There’s something about Toronto in the summer that makes you want to walk. No plans, no rush—just a good pair of shoes, a warm evening, and a reason to head a few blocks in any direction. And if that walk ends with ice cream, even better.
Between showings, open houses, and neighbourhood walkthroughs, we’ve spent a lot of time exploring the city on foot. Along the way, we started noticing something: the neighbourhoods that are easiest to walk around also happen to have some pretty great places to stop for ice cream.
So we decided to have a little fun with it and put together our unofficial Ice Cream Walkability Map. It’s a look at the Toronto neighbourhoods where grabbing a cone is never much of a detour, and where summer afternoons are best enjoyed on foot.
TrinityBellwoods/ Ossington Strip
Walkability Score: 10/10
The Vibe: High energy, park hangouts, and plenty of people out for a walk.
If there’s a place that gets busy as soon as the weather warms up, it’s this one. Trinity Bellwoods and the Ossington Strip don’t just make it easy to walk—they give you plenty of reasons to. Side streets, patios, park paths, and something new around almost every corner make it easy to spend an afternoon here without much of a plan.
And ice cream is never far. Bang Bang Ice Cream & Bakery sits right in the heart of Ossington, known for its fresh-baked cookie ice cream sandwiches like the Everything Cookie with Burnt Toffee ice cream. Evening lineups are common, but they move quickly. Just a short walk away, Honey’s Ice Cream offers a quieter stop on Dundas West. Everything they make is small-batch and plant-based, including their rich Cashew Salted Caramel.
The Move: Grab your treat, wander through the neighbourhood, and find a spot in Trinity Bellwoods Park to enjoy it.
Queen West / Fashion District
Walkability Score: 9.5/10
The Vibe: Creative, busy, and always on the move.
Queen West is one of those neighbourhoods that’s easy to explore without much of a plan. Independent shops, galleries, cafés, and something interesting on nearly every block make it one of the city’s best places for an afternoon walk.
Kekou Gelato sits near Spadina, serving house-made, Asian-inspired gelato and dairy-free sorbets. Instead of the usual flavours, you’ll find favourites like Black Sesame, Hong Kong Milk Tea, and Spiced Ginger.
The Move: Grab a cup and wander over to Graffiti Alley before making your way back to Queen Street.
Yorkville
Walkability Score: 9/10
The Vibe: Relaxed, polished, and easy to explore.
Yorkville has a quieter pace than many downtown neighbourhoods. The streets are easy to walk, the shops are close together, and there are plenty of places to stop along the way. It’s the kind of neighbourhood where you naturally slow down.
Just off Cumberland Street, Summer’s Ice Cream has been serving homemade ice cream since 1984. Their Toronto Cream—a blend of vanilla, caramel, and almond praline—is a local favourite, especially in a fresh waffle cone.
The Move: Grab a cone and take a seat in the Village of Yorkville Park for a little people-watching.
Wychwood / Hillcrest Village
Walkability Score: 8/10
The Vibe: Quiet, family-friendly, and full of neighbourhood charm.
This is where Toronto slows down in the best way. Tree-lined streets, historic homes, and the community feel around Wychwood Barns make it an easy place to spend an afternoon on foot.
At the top of St. Clair West sits Dutch Dreams. It’s colourful, a little over the top, and part of many Torontonians’ summer memories. Their generous cones, chocolate dips, sprinkles, and cotton candy toppings have made it a neighbourhood favourite for decades.
The Move: Pick up your ice cream, then take the long way through the neighbourhood and enjoy the quieter streets.
Midtown & North York: The Uptown Walkable Grid
Walkability in Toronto doesn’t stop at the core. Yonge & Eglinton and Yonge & Sheppard offer a different kind of neighbourhood walk. Transit, groceries, restaurants, cafés, and dessert spots are all within a few blocks, making it easy to leave the car at home.
We’ll be taking a closer look at Midtown and North York in a future edition of this series. There are plenty of neighbourhood favourites waiting to be added to the map.
Know a Spot We Should Add?
We know we didn’t cover every neighbourhood, and that’s part of the fun.
If there’s an ice cream shop that’s become part of your summer routine, or a neighbourhood you think deserves a spot on the next map, we’d love to hear about it.
Email us your favourite. We’d love to add it to our next map.
