The Distillery Historic District

The Distillery Historic District, located at 55 Mill Street in Toronto, occupies the former Gooderham & Worts Distillery complex with over 40 conserved Victorian-era industrial buildings covering about 5.3 hectares. Redeveloped beginning in 2001 by Cityscape Holdings and opening to the public in 2003, it is now Canada’s premier pedestrian arts, culture and entertainment destination.

Visitors explore cobblestone lanes lined with independent boutiques, artisanal food shops, cafés, restaurants, art galleries, performance venues and seasonal markets. The site also houses the Young Centre for the Performing Arts, a theatre complex in repurposed tank houses operated by George Brown College and Soulpepper Theatre Company.

The site hosts festivals, tours, exhibitions, busker performances and holiday events—famously the Toronto Christmas Market—while film crews frequently use the district as a location. It remains open 364 days a year with consistent hours and free access to retail and pedestrian zones.

As a model of adaptive reuse, the project preserved industrial heritage architecture and integrated contemporary programming. Management trademarks—THE DISTILLERY DISTRICT®—are owned by Cityscape Holdings Inc., the private company responsible for restoration and operations.

Residents and visitors value it for its blend of historic charm, local craftsmanship, performing arts and immersive cultural experiences within a compact, walkable quarter. It’s best visited on weekdays or early in the day to avoid weekend crowds.