Distillery District
The Distillery District is a popular Toronto destination featuring a variety of boutique shops and restaurants in a historic setting

The brick-lined streets of the carefully restored Distillery Historic District are limited to pedestrian traffic making it an ideal place to relax and explore on foot. Numerous outdoor patios and restaurants create a interesting vibrant experience. You wont find any franchise stores here! The film industry has used this location for filming many popular movies.
This was the original site of the Gooderham and Worts Distillery - the largest distillery in the world by the 1860s. The de-industrialization of neighbouring areas finally resulted in shutting down all remaining distillery operations by 1990. In 2001, the rundown Distillery District, was reclaimed and transformed into a historical district with a unique collection of boutiques, art galleries, coffeehouses, restaurants and more. It also became the home to two theatre companies; the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, Soulpepper Theatre Company and the George Brown College School Of Performing Arts. This reclamation project has preserved the largest collection of Victorian industrial buildings in North America.
The Historic Distillery District hosts the popular Toronto Christmas Market each year from mid November through mid December. It's one of the top rated Christmas Markets in the world — definitely worth a visit if you are in Toronto during that time.
The unique atmosphere and lighting at nighttime make this an ideal place to enjoy a date or romantic evening out.
The Distillery District is easy to get to by a combination of the TTC Subway and Streetcar or Bus. See the map and directions or use our instant route-finder below.
Facts For Your Visit
Fee: NoDistillery District Hours:
Opening hours may differ on holidays
- Monday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Tuesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Wednesday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Thursday: 10:00 AM – 6:00 PM
- Friday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Saturday: 10:00 AM – 7:00 PM
- Sunday: 11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
Address: 55 Mill St, Toronto, ON M5A 3C4, Canada
Phone: (416) 364-1177
Official Website: Distillery District
Distillery District Reviews
Rated
I visited the Distillery Winter Village recently, and it’s honestly one of the best ways to get into the holiday spirit! The whole place feels magical with all the lights, decorations, and festive vibes.
What I really enjoyed:
• The ambiance is amazing—historic buildings, cobblestone streets, and everything lit up like a winter wonderland. It’s so cozy and perfect for photos.
• The food and drinks were a highlight. I tried the mulled wine (so good!) and some holiday treats. There’s also plenty of hot chocolate and other warm drinks if that’s more your thing.
• The little shops and stalls are great if you’re looking for unique gifts or handmade items. It’s like a mini European Christmas market.
Things to keep in mind:
It does get busy, especially on weekends, so try to go on a weekday or earlier in the evening if you can.
Overall, it’s such a fun experience, whether you’re out with friends, family, or even just wandering around on your own. Definitely worth checking out if you want to feel like you’re walking through a holiday movie set!
Eli Blogz - 2 months ago
When we arrived, it was around 10:30 in the morning, and there weren’t many people. Parking was convenient in the underground garage here, at about $2.50 for half an hour. I even came back to pay for additional parking time later.
I’ve worked on upgrading and transforming cultural industries, turning old factory sites into nostalgic attractions. These spaces are revitalized, bringing new life to old places and creating timeless memories for people.
So far, the transformation of old factories in Germany and New York’s High Line Park have been the most inspiring examples to me.
Here, from a design perspective, it’s quite well done. The architecture is organically integrated, with a nice balance between separation and connection. The sense of scale is also very well considered.
I’m not familiar with how the brewery originally looked, but the way beer culture is expressed here feels quite understated. There’s little evidence of the brewery’s history.
I heard there’s a light show in the evening, which is a great idea. That’s why they charge an entry fee at night.
Christmas is coming, and the shops are filled with Christmas-themed merchandise.
The commercial operation feels a bit monotonous, but as long as it makes money, everyone benefits.
Vince Chen - 3 months ago
Came here for NYE to feel that Christmas vibe. They had drink stations to order holiday inspired beverages, vendors selling unique merchandise and lovely setups for photos. This place always has a great atmosphere and stores and restaurants to go to. There’s something about walking down the stone walkways that gives you a classic city feel. Definitely check this place out for a must-see spot in TO
Mishka Ralon - a month ago
The festive atmosphere is simply enchanting, with beautifully decorated streets and a vibrant holiday market. I highly recommend purchasing tickets online if you're planning to visit on weekends after 4 pm, as it tends to get quite busy. Overall, you'll enjoy the visit and create some wonderful memories here!
Suman Mosam - 2 months ago
This is my second year coming to this Distillery. If you want to avoid line ups come before 4 pm so you are not paying for a $15 entrance fee. The shops in here are trendy unique very different forms of art. There are many choices for food, vendors with sausages, poutines, sweets, plenty eatery’s inside, restaurants. There are warming areas to sit to have hot chocolate or even an alcoholic beverage. If you are looking for unique gifts this is the place to come and check out! I highly recommend you look around to make the right choice, there are many shops so do look around for things prices vary everywhere. The shops are just all unique. The Dior Christmas tree is just beautiful and such a picturesque photo! There are many places throughout to capture beautiful photos of yourself or with the family!
Katarina Petrinec - 3 months ago
Directions
TTC Subway Line | Nearest Station | Walking Time |
---|---|---|
Yonge-University-Spadina | King or St. Andrew Station | 1 Minute |
Bloor-Danforth | Castle Frank Station | 3 Minutes |
How to get to Distillery District by TTC Subway
From King or St. Andrew Station on the Yonge-University-Spadina Line take the #514 Cherry streetcar east to Distillery Loop located next to the east entrance.
From Castle Frank Station on the Bloor-Danforth Line take the #65 Parliament bus south to Parliament at Front Street. The entrance is just over 1 block farther south on your left.
Map & Instant Route Finder
Click&Go Map and Route Finder with public transit, walking, driving or cycling directions. Get up-to-the-minute transit times for your route.
Accommodations near Distillery District:
Photo Gallery
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The Stonehouse Distillery at night cc licensed photo by 416style -
Photo Credit: vlitvinov - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Can Pac Swire - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: daryl_mitchell - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: louisbavent - cc license via Flickr -
Photo Credit: Mark Wordy - cc license via Flickr
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