Condos for Rent in Queen West, Toronto, ON

Restaurants and boutiques in Queen West constantly make their way into magazines and guidebooks — and for good reason. Residents living in Queen West condos provide inspiration for how to dress, and up-and-coming chefs set their sights on this neighbourhood from early on. Basically, as far as Toronto neighbourhoods are concerned, it doesn’t get much cooler than Queen West.

While Queen Street West is a destination in and of itself, the neighbourhood actually extends north and south of this major street. The neighbourhood technically reaches as far north as Wellesley Street, and as far south as Adelaide. And since the area spans a large stretch of Queen, from University all the way to Dovercourt, the character of Queen West changes slightly as one moves from east to west.

The east end of the neighbourhood feels more commercial, as it’s scattered with just about every brand-name store one can think of. With options like Gap, Urban Outfitters, Club Monaco, and Foot Locker, shoppers who don’t feel like being indoors can forgo the Eaton Centre and instead take a stroll along Queen Street West. Once west of Spadina, shoppers quickly notice the abundance of textile and bead stores in Queen West, along with a smaller quantity of global brands.

Things change yet again west of Bathurst Street, where unique boutiques are the norm. This stretch of Queen, also known as ‘West Queen West,’ was in fact named one of the world’s coolest areas in a 2014 issue of Vogue. And it certainly lives up to the expectations set by the magazine: local designers hawking everything from housewares to handbags vie for a spot in West Queen West.

Just north of Queen, between between Crawford Street and Gore Vale Avenue, lies one of the most beloved parks in the city. Thanks to its proximity to the hip West Queen West strip, Trinity Bellwoods is perfect for people watching. The park also boast an enormous off-leash dog area, an ice rink, a couple of baseball diamonds, and a community centre with an indoor swimming pool.

Clearly, all sorts of prospective renters are attracted to Queen West for a variety of reasons. Thankfully the neighbourhood is home to over 50 condos, making the search for the perfect Queen West condo for rent slightly less daunting.

Those hoping to live as close as possible to the subway can look into homes at Qwest, University Plaza Condos, Smart House Condos, or One Six Nine Lofts, all of which are situated near the University-Spadina line. Then there are buildings like the The Bond Condos and Lofts 399, which, sandwiched directly between King and Queen Streets West, are perfect for renters who love the two streets equally.

Regardless of how one prefers to get around, there’s no denying that Queen West is a convenient place to live. Unsurprisingly, anyone living in a Queen West condo for rent without a car of their own will frequent the Queen streetcar. This service runs 24 hours a day, and connects residents living in the west end of the neighbourhood to the subway. Best of all, the streetcar stops in front of both Osgoode and Queen Stations, on the University-Spadina and Yonge lines, respectively.

As for those who prefer to drive, Adelaide and Richmond Streets come in handy during rush hour, as these one-way streets are free of streetcars and buses. The Gardiner Expressway isn’t too far off either, a major highway which carries cars east and west along the southern edge of the city. Once on the Gardiner, drivers can reach destinations like Pearson International Airport, IKEA, or the Beaches in no time.

The Locals: Trendsetters.

Code of Conduct: People watching in the park is a perfectly accessible way to spend a Saturday.

What You’ll Find: Long lineups for brunch.

What You Won’t Find: Peace and Quiet.

The Homes: Mainly multi-residential.

Sealing the Deal: The neighbourhood’s reputation.