Introduction
Sandwiched between Bloor Street East in the north, Wellesley in the south, Parliament in the east, and Sherbourne in the west, St. James Town is a small but densely-populated neighbourhood in downtown Toronto. This culturally and ethnically diverse area is a mostly residential pocket adjoining some areas that are more commercial and retail oriented.
Lifestyle
St. James Town is a friendly, largely residential neighbourhood. A library and community centre provide residents with programs and things to do. Ethnic grocery stores give a taste of home to the area’s large immigrant population. There are relatively few stores and restaurants, but those that are in the neighbourhood are moderately priced.
The Vibe
This friendly, community-oriented neighbourhood feels like a small village. It’s a high-density area, and people seem to know their neighbours better than in many other parts of the city. Residents often stop to talk on the street or, in nice weather, sit outside on benches. This is a mostly residential area; there is shopping close by, but not a lot of shops or restaurants within the neighbourhood boundaries.
Meet the Neighbours
This is a young neighbourhood, with only a small percentage of seniors. St. James Town is a linguistically, ethnically, and culturally diverse area, with a high proportion of recent immigrants, and a large Filipino community. Residents of St. James Town take pride in their community, the neighbourhood is relatively low-income.
In the Area
St. James Town is a small but well-serviced area. The neighbourhood has a library, elementary school, and community centre. There is a public park, and playgrounds and green space on the properties of the apartment buildings. Open-air vendors can be found on a pedestrian thoroughfare beside the Food Basics selling clothing, shoes, jewellery, household items, and many other products that neighbourhood stores don’t carry.
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Planes, Trains & Automobiles
St. James Town is a great neighbourhood for cycling, with bike lanes on Wellesley, Sherbourne, and Bloor, and a Bixie Bike lot on Wellesley. The area is convenient for transit, with Sherbourne subway station at Bloor and Sherbourne and bus routes on Parliament, Wellesley, Sherbourne and Bloor. Bayview and the Don Valley Parkway are both close by and are good north-south routes for drivers.
The Good, the Bad & the Rest
St. James Town is a lively, friendly neighbourhood with a strong sense of community that is convenient to transit and great for biking. However, the vast majority of residential housing consists of highrise apartment buildings; if you’re looking for a house, a condo, or even a low-rise apartment, this is not the neighbourhood for you. The area also has relatively high rates of theft.
Dollars & Sense
This is a relatively inexpensive area. Rental rates for apartments are lower than average for both the city of Toronto as a whole and Toronto Central. Stores and restaurants in this neighbourhood are moderately priced to accommodate the fact that area residents tend to earn lower incomes and are on limited budgets.
Gallery
Neighbourhood Hotspots
Art City
Art City is a not-for-profit that runs free art programs for kids in the St. James Town neighbourhood. There are after-school, weekend, summer, and March break programs for kids of all ages.
more infoChae’s Chester Chicken Express
Chae’s Chester Chicken Express is a fast-food restaurant that sells fried chicken as well as many Filipino dishes. Prices are good and this restaurant is popular with the locals in the area.
more infoDowntown Kabob Grill House
This Persian grill house has a reputation for excellent kabobs but long wait times for food. The menu is a bit of a mix, with both Persian foods and more western cuisine.
more infoHarla Spice Market
The Harla Spice Market has a wide range of exotic spices and foods. They sell baraka seeds, spice mixes, injera (Ethiopian bread), and hot savoury pastries, along with staples like lentils and rice.
more infoMr. Jerk
This Caribbean restaurant specializes in jerk foods, especially chicken and pork. They also sell rotis, stews, soups, fresh juices made in-house, Caribbean-style fish dinners, and other Caribbean dishes, including plantain tarts.
more infoSt. Jamestown West Park
The St. Jamestown West Park is a favourite with local residents of all ages. There are benches, lawns, and plenty of shade, as well as a playground and a drinking fountain.
more info