Toronto’s Yorkville has what must be one of the most unusual histories of any neighborhood in North America. Once the spiritual home of Toronto’s counter-culture, where musicians like Joni Mitchell and Neil Young performed in its coffee houses, it is today the city’s prime shopping neighborhood, with Burberry, Gucci, and Prada all represented here. The area maintains its artistic legacy with a number of galleries while Daniel Libeskind’s addition to the Royal Ontario Museum (Canada’s largest museum) has become an iconic city landmark since it opened in 2007. Every September the Toronto Film Festival takes place here while those interested in the very different art of landscape architecture will want to visit the Village of Yorkville Park. This intimate, small park has been praised by critics for its unique design inspired by Victorian collections and provides a green transition between the neighborhood’s residential and commercial areas. Yorkville was also the home of the country’s first five-star hotel, the Four Seasons, which has now been joined by several other luxury hotels—all perfect spots for a martini after an afternoon of shopping or exploring.
Not unlike the neighborhood it calls home in Toronto, Burberry straddles the different worlds of beloved classics and trend-setting designs. You can find both at the Burberry store on Bloor Street.
