Toronto is a city that is constantly evolving. Over time, neighbourhoods that were once rough around the edges become trendy and revitalized. Bloordale Village is one neighbourhood that appears to be in the midst of such a transformation.

Bloordale Village is situated in the west end of Toronto, along Bloor Street West roughly between Dufferin Street and Lansdowne Avenue. The easiest way to reach the area is by subway, with stations along the Bloor-Danforth Line at both Dufferin and Lansdowne. 

It is home to a remarkably diverse selection of restaurants as well as a number of small retail stores. It is also considered to be an up-and-coming district for the arts, with some comparing it to how Queen Street West was a few decades ago.

In the past few years, a number of art galleries have opened up in the area. The Mercer Union Gallery is one of the biggest, set up in a historic theatre building at St. Clarens Avenue. 

This artist-run centre is devoted to the contemporary arts, and all exhibitions, screenings and performances are free to the general public. 253469 and Funktion Gallery are two other small art galleries nearby.

The Bloordale BIA (Business Improvement Area) organizes several festival events in the community over the course of the year. In November, the area features the Bloor Street Light, Art and Food Event. Meanwhile, every July Bloor Street West is shut down for the weekend between Lansdowne and Dufferin for the Big on Bloor festival. To find out more on this organization, go to their main website at www.bloordale-bia.com.

It's a celebration of local businesses, community, arts and culture featuring hundreds of events, activities and exhibitions. Food vendors line the street offering up a taste of some of the neighbourhood's many delicious foods.

In fact, the tasty but cheap food found on this stretch of Bloor Street might be the area's greatest draw. While some neighbourhoods in Toronto are known for particular food cultures, Bloordale Village is incredibly varied, reflecting the demographics of this highly-diverse community. 

South Indian, Caribbean, Ethiopian, Portuguese, and Middle Eastern are just some of the culinary cultures represented here.

Vena's Restaurant serves fresh and generously portioned roti that's often in the discussion for best in the city. Dosa Mahal is a local favourite for South Indian food, with popular curries, vegetable thali and crunchy pappadum. 

Lansdowne Cone is a newcomer to the area, serving locally produced ice cream and sundaes.  Bloordale Pantry is a classic local diner was recently renovated for the modern era with a nod to its vintage past.

While there are many appealing restaurants here, there are also several watering holes that will draw you in for more than a meal. Tucked away at the intersection of Lansdowne and Bloor is Cirro's, a hidden gem for beer-lovers with a remarkable 120 to 150 different varieties at any given time. 

Belgian beers are their specialty, and the patio in the back is great in the summer. 3 Speed is a little newer to area; a hipster-friendly bar with a retro-dive design. For a different type of crowd, there is always The House of Lancaster, a "gentlemen's club" that bills itself as one of the most respected in Canada.   

Bloordale also has a wide range of stores, with a particular abundance of ethnic grocery stores, furniture shops and other small retail. Fashion lovers from across the city come to check out the thrift and vintage clothing stores around here. 

The neighbourhood has also developed a reputation as a hub for bicycle shops, with several along Bloor Street. In addition, there is a community bike repair centre called Bike Pirates, where people are trained on how to repair their own bikes and keep them in good condition.

Restaurants:

Bloordale Pantry

Chito's Pizza

Holy Oak

South Indian Dosa Mahal

Ortolan

Churrasqueira Aveirense

Pho My Duyen

Motherhome

Pizza Pizza

123 Pizza

Panzerotto Pizza

African Delight

Ali Baba's

Lansdowne Cone

Curry in a Hurry

Brisa Do Liz Bakery

Caribbean Queen of Patties

Shops:

Bike Pirates

Sweet Pete's Bike Shop

Broadway Cycle

Salvation Army Thrift Store

Vintage Depot

Value Village

Attractions:

Mercer Union Art Gallery

Funktion Gallery

253469

Toronto Free Gallery

Bars/Entertainment:

Ciro's

3 Speed

Stella

House of Lancaster

Duffy's Tavern

Club Paradise