The Toronto Christmas Market that happens in the Distillery District every winter is a fantastic event to get together with friends & family to enjoy the start of the holiday season.

Having been a resident of the Distillery District for the past 3 years, I've put together a list of the top local businesses you should check out if you're heading down to the market!

El Catrin

Normally one of the best places to cozy up on the patio with a blanket & a margarita in non-COVID times, El Catrin has shifted to help you bring the party home or around the Distillery District!

You can order take-out directly from their website & enjoy delicious guacamole/chips, Tacos (El Pastor & Baja are my favourites) & mouth-watering churros + a bunch of other great items!

The Baja Tacos are phenomenal

One of the hidden secrets about El Catrin is their vast amounts of high-end alcohol (mainly tequila's) which they usually keep private.

Due to their bar being shut down by COVID19 dining restrictions, they have opened up this exclusive inventory through The Agave Bottle Shop for you to purchase so you can enjoy it at home!

The most expensive item that they currently have for sale is called Gran Patron Piedra which costs an astounding $1075 per bottle.

A bottle of Gran Patron Piedra is the perfect gift for the Tequila lover in your life

If you're looking for something high-end but a bit more affordable, check out the Casa Dragones which is listed for $530 per bottle.

There is also a wide variety of options in $40 - 100 range so be sure to have a browse if you're a tequila/mezcal fan.

One of the items El Catrin is known best for are their margarita's.

These are my go-to drink every time I visit & thankfully they have put together a little kit so you can make them at home with their exact recipe!

Margarita kit with everything you need

This kit comes with a 750ml bottle of Herradura Reposado tequila, a 375ml bottle of Cointreau, agave nectar, fresh lime juice, salt, cocktail shaker & 2 El Catrin margarita glasses all wrapped up in a soft cooler bag.


Wildly Delicious

Unlike previous years where there have been numerous outdoor vendors that you can get food from, this year it is quite limited.

Luckily Wildly Delicious is still open & they offer a great range of comfort food like burgers (regular & Beyond Meat), BLT sandwich, bagels, chili, salads, baked goods, tea, coffee + a ton of other scrumptious items.

In addition to food they have a wide variety of their own award-winning sauces & jams you can buy plus a bunch of little trinkets and cute items that make a great holiday gifts!


Soma Chocolatemaker

Take some hot chocolate home with you

If you're looking to warm up your insides with a delicious cup of hot chocolate, head over to Soma Chocolate!

Should you like a little bit more heat, ask for the spicy Maya hot chocolate which adds a unique twist to the drink.

It looks like a piece of wood but really its a delicious piece of chocolate

They also have a wide variety of sweets to take home including their Birch Branch, Dark Side of the Mug drinking chocolate, toffees, truffles & Holiday Gift Boxes.


While COVID has put a bit of a damper on the Christmas market this year, it's still a great opportunity to get together (safely) with the ones you love and enjoy some holiday spirit while supporting local businesses.

What's your favourite part of the Toronto Christmas Market in Distillery District?

Let me know in the comments section below :)

Rylie C.