Riverdale is one of Toronto’s most family-oriented, open-spaced, leafy neighbourhoods in the core. It’s like Brooklyn in New York City. It has all the benefits of city life while just being east of the hustle and bustle that the downtown core offers. It’s quieter, yet you can see the city across Riverdale Park East.
Being that the neighbourhood of Riverdale is a wonderful family neighbourhood, with good architecture, parks, events and cuisine, this neighbourhood always seems to have a long list of people looking to buy. Frankly, Riverdale has white-knuckled through some real estate market volatility like very few areas of the city – values have held, and demand always seems higher than in other areas of the city.
The secret about how great Riverdale is is getting out. People see the long-term draw, excellent schools and the bonus of being one of the best starting points to get around the city. You don’t get as much traffic in the east end, and there are multiple options to cut across the city, whether that be westbound or northbound. The Don Valley Parkway, Pottery Road, and Bayview extension offer several great ways to avoid the vehicular clogged arteries, depending on the time of day.
Let’s dive into some great perks of living in Toronto’s Riverdale neighbourhood.
The Coffee
We mentioned that Riverdale is a family-oriented neighbourhood, so with that in mind, which parent couldn’t start their day with a coffee and end their day with a coffee? There are a couple of gems in Riverdale that we would be remiss not to mention. The Rooster Coffee House on Broadview is probably the most well-known (by locals and further afield).
What defines the Rooster over most other coffee shops in Toronto is that the shop has a lot of personality and unique character, from Rooster knick-knacks to well-loved classic furniture. Aside from the excellent brew, sitting out on Broadview and overlooking Riverdale Park East is a must. It’s a great experience, feels more like Europe than Toronto.
It’s a special spot. It can get busy after kiddo drop-off and with some people working on their laptops – that said, grabbing a coffee to go is excellent as you can pop across the street and head over to Riverdale Farms across the pedestrian bridge that passes over the Don Valley Parkway.
Want a lesser-known local gem? Look no further than your caffeine power-up at The Shmooz. The ever-kind and friendly Andy runs this coffee shop. Nothing beats his upbeat greeting and hiring local kids to help out. You can find the Shmooze at the corner of Wroxeter Ave and Pape.
Looking for the best Toronto neighbourhood to call home? Check out these related blogs next for more insights!
- Is Rosedale A Family Neighbourhood?
- Is The Annex, Toronto Safe?
- What’s Great About Living in Summerhill, Toronto?
The Restaurants
7 Numbers on Danforth has been a hit for a long time now. It’s a mainstay for the locals, the Italian-based food is a hit, we recommend going during Taste of the Danforth or Summerlicious. If it’s the first time, it will give you a great sampling of their finest.
We’d argue that one of the better gastropubs in Toronto is Allen’s. The back patio is a wonderful reprieve from Danforth Avenue, as you are shaded by some century-old trees. The scotch, whiskey, and bourbon selection is like very few other collections in Toronto.
One Night Only Pizza (ONO) is a great pizza spot that came into popularity during the pandemic, it’s kitty-corner to The Scmooz—great pizza and wings. The premise is based on Friday nights being pizza nights, one night only. They do pick-up and delivery only.
The Schools
A significant draw for those looking to move to Riverdale is the wonderful schools: Withrow Avenue Junior Public School (Quest Alternative School resides inside Withrow,) Frankland Community School, and Montcrest School. Note that Montcrest is an IB independent school offering small classes. Pape Ave. Public School and Blake Street Public School are moving up the ranks as well. Early Grey Senior Public School feeds into Riverdale Collegiate Institute. Some kids will also trek across the Bloor Viaduct to attend Rosedale School for the Arts. Needless to say, there are more schools than you can shake a cat at.
The Parks
If you haven’t seen a sunset at Riverdale Park East, you are missing out. You are hard-pressed to experience a better or more fitting sunset in Toronto than from this park. A clear view to the west over the trees, and in the distance, the Toronto skyline. It’s a magical spot. We would argue that the other great sunset is found on Toronto’s Islands. The park is also great in the winter as kids and families toboggan down the hill. Year-round sports are happening as well with a soccer pitch, running track, tennis, a great outdoor pool and a skating rink (and hockey for wintertime).
Withrow Park is also great! From the right spot, you can see the downtown core skyline over the houses and the trees; it’s a great perch. While the popularity continues to grow, it’s much quieter than Riverdale Park East. Great skating, soccer, baseball, dog park, firepit, two playgrounds, toddler toboggan hill, basketball court and tennis courts. This is where the neighbourhood meets up on weekends. The Withrow Farmer’s Market is also a great draw.
About to buy a home in Riverdale (or beyond)? Explore these buyer-related articles next.
- Getting The Best Price On A Home: 5 Tips For Buyers
- Should You Buy a Home in Toronto with a Basement Apartment? Positives and Negatives
- How to Submit a Winning Offer on a Home for Sale
The Live Venue
The Danforth Music Hall is one of Toronto’s top music halls. While it hasn’t had as big of names as it has in it’s heyday, there are some excellent acts that do frequent it. Nearby History on Queen East now gets more of the popular acts due to the size of the venue, updated acoustics and ownership group. I recommend popping into one of the nearby pubs for a drink before the show. Allen’s is obviously a favourite.
Looking to buy a home in Riverdale? I can help! Reach me by email at ryan@ryanroberts.ca or call 416-925-9191.
