Toronto Shopping

Over 120 merchants hawk their wares at this busy, eclectic market, which has been a neighborhood landmark since 1803. The main level features fresh local produce while the basement houses arts and crafts stands. Antique dealers crowd into the adjacent “North Market” space on Sundays.

This three-story ode to consumerism is located smack in the heart of downtown. Over 250 shops cater to interests ranging from women’s and men’s fashion to books and chocolate. An artful installation of fiberglass geese in the entryway, adds a poetic, uniquely Canadian touch.

No one does designer, household goods quite like Bergo – with pieces designed by starchitects like Philippe Starck and Frank Gehry, it is the go-to place for distinctive furniture, jewelry, and home accents.

The latest designs for men and women converge at this fashionable department store – Canada’s answer to Barney’s. A pleasing array of stylish clothes, shoes, handbags, and cosmetics represent an international collection of designers from household names like Michael Kors, Christian Louboutin, and Tory Burch, to Canadian up-and-comers like Nikki Dekker and Virginia Johnson.

Style mavens haunt Queen West for its eclectic mix of funky, fashion-forward boutiques like Fraiche (416-341-8606) and established favorites like H&M (www.hm.com) and Mexx (www.mexx.com). Start at the intersection of Queen and Yonge and head west.

The roster of stores on Bloor Street, the preferred shopping area of the modishly well heeled, reads like a who’s who of the fashion world – Gucci, Chanel, and Prada exist alongside exclusive Canadian chains like Holt Renfrew and Lida Baday.

Creativity and color rule at this pint-sized, gallery-cum-retail space, where the work of Asian artists is featured and sold on a rotating basis. Grown-ups and kids alike can’t help but admire the playful creations here, which range from imaginative toys to decorative wall art.

Freshen up your living space by investing in a Rumah fixture – wares include everything from antique tables to contemporary lighting, the common theme being excellent craftsmanship, sophistication, and Asian beauty (although Rumah is a Canada-based company, it imports many of its pieces from Bali and Indonesia).

Seek out this spectacular gallery in the distillery district even if you’re not in the market for one of their moody, strikingly beautiful glass sculptures. Represented artists rotate in and out of shows, but count on spotting the work of luminaries like Dale Chihuly and Katherine Berstein.