The Annex is named one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world

Cielo homeowners already knew they were purchasing a piece of history, a statement of refined architectural modernism, poised above a 19th century landmark on Bloor Street West, directly on the subway, and just steps from designer boutiques on Mink Mile, the world-class University of Toronto, and the city’s finest restaurants. But with the release of Time Out Group’s list of 40 Coolest Neighbourhoods, it seems they also now own a part of one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.

The group polled more than 12,000 city-dwellers and local experts across the globe, in an effort to rank the greatest places for fun, food, culture, and community, and The Annex made the cut. The judges considered factors like community and social ventures, access to open and green space, and thriving street life, all of which are abundant in Toronto's celebrated Arts & Cultural hub, a place with true personality.

For nearly a century and a half The Annex has been, and continues to be, one of Toronto’s most coveted and prestigious neighbourhoods. This is a place where the city's most important educational, arts and cultural institutions - names like The Royal Ontario Museum, the Gardiner Museum, The Royal Conservatory of Music & Koerner Hall - stand proudly alongside one of the world’s most exclusive shopping streets. A place where one-of-a-kind emporiums and some of Toronto’s newest eateries (including a new addition to Toronto’s Michelin Guide) mix and mingle with historic private members' clubs. A sense of gravitas and history permeates the streets thanks to a plethora of beautifully preserved Victorian and Edwardian mansions and charming heritage homes. But, at the same time, The Annex is full of energy, vitality, and fun. It is, in a word, riveting, and the judges at Time Out agree.

The ranking puts The Annex in exceptional company, alongside neighbourhoods like Tomigaya in Tokyo, Haut-Marais in Paris, and Isola in Milan. But the cherry on top of this coveted accolade? The fact that The Annex will soon be home to an iconic new building that will redefine the city's skyline, a place that will artfully blend the historic and the contemporary, creating the most coveted residential address in Toronto, and a place where residents will make their home in one of the coolest neighbourhoods in the world.

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