Casa Loma has a thing with history. Yes, it is home to Sir Henry Pellatt’s well-known Gothic Revival mansion, which is one of the city’s top tourist attractions. But the entire neighbourhood is quite storied and is currently being studied as a potential heritage conservation district. It has a storybook quality with a beautiful, leafy canopy of old trees threaded along ravines, winding roads and iconic old homes bubbling with character. The Casa Loma neighbourhood spills out to the southeast of St. Clair and Bathurst along the Avenue Road hill and is bordered by Spadina Road to the east and the burgeoning Dupont strip to the south. 

Vibe
Casa Loma is an active, liberal and multicultural neighbourhood populated by many people working in the arts and media, as well as professionals in education and government. More than a third of the homes are detached — meaning pricey — so the demographic might be older than in more affordable areas to the west.

Cost
The average home price in Casa Loma is more than $1.5 million, but expect any detached, larger home to fetch over $3 million. There are many condos proposed and under construction in the area that allow young families to enter the market nearby.

Scene
There are a few prominent local features that define life in Casa Loma, one, of course, being the big castle on top of the hill. The city has invested in the local landmark, and it has turned a corner, offering many more recreational opportunities than in years past, including a swanky new restaurant and an escape room. Just around the corner, the Spadina Museum also hosts activities, including the annual Gatsby Garden Party. And at the corner of Spadina and St. Clair is the very dog-friendly Sir Winston Churchill Reservoir, which includes tennis courts, playing fields and a gated dog park for Fido.

Grub
Residents of Casa Loma are within walking distance or a short drive of some of the city’s finest restaurants, new and old. To the east, Scaramouche is five minutes away. To the south, the Dupont strip has seen many new restaurants open over the past few years, including chef Anthony Rose’s Big Crow and Rose and Sons. For more variety, St. Clair west of Bathurst offers up a wide range of culinary options. The romantic Flor De Sal recently opened at 501 Davenport at the bottom of the hill in the former location of Corner House.

Walkability
Casa Loma is classified as a “very walkable” area with major grocery stores, banking, recreation and education within walking distance, including the popular Loblaws on St. Clair Avenue West just east of Bathurst.

Commute
The St. Clair West subway station is easily accessible to Casa Loma residents, as is the new and improved St. Clair streetcar, so there is really no reason to drive downtown from this well-positioned ’hood. Getting out of town won’t be easy though. 

Schools
Hillcrest Community School on Hilton Avenue is highly regarded by locals, as is Brown Junior Public School. There are also many fine private schools, including De La Salle College and St. Michael’s College School, a short distance away.