Off the Beaten Path in Toronto: Kensington Market
Updated: April 19, 2023
Written by
AAA Travel Editor, Patricia Miller
Blue Banana Market
250 Augusta Ave.
Perhaps the ultimate gift shop in Kensington Market, this huge emporium is crammed with massive quantities of funky knick-knacks, most of which are well-priced and small enough to pack in a suitcase as a memento of your vacation. From funky socks, old-school candy and one-of-a-kind coffee mugs to moose-themed thingamajigs (think shot glasses and fridge magnets) and potholders with sayings that would make Aunt Gertrude blush, the quirky goods at this warehouse-size shop will appeal to all.
Bungalow
273 Augusta Ave.
This nifty boutique will appeal to everyone from millennials to baby boomers as well as to anyone who drools over furniture, clothes, jewelry and bric-a-brac from the 1950s to the 1980s. When you want to add something unique to your closet, choose from Bungalow’s well-curated, reasonably priced collection of new and gently-worn vintage clothes–jeans, leather jackets, rock T-shirts and Hawaiian shirts, to name a few. Outfit your pad, too, with a fondue pot or a Dansk serving dish straight out of “Father Knows Best.”
Bunner’s Bake Shop
244 Augusta Ave.
A flamingo-pink sign over Bunner’s boasts of its vegan and gluten-free pastries, including savory breads, aromatic muffins, fragrant cinnamon buns, giant cookies and velvety cupcakes. This is a great place to grab a scrumptious snack and refuel during your Kensington Market shopping frenzy. Find a bench outside where you can dig into your mouthwatering treats, whether it’s a butter tart, strawberry-cardamom cupcake, ginger molasses cookie or one of each.
Exile Vintage
62 Kensington Ave.
Toronto fashionistas who love to shop on the cheap head to Exile Vintage, open since 1975. They also pop into Exile if they’re into cool graphic T-shirts with hilarious sayings. If they need a polyester disco dress from the 1970s and a lime green wig to match, they come to Exile, too. Racks inside marked “That 70’s Party” and “Seriously Ugly Xmas Sweaters” demonstrate the shop’s sense of humor and style, while signs outside proclaiming “Custom T-Shirts $24.99” and “Jean Shirts Starting at $14.99” show budget-conscious shoppers the kind of deals they can get.
She Said Boom Records and Books
372 College St.
One of many record shops in the market, She Said Boom Records and Books stands out with bargains galore for the music maniac and literature lover. Inhale incense while you leaf through stacks of secondhand vinyl and books; you may find a new favorite in a bin of singles that cost only 50 cents. Inventory is always changing, so come back a couple of times while you’re on vacation and look for something to add to your collection.
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