Everything you need to know about local gift bags in Toronto, neighbourhood shopping, delivery options, and supporting independent businesses.
Gift Bags & Products
What is a “Bag of Toronto” gift bag?
A Bag of Toronto is a curated collection of products sourced from independent businesses in a specific Toronto neighbourhood. Each bag represents the character and culture of its neighbourhood — from artisan foods and handmade goods to locally designed accessories. Originally launched as physical gift packages during the pandemic, our neighbourhood collections now feature carefully selected products available through trusted Canadian retailers.
Where can I buy gift bags in Toronto?
You can browse our curated neighbourhood gift collections right here on bagoftoronto.ca. Each product page links to trusted retailers like Amazon.ca where you can purchase items individually or build your own neighbourhood-themed gift bag. For in-person shopping, we also recommend visiting the local businesses directly — our neighbourhood guides list the best shops in each area.
Which neighbourhoods do you cover?
We currently feature eight Toronto neighbourhoods: Bloordale Village, Bloorcourt, College Street Promenade, Kensington Market, Midtown, Oakwood Village, Ossington, and Riverside/Leslieville. Each neighbourhood has its own guide page with local business recommendations and a curated product collection.
What kind of products are in the gift bags?
Products vary by neighbourhood but typically include artisan food items (coffee, chocolate, preserves, spices), handmade goods (candles, soaps, pottery), locally designed accessories (tote bags, jewellery, prints), and specialty items unique to each area. Every product is selected to represent the character and culture of its neighbourhood.
How much do the gift bags cost?
Since our products are available through individual retailers, prices vary. Most items range from $15 to $60 CAD. You can build a complete neighbourhood gift bag for roughly $50–$120 depending on how many items you include. Check each product page for current pricing and availability.
Shipping & Delivery
Do you ship gift bags across Canada?
Products featured on our site are fulfilled by their respective retailers (primarily Amazon.ca), so shipping options and delivery areas depend on the retailer. Most items on Amazon.ca ship free with Prime across Canada, making it easy to send a taste of Toronto to friends and family anywhere in the country.
Can I get same-day delivery in Toronto?
Many Amazon.ca products qualify for same-day or next-day delivery in the Greater Toronto Area. Check the product listing for delivery estimates to your specific postal code. For last-minute gifts, visiting the local shops directly is always the fastest option — our neighbourhood guides include addresses and hours.
Can I send a gift bag as a present to someone else?
Yes! When purchasing through Amazon.ca, you can select gift options at checkout including gift wrapping and a personal message. For a more personal touch, we recommend assembling your own bag using our neighbourhood product recommendations and adding items from local shops you’ve discovered through our guides.
Local Shopping & Neighbourhoods
What are the best neighbourhoods for local shopping in Toronto?
Kensington Market is unmatched for vintage finds and global food. Ossington leads for design-forward boutiques and artisan goods. Bloorcourt is the spot for emerging local brands and one-of-a-kind art. Each neighbourhood has its own personality — browse our guides to find the area that matches your shopping style.
How do I find local businesses in a specific neighbourhood?
Each of our neighbourhood guide pages lists recommended local businesses with descriptions of what they offer and why they’re worth visiting. We also include embedded maps so you can plan your route. Start with the neighbourhood closest to you, or explore a new area — that’s the whole point.
Are your neighbourhood guides up to date?
We regularly review and update our neighbourhood guides to reflect new openings, closures, and changes in the local business landscape. Toronto’s independent retail scene evolves quickly, so we recommend calling ahead or checking a business’s social media before visiting for the first time.
Charity & Community
How can I donate to Toronto charities through your site?
Our Donation to Local Charities page links to the Toronto Community Foundation, which distributes funds to grassroots organizations across the city. You can also support local causes by shopping at community-minded businesses featured in our neighbourhood guides — many donate a portion of their proceeds to local initiatives.
Which Toronto charities do you support?
We primarily support the Toronto Community Foundation, which funds neighbourhood-level programs across the city including food security, youth arts, and small business development. We also highlight local charitable initiatives in our blog and neighbourhood guides. Our focus is on organizations that directly strengthen Toronto’s independent business community.
Did Bag of Toronto support businesses during COVID-19?
Yes — that’s how we started. Bag of Toronto launched in 2020 specifically to help independent businesses survive pandemic lockdowns. We partnered with over 120 local businesses across eight neighbourhoods, curating and delivering gift bags that kept revenue flowing when storefronts were closed. Read the full story on our Our Story page.
About Bag of Toronto
Is Bag of Toronto a store?
We’re a curated shopping guide, not a traditional store. We research and recommend the best locally-inspired products available through trusted retailers, and we create neighbourhood guides to help you discover independent businesses in person. Think of us as your local shopping concierge — we do the research so you can skip straight to the good stuff.
How do you choose which products to feature?
Every product is selected based on three criteria: it must represent the culture of a specific Toronto neighbourhood, it must be available through a reliable retailer, and it must be something we’d genuinely recommend to a friend. We prioritize Canadian-made products and items from small or independent producers whenever possible.
Do you earn commissions on product recommendations?
Some product links on our site are affiliate links, meaning we earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them — at no extra cost to you. This helps us keep the site running and our neighbourhood guides free to use. We only recommend products we’ve researched and believe in, regardless of affiliate status.
How can I suggest a local business for your guides?
We love hearing about businesses worth visiting. If you know an independent shop, café, or maker in one of our featured Toronto neighbourhoods that deserves a spotlight, drop us a note. We’re always looking for hidden gems that locals swear by but visitors might miss.
Still have questions?
Browse our blog for more Toronto shopping tips, or explore our neighbourhood gift collections.