Evergreen Brick Works
Evergreen Brick Works
4.5
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday
10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
A former brick making factory, Evergreen Brick Works is now a place where the world can experience sustainable practices that enable flourishing cities of the future. Evergreen Brick Works connects citizens, business, academia and government to shape our cities for the better. For real. Open daily and year-round, Evergreen Brick Works engages visitors in a full suite of attractions and events including our Saturday Farmers' Market, nature trails for hiking and cycling, site tours, exhibits, conferences, festivals, nature-based camps for youth and a sustainable garden market and eco-store.
Duration: 1-2 hours
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The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Midtown
Midtown is a dynamic part of Toronto with some of its most stylish high-rise residences and heritage buildings. The area sees busy shoppers with bag-laden arms balancing lattes in paper cups as they travel from one luxury brand to the next, taking advantage of the proximity of high-end shops. The reflecting pools, jogging trails, and nature treks of the Rosehill Revision are always a hub of outdoor activity, and after a workout from either running or splurging, many take advantage of the spas and massage parlors Midtown has to offer. Away from the bakeries, boutiques, and glamorous old theaters of the district's center, locals use the weekend to embrace the more suburban feel of Midtown's parks, tennis courts, outdoor markets, and the manicured grounds of Casa Loma, while families indulge the area's state-of-the-art playground and learning facilities. Of course, no high-brow district is complete without a healthy counter-culture: Midtown boasts some of the wildest street art and full-wall graffiti of any neighborhood in Toronto.
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4.5
318 reviews
Excellent
154
Very good
123
Average
31
Poor
6
Terrible
4
Our Wanderings | E&J
United Kingdom99 contributions
Oct 2023 • Solo
I was recommended to visit Evergreen Brickworks by friends and family when I visited Toronto. It’s a lovely way to get out of the city and getting a taste of nature without having to go too far. The extended park area allows you to explore far enough that you never really feel that it gets too crowded even on weekends. I went in the end of October and the fall foliage was perfect. There is also the farmers and food market which adds to the element of fun. I would definitely recommend spending a long afternoon here.
Written 12 December 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
operalover939
Toronto, Canada2,933 contributions
Nov 2020
The first time I was here was in the mid-1960s, when I got bricks to use in making bookshelves. Since then it was abandoned, then reopened to become a combination shopping area (mostly on Saturdays) and a nature reserve, complete with a beaver pond. It's very enjoyable to explore, especially on a pleasant autumn afternoon.
Written 9 November 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
PaulaDDuck
Toronto, Canada190 contributions
Sept 2020
This site was a contaminated brownfield - formerly a quarry and brickworks site. It has been transformed over the years to a series of wetlands, interconnected ponds, meadows, hiking/walking trails. We enjoyed a lovely day strolling around the area. Make sure that you go up to the lookout points (if you are able). The southern one gives you a nice view of the city and the CN Tower. The northern one gives you a nice overview of the site.
Written 13 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phil Norton
Picton, Canada17 contributions
Dec 2022 • Couples
I first visited the Brickworks in 2017 as a spring-time online dating meeting place. Nearly 6 years later, she and I still take regular walks through the old quarry in all seasons. I wrote an article with photos about the history of the Evergreen Brickworks, establishing a nature centre out of dirty industry. Google it on Harrowsmith magazine website. It launched me into a long-term personal photo documentary project about Toronto’s natural ravines with a friend who offers guided walks.
Written 9 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Margaret T
Ottawa, Canada29 contributions
Feb 2020
We spent a lovely few hours here on a Saturday. We got to enjoy the farmers’ market and had a wonderful brunch at the restaurant. The tour of the site by a volunteer wasn’t great (he couldn’t answer a single question) but their are good information boards and the buildings are amazing.
Written 19 February 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
KTP310
Reading, UK1,192 contributions
May 2024 • Family
With just a fairly short journey you are out of the city and in this peaceful haven of nature. There are a number of lovely walks and we enjoyed walking along the boardwalk and seeing all the turtles. The cafe served very good lunches and there is a nice garden centre.
Written 11 May 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Paulade
Toronto, Canada373 contributions
Sept 2021 • Family
Try to visit on a market day …. Plenty of parking on site. Dogs permitted on leash. Coffee and food available. Really nice to walk the board walks over the ponds and a short climb to the summit to see the best views of the location and the Toronto skyline. Enjoyable 2 - 3 hours
Written 13 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
NJB1959
Toronto64 contributions
Oct 2011 • Couples
Evergreen Brickworks is the reclaimed Don Valley Brick Works repurposed as a community centre, farmers market, restaurant, event and conference venue that is environmentally sustainable and preserves many of the historic elements of the original facility.
We visited primarily to enjoy the farmers market and were delighted to find an excellent restaurant - Belong - with a menu of locally sourced seasonal dishes. After enjoying lunch, we decided to stay for the tour of the facilities and were knocked out by what has been done to reclaim this property and convert it from an eyesore into a wonderful resource for families in the community.
I would recommend a visit and tour to anyone who wants to enjoy some local history and also get a "behind the scenes" look at what enthusiastic, motivated citizens can do to improve their communities.
There are many acitivities for families and children scheduled on weekends and throughout the summer months, so a little research on the website would be worthwhile.
We visited primarily to enjoy the farmers market and were delighted to find an excellent restaurant - Belong - with a menu of locally sourced seasonal dishes. After enjoying lunch, we decided to stay for the tour of the facilities and were knocked out by what has been done to reclaim this property and convert it from an eyesore into a wonderful resource for families in the community.
I would recommend a visit and tour to anyone who wants to enjoy some local history and also get a "behind the scenes" look at what enthusiastic, motivated citizens can do to improve their communities.
There are many acitivities for families and children scheduled on weekends and throughout the summer months, so a little research on the website would be worthwhile.
Written 3 October 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Derek v
76 contributions
Jun 2017 • Couples
I don't really get this place.
Maybe if you're a group and take a tour/course, but as just visitors, I don't get what it has to offer.
My wife and I went, tried to go to the restaurant, but left after we saw the outrageous prices on the menu.
Maybe if you're a group and take a tour/course, but as just visitors, I don't get what it has to offer.
My wife and I went, tried to go to the restaurant, but left after we saw the outrageous prices on the menu.
Written 26 July 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
AConferenceAttendee
London, Canada504 contributions
Sept 2015 • Business
I was at the Toronto Food and Wine Festival this past weekend and the event was held at the Evergreen Brick Works. Billed as a community 'environmental' centre, this location is a complex of buildings that has numerous facilities and uses for various events. It was originally produced brick from 1889 to 1984. After falling into disrepair the buildings and surrounding area were revitalized and re-opened to the public in 2010. During the summer, there is a farmer's market as well a food court. The Farmer's market is open Saturdays May 1 to October 31 and then Sundays from June to November 1. In the winter, it is only on Saturdays from 9 - 1 pm. There is a food court open until 2 pm.
You cam drop by the Evergreen Garden Market and then have a drink and a bite to eat at the Café Belong. There is the large brick work area where we there was a presentation stage set up for Chef's to prepare dishes and an audience to follow along. This was a great big space with tea lights hanging from the rafters. The room adjacent to it held rows and rows of tables for the dinner party (I did not attend that event).
The large 'warehouse' area was where they had the vendors and exhibitors set up. Although there were many vendors, I feel that it could have been spread out a bit more to give people the opportunity to walk around more. Maybe loiter at the stands while you spoke to each of the restaurants, bistros, bakeries, food and wine vendors. There was certainly plenty to see and experience but it was crowded at times for sure.
As part of the main building, there were also a smaller 'demo' kitchen for an intimate cooking lessons as part of the Food and Wine Festival. For the Chef's Series. further down the hall there was a large test kitchen where people could take a class and follow along as a celebrity chef showed them how to make a meal. Right beside was another room where you could have a wine tasting class with a sommelier or a chef.
As you walked around, you could see the graffiti and street art that was drawn here long before this became a hip, urban, re-claimed space. I love the juxtaposition of the old, weathered buildings and the modern facilities. The re-purposing of this industrial space and the green space (hiking trails, wetland, park and garden areas) that surrounds it is an oasis in the big city. The whole area is surrounded by a wooded area with natural landscapes to compliment the space.
My biggest complaint was that there clearly was not sufficient parking for the event. I do realize that many people take public transit in a large city like Toronto but many of us come from out of town or the distant suburbs and we drive in. Having to be turned away and told that we had to take a shuttle from a designated area (that was not very easy to locate) was a bit difficult. So my tip to you is take the EBW shuttles from Broadview station during the week and on weekends or take the TTC (public transport) on the weekend.
That being said, it was the only drawback of this location.
This is a very nice attraction if you are here on the weekend and are looking for a Farmer's market or you want to go for a hike or bike ride. The other part of the EBW environmental centre is the the Weston Family Quarry Garden. This is an 11.5 hectare natural area and city park containing the Weston Quarry Garden, wetlands, wildflower meadows, ravine forests and trails.
You cam drop by the Evergreen Garden Market and then have a drink and a bite to eat at the Café Belong. There is the large brick work area where we there was a presentation stage set up for Chef's to prepare dishes and an audience to follow along. This was a great big space with tea lights hanging from the rafters. The room adjacent to it held rows and rows of tables for the dinner party (I did not attend that event).
The large 'warehouse' area was where they had the vendors and exhibitors set up. Although there were many vendors, I feel that it could have been spread out a bit more to give people the opportunity to walk around more. Maybe loiter at the stands while you spoke to each of the restaurants, bistros, bakeries, food and wine vendors. There was certainly plenty to see and experience but it was crowded at times for sure.
As part of the main building, there were also a smaller 'demo' kitchen for an intimate cooking lessons as part of the Food and Wine Festival. For the Chef's Series. further down the hall there was a large test kitchen where people could take a class and follow along as a celebrity chef showed them how to make a meal. Right beside was another room where you could have a wine tasting class with a sommelier or a chef.
As you walked around, you could see the graffiti and street art that was drawn here long before this became a hip, urban, re-claimed space. I love the juxtaposition of the old, weathered buildings and the modern facilities. The re-purposing of this industrial space and the green space (hiking trails, wetland, park and garden areas) that surrounds it is an oasis in the big city. The whole area is surrounded by a wooded area with natural landscapes to compliment the space.
My biggest complaint was that there clearly was not sufficient parking for the event. I do realize that many people take public transit in a large city like Toronto but many of us come from out of town or the distant suburbs and we drive in. Having to be turned away and told that we had to take a shuttle from a designated area (that was not very easy to locate) was a bit difficult. So my tip to you is take the EBW shuttles from Broadview station during the week and on weekends or take the TTC (public transport) on the weekend.
That being said, it was the only drawback of this location.
This is a very nice attraction if you are here on the weekend and are looking for a Farmer's market or you want to go for a hike or bike ride. The other part of the EBW environmental centre is the the Weston Family Quarry Garden. This is an 11.5 hectare natural area and city park containing the Weston Quarry Garden, wetlands, wildflower meadows, ravine forests and trails.
Written 22 September 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
It really depends on what you hope to do. Cafe belong has typical restaurant hours. The farmer's market is only Saturday during the day. The sometimes have classes etc. Best to visit website.
Written 25 September 2015
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