Leslieville is a neighbourhood in Toronto located on the east side of the Don River and is bounded by Empire Avenue to the west, Eastern Avenue to the south, Coxwell Avenue to the east and the Canadian National Railway line and Gerrard Street to the north.
Leslieville has emerged as Toronto’s hippest place to dine, drink, shop and live, according to a 2005 article in the New York Times. It is currently one of Toronto’s best destinations for brunch and is home to great cafes, fashion and design stores, and vintage furniture shops.
The eastern end of Leslieville makes up part of the South Riverdale neighbourhood. South Riverdale was once home to light industry. The former industrial areas are now abandoned and awaiting redevelopment. Between 2000 and 2010 Leslieville gentrified rapidly with several of the industrial buildings being converted into condominiums and lofts.