Cabbagetown-South St.James Town

About Cabbagetown-South St.James Town

Cabbagetown-South St. James Town is a neighbourhood of dramatic contrasts, combining one of Toronto's most beloved heritage districts with one of its densest residential areas. Cabbagetown proper — named for the cabbages that 19th-century Irish immigrants grew on their front lawns — is widely considered to have the largest continuous collection of Victorian homes in North America. These lovingly preserved houses, with their colourful painted brick, decorative trim, and lush gardens, make the neighbourhood feel like a living museum of 19th-century Toronto. St. James Town, by contrast, is a cluster of high-rise apartment towers between Sherbourne and Parliament streets that houses one of the most densely populated and diverse communities in the country. Newcomers from every continent share these towers, and the ground-level shops and restaurants reflect a kaleidoscope of global cuisines. Riverdale Farm, a working farm set in the Cabbagetown parklands, is one of the city's most cherished public spaces, offering free admission and a pastoral counterpoint to the urban surroundings. The neighbourhood's central location means transit is excellent — Sherbourne and Castle Frank stations on Line 2 are both accessible, and the Parliament and Sherbourne buses provide north-south connections. The Cabbagetown Festival, held every September, transforms Winchester and Parliament streets into one of Toronto's best street parties. This is a neighbourhood where you can walk from a $2-million Victorian to a newcomer services centre in five minutes — and both feel completely at home.