--- title: "Top 5 independent shops in Toronto | voche.me" canonical_url: "https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/guides/top-independent-shops-toronto" last_updated: 2026-11-12 meta: description: "Five Toronto independent shops named by Streets of Toronto, blogTO and Retail Insider, with each outlet's own words." "og:description": "Five Toronto independent shops named by Streets of Toronto, blogTO and Retail Insider, with each outlet's own words." "og:title": "Top 5 independent shops in Toronto" "twitter:description": "Five Toronto independent shops named by Streets of Toronto, blogTO and Retail Insider, with each outlet's own words." "twitter:title": "Top 5 independent shops in Toronto" --- TORONTO · SHOPS # Top 5 independent shops in Toronto This guide draws on Streets of Toronto's October 2026 and 2025 and 2024 shopping lists, blogTO's January 2025 and September 2024 and December 2025 pieces, and Retail Insider's April 2024 feature. This guide was checked on November 12, 2026. See the 5 places 1. ![Courage My Love, from its own website](https://couragemylovetoronto.com/images/cececourage_1657293473_2877908706023128071_273150851.jpg)Number 1 ### Courage My Love Vintage and antique shop 14 Kensington Ave, Kensington Market, Toronto Streets of Toronto's October 2026 list called it a Kensington Market fixture for half a century, with cowboy boots lining the front entrance. blogTO's January 2025 piece on its 50th anniversary described it as a funky blue shop with gorgeous boots and colourful jackets lining the entrance, stocking everything from flowing lace dresses to tweed blazers and stained glass lamps. - > “The blue storefront is a Kensington Market fixture, as are the cowboy boots that line the front entrance.” [Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/best-of-toronto-2026-the-54-top-places-to-shop-in-the-city/) · best-of list · October 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - > “a funky blue shop with gorgeous boots and colourful jackets lining the entrance” [blogTO, Taylor Lucas](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2025/01/courage-my-love-toronto/) · feature · January 11, 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit couragemylovetoronto.com (opens in a new tab)](https://couragemylovetoronto.com) Photo: Courage My Love's website 2. Number 2 ### Good Neighbour Lifestyle and gift shop 935 Queen St E, Leslieville, Toronto Retail Insider's April 2024 piece described it as a lifestyle and fashion store where you can buy jeans, dishes and soaps in one place, with departments and categories that draw shoppers in. blogTO's December 2025 Leslieville gift guide called it a one-stop shop for apparel, accessories, home goods and winter essentials. - > “You can buy not only a pair of jeans but you can buy dishes and you can buy soaps.” [Retail Insider](https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2024/04/good-neighbour-lifestyle-department-store-expanding-with-a-new-flagship-in-torontos-summerhill-interview/) · feature · April 7, 2024 (opens in a new tab) - > “From apparel and accessories to home goods and winter essentials, Good Neighbour has plenty for gift buyers seeking something modern, useful, and beautifully curated.” [blogTO, Kendall Bistretzan](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2025/12/leslieville-toronto-holiday-gift-guide/) · best-of list · December 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit goodnbr.com (opens in a new tab)](https://goodnbr.com) 3. ![Scout, from its own website](https://www.iheartscout.com/cdn/shop/files/7A1F2414-AA85-4818-A210-FFC151CAC174.jpg?v=1743016812)Number 3 ### Scout Gift and home goods shop 405 Roncesvalles Ave, Roncesvalles, Toronto Streets of Toronto's October 2024 best-of list named Scout as a go-to gift shop for Torontonians, with two locations and a selection of puzzles, locally made mugs and other goods. blogTO's September 2024 piece noted 13 years of carefully curated home goods, children's products and accessories at Roncesvalles Village and Leslieville. - > “With two locations on opposite sides of the city, this boutique is dangerous to step in if you have no clear shopping goal in mind” [Streets of Toronto](https://streetsoftoronto.com/best-of-toronto/torontos-2024-best-of-the-best-top-places-to-shop/) · best-of list · October 2, 2024 (opens in a new tab) - > “carefully curated home goods, children's products and accessories” [blogTO, Phoebe Knight](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2024/09/toronto-shop-owner-says-last-years-struggle/) · feature · September 14, 2024 (opens in a new tab) [Visit iheartscout.com (opens in a new tab)](https://www.iheartscout.com) Photo: Scout's website 4. ![Mjölk, from its own website](https://cdn.shoplightspeed.com/shops/636831/themes/6715/v/40357/assets/social-media-image.jpg?20200604121023)Number 4 ### Mjölk Scandinavian and Japanese design shop 2959 Dundas St W, The Junction, Toronto Streets of Toronto's October 2026 list described Mjölk as a lifestyle shop with Scandinavian and Japanese pieces and in-house furniture made by Canadian designers. The outlet's September 2025 list called it a shop for cool people, filled with pieces from artisanal brass bottle openers to a 1959-designed butterfly coffee table. - > “Scandinavian and Japanese pieces make up much of the selection here, as well as some in-house made furniture created by Canadian designers in collaboration with the studio.” [Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/best-of-toronto-2026-the-54-top-places-to-shop-in-the-city/) · best-of list · October 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - > “A shop for cool people, by cool people, Mjölk is filled with Scandinavian and Japanese pieces ranging from artisanal brass bottle openers to a 1959-designed butterfly coffee table.” [Streets of Toronto](https://streetsoftoronto.com/best-of-toronto/best-places-to-shop-toronto-2025/) · best-of list · September 30, 2025 (opens in a new tab) [Visit mjolk.ca (opens in a new tab)](https://www.mjolk.ca) Photo: Mjölk's website 5. Number 5 ### Smoking Vintage Curated vintage clothing shop 514A Annette St, The Junction, Toronto Streets of Toronto's October 2026 list noted that celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Emma Chamberlain have used the shop to source looks. The outlet's February 2026 piece described it as a moody, intimate boutique with a cosy couch at the back, with Olivia Rodrigo, Tate McRae and Laufey among its customers. The outlet's September 2024 feature called it a highly curated boutique for mid-range and designer pieces from the 1990s to the 2000s. - > “Celebrities like Olivia Rodrigo and Emma Chamberlain have trusted the west end shop to source show-stopping looks for them.” [Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/best-of-toronto-2026-the-54-top-places-to-shop-in-the-city/) · best-of list · October 7, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - > “a moody, intimate boutique that features a cosy '80s couch at the back and vintage fashion magazines and design books” [Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/bad-bunny-and-hailey-bieber-are-obsessed-with-shopping-vintage-at-these-toronto-stores/) · feature · February 24, 2026 (opens in a new tab) - > “Located just north of Runnymede station, Smoking Vintage is a highly curated boutique offering a mix of mid-range and designer pieces from the '90s to the 2000s.” [Streets of Toronto](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/smoking-vintage-new-shop-toronto/) · feature · September 17, 2024 (opens in a new tab) QUESTIONS ## Questions this guide answers
What are the top independent shops in Toronto? This guide names five: Courage My Love in Kensington Market, Good Neighbour in Leslieville, Scout in Roncesvalles, Mjölk in the Junction, and Smoking Vintage in the Junction.
When was this guide checked? Every page this guide cites was read again on November 12, 2026.
What does Courage My Love sell? Courage My Love at 14 Kensington Avenue stocks vintage clothing, antique jewellery, stained glass lamps and other secondhand goods. blogTO described it as carrying everything from flowing lace dresses to tweed blazers.
What does Good Neighbour sell? Good Neighbour at 935 Queen St E sells clothing, home goods, accessories and gifts. Retail Insider described it as a lifestyle store where you can buy jeans, dishes and soaps in one visit.
What does Scout sell? Scout at 405 Roncesvalles Avenue sells locally made jewellery, home goods, greeting cards, candles and other gifts. It has a second location in Leslieville at 1140 Queen St E.
What does Mjölk sell? Mjölk at 2959 Dundas St W sells Scandinavian and Japanese homewares, furniture and design objects, including pieces made by Canadian designers in collaboration with the studio.
What does Smoking Vintage sell? Smoking Vintage at 514A Annette Street sells curated vintage clothing and accessories from the 1990s and early 2000s, with a focus on archival designer pieces.
How do I report a mistake in this guide? Use the corrections form at voche.me/report and name the place and the line that is wrong.
SOURCES ## Every page this guide draws on 1. [The ultimate holiday gift guide for Toronto's Leslieville neighbourhood](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2025/12/leslieville-toronto-holiday-gift-guide/)blogTO, Kendall Bistretzan · December 2025 · blogto.com · read November 12, 2026 2. [Courage My Love marks 50 years as Toronto mecca for vintage shopping](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2025/01/courage-my-love-toronto/)blogTO, Taylor Lucas · January 11, 2025 · blogto.com · read November 12, 2026 3. [Toronto shop owner says last 3 years have been a real struggle](https://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2024/09/toronto-shop-owner-says-last-years-struggle/)blogTO, Phoebe Knight · September 14, 2024 · blogto.com · read November 12, 2026 4. [Good Neighbour 'Lifestyle Department Store' Expanding with a New Flagship in Toronto's Summerhill](https://retail-insider.com/retail-insider/2024/04/good-neighbour-lifestyle-department-store-expanding-with-a-new-flagship-in-torontos-summerhill-interview/)Retail Insider · April 7, 2024 · retail-insider.com · read November 12, 2026 5. [Best of Toronto 2026: The 54 top places to shop in the city](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/best-of-toronto-2026-the-54-top-places-to-shop-in-the-city/)Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni · October 7, 2026 · streetsoftoronto.com · read November 12, 2026 6. [Bad Bunny and Hailey Bieber are obsessed with shopping vintage at these Toronto stores](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-shopping/bad-bunny-and-hailey-bieber-are-obsessed-with-shopping-vintage-at-these-toronto-stores/)Streets of Toronto, Julia Mastroianni · February 24, 2026 · streetsoftoronto.com · read November 12, 2026 7. [Best of Toronto 2025: 39 top places to shop in the city](https://streetsoftoronto.com/best-of-toronto/best-places-to-shop-toronto-2025/)Streets of Toronto · September 30, 2025 · streetsoftoronto.com · read November 12, 2026 8. [Toronto's 2024 Best of the Best: 68 top places to shop right now](https://streetsoftoronto.com/best-of-toronto/torontos-2024-best-of-the-best-top-places-to-shop/)Streets of Toronto · October 2, 2024 · streetsoftoronto.com · read November 12, 2026 9. [This new west end boutique is every vintage lover's dream](https://streetsoftoronto.com/toronto-culture/smoking-vintage-new-shop-toronto/)Streets of Toronto · September 17, 2024 · streetsoftoronto.com · read November 12, 2026 **Found an error?** Tell the editors with the [corrections form](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/report). [Read our standards](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/about). MORE GUIDES ## More Toronto guides [All local guides ](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/guides) Toronto · 5 places ### [Top 5 bakeries in Toronto](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/guides/top-bakeries-toronto) Five Toronto bakeries named by blogTO, CP24, Toronto Life, Insauga and Gleaner News, with each outlet's own words. Toronto · 5 places ### [Top 5 brunch spots in Toronto](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/guides/top-brunch-toronto) Five Toronto brunch spots named by blogTO, Streets of Toronto, Narcity, Toronto Guardian and CP24, with each outlet's own words. Toronto · 5 places ### [Top 5 coffee shops in Toronto](https://voche.me/on/toronto-2026/guides/top-coffee-shops-toronto) Five Toronto coffee shops named by blogTO, Narcity and FLTR Magazine, with each outlet's own words. ## Sitemap See the full [sitemap](/on/toronto-2026/sitemap.md) for all pages.