A visit to Toronto just isn’t complete without a stroll through the eclectic Kensington Market, home to Toronto's main Chinatown. Just a short streetcar or taxi ride away from our bed and breakfast in downtown Toronto, this roughly five square block area is the perfect place to lose yourself in a completely unique, yet welcoming culture.

From one-of-a-kind boutique stores to the aromatic mix of ethnic food, fruit stands and cheese shops, you'll find yourself overwhelmed with decisions for lunch, dinner, just a snack, or something to bring home!

If you prefer to leave the cooking to others, there are several intimate restaurants with window seating perfect for people watching. Almost weekly we see guests come back to our bed and breakfast loaded down with shopping bags of fresh cheeses, fruits and of course, gifts for themselves or others.

From May until the end of October it’s Pedestrian Sundays in this unique shopping market where all the streets in the area are closed to traffic making it easy to explore all that this area has to offer. What started as an activist event called “Streets are for People,” the idea blossomed into this weekly event celebrating life and culture.

If you wander a little deeper into this maze of narrow, European style streets of Kensington Market, you will feel like you've left the continent for the other side of the Pacific. Unquestionably, Toronto's Chinatown is authentic in every element of the culture.

But with the largest Asian population in North America, Toronto's Chinatown has a twist. There are eight of them!

The largest is right in the heart of the Kensington Market along Spadina Avenue and Dundas Street. One of Toronto’s magazines referred to this area once as “Spadina’s neon noodle mile,” so whatever taste of Asia that you are craving while visiting the city can be met here. From Chinese to Vietnamese to Thai, your tastebuds will thank you for making the trip about 10 minutes east of our Toronto accommodation. If shopping is in your plans, there are dozens of places to find that perfect item to remember your visit to our Hogtown!

On Gloucester near Yonge

Olympic Pizza- Located at 8 Gloucester Street at the corner of Yonge street, this quaint, sit-down pizzeria in downtown Toronto is a favouite of both our customers and our staff. A 20 minute walk from Banting House inn, Olympic Pizza is complete with open concept indoor dining, as well as an out-door patio, perfect for those warm summer days and nights when you want to relax and unwind in the fresh air.

Their house specialties include Hawaiian, Mediterranean, Canadian style pizzas, or, create your own from a generous selection of toppings. They also serve spaghetti, submarine sandwiches, veal, ravioli, lasagna and so much more – and of course, the restaurant is complete with a full-service bar.

Toronto Secret- Olympic Pizza

This marks their 30th year in business, so you know the quality has to be there. The price is right and the food portions are abundant. Olympic pizza allows you to enjoy a casual atmosphere, while they provide you with a hearty meal in traditional Italian style, without the big price-tag.

Olympic 76 Pizza
416-960-0092
8A Gloucester Street,
Toronto, ON M4Y 1L5