Dylan YoungThe Castlefield Design District isn’t technically an official neighbourhood in Toronto. But in recent years, it’s gotten a lot more traction, especially from shoppers, thanks to its many furniture shops and interior designer studios.
But more than just shopping, this area is also a great spot for dining with many restaurants of various cuisines. When I’m done browsing the stores, I often hit up a dining spot nearby.
If you’re planning to visit, here’s all you need to know to navigate the neighbourhood and what’s worth checking out.
Where is Castlefield Design District in Toronto?
The Castlefield Design District’s location overlaps both York and North York within the Greater Toronto Area.
There are no strict borders for this neighbourhood, but it’s believed that its area falls within Lawrence Avenue West on the north, Eglinton Avenue West on the south, Keele Street on the west, and Dufferin Street on the east.
What is the main street of Castlefield Design District?
Castlefield Avenue is the main street of Castlefield Design District since it runs along the length of the neighbourhood. Caledonia Road is another major street, and this one runs along the width of the neighbourhood’s center.
How to Get to Castlefield Design District
By Subway: The nearest subway station to the Castlefield Design District is the one on Eglinton Avenue. Take Line 1, and once you reach the station, it should be about a 24-minute walk to the district.
By Bus: You can ride bus services 52, 52A, 52B, 61, or 97A because these pass by Castlefield Avenue.
By Car: If you’re driving, there are parking lots in most of the shops and restaurants. Street parking is also available.
Where to Shop
InsideOut Patio Furniture
– From: insideoutpatio
Address: 1280 Castlefield Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167822700
My back patio has always been the least decorated part of my house, and it’s one of my goals to change that this 2025. Fortunately, InsideOut is here to help me out.
What I love about this shop is that it offers a great variety of products. I thought I’d only need to get chairs, rockers, and gas fire pits, but this shop has shown me that there are other patio furniture items—like cantilever umbrellas and grills!
There are also outdoor heaters here, which are perfect accessories because they will allow me to hang out on my patio even in the dead of winter.
Southport Outdoor Living
– From: southportoutdoor
Address: 1296 Castlefield Ave
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167857788
Another great spot you need to check out if you need outdoor furniture is Southport Outdoor Living.
After a long browse at the store, my favourite items are the concrete fire tables. I used to think that a simple fire pit was enough, but no, now I want a concrete fire table. It looks even more majestic. I’m sure if I have one, it’s the first thing people will notice when they step onto my back patio.
Silk and Snow
– From: silkandsnow
Address: 670 Caledonia Rd Unit 200
Operating Hours:
- Monday and Tuesday—9:30 am to 5 pm
- Wednesday to Friday—11 am to 7:30 pm
- Saturday and Sunday—10 am to 7:30 pm
Contact Number: +18557770033
A mattress is an important investment. The quality of your sleep depends on it, and one shop that I’ve heard sells amazing mattresses is Silk and Snow.
A friend bought her mattress here, and she said that it’s firm and soft at the same time and incredibly durable. She also liked that this shop offers a 365-night trial, which means if you’re not satisfied after one year, you can request a return—free of charge!
Aside from mattresses, you can also find other bed essentials, such as bed frames, mattress toppers, and more.
M2M Bespoke
– From: made2measureclothing
Address: 160 Tycos Dr #141
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—8 am to 9 pm
- Friday—8 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14165274647
Fast fashion is out, bespoke tailoring is in! At least in my case, I’ve been trying to have my clothes made for me these days, and so far, M2M Bespoke is the tailor shop that has wowed me.
I came here once to order a casual outfit that also had an air of relaxed elegance. The result is a blouse and a pair of pants made of soft, durable twill fabric. It’s beige, which may sound boring, but I don’t mind it because I can style it with all sorts of accessories.
AM Studio
– From: amstudio_lighting
Address: 80 Kincort St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 5 pm
- Saturday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167834100
Looking to spruce up your home with new lighting fixtures? I recommend stopping by AM Studio to get inspiration (and maybe buy a few things).
I’ve only visited their showroom once, and the highlight for me is their collection of pendant chandeliers. They tend to look like uncut gems, and they look even better with the light on. The way the light makes them glint and even sparkle—oh how pretty!
If I have money to spare, I’d definitely splurge on one of those pendant chandelier sets.
Casa Di Luce
– From: casadiluce
Address: 89 Tycos Dr #102
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166509837
Speaking of stores offering unique lamps and other types of lighting fixtures, Casa Di Luce is another one you should check out.
What’s great about the products here is that they’re not your typical bulbs. They look like modern art installations coming in weird shapes and sizes! So, they will definitely attract everyone’s attention.
I love the linear suspensions for the kitchen and dining room. Some of them are like bright, squiggly lines hanging from the ceiling!
Home Société
– From: home_societe
Address: 1270 Caledonia Rd
Operating Hours:
- Saturday to Wednesday—10 am to 6 pm
- Thursday and Friday—10 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +16476964612
Home Société is one of the most popular furniture stores in Toronto, which isn’t surprising since it carries a slew of beloved local and international brands. Some of the brands you’ll find here are City Garden, The Bottega Nicastro, and Corbeil House.
Most of the furniture items here are made of metal and leather, but there are also ones made with softer materials like velvet.
I’m eyeing the couches and sofas here; they’re simple and minimalist with neutral colour schemes, but they feel so soft and plush!
Elte
– From: elte
Address: 80 Ronald Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—9:30 am to 5:30 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +18882763583
Sometimes, all you need is a beautiful rug or carpet to tie the whole room together. So, why not browse the items sold at Elte and see if there’s anything that calls to you?
I’m obsessed with how the designs and patterns on the rugs and carpets look vintage with a modern flair. My favourite piece so far is the Renato Rug, which is inspired by the Italian Renaissance period. The rug is made of wool, and it’s brimming with abstract patterns that are definitely eye-catching!
Calligaris
– From: calligaris_toronto
Address: 147 Tycos Dr #2
Operating Hours: Monday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14165042959
Calligaris is the best furniture shop to go to if your aesthetic preference is a combination of modern and chic. This store features elegant, stylish products with soft lines and graceful curves.
You can find all sorts of furniture here, such as beds, sofas, dining tables, and more. The ones I want to buy so badly are the lounge chairs because they’re so comfortable and charming.
In particular, I’m eyeing the Dalia chair, which blends mid-century and Nordic furniture design: it has simple, clean lines and uses wood as the base and a mix of fabrics and leather.
The Door Store
– From: thedoorstore
Address: 1260 Castlefield Ave
Operating Hours: Tuesday to Saturday—10 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14168631590
I used to think that all doors were boring, but when I visited The Door Store for the first time, I realized that I was wrong. This store has proven to me that doors can be exciting and can even be the standout feature of any room!
My favourite doors are the ones with intricate carvings of geometric patterns on the body itself. I love the texture that these carvings make, plus they also make the door look like a valuable antique!
Other than doors, you can also find other furniture items here, like tables and lighting.
Victorian Revival
– From: vintagelightingintoronto
Address: 1150 Castlefield Ave
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Friday—10 am to 6 pm
- Saturday—10 am to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14167891704
Do you love vintage? And do you want to make your house look like a Victorian-era residence? Then, I recommend Victorian Revival!
Victorian Revival is teeming with different kinds of vintage lighting fixtures. In a way, this place feels more like a museum than a store; I can just spend hours looking at every knickknack and asking the owner for stories or information about them.
This place also offers bespoke lighting services, allowing you to customize your fixtures even further!
Union Lighting and Furnishings
– From: unionlighting
Address: 1491 Castlefield Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—9 am to 5 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 5 pm
Contact Number: +14166522200
Union Lighting and Furnishings first started in 1914 (its original name was Star Gas and Electric), and over time, it’s grown to become a household name in Canada. In fact, right now, it’s the largest lighting showroom in the country!
Because of this, it’s so easy to get overwhelmed even when you’re just browsing the showroom.
I’m a big fan of their ceiling lights and wall fixtures because they have a luxury look to them. They’re made with sleek metal that glints in the light and elaborate lines that you’ll normally find in fancy chandeliers.
Where to Eat
Speducci Mercatto
– From: speeducci
Address: 46 Milford Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday—9 am to 6 pm
- Tuesday to Thursday—9 am to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—9 am to 10 pm
- Sunday—10 am to 3 pm
Contact Number: +14162422777
Speducci Mercatto is a haven for people who love Italian cuisine. Here, you can find your classic Italian dishes—a great variety of pasta and pizza—and there’s even a separate prosciutto bar!
I’m a big fan of the Branzino here. The sea bass tastes fresh, and its meat is wonderfully flaky, rich and slightly sweet, thanks to the red wine reduction sauce. The fish is also paired with pancetta, which adds even more sweetness and smokiness to every bite.
Edo Japan
– From: edojapanofficial
Address: 1121 Castlefield Ave Kitchen #12
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14165514500
Having been around for more than 45 years, Edo Japan is a popular restaurant chain in Canada. This has been my go-to when I’m craving Japanese dishes but short on cash, so when I heard that there’s an outlet on Castlefield Avenue, I was thrilled.
What I like about this restaurant is that you can build your own bento meals! I usually fill up mine with a few pieces of crunchy tempura, a broccoli and beef noodle dish, and a spicy salmon roll. It’s super filling!
Casa Portuguesa
– From: casaportuguesa.to
Address: 180 Bentworth Ave
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—11 am to 8 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 4 pm
Contact Number: +16473001182
Casa Portuguesa is a hidden gem in the neighbourhood. In fact, I only stumbled upon it by accident. I got lost, looking for a particular furniture shop, and that’s how I found this Portuguese restaurant. I’ve been back several times now because I can’t get enough of their food!
I love the half chicken with piri piri sauce; it’s wonderfully spicy and smoky, with a hint of sweetness. I recommend getting a plate of garlic rice or roasted potatoes on the side because they will help in cutting through the chicken’s rich flavours.
Mercado Restaurant
– From: mercadorestaurant.to
Address: 682 Caledonia Rd
Operating Hours:
- Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday—12 pm to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—12 pm to 10 pm
- Sunday—12 pm to 4 pm
Contact Number: +16477481370
Another great spot you can go to satisfy your Portuguese cuisine cravings is Mercado Restaurant.
I recommend their Beira Mar, especially if you’re starving. This dish is an impressive display of all your favourite meats and seafood: there are sausages, octopus, pork belly, jumbo shrimp, scallops, and even prosciutto-wrapped steak medallions!
Every meat and seafood is smoked to perfection, and for more flavour, you can dunk them into the chimichurri sauce, which adds a lovely zing of tangy, citrusy notes.
Mermaid’s Find
– From: mermaidsfind
Address: 1550 Eglinton Ave W
Operating Hours: Thursday to Tuesday—12 pm to 11 pm
Contact Number: +14164109002
Seafood boil is all the rage these days, and I’ve jumped on the bandwagon. Fortunately, there are several restaurants in Toronto that offer seafood boil, and Mermaid’s Find is one of them.
I go crazy every time I come here. I often order the Big Combo option, which has a lobster tail, large snow crab clusters, four shrimps, four mussels, and four crayfish. Sometimes, that’s not enough for me, so I add even more snow crab clusters, lobster tails, and mussels.
My heart suffers every time because the seafood boil is covered with lots of butter, but I have no regrets!
El Tipico Ecuatoriano
– From: eltipicoecuatoriano
Address: 2312 Keele St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday, Thursday—11 am to 8 pm
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 9 pm
Contact Number: +14166141136
Ecuadorian cuisine is incredibly underrated in my opinion, so I’ll happily check out any Ecuadorian restaurant. El Tipico Ecuatoriano definitely hit the mark for me!
My favourite thing to order here is the Apanado de Carne o Pollo. The main stars are the fried beef and chicken, which are super crispy and savoury, and the rice is fluffy and aromatic. I like to order fried plantains on the side because they’re so sweet and mushy.
Cowboy Grill
– From: cowboysgrilltoronto
Address: 85 Kincort St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Tuesday—9:30 am to 8:30 pm
- Wednesday and Thursday—9 am to 8:30 pm
- Friday and Saturday—9:30 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14167923310
Cowboy Grill is one of those restaurants that I love going to on my cheat day. Somehow, the food here tastes even better when I’ve spent several days in a week on a strict diet. It’s like a reward!
Go all out on the Cowboy’s Grill Smoked Plate, a dish that will make your heart muscles contract in protest. It’s loaded with St. Louis pork ribs, smoky beef brisket, tangy chicken wings, and tender pulled beef. Once I’m done eating, I’m ready to go into a coma.
Esto Es Colombia
– From: estoescolombiarest
Address: 2848 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Thursday—10 am to 8 pm
- Friday—10 am to 12 am
- Saturday—12 am to 6 am, 10 am to 12 am
- Sunday—12 am to 6 am, 10 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14167820058
It’s rare to find a Colombian restaurant in Toronto, but thankfully, there are a few. Esto es Colombia is one of them, and every food I tried here is a winner.
My favourite dish is the churrasco con chimichurri, which is like steak frites. It has grilled steak that’s smoky and succulent and a side of fries that are thick and salty. There’s also the chimichurri, which makes the steak taste tangy and a bit minty.
Be sure to get the arepas as well! It’s made with sweet corn dough and cheese, and that combination of sweet and salty flavours is top-notch.
Columbus Bakery
– From: torontofoodaddict
Address: 2931 Dufferin St
Operating Hours: Monday to Sunday—6 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14167824520
Technically, Columbus Bakery is, well, a bakery and not a restaurant, but it’s too good to pass up.
This bakery offers Colombian baked goods, and my go-to treat is the alfajor, which is a simple pastry made with honey and nuts.
Try the empanada too, especially if you prefer a savoury treat. The exterior is crispy, and the inside is savoury perfection. This snack tastes even better when it’s fresh because the filling is still piping hot!
Amico Bakery
– From: ventuno.catering
Address: 2889 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—7 am to 6 pm
- Sunday—8 am to 6 pm
Contact Number: +14169012729
Another bakery you should go to if you’re craving a sweet treat is Amico Bakery. This one specializes in Italian desserts, but they also have pizza.
I can’t say no to any of the tiramisu cakes. I love the classic flavour, but the Gianduia Tiramisu has my heart. It’s chocolate hazelnut, so every forkful is like one giant bite of Nutella. I also love the biscuits that wrap around the cake; they’re so crumbly, and their espresso flavour is strong.
California Sandwiches
– From: californiasandwiches
Address: 2474 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Saturday—10 am to 9 pm
- Sunday—11 am to 8 pm
Contact Number: +14167875205
If you’re looking for a cheap eat in the neighbourhood, then you might want to stop by California Sandwiches. The offerings here are affordably priced, and they’re filling!
I love to get the chicken cutlet sandwich. The cutlet is crispy on the outside and tender and moist on the inside, while the marinara sauce is perfectly tangy and acidic. To make it more flavourful, I add extra toppings like hot peppers and cheese.
Taste of Shawarma
– From: officialtasteofshawarma
Address: 2488 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday to Thursday—11 am to 12 am
- Friday and Saturday—11 am to 3 am
Contact Number: +14167835444
Shawarma is another dish that I love to get when I’m hungry and want a quick snack. Taste of Shawarma is one of my go-to shawarma spots, and the best part is that it’s open until 3 am, so if I want a late-night snack, I know where to go.
I recommend the chicken shawarma wrap. The pita bread is stuffed to the brim with chicken pieces, and then everything is drizzled with hummus, garlic mayo, and tzatziki. The result is a wonderful combination of savoury, tangy, and spicy flavours.
DaRosa Cafe and Restaurant
– From: chopstixinthesix
Address: 2853 Dufferin St
Operating Hours:
- Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday—8 am to 9 pm
- Friday and Saturday—8 am to 10 pm
Contact Number: +14162564544
The menu at DaRosa Cafe and Restaurant is mostly made up of chicken dishes, but I don’t mind because I love chicken!
I love the grilled BBQ chicken because it’s super smoky and savoury. I also like to pair it with roasted potatoes and a salad to balance the rich flavours.
If you want to eat something other than chicken, then you might like their steaks. They’re relatively cheap and quite tasty; the meat is cooked perfectly medium, so it’s still tender and juicy.
