(Click on each title link below for more details)
Bergo Designs
Where: 28 Tank House Lane
In the Distillery District, head to the upper levels of this gorgeous housewares shop to find lots of quirky gift ideas, plus puzzles and a well-curated toy selection.
Red Pegasus
Where: 628 College Street
This long-standing gift shop in Little Italy includes gifts for adults, such as jewellery, cards and housewares, as well as cute ideas for kids and babies.
ROM Boutique
Where: 100 Queen’s Park
There are lots of educational toys in the modern lobby of the Royal Ontario Museum, with themed gift areas alongside major exhibits. Dino fans should definitely stomp over here!
shopAGO
Where: 317 Dundas St. West
For artsy types, no visit to the Art Gallery of Ontario is complete without a stop at the beautifully designed gift shop, brimming with art-themed gifts and home goods pieces that are works of art themselves.
Independent Toy and Gift Stores — West End
Kol Kid
Where: 674 Queen Street West
When your kids are aiming to be the hippest on the block, it’s best to go to the epicentre of cool on Queen West for upscale brands like Maileg, Janod and Minikane.
Sarah & Tom Toronto
Where: 624 Bloor St. West
A perfect spot to hit for fans of all things “kawaii” (cute in Japanese), with gifts based on pop-culture favourites like Hello Kitty, Pokémon, Studio Ghibli films and K-Pop bands.
Scooter Girl
Where: 187 Roncesvalles Avenue
Unsurprisingly, this family hub in the west end is well-stocked with scooters! But they also have pretty much anything else a kid could dream up too.
Scout
Where: 405 Roncesvalles Avenue, 1140 Queen Street East
With locations in both ends of the city, you’ll find kids toys, books and clothes at Scout, as well as plenty of fun and funky gift ideas for parents too.
Toy Terminal
Where: 710 Queen Street West
This old-school toy store on Queen West is well-stocked with puzzles, train sets and seasonal items.
Independent Toy and Gift Stores — East End
Ava’s Appletree – Natural Parenting Store
Where: 943 Kingston Road
Specializing in natural and organic baby and children’s products, this adorable shop’s toys focus on imaginative play based on principles of the Waldorf and Montessori ideologies.
Good Neighbour
Where: 935 Queen Street East, 415 Roncesvalles Avenue, 1212 Yonge Street
Known for their trendy clothing and accessories, this popular spot in Leslieville (plus downtown and western locations) also carries cool Canadiana items and kids items from great brands like Hershel and Patagonia.
La Di Da
Where: 128 Danforth Avenue
There is an abundance of adorable gifts at this tiny but packed shop on the Danforth. After you’ve found something cute for the little ones in your family, there are numerous treat-yourself options here as well.
Little Peeps
Where: 742 Queen Street East
As well as clothing, footwear, books and baby gear, there is a thoughtfully curated assortment of toys for the littlest of peeps.
The Montessori Room
Where: 2229 Danforth Ave.
Find Canadian-made, Montessori-inspired toys and practical life tools, along with cure gift ideas for little learners, in person on the Danforth and online.
My Gifted Child
Where: 2883 St. Clair Avenue East
As the name suggests, this shop near the Scarborough border focuses on educational toys, plus they have a wide variety of workbooks and teachers’ aids.
Old’s Cool General Store
Where: 250 Westlake Avenue
East York’s neighbourhood general store is cool indeed, filled with socially-conscious gift items, such as Orange Shirt Day and feminist themes.
Secret Planet
Where: 918 Danforth Avenue
Founded and run by a printmaking grad from OCAD, this space-themed print shop also sells a collection of gifts that are out of this world.
Silly Goose
Where: 2054 Danforth Avenue
Focusing on the younger folk, this shop in the East End has quality toys, books, household items and baby supplies.
Swag Sisters
Where: 1511 Gerrard Street East
This popular store in the Gerrard India Bazaar neighbourhood is stacked with well-curated picks, and they also do brisk business in loot bags and balloons. Plus, they have an ice cream stand in warm months.
Treasure Island Toys
Where: 581 Danforth Avenue
A treasured part of the Danforth for over 30 years, Treasure Island has a wide selection of building sets, dolls and outdoor toys, plus books, crafts and baby supplies.
Independent Toy and Gift Stores — Midtown & Uptown
Playful Minds
Where: 657 St. Clair Avenue West
This busy midtown spot offers a well-edited selection of toys, crafts, games, puzzles and books.
Toytown
Where: 1754 Avenue Road
An uptown retail institution, Toytown is Toronto’s longest-running independent toy store. Here you’ll find everything from building sets to housewares, puzzles to candy!
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