Little Portugal, one of the most visible, vibrant ethnic communities in Toronto today.
Little Portugal is a neighborhood in transition. It has witnessed rapid gentrification in recent years, which underscores its dynamic personality and property opportunity.
Five Wounds Portuguese National Parish is the heart of Little Portugal, with its majestic soaring towers and beautiful stained glass windows. It has been serving the Catholic Portuguese community since 1914. The church is one of the most photographed, sketched, and painted buildings in the city. It was founded and run by Portuguese immigrants who then settled in the nearby neighborhood.
If you seeking living space in an area of visual, cultural, social, and architectural interest, right at the crossroads of a neighborhood that is redefining itself in the context of urban cool, then Little Portugal may be the spot for you.
History:
In the 50s through to the 70s the area grew as Portuguese immigrants arrived and established their families and their roots. Historically, this area is the core of Portuguese settlement in Toronto, and is currently home to the largest Portuguese population in the country. This group is experiencing a demographic shift, as families and Boomers are moving away to the suburbs, and the area is being repopulated with urban professionals, who seek urban living with flair and amenities at their doorstep. Other ethnic groups have also begun to populate the area, notably from Brazil, China and Vietnam, contributing to the multi-cultural fabric of the community.
Overview:
Located in the West end of downtown Toronto, bordered by Lansdowne Avenue, on the north by College Street and on the east by Ossington Avenue, this area is flush with amenities. Green space and leisure opportunity is at McCormick Recreation Centre and Arena.
This neighbourhood is wonderfully reflective of the symbiotic relationship between residential property and commercial business, enmeshed together, creating a colourful streetscape while enhancing the quality of urban lifestyle with colour, character and convenience. A mix of Victorian and Edwardian row, semi- and detached brick and brick front homes ranging from working class cottages to manses sit in quiet support of unique storefronts, eateries, galleries and gathering spots, with a touch of European flair that its namesake suggests. Fresh aromas of baked goods and assorted culinary delights, along with the buzz of spirited conversation emit from many of the shops and eateries.
Homes:
There’s an Old-World-meets-New vibe to Little Portugal. Starting in the 1950s, thousands of Portuguese immigrants made their first home in this west-end area. Over the years, it’s steadily been in transition, as many of the original residents have moved to the suburbs while urban professionals settled in.
Real estate in Little Portugal is most popular with people from age 20-54. There is also a 16% senior population. The majority of people in the area live with family, and in apartment and condo buildings over 5 stories. And as the neighbourhood’s name suggests, there are many Portuguese-speaking citizens.
Renting in Little Portugal is affordable for smaller units with one bedroom or less, but bigger places come at a higher cost. Most of the homes in the neighbourhood are low-rise apartment buildings, although there are still quite a few small but nice detached homes. Many residents of Little Portugal have lived here for years, making many occupants homeowners, but there are usually good rentals available on the market.
Lifestyle:
The eclectic community in Little Portugal. Young working professionals, seniors, and families with kids all choose to buy real estate in the area. There are many different cultures represented here, which adds personality to the shops and flavour to the restaurants.
Dundas West Mural – At Dundas West and Sheridan Avenue, you’ll find a cheerful mural designed by Jose Ortega, the artistic director and co-founder of Lula Lounge, a live global-music venue that’s just around the corner.
The art galleries feature work by local artists on their walls, and people gather in the park to mingle with friends and neighbors. Little Portugal is a welcoming and exciting place to call home.
Shops and Restaurants:
Life in Little Portugal is centred around food and family get-togethers, especially for the old timers who make up a big proportion of the community that lives here. Dundas Street is the heart of the community and the location of most of the restaurants, bars, markets and bakeries that form Little Portugal’s business district, and the old timers can be seen hanging around on nice afternoons, perched in rickety old chairs in front of a cafe and watching people go by. A few of the seniors who live in Little Portugal have small gardens in front of their homes. The younger crowd, on the other hand, comes out a little later in the day for dinners at one of dozens of great joints serving Portuguese fare and then indulge in a few drinks at a local bar playing Fado music or top 40 tunes.
Great restaurants and night life. There are many of Toronto’s top-rated restaurants in Little Portugal along Dundas Street West and College Street. There are also many lounges that open late and close in the wee hours of the morning. Little Portugal is unique, because of the combination of peaceful side streets and exciting main streets for nights on the town. There are speciality businesses here such as cheese shops, spas, butchers, bakeries, and art galleries. For outdoor space, walk to McCormick Park, where you’ll find a playground, baseball diamond, and a cafe. For travelling by TTC, hop on Dundas or College streetcar, or a bus on Dufferin. Drivers can get to the Gardiner Expressway or Lakeshore Boulevard in about fifteen minutes.
Recreation:
Little Portugal is a neighborhood with great local business and culture. Though the area is small, it packs a lot of personality into its streets. There are many delicious restaurants offering cuisines from many different cultures, including the very best Portuguese restaurants in the city. Little Portugal is bordered by College and Dundas to the north, Dovercourt Road to the east, Landsdowne Avenue to the west, and Queen Street West to the south. It is just north of the cool condo community in Liberty Village and west of the artsy community in Queen West, so there are plenty of places to discover. Little Portugal has bars, restaurants, cafes, and late-night lounges. McCormick Park is a great outdoor space in the neighbourhood, and the wonderful Trinity Bellwoods Park is only a few blocks away.
