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Where to Outfit Your Den – and Unwind – in Queen East
Where to head for retail therapy, plus the coffee shops, sights and restos to hit along the way
Queen East is a ‘hood humming with vintage cool, brilliant baby stuff and contemporary heirlooms. It’s an especially great place to outfit a family room – one that’s sure to appeal to kids both big and small. 
Shown in our den setup above: Enne storage unit and Clarisse Dutraive lamp, at Augustus Jones; Lounge chair, at Zig Zag; Pillow, at Labour of Love; Eero Aarnio pony, at Studio Pazo; The Rug Company carpet, at Avenue Road; Oeuf table and chairs, and Blockitecture blocks, at Kids at Home.
Do the Queen East quickstep…
With 28 stores to browse, get ready to encounter everything from Danish teak chairs to tropics-inspired banana bark wallpaper.
Use our interactive Queen East Google map to get more information about any of this eclectic design district’s hottest shops.
Don’t miss:
• Pieces by Eames, Herman Miller and Arne Jacobsen never last long at GUFF, where vintage mid-mod furniture is priced to move.
• At Avenue Road, find artful arrangements of luxe furniture upholstered in plush fabrics, gilded with glam metallics or cut from richly-veined marble.
• Kids at Home caters to youngsters of all personalities with a top-notch selection of crafted-in-Canada designs.
While you’re in the neighbourhood…
— For a hit of java —
Dark Horse Espresso Bar
Looking for evidence that caffeine boosts productivity? Since opening their original coffee joint in Riverside back in 2006, the Dark Horse team has gone on to form a mini-empire that now includes six locations. They moved their east end digs a few years ago to this extra-roomy space (freelancers rejoice!) on the first floor of a new condo building. 
OUR FAVOURITE ORDER: This is Dark Horse’s only location that’s licensed, meaning you’re free to order a splash of Bailey’s in that Americano. As for snacks, we’re partial to the pumpkin seed ginger muffin.
DON’T MISS INSTAGRAMMING: The giant brass Tom Dixon Punch Ball hanging above the table at the front casts dramatic shadows throughout the day. Snag your own shiny metallic pendant at Klaus.
630 Queen St E 647 436 3460 Mon-Sun 7-9 darkhorseespresso.com
— For that out-of-town relative —
The New Broadview Hotel
Get ready for the east end’s answer to The Drake and The Gladstone. The Romanesque Revival building at Queen and Broadview, previously home to adult entertainment venue Jilly’s, is set to be reborn this summer as a 58-room boutique hotel operated by Streetcar Developments. Thanks to the heritage specialists at ERA Architects, the newly restored 1891 structure’s many decorative details have never looked better. A modern glass addition at the back adds a hit of 21st-century style to the storied landmark. 
DON’T MISS INSTAGRAMMING: LED lighting now draws fresh attention to the sothern tower’s gorgeous terracotta relief panels. Such thoughtful touches are exactly why the restoration project was recently awarded the Lieutenant Governor’s Ontario Heritage Award for Excellence in Conservation.
106 Broadview Ave Opening date TBA thebroadviewhotel.ca
— For a post-shopping bite —
Maple Leaf Tavern
Once one of the area’s rougher dive bars, this 107-year-old institution was reborn last summer as an upscale eatery. Handsome dark wood panelling, buttery red leather benches, and deep green subway tile give the space the kind of rich polish that gets you hankering for an Old Fashioned. A custom brass chandelier by Matthew McCormick Studio adds to the art deco-style ambiance.
OUR FAVOURITE ORDER: The cheeseburger is an elevated version of a tavern classic, combining ground-in-house beef with cheese and a bun that are also made on-site.
DON’T MISS INSTAGRAMMING: The ice cubes. Many of the signature cocktails employ cubes custom-stamped with a maple leaf graphic that’s modelled after the one found in the stained glass windows above the resto’s
955 Gerrard St E 416 465 0955 Mon-Thu 3-12, Fri 3-2, Sat 11-2,
Sun 11-12 mapleleaftavern.ca
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Neighbourhood Guide
