Drop into one of these bistro bars within 11YV’s vibrant social sphere and enjoy world-class wine in tune with an international crowd.

Alobar

This hidden gem within a small courtyard off Cumberland Street began life as a cocktail bar but stretched into a restaurant, much to the appreciation of the local clientele. The after-work and after-shopping crowds heads here to let a jacketed staff pamper them with tasty treats, while the sommelier is kept busy helping guests go with their gut: Europe-favoured benchmark wines, plus selections from off the beaten path. Terrific raw-bar. Reservations recommended.

Image courtesy of Alobar Yorkville

Buca Osteria & Bar

A little slice of Italian heaven sprang out of Buca on King Street, with this marble and raw-concrete offshoot on Scollard Street just as anchored to Italian traditions and flavours as the mothership. Pop in for something creative and delicious from the seafood-focused open kitchen and wash it down with a nice Tuscan red from a very approachable and value-oriented list. Go for brunch.

Image courtesy of Buca Osteria & Bar

Estia

This Mediterranean restaurant sports split-level luxury, luring guests into tufted leather banquettes under a grand chandelier—but you’re sitting at the marble bar poring over a massive international wine list. Chase down shareable rustic cuisine from Greece, Southern Italy and Southern Spain with wines of the same origin, plus a ton of French, South African, Oregon and Californian wines.

Image courtesy of Estia

Bar Reyna

“Yorkville’s reigning cocktail and snack bar” is as hip as it is confident. This two-storey bôite in a heritage Victorian house is energetic and delicious, serving an eclectic menu of small and large plates for sharing alongside bespoke cocktails and a succinct two-page wine list. Choose from mostly Old World bottles that offer extremely good value. Hunker down under lavish pendant lights, order a dozen oysters and you’re set.

Image courtesy of Bar Reyna

Constantine

The Mediterranean flavours of this destination hotspot in the back of The Anndore House hotel draw a devoted crowd, but the real fun is all up front in the sexy grey and black lounge. A small but razor-sharp cocktail list includes one superb drink from each staple spirit, which you can sip while you thumb the wine list. Find intriguing New World wines along with Old World classics and selections from Morocco, Greece and Lebanon—all just a 10-minute stroll from 11YV.

Image courtesy Constantine

Cibo Wine Bar

With three locations in Toronto and one in Miami, Cibo is a Southern Italian star in the best wine-bar way. A rustic-casual experience awaits guests to the industrial-style Yorkville site, where the award-winning open kitchen turns out classic Italian dishes from a massive menu. And with more than 2,500 bottles of wine to choose from, you’ve got your work cut out for you. Open seven days a week.

Image courtesy Cibo Wine Bar

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.

SHANE DINGMAN REAL ESTATE REPORTER,
AS SEEN IN THE GLOBE & MAIL

Three major real estate developers in the Greater Toronto Area are teaming up for what they believe could be the last high-rise condominium to be built on Yorkville Avenue, in a project that reflects many of the risks facing large-scale developers.
“This is not a business any more for the faint of heart or short of capital,” said Ed Sonshine, chief executive of RioCan, Mr. Sonshine said Riocan has a 50-per-cent stake in the project branded 11 Yorkville. It took three years and six separate transactions to assemble the land for proposed 62-storey building. “Howard [Sokolowski of Metropia, which has a 25-per-cent share] brought me the opportunity. It was a risky process: You had to buy the buildings one by one, it was a fairly risky venture.

“Typically we start with land we already own, only two times has Riocan has done it [assembled land] in the last decade. I eventually said to Howard: if this doesn’t work out it’s not going to kill Riocan, but it might kill you!”

The proposed development includes a park that will provide a pedestrian throughfare from Cumberland Street and Yorkville Avenue.
RIOCAN LIVING/METROPIA/CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

Mr. Sokolowski, a 35-year veteran of residential developments (first in low-rise with Tribute Communities and now with condo construction at Metropia) saw it as an opportunity to build something special, on a site that’s also likely to maximize the rewards. “This is up there with some of my very interesting projects. … I’m only interested in doing unique projects now,” he said. He said Tribute’s calling card was “full-fledged communities” of 1,000 housing units or more, and at Metropia he has continued to search for that kind of neighbourhood defining scale. “While Yorkville is a single tower, it’s a very large tower. It’s is the highest-end project that Metropia has done in high-rise world, Yorkville commands a different level of finish and spec.”

The plans hinged on the final and most expensive piece of land the partners were able to acquire, 21 Yorkville, which will allow for the creation of a narrow park, gifted to the city, that will create a pedestrian corridor between Cumberland and Yorkville.

“This is the most expensive land, on a per-square-foot basis, that we’ve purchased,” said Todd Cowan, co-founder and managing partner of Capital Developments, which joined the project midway through the acquisition phase. “When we looked at this site, this is probably the last tower site in one of the greatest tower addresses in all of Canada … it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”

The partners were unwilling to say how much they paid for the assembled land, but data from market analysts Altus Group suggests it will have likely cost the trio close to $130-million.

The combination of heritage features and existing uses on the other Yorkville Avenue parcels is what convinced Mr. Sokolowski that this could be the last high-rise-development spot on the street.

“It’s hard to substantiate that comment – you can never say never,” said Ray Wong, vice-president, data operations, data solutions at Altus. According to Mr. Wong, Altus rates Yorkille as one of the priciest areas to develop in the country. Altus calculates that land was appreciating rapidly as the group worked: Yorkville land sales doubled from $131 a buildable square foot in 2014 to $271 a square foot in 2018 (at the same time, the Toronto-wide average went up just 85 per cent to $124 a square foot from $67). All of which means a future developer, if determined enough, might find a way to build another tower. “It takes a certain amount of time and patience, but it probably can be done,” he said.

Along with condo units and retail space, the tower will feature rental apartments.
RIOCAN LIVING/METROPIA/CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

The condo units themselves will likely more than pay for the hefty upfront costs, but the site will also feature some flagship retail space for Riocan to manage, as well as 81 rental apartments that have to be replaced (the current proposal is that 20 of those units be affordable).

The average price of homes sold in these area codes is $1.6-million, according to the Teranet-National Bank House Price Index. 11 Yorkville is projected to have 593 apartments available, from 400 to 1,140 square feet. Although pricing per square foot has not been announced, Mr. Cowan said there will be units available for less than $1-million.

“Yorkville is the best street in Canada in terms of aspirational luxury living,” Mr. Sonshine said. “I’m not kidding myself; a large number of the buyers are going to be investors who are going to rent it out.”

One area where the partners may have some disagreement is on the question of how those investors might rent those units out – by long-term lease, or short-term via such sites as Airbnb.

“In my opinion, [Airbnb] cheapens the building,” Mr. Sonshine said. He noted that a nearby building where he owns a condominium apartment recently amended its bylaws to ban short-term operators. He wouldn’t be opposed to barring rentals shorter than six months from the declaration documents.

From its Yorkville perch, the building will have views to the downtown core.
RIOCAN LIVING/METROPIA/CAPITAL DEVELOPMENTS

“I’m not against Airbnb,” said Mr. Cowan, who nevertheless felt as though 11 Yorkville wouldn’t be a hotspot for the service. “Me, personally … I don’t believe in a building at this level of finish and level of prestige you’re going to see a lot of Airbnb.”

Mr. Sokolowski is the most tolerant: “We’ve taken a position [that] it’s not our call … we’ll leave that up to the ultimate residents of the building.”

The other hot-button issue in the city is condo cancellations and construction costs, both of which are issues the partners have been working to solve before opening any units up for sale.

“Cost growth is pretty unprecedented … I, personally, have not seen inflation in a market like this before,” said Mr. Cowan, who says the price inflation is worse even than the post-communism construction boom in Central Europe (of which he had direct experience). “We’re very well along [on Yorkville], the construction drawings are already advanced, we’re already tendering for some construction sub-trades.”

“My partners would never consider going to the market until we had a real handle on what our construction costs would be,” Mr. Sokolowski said. “When a project doesn’t go ahead – and they sold units to purchasers – it’s a stain on the industry. I look at it with some disdain; I’m not going to pass judgment, but it’s not going to happen on my watch.”

Source: The Globe And Mail

Choosing a favourite amenity at 11YV is like trying to choose a favourite wine – it depends on the special occasion.

LIGHT, VERSATILE, THE PERFECT WAY TO RELAX

The spectacular double-height lobby is perfect for the everyday, a soaring space accessible from the vibrant scene on Yorkville or through a discreet laneway entrance to the west. Same goes for thestate-of-the-art fitness studio and the men’s and women’s spa, rain showers – all designed for everyday consumption.

SATURATE YOUR PALETTE WITH TECHNOLOGY FOR WORK AND PLAY

Inspired by WeWork (the benchmark in coworking spaces around the world), the business centre at 11YV is a multi-functional space with a central meeting room clad in bronze glass and large pivoting panels that transform open concept coworking into private breakout rooms with a simple flip. Off the clock, gather friends in the hybrid theatre where tiered seating and surround sound gives you the experience of the big screen. Or head down to the chef’s kitchen and TV lounge where you have everything you need – a 30” cooktop, a large screen TV, integrated refrigerator, dishwasher, built in wall oven, icemaker, and built-in wine cooling stations – to cook up a storm and dazzle a crowd.

ROSE ALL DAY

The infinity-edged indoor/outdoor pool – a space as cool and refreshing as a chilled glass of your favourite blush-coloured wine. Featuring a waterfall, hot tub and fireplace, you’ll be tempted to make this a part of your daily routine.

Every so often, an address captures the world’s attention.

Inspired by the timeless towers of Manhattan, 11 Yorkville rises 62 storeys above Yonge and Bloor, an icon of elegantly-proportioned architecture and strong vertical lines. Interiors are sleek and sensual with amenities that provide everything you need to toast the good life. Yorkville is right outside your front door, a location that caters to the city’s well-cultured, well-educated, and well-heeled. Find your home among Canada’s most affluent and influential.

Reminiscent of the masterful metropolis era of New York City’s landmark architecture, 11YV reinterprets this timeless style. The drama of the façade increases as it rises from street level, stone and steel giving way to a sleek glass envelope reflecting the vibrant urban scene of the city. A stepped design provides for multiple corner windows in residences, and private terraces with breathtaking views. The overall effect is captivating, architecture that evokes an emotional response. Clad in soaring stone piers that anchor the building to the ground, the podium pays homage to the neighbourhood architecture and activity – 25,000 square feet of retail space that integrates seamlessly into one of Canada’s most exclusive shopping and dining districts. Outside the front door, visitors, residents, and guests step into an urban fairy tale – a contemporary garden unprecedented in the heart of the city.