Wednesday, September 11, 2013

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:

Anonymous said...

Clearly a very popular place, and no wonder!

Sharon said...

These cycles in cities are very interesting. It's nice to see how this area has revived itself.

Karen said...

It's been restored beautifully!

TexWisGirl said...

looks like a cool, eclectic place.

Halcyon said...

It's also a nice place for a drink. :)

William Kendall said...

So that's the Drake! I've heard of it before, but hadn't seen it.

Jack said...

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.

Randy said...

Beautiful architecture.

Lowell said...

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!

EG CameraGirl said...

It's great when a neighbourhood revitalizes!

Lynette said...

Great story and photo in your post. I'm always happy to see buildings with character saved and being used.