Explore arts, culture and food as you tour diverse Black heritage hotspots across Toronto.

Over 250,000 Torontonians identify as Black—nearly 10 percent of the city’s population. The contributions of this diverse community stretch far and wide throughout Toronto’s history. 

From arts and culture to business and innovation—and let’s not forget food!—the influence of the 6ix’s Black diaspora can be seen in the city’s past, present, and future.

Here are some ways to learn more about this rich and vibrant cultural history during Black History Month and beyond.

Explore historic Little Jamaica

The lively strip of Eglinton Avenue West, nestled between Marlee Avenue and Keele Street, has been affectionately known as Little Jamaica since the 1970s after a wave of Caribbean immigrants (not just Jamaicans) settled here during the 1960s and 1970s. 

With an abundance of Jamaican-owned businesses, including restaurants, beauty salons, recording studios, and a wide range of service providers, this became the place for Toronto's growing Black population to find a sense of community. 

Caribana (now known as the annual Toronto Caribbean Carnival), famous musicians, and renowned entrepreneurs like beauty shop maven Monica Lewis set down roots and flourished in this legendary neighbourhood.

Must-dos in Little Jamaica:

  • Snap a selfie in front of the Reggae Lane mural. This 1200-square-foot art piece by Adrian Hayles was commissioned to celebrate the contributions of Toronto reggae artists.

  • Grab a patty at Randy’s. The debate around Toronto's best Jamaican beef patty has been waged for decades, but most agree Randy’s belongs at the top of any shortlist. 

  • Enjoy an authentic Jamaican meal at Raps. Little Jamaica would not be Little Jamaica without Raps, which opened in 1982 and helped draw other Jamaican- and Caribbean-owned businesses. 

Celebrate Black arts and culture in Toronto

Toronto's Black creative community has always been an integral part of culture here in Toronto. Its impact and influence are seen, heard, and felt throughout our city’s streets. 

This February, I encourage you to not only check out the events celebrating Black History Month but also to support those that happen throughout the calendar year.

 

Black Art, Music & Culture Checklist:

  • Presented by the Canadian Black Music Archives, “Canadian Cyphers: Elements of Toronto Hip Hop” is an immersive audiovisual exhibition featuring archival footage and memorabilia that helped shape Toronto's hip-hop scene. 

    Its showcase event (February 21, 2025) will feature legendary Toronto hip-hop pioneers Dream Warriors, accompanied by surprise guests, speakers and a guest DJ. 

  • To highlight the Black community’s many contributions to the world of jazz, the Pilot Tavern will be hosting its Black History Month Tribute concert series. Every Saturday in February, you can enjoy live performances by talented local Black jazz musicians, including Alexis Baro’s Afro-Cuban Group.

  • Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the RBC Black Diamond Ball honours black excellence in the arts, culture, community, and business. Centred around upliftment, education and mentorship, the ball embodies these positive principles while throwing a fun and fashionable party that guests will not soon forget.

  • Toronto Caribbean Carnival (August 1–5, 2025) is still known to many by its original name, Caribana. Toronto’s biggest street party is also one of North America’s largest cultural festivals, attracting millions of participants over its 50-year history.

    From its hallmark event—a day-long grand parade—to various other events highlighting the flavours, sounds and history of the Caribbean diaspora, nothing puts the city’s Black and Afro-Caribbean communities front and centre like Carnival!

Dine at these Black-owned Toronto restaurants

Toronto is one of the world’s most global food cities, with cultural influences from across the world. Many of these flavours come from the African-Caribbean diaspora. 

Whether you are looking to experience traditional bites from North, East, Central or West Africa; the Caribbean; the American South; or Latin and Creole fusion, Toronto has a restaurant for you!

 

Must-Visit Black-Owned Restaurants:

  • The MICHELIN-recognized Conejo Negro has been making waves in Little Italy since opening back in 2023. What makes this place so special is the way they blend Latin, Caribbean and Creole cuisines so seamlessly. 

    Try their honey butter, cheddar, and jalapeño-infused cornbread; the colourful and vibrant kale and squash salad; and the sticky banana rum cake for a meal to remember.

  • When a restaurant has been serving its community for close to half a century, you know you know it’s doing something right. Head over to the corner of St. Clair Avenue West and Vaughan Road for a culinary island getaway at Albert’s Real Jamaican Foods

    Owner Albert Wiggan is serving up smiles and classic Jamaican dishes at one of Toronto's most loved spots. The hearty and savoury oxtail with rice and peas is a must-order, as is the perfectly seasoned jerk chicken sandwich in fresh coco bread.

  • Take a trip to Liberty Village to check out SK Cookks for some of the best Nigerian food west of Lagos! Standout dishes include the spicy and warming goat meat pepper soup, the moi moi stuffed with egg or fish, and smoky party jollof.

  • The increased influence and popularity of American-style soul food cannot be denied, and in my opinion, no one is serving it up quite like Honey Soul Food.

    With menu categories like “Big Back Sandwich Platters,” you know you are in for a good time. Don’t miss Honey’s Famous Cornbread—it’s moist, buttery, and drizzled with the tastiest honey I have ever had—or the cheesy and mouthwatering Baked Mac or massive Jack’d Up Chicken Sandwich.

Dive into Toronto's black history at these landmarks

The Toronto area is rich in Black history, spanning back to the 1800s. Take a step back in time with a self-guided walking tour. 

Visit places of worship tied to the Underground Railroad. Expand your knowledge at institutions dedicated to the shared history of settlers and Indigenous people. Read the stories of early Black settlers to gain perspective on what life was like for some of the first Black Canadians.

 

Black History must-sees:

  • The Village at Black Creek (formerly known as Black Creek Pioneer Village) is a living museum complete with heritage buildings, farm animals and immersive experiences that provide visitors with insights into what life was like for early settlers. 

    Though centred on the experiences of white Europeans, in recent years, the Village has acknowledged the role Indigenous people and non-Europeans played in its history. 

    Stop by Black Creek’s Laskay Emporium, a circa-1800s general store and post office that was saved from demolition and brought to the site in 1960. Its story is tied to Benjamin H. Rolling, the son of a formerly enslaved Black man and an Indigenous woman. Rolling became one of Canada’s first Black postmasters.

 

  • Heritage Toronto and Heritage Ontario’s Black History plaques commemorate the contributions of notable individuals whose presence in the city had a lasting impact. Explore the city to learn about trailblazers and other luminaries. 

    You’ll find everyday heroes like Albert Jackson, Toronto's first black postman; abolitionist, women’s advocate and newspaper publisher Mary Ann Shadd Carey; and Thornton and Lucie Blackburn, a couple who escaped slavery and then launched Toronto’s first taxi company. 

    You’ll also see where global icons like Billie Holiday, Etta James, Frederick Douglass and Muhammad Ali have made their marks here in the 6ix.