cocktails!
But don’t forget the retail therapy: King West is just a short stroll from the Queen Street West fashion district with its fast-fashion outposts and indie boutiques.
SATURDAY EVENING: food, cocktails & DJ sets
Start your night with sharing plates such as Spanish tapas. Patria’s (478 King St. W.) menu includes an extensive wine and cocktail menu and bright, flavourful dishes. A patio hidden off the street provides for outdoor dining in the warmer months.
For after-dinner drinks with a gorgeous view of downtown, visit Lavelle (627 King St. W.) with its luxe rooftop experience, complete with outdoor pool and cabanas, lounge, dining room and 360-degree views of Toronto’s skyline.
Still got energy to burn? Catch a DJ set at EFS (647 King St. W.) or Arcane (461 King St. W.).
SUNDAY MORNING-ISH: brunch!
Start your Sunday the way Torontonians do: over brunch. If you’re up bright and early you can beat the brunch crowds, but if not, be prepared to wait at some of the more popular venues.
Try Oretta (633 King St. W.) for Instagram-perfect mimosas and salmone affumaticato in an Instagram-perfect dining environment of vaulted ceilings and brightly coloured tile. Or go for a short stroll south to Le Sélect Bistro for French fare on a cute outdoor patio.
SUNDAY AFTERNOON: theatre or ping pong
Depending on how worn out your crew is from Saturday night, you could hit the Entertainment District’s Royal Alexandra Theatre (260 King St. W.) or Princess of Wales Theatre (300 King St. W.) for a matinée performance of a Broadway-style show.
Or you could get active with a late-afternoon session at SPIN (461 King St. W.), a ping pong social club. Book a table by the hour, then enjoy the DJ-equipped lounge along with drinks and food.
SUNDAY EVENING: dinner & craft beer
Close out the weekend with relaxed good times. A short walk from King Street West, Marben (488 Wellington St. W.) offers a farm-to-table, seasonally-driven menu, modern rustic vibe and welcoming staff.
Or if local craft beer and elevated pub fare is more your speed, grab a lager and a burger (or Roman-style pizza) at the airy and laidback Northern Maverick Brewing Co. (115 Bathurst St.).
