1 Benvenuto Place

Many Toronto locals know of 1 Benvenuto Place in the Casa Loma neighbourhood as the home of Scaramouche — comedian Rick Mercer’s “all-time favourite Toronto restaurant.” Indeed, while Scaramouche provides a delicious dining experience, prospective buyers who have done their research may know 1 Benvenuto equally as well for its much sought after luxury homes.

The Benvenuto Condos is a landmark in their own right — in fact, it’s a designated Heritage Building. Constructed in 1955 by the preeminent architect Peter Dickson, the distinctive design makes the building feel stately even if it only reaches to 7 storeys. Dickson applied his own Mid-Century Modern Canadian style to 1 Benvenuto: the bright exterior features long window bays and deep set balconies, brought together elegantly with streamlined white details along every level.

Moreover, the condos’ entrance is also quite alluring. It’s set in its own enclave, with a round, stone driveway and a garden at its centre. And to top it all off, the grounds boast beautifully cultivated gardens, as well as some magnificent, mature trees.

Like those trees, the Benvenuto Condos themselves have only become more inhabitable over the years. When Malen Capital purchased 1 Benvenuto in 2005, they revitalized the property with the help of Bryan Patton & Associates. The conversion into condos also resulted in a revitalization of its beloved lobby. This sophisticated entryway is cared for by both a 24-hour concierge and a valet service.

Additionally, the fitness facilities were updated during the renovation: set on the rooftop, and connecting to a charming terrace, this enviable workout space is outfitted with glass walls. Residents can look out toward the city in the distance while working out from the comfort of their own home.

Similar to the sizeable Scaramouche downstairs, the Benvenuto Condos are quite accommodating, as they contain 119 luxurious suites. Bryan Patton & Associates worked with every homeowner to help plan the suites during their refurbishment in 2005, cultivating an understated modern aesthetic for these open-concept living spaces. As a result, the careful designs of homes feature wood flooring in principal rooms, custom Bellini kitchen cabinetry, and cast-iron soaker tubs or phenomenally large, frameless glass showers, as per plan.

Ranging in size from around 400 to 3,500 square feet, the Benvenuto Condos’ 119 suites consist of studio to three-bedroom floor plans. Some of the mid-range one- and two-bedroom units also contain dens and office spaces. And regardless of whichever one of the suites best serve a buyer’s needs, all Toronto condos for sale here promise a bright and airy atmosphere thanks to plenty of large windows, while some even feature spacious balconies.

While 1 Benvenuto’s own Scaramouche is one of the finest dining experiences in the city, the building actually sits in the serene, largely residential Casa Loma neighbourhood. Especially exciting for those enchanting by nature, these tree-lined streets lead to the Nordheimer Ravine, beginning with the Roycroft Park Lands at Poplar Plains Road and opening up to St. Clair West near Bathurst Street.

Alternatively, where St. Clair West meets Yonge Street (a short drive and a fifteen-minute walk from the Benvenuto Condos) there’s an exciting shopping and eating scene to be found. Alternatively, Avenue Road just east of Benvenuto Place also offers many delicious restaurants, most of which are concentrated around Davenport. Further down, residents can find all the upscale shopping they can ask for in the Yorkville neighbourhood just north of Bloor.

The Benvenuto Condos’ location serves drivers quite well: the traffic on Avenue Road moves relatively quickly, even through downtown Toronto. Avenue becomes Queens Park south of Bloor and then University Avenue past College, after which its lanes become exceptionally wide. To the very south this road’s name changes yet again, to York Street, where an onramp to the Gardiner Expressway can be found.

While drivers can also head north up Avenue Road all the way to the 401, the closest highway access point is in fact reached by taking Rosedale Valley Road, which can be accessed via Aylmer Avenue. This takes drivers to Bayview Avenue where they can hop onto the Don Valley Parkway — often taking about ten minutes to reach from the building.

Finally, for residents who prefer to travel by public transit, the 5 Avenue Road bus stops a couple minutes’ walk away, at Edmund Avenue. This bus’ regular service runs between Queens Park in the north end of the downtown core, where it lets riders transfer onto the Yonge-University-Spadina subway line at Museum Station, and Eglinton Station.