5 Luxurious Spots on Toronto’s Mink Mile
The upscale neighbourhood of Yorkville is known for its chic shops, trendy restaurants, world-class museums and art galleries, indulgent day spas and extravagant five-star hotels. Just steps away from the new 11YV development at 11 Yorkville Avenue, Toronto’s notorious ‘Mink Mile’ is home to some of the most prestigious retail spaces and designer boutiques in the country.
Grab your credit card and hit the granite-paved sidewalks of Bloor Street between Yonge Street and Avenue Road to soak in the sophisticated luxury at these five hotspots in the city’s glitziest ’hood.
Holt Renfrew
Photo credit: Retail Insider
From fragrances to footwear to fresh-off-the-runway fashions, you’ll find it all under one roof at this sprawling Canadian-owned department store at 50 Bloor Street West, located one block south of 11YV. Spread over four spacious floors, Holt Renfrew’s wide-ranging inventory covers beauty, accessories, shoes, jewellery, homewares, and clothing for men, women and kids. Shoppers can browse for stylish garments from big-name fashion houses like Chanel, Dolce & Gabana, Tom Ford, Balenciaga, Gucci, Prada, Valentino and more alongside contemporary apparel from emerging Canadian designers and trendsetting labels. Want to get up close and personal with your favourite brands? Holt Renfrew frequently hosts in-store designer meet-and-greets, trunk shows and special pop-up events that are open to public. The high-end retailer also elevates your everyday shopping experience with luxe extras like personal shopping, made-to-measure tailoring, valet parking, and a newly renovated Grand Collette Café on-site, which is set to relaunch in fall 2019.
La Société
Photo credit: blogTO
Gilded in gold details with a breathtaking stained-glass ceiling and opulent booth seating, this upscale French brasserie feels both classic and contemporary in its approach. A little piece of Paris along Toronto’s Mink Mile, La Société is open for lunch and dinner throughout the week and weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. The menu covers traditional French dishes such as beef bourguignon, steak frites and coquilles Saint-Jacques and also offers a number of lighter pescatarian selections, including a daily fish crudo, fresh oysters and tiered seafood towers. At the bar, craft cocktails and fine wines keep the room lively while the service is polished and refined without feeling stuffy. After an afternoon of shopping along Bloor Street, visit this swanky bistro for Cinq à Sept (aka: Happy Hour) to sip on $7 cocktails and wine features.
Maison Birks
An iconic Canadian jewellery brand founded in 1879, Maison Birks specializes in ethically sourced precious stones, Canadian diamonds and opulent home accessories. The recently renovated flagship at the corner of Bay and Bloor is a veritable jewellery box of a shop carrying a sparkling selection of fine gemstones, designer watches, sterling silver photo frames, collectable keepsakes and much more. Whether you’re after sapphire-studded cufflinks, trendy stackable rings in mixed metals or a wow-worthy diamond-encrusted timepiece, you’ll find it all in this well-appointed boutique.
Eataly
Photo credit: eatalytoronto
Opened in mid November 2019, Eataly Toronto is the first Canadian outpost for the wildly successful European-inspired marketplace. Located in the Manulife Centre just a five-minute walk from 11YV, the expansive 50,000-square-foot concept space features numerous sit-down restaurants, cafes, wine bars and takeaway counters all specializing in Mediterranean classics and regional dishes prepared by world-class chefs. The multi-level culinary destination also offers boutique retailers selling artisanal European grocery items such as dry pasta, sauces, sweets, olives and condiments sourced from Italy and beyond, as well as an on-site culinary school that gives would-be chefs an opportunity to enjoy live demonstrations, cooking classes and complimentary tastings.
Louis Vuitton
The Toronto flagship store for this Parisian luxury label is a tastefully chic retail space where the fashionable denizens of Yorkville shop for fine leather goods, clothing and accessories. Whether you’re just window shopping or stocking up on a new Speedy bag in the latest pattern, Louis Vuitton’s two-storey space at Bloor and Avenue Road is a must-see landmark on Toronto’s Mink Mile. Designer suitcases, monogrammed handbags and wallets, oversized sunglasses, silk scarves and personalized leather belts are just a few of the cult favourites and must-have items from this posh lifestyle brand. The Instagram-ready retail space also features a shimmering white iridescent staircase where you can pose for photos with your purchases.
Located in the heart of the city’s toniest neighbourhood surrounded by world-class shopping, dining and entertainment, 11 Yorkville will soon become Toronto’s most in-demand address. For stylish city-dwellers who want to enjoy a luxe urban lifestyle, 11YV is the perfect home base from which to explore the designer boutiques and upscale eateries along Toronto’s dazzling Mink Mile.
