Kalyvia Ranks at the Top of Toronto’s Greektown. Celebrating over 19 years on the Danforth. Chef’s Mike and Peter have Passed the Torch to Their Son’s Demetre and Demetre (Jim). The Family Awaits You. A Definite 4 Star Rating

Toronto's Greektown Neighbourhood
(Danforth Avenue between Chester and Jones Avenues)
(Take the subway along the Danforth line to Pape or Chester station)
In Brief

When waves of Greek immigrants came to Toronto after World War II and the post-Greek civil war eras (1948-1952,) they settled around Danforth Avenue. Described by some residents as "taking a trip to Athens while staying in the heart of Toronto," this neighbourhood provides a taste of Greek culture, shopping and cuisine.

Walking down Danforth Avenue one can sense a rich cultural heritage. The street is filled with colourful fruit and vegetable stands, butcher shops, family-owned boutiques, and European-style sidewalk cafes. The street signs are in Greek, and blue and white Greek Flags line the avenues. The scent of traditional foods such as Souvlaki, moussaka, and baklava mingle with the sounds of Greek folk music, boisterous conversation and the shouts of "Opah!" as waiters set.

Greektown (known by locals as "the Danforth" after its street location) has built a reputation as a great dining location for more than three decades. Its many open kitchens offer the opportunity to see how authentic Greek cuisine is prepared. A festive atmosphere surrounds the neighbourhood and is prevalent until the early morning hours, even on weeknights. The markets stay open late and many of the cafes and restaurants serve into the wee hours of the morning, making it a hub of Toronto nightlife. Weekends in the summer are particularly vibrant, when the action spills onto the sidewalks in open-air patios and terraces, and onto the streets themselves.

Places of Interest and Events

Taste of the Danforth: An opportunity to sample the various delights Greektown's restaurants offer. Thousands of people converge on the Danforth between Broadview and Pape Avenues, for a weekend in August, as Greektown's restaurants set up booths to offer their most popular items. Musical entertainment and performances add to the atmosphere of what is quickly becoming one of Toronto's most popular festivals.

Interesting notes and Trivia

Toronto's Greek population is over 100,000, making it the second largest Greek settlement outside of Greece (the largest being the borough of Queens in New York.)
For many years, Andreaous Papendreaou taught economics at Toronto's York University. He went on to become the Prime Minister of Greece.