Davisville Village Skyline

Those looking for a fine balance of some green space and a family friendly location, all with the access to Toronto's downtown core at their fingertips, will feel the draw of Davisville Village. The neighbourhood feels both homey, with numerous single homes dotting its verdant streets, and simultaneously upscale. New high-rise apartments and condominiums that are drawing young professionals and entrepreneurs to the area can be found on Davisville Avenue and Merton Street.

Divided into two distinct areas: Mount Pleasant West (located to the west of Mount Pleasant Road, north of Merton, east of Yonge Street, and south of Keewatin Avenue) and Mount Pleasant East (Bayview Avenue to the east side, Moore Avenue the south, Yonge Street to the West, and Blythwood Road to the north), the Davisville Village has one of the highest percentages of high rise buildings within the city of Toronto, ideal for those who want to enjoy the convenience of condo living or apartment living.

Map of Davisville Village

History

Davisville is named after John Davis, who came to Canada from Staffordshire England in the 1840s. He was appointed as Davisville’s first postmaster and founded the Davisville Public School. Today the area where the original Post Office was founded on is a Starbucks, located on the northeast corner of Yonge Street and Davisville Avenue. Davis was also the proprietor of Davisville Pottery Company, an influential employer to many in the neighbourhood for years before a sizable chunk of the land was sold to Dovercourt Development Company in 1911.

Starbucks built into one of the original historic houses in Davisville village at Yonge Street

Most of the area's single-family homes were built between 1920-1930 to provide homes for the many immigrants who came from the United Kingdom at the time. Several still exist today, nearing the marker of becoming Toronto Century Homes. The houses west of Mount Pleasant Road are mostly large two and three-storey English Cottage and Edwardian-style homes. The houses east of Mount Pleasant Road are made up primarily of smaller detached and semi-detached houses and bungalows. 

Today, Davisville Village is an affluent, growing community in Central Toronto.

Some typical semi-detached homes in Davisville Village

Davisville Village also contains a number of condo developments located mostly on Merton and Balliol Streets and along Eglinton Avenue.

Large apartment buildings from the 1980's mix with more modern and high end condos

What to Love

• June Rowlands Park and weekly farmers market
• Excellent schools
• Piano Piano restaurant

Local Lifestyle

Davisville Village is highly walkable, allowing locals to easily access the many activities in the neighbourhood. The area is very family-friendly, with numerous parks, playgrounds, and events for children. It also has a vibrant nightlife scene, and popular restaurants and bars bring in tourists and regulars alike for live music, craft beer, and unique dining experiences.

Mount Pleasant retro sidewalks and shops

The neighbourhood is ideal for families, retirees, and young professionals. The thriving businesses of Davisville provide excellent job growth and activities for residents, making Davisville the perfect place to either start a family or relax and enjoy your retirement years.

Dining, Entertainment & Shopping

A plethora of restaurants and shops can be found in Mount Pleasant Village, Midtown Toronto’s number one spot for shopping. With just under 200 shops, Mount Pleasant Village is located along the strip of Mount Pleasant Road, from Eglinton and Davisville Avenues. Visit Bread and Butter, a quaint restaurant that’s reminiscent of your grandmother’s kitchen and serves the best schnitzel in the city. Stop at sophisticated and fun Piano Piano Restaurant, known for its traditional and “soulfully satisfying” Italian meals in a whimsical space.

Tabüle Lebanese dining

A few noteworthy stops outside of the Mount Pleasant district include Tamasha Restaurant for the best Indian-infusion fare and Hollywood Gelato, Toronto’s first gelato bar with over 200 unique flavors.

XO Gelator

Grano is a rustic yet elegant Italian restaurant offering a very popular antipasto bar and special breads baked on the premises.

Grano legendary high end dining

Standard fare is offered at the Bull and Firkin, but you can also enjoy the excellent beer selection when dining at The Wallace Gastropub, or brunch at Jj's Café and Deli. Terry insists Jj’s Café and Deli is an important part of Davisville Village's community:

You will always feel welcome here, not only is it home cooked food, you know it's made with care and pride. This is what it was like if you grew up in a friendly town.

Those who want some offbeat entertainment can take in a comedy show at nearby Absolute Comedy. Joe says of his Wednesday and Saturday night visits to Absolute Comedy:

Every single time I come here I end up with sore cheeks from laughing so hard.

You can also take in an evening of mystery, murder, drama, and intrigue that doesn't involve Netflix care of the interactively fantastic experience offered at Mysteriously Yours Dinner Theatre.

Things to Do

June Rowlands Park, located at the corner of Mount Pleasant and Davisville, is the social and recreational hub of the neighbourhood. It features a playground named after Sharon, Lois, and Bram (a popular children’s band from the ‘70s), a wading pool, a baseball diamond, and six tennis courts. These courts are used by the Davisville Tennis Club, which has an active house league and tournament schedule.

The six tennis courts are used by the Davisville Tennis Club on evenings and weekends. This club has an active house league and tournament schedule. Adjacent to the tennis courts is the Davisville Park baseball diamond, which is extensively used by children and adult baseball leagues.

Davisville Park public tennis courts managed by Davisville Tennis Club

The park also hosts the Appletree Farmers Market, where locally grown produce is sold directly by the farmers themselves. They are open every Tuesday from 3 to 7 p.m. from mid-May to the start of October. In 2011, the community launched the farmer's market in conjunction with efforts from local counsellor Josh Matlow. Stay to enjoy their "Fresh-Air-Fitness" program and workout in the park, or relax for a picnic and enjoy their "Music in the Market". Newer initiatives from the community and local businesses have allowed people to experience refreshing local craft beer events with a beer in the park.

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Mount Pleasant Cemetery: an enormous oasis of green and calm. Residents of Davisville Village enjoy one of the most sublimely beautiful views in the city. The Mount Pleasant cemetery runs from Bayview Avenue to Yonge Street and has been a part of the neighbourhood since 1873, bridging the Davisville and St Clair neighbourhoods. The handsome cemetery is representative of Toronto's history, and notable people such as Pianist Glenn Gould and Garfield Weston rest there. Its rich tree collection makes the cemetery one of North America’s most significant arboretums — it’s home to species like weeping willows, white elms, and ginkgo trees. Residents enjoy the sprawling 205-acre park for bike riding, bird watching, hiking, and running. The cemetery is especially beautiful during peak fall foliage times and is a popular spot for nature photographers.

Mount Pleasant Cemetary trails and woods

The Beltline Trail is a nine-kilometre path where walkers, joggers, and bikers can travel across the city from east to west, weaving in and out of neighbourhoods along midtown Toronto. It consists of three sections, the York Beltline Trail west of Allen Road, the Kay Gardner Beltline Park from the Allen to Mount Pleasant Road, and the Ravine Beltline Trail south of Mount Pleasant Cemetery through the Moore Park Ravine. Traveling all three sections of the Railpath you'll cross scenic bridges and travel tree-lined paths as they lead you through areas like Rosedale, Forest Hill, Moore Park and detours through Evergreen Brick Works. The trail is built on what used to be the Toronto Belt Line Railway — a commuter line that opened in the 1890s to service residents of suburbia but failed to turn a profit, ultimately closing just two years later.

Schools

There are several notable and high-ranking schools in the Davisville area. Some are located just a few kilometers outside of Davisville but are worth knowing about as you consider different options for your child’s education.

• Maurice Cody Junior Public School, one of midtown’s highly-ranked public schools, is open for students in JK-5th grade
• Davisville Junior Public School, a newly designed school with a rooftop playground for students in JK-6th grade
• Greenwood College, a private school for students in grades 7-12
• Nearby schools include Upper Canada College (an independent school for boys), Branksome Hall (an International Baccalaureate School for girls), and The York School (a co-ed independent school for grades JK-12)

Here's some of the other schools in the neighbourhood:

• Bessborough Drive Elementary and Middle School
• Eglinton Junior Public School
• Manor Montessori School
• Northern Secondary School
• North Toronto Collegiate Institute
• St. Anselm Catholic School
• St. Monica Catholic School
• Sunnybrook Private School
• Toronto Prep School

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Some of the Davisville Happy Clients - this could be you!
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