What it is
The Distillery District is a preserved Victorian industrial complex east of downtown, now given over to galleries, restaurants, cafés and independent shops. The cobbled lanes inside are closed to traffic, which is exactly what makes it pleasant.
Allow two to three hours for a normal visit. Longer if you are eating, and considerably longer during the winter market.
Getting there and being dropped
Because the interior is pedestrian-only, every visit begins with a drop-off at the perimeter — Mill Street and the surrounding blocks. It is a short, flat walk in.
Parking nearby is limited and fills fast at weekends and throughout December. This is one of the clearest cases in the city for being dropped rather than driving: you step out at the edge of the lanes and walk in, instead of circling for twenty minutes.
The winter market
The Christmas market transforms the district from late November through December and is one of the busiest ticketed events in the city. Peak evenings and weekends require timed tickets, and the surrounding streets become congested well beyond the district itself.
Two pieces of practical advice. Go on a weekday if you possibly can. And agree your pickup point with your chauffeur before you go in — the perimeter streets are slow-moving at closing time, and a corner two blocks out is faster than the entrance.
The rest of the year
Outside December it is a calm, photogenic place to spend an afternoon, and it pairs naturally with the waterfront or the St Lawrence Market to the west.
It is also a heavily used wedding and photography location, which is worth knowing if you are planning either — the lanes are busy with photo shoots on summer Saturdays.
Booking with us
Every journey described here can be booked flat-rated with a written confirmation. Reserve online, email support@buktryp.com, or call dispatch on 1-855-255-6622 at any hour.