Amongst the renovated century old Victorian buildings of Toronto’s former Gooderham and Worts Distillery lay a National Historic Site with the charm and energy of relaxed European cafe culture and the hipness and vibe of New York’s SOHO or Chelsea
neighbourhoods.
In the late 1800’s Gooderham and Worts was the largest distillery in the world, producing over 2 million gallons of whiskey and spirits annually. After 150 years of operations, changing times and economies meant the closure of the distillery but a new life soon followed as the site became one of the largest film locations in North America. In 2001, restoration of the site began and within two years the present Distillery Historic District opened, becoming one of the top tourist attractions in the City. In addition to the Victorian distillery and industrial buildings a growing collection of modern city homes and condominium building are bring more ‘life’ to the District as people live/work nearby.
Strolling through the pedestrian-only cobblestone lanes and into the restored heritage buildings one finds an eclectic array of offices, boutiques, cafes, restaurants, galleries and entertainment venues. The public plazas often play host to varied events such as Toronto International Jazz Fest or Mountain Bike Festival. It’s the perfect way to spend a day shopping, eating, learning and being entertained.