Roughly bounded by Queen Street West, Yonge Street, Spadina Ave and Queens Quay West.

Tell us about cool things to do, local parks, the schools, housing, shopping, free stuff... You’ll find some of the city’s best theatres, bars and dance clubs in this area of town. The undisputed entertainment capital of Canada, the Entertainment District is a lively concentration of theatres, restaurants, nightspots, retail shops, and visitor attractions – located in the vibrant city core. Tip: If there’s a lineup, chances are it’s worth it.

Since the mid-19th Century, the area now known as the “Entertainment District” has been animated with music halls, theatres, and entertainment palaces. However, by the 1950s, many of these venues had closed, deteriorated, or been transformed into warehouses or office space. While the city core was developing, this area – just west – remained as a bit of a backwater.

With the 1977 opening of the Eaton Centre shopping galleria and the renovation of the Royal Alexandra Theatre, life was breathed back into the area. The final catalyst for rejuvenation was the 1989 opening of the SkyDome stadium, which brought crowds of up to 55,000 people into the area for baseball games and other events. Restaurants and entertainment spots began springing up overnight – and the pace hasn’t stopped!

Each of the streets in the Entertainment District has its own flavour, and its own specialty. For example, Queen St. West is a funky retail street; King St. West is lined with theatres, a concert hall, and dozens of restaurants. Front St. West features the SkyDome, the CN Tower, and large, lively eateries, while Richmond and Adelaide Sts. are home to massive, 3-storey nightclubs and smaller, high-end restaurants. And that’s just the start.

Theatres – the area is home to lavish Broadway musicals, traveling road shows, homegrown productions, and classical concerts. Theatres include the Pantages, the Royal Alexandra, the Princess of Wales, the Elgin & Winter Garden Theatre Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, and Massey Hall.

The Rogers Centre – the first stadium in the world with a fully-retractable roof, the Rogers Centre is home to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Toronto Argonauts football club, and an exciting roster of big-name concerts, sporting events, and trade shows.

CN Tower – the world’s tallest building. The view is nothing short of fabulous. Need we say more?

CBC Broadcasting Centre – the home of Canada’s national TV and radio networks. Regular tours are offered in this state-of-the-art broadcasting facility, as are concerts at the Glenn Gould Studio.

Dining – one of the most challenging aspects of dining in the Entertainment District is deciding where to go. There are dozens, if not hundreds, of choices. And the restaurant scene evolves so rapidly that hot new opportunities arise overnight.

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