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| - Kensington Market when I look it up on Google Maps defines the boundaries as from Dundas to College (south to north) and Bathurst to Spadina (west to east). It's a Toronto neighborhood so I suppose you have to set the boundaries somewhere.
Realistically as far as the "market" portion goes it really is more of the streets that include Baldwin, west of Spadina, Kensington Ave from Baldwin to Dundas and pretty much all of Augusta Ave between Dundas and College. This is where almost all the commercial area of the market is located. I don't really include the strip of Spadina between Dundas and College and really consider that a continuation of Chinatown instead.
Kensington Market is just that, it's a neighborhood but it's also an area that currently has a unique vibe to it. The stores include specialty food, specialty restaurants, vintage and used type of clothing including a very diverse mix of culture. Because of this diversity it is such a great representation of Toronto and what Toronto has to offer in what equates to just a few streets in a small neighborhood.
As far as food goes this is a foodie heaven in such a tight, walkable space. Augusta, Baldwin and Kensington Avenue if you weren't stopping you could probably walk the entire thing in 10 to 15 minutes. If you were hungry and looking for a place to eat and had trouble deciding you could be there for much longer.
There are simply so many different offerings in this small space that someone like me could easily be overwhelmed. While there are some favorites to be had here, there always appears to be something new and different. There are some long time anchors in this area however. Sanagan's meat right at the corner of Kensington and Baldwin is a heavy rep in the area. Don't get me started on Global Cheese. That place has my heart and my wallet because if you love variety and cheese, good luck leaving without buying anything.
There's also some unusual specialty restaurants you won't see just anywhere like Rasta Pasta, Moo Frites, Otto's Berlin Doner, Seven Lives, and the list goes on and on. Fish and chips, burgers, gelato, churros, pizza, poke, fried chicken, pasties, dry goods, coffee, popcorn - it goes on and on. Really if you can't find a place to eat in Kensington, you can't find your head on your shoulders.
Besides the food because there's plenty there's such a mix of retail as well. From stores for cool but strange needless things or gifts like Blue Banana to vintage places like Courage My Love there's such a spectrum of things here that just are a break from mainstream that it's just so new and refreshing.
As far as being a place to visit, I always take out of towners to Kensington to both eat and get a different view of the city since it changes pretty dramatically from Chinatown and the more known businesses on major streets like Spadina, College and Dundas. Kensington is just a unique pocket in the city that is more laid back and fun all around.
The last time I was there, Bellevue Square park at Denison and Augusta was being renovated. Besides Bellevue Square the only other park in Kensington I know of is Sonya's Park which is a tiny patch of grass behind El Trompo on Oxford.
While the streets can be very tight and almost always packed with cars, there is a city parking lot off Baldwin.
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