Sunday Brunch At The Drake
The Drake Hotel on Queen St W opened in 1890 as "Small's Hotel" when the nearby Parkdale railway station was a major train hub and Parkdale itself was a very affluent area in the city. It was sold in 1949 and renamed the "Drake" hotel and as the neighbourhood went downhill so did the hotel and it became a flophouse in the 70s. A new owner took over in 2001 and after extensive restoration & renovation, it reopened in 2004 and has become a major centre for the arts and culture, and the neighbourhood has bounced back to become a very desirable place to live. With a dining room, cafe, rooftop patio, and side terrace it is a prime Sunday brunch spot as you can see by the lineup to get onto the terrace. Weekend brunch is a major activity in Toronto!
11 comments:
Clearly a very popular place, and no wonder!
These cycles in cities are very interesting. It's nice to see how this area has revived itself.
It's been restored beautifully!
looks like a cool, eclectic place.
It's also a nice place for a drink. :)
So that's the Drake! I've heard of it before, but hadn't seen it.
I am glad it is back on top. That line of people waiting to get in is a healthy sign about the rebirth of the area.
Beautiful architecture.
It's so much fun to see run-down areas brought back to life. I wonder how many "Drake" hotels there are in north America? Lots, I'd guess!
It's great when a neighbourhood revitalizes!
Great story and photo in your post. I'm always happy to see buildings with character saved and being used.
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