Manulife Centre

3.5 star rating
11 reviews Rating Details

Category: Shopping Centres  [Edit]

55 Bloor Street W
Toronto, ON M4W 1A5
Neighbourhoods: Discovery District, Yorkville, Downtown Core
(416) 961-2311
Hours:

Mon-Sat 10 am - 6 pm

Sun 12 pm - 6 pm

Price Range:
$$
Accepts Credit Cards:
Yes
Parking:
Garage
Wheelchair Accessible:
Yes
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11 reviews in English

  • Review from Thomas H.

    Toronto, ON

    4.0 star rating
    2/21/2012

    Why do I like the Manulife Centre?

    1) Cineplex

    2) Indigo

    3) Scaccia, Supermarket, LCBO, Pharma Plus... you can buy supplies for home, or  snacks / drinks for the movies

    4) Underground path through to Bay station / yonge & bloor

    5) Seating area in the basement where you can hang out with friends

    It's all very functional, and in a great location. There isn't much shopping to be done here, but it's a great place to chill.

  • Review from Emily H.

    Toronto, ON

    3.0 star rating
    2/9/2012

    So, as a part-time resident of the Manulife Residences, I have to start my day by stepping foot into this mall on many occasions. While it ain't exactly my choice to be greeted by a billion old folks and their walkers each morning, I know I should be thankful of the Manulife Centre.

    It has everything I need! Too bad only half of it is the price I want to pay for it (LCBO and Post Office)... the rest? Clearly situated here to rob the old people who are not able to travel any further of their old money (Valu-mart, Ron White - hey have you ever heard of $900 shoes? Right here, at Ron White). Also, the mall seems to forget that there are patrons younger than the age of 60 who may need groceries and alcohol beyond 8pm, but they leave Indigo open in case you have a burning itch for some literature at 10pm. Makes sense, right? =/

    Always good to be able to connect to a TTC station without venturing out into a potential blizzard, I guess.

  • Review from Mark S.

    • 0 friends
    • 57 reviews

    Vaughan, ON

    4.0 star rating
    5/9/2012

    This is one of the few places in the area you can just sit down and relax, or shop at your own pace. Everything in the Cumblerand/Hazleton are is a little too dramatic for me, like calm down this isn't TriBeCa.

  • Review from Elaine K.

    Toronto, ON

    4.0 star rating
    10/11/2011

    A small mall with some neat features.

    I go here quite a bit, as I like the movie theatre a lot. It's also where my blood donor clinic happens to be, so I'm here at least every two months. It's close the subway, and it has an Indigo, which is perfect for books and gifts, as well as a high-end kitchen store, which I'll peek into the windows of, but not enter, lest I lose my entire paycheque. The mall also has a Timothy's with wifi, a gourmet chocolate shop and the Bloor Street Diner, which I worked at for two months years ago, but somehow have never dined at. There's also a GoodLife fitness and Panorama restaurant.

    All in all, a good variety of stores, entertainment and food options.

  • Review from Mauricio A.

    Toronto, ON

    3.0 star rating
    10/11/2011 1 Check-in Here

    To me this mall's greatest strength is that it serves as an underground walkway for when I want to go from my place to either Yorkville, Cumberland 4,the Varsity. ...or if I have guests, then to Panorama if it is raining/snowing.

    What I am trying to say is that most stores here are nondescript and easily forgettable and they come and go in your mind

    Although from time to time, one will catch your attention. For example, their LCBO tends to be open later AND they have a good selection of vintages. Or I used their Wind store to pay by old cell bill before realizing I must have been on cheap drugs to have even experimented with Wind Mobile and cancelled my plan. See? And now, do I even remember there is a Wind store there? Barely. ...The memory is beginning to fade again... *poof*

    Some good men's stores too, a fun science shoppe and a HMV store for those of you who still think purchasing CD's or DVD's is relevant.

    The Indigo is a great place to hangout and play the piano --if you know how to play and to catch the odd book or magazine.

    If you are hungry and money is no issue, then  Le Cafe La Rotisserie L'express is a GREAT find. Their brunch/buffets are to die for AND they do have live jazz music. Easily a great place to come hungry!

    If you want to get ripped off via grocery shopping then there are two Whole Foods within walking distance and yes, you can walk out $75 poorer yet all your purchased food may fit in just one bag. Specially if you like spices. :-(

    There is a Bricks if you are bored and want to buy diamonds and of course there is a connection to Holt Renfrew which I generally avoid like the black plague. In fairness, I have shopped there but it is just my cup of tea.

    Plus there is a GoodLife Fitness and the ever famous Bay Bloor Radio which if it wasn't for a friend who used to work there a decade ago, I would not even be aware of their existence. PS:. @BBR, do not buy their extended warranties, they will so-rip-you-off.  

    Overall the place is relatively clean and I can only assume it exists because when they were constructing both the business and residential (rental) buildings, it just made more sense to fill the architectural buttress with a small mall than with an elevated parking lot or a solid block of concrete.

  • Review from Jennifer K.

    Markham, ON

    3.0 star rating
    11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here

    I don't venture into Manulife Centre much.... I might go to Bay Bloor Radio... I might go to Indigo... but on this rainy day I ventured inside and I found

    People were walking their small dogs around Manulife Centre, apparently dogs on leash are welcome.

    Please don't let my dog knows about Manulife Centre, if not I might not able to leave him at home. Or maybe he can run away and find a new family that would take him shopping in Yorkville!

  • Review from Alaine H.

    • 184 friends
    • 122 reviews

    New York, NY

    USA
    4.0 star rating
    7/27/2011

    Love the Cineplex movie theatre here - clean, big, and I watched Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows pt. 2 in 3D here!
    I went to see the movie because I was dying of heat in the apartment and needed a cold respite.
    The grocery store is amazing! I kept eyeing the fresh pastas. We picked up all kinds of fruits here for a potluck dinner at my friends' house in the suburbs. All the fruits were really fresh.
    I kept coming back to the Manulife Centre b/c of the AC and clean atmosphere. (A nice change from the seedy strip joints and druggies on Yonge street)
    The Italian restaurant has really good pasta dishes - that was my last meal in Toronto and I'm happy I went there with good company!

  • Review from Erin H.

    • 39 friends
    • 124 reviews

    Toronto, ON

    3.0 star rating
    9/18/2008

    There is something compelling about this retail/office/condo complex, the obvious thought would be that I am drawn by its magnetically central location (Bay and Bloor).  But I don't think that's it.  I think what I truly love about the Manulife Centre is it's staunch commitment to mediocrity -- Jacob is pretty much the haute couture of the mall and Ashley's (the fancy china store) is the place to go there if you are in need of a thrill.

    Snideness aside, I love the Manulife Centre because it houses the best non-independent theatre in Toronto -- The Varsity.  The Varsity is as committed to sameness as its surroundings, refusing to adorn itself with air hockey tables or fancy neon lights.

    If you are in the mood for an evening of the run of the mill head to the Manulife Centre; buy some underwear at Jacob, a cookbook at Indigo, and head up to the Varsity for a 2-star flick

  • Review from Avitania B.

    Toronto, ON

    3.0 star rating
    10/13/2010 70 Check-ins Here

    Oh, the Manulife Centre. It's basically an underground strip mall, complete with grocery store (the Bloor Street Market), booze shop (LCBO, holla!), bookstore (Indigo), post office (The Wicket), a few restaurants, and a movie theatre. It's not a destination, but a quick stop for sundries when you're in the 'hood and on the go.

  • Review from Lynda W.

    • 78 friends
    • 285 reviews

    Toronto, ON

    3.0 star rating
    9/12/2008

    I don't know what "Retail Customer Service" stands for in the title, but I'm going to talk about the Manulife Centre.  I've had to go here a few times, a job interview twice, and a few meetings, so I know the area fairly well..

    The manulife centre office space is home to Bank of Montreal (BMO) employees. It's a very central and happening location (Bay and Bloor being right there).  Downstairs, there are a few stores, such as Jacob, Bagel Stop, a movie theatre and Indigo.  There's also a gym, BMO branch, and copy centre on the upper floors.  All the stores are pretty generic and bigger well known stores.. Nothing too fancy or outrageously expensive.  

    The best part of the Manulife is that it's right on the subway line (intersects the Yonge line and the Bloor line) and it's accessible through the underground PATH.  So if you take the subway, you never have to walk outside.. A great feature for the wintertime.  

    Though I'm not sold on the idea of working down there (it's quite busy), I like going from time to time just to see what I'm missing out on!

  • Review from Paul S.

    • 42 friends
    • 38 reviews

    Toronto, ON

    5.0 star rating
    7/25/2010 11 Check-ins Here

    I love this place & when my knee heals, I will be back.  It has just about anything you could ever want here.  It houses my favourite movie theatre in Toronto (the Varsity) which is enough for me to come here.  They have a great Indigo Books, Pharma Plus, Timothy's, Valu Mart, Bloor St Diner & my personal favourite 'Scaccia's' where you will find the best, freshest sandwiches around.  (Try the chicken breast/tomato w pesto).           The clothes & shoe stores are for people with more cash in their wallet than me, but the whole complex is seldom crazy busy & they keep this place clean.  They also have an LCBO minus the beggars, winos & bums.  I told you it was clean.  There are also tables for eating alone if you don't feel like hearing cell phone conversations.  Definitely my No.1 place to hit on a Saturday afternoon.

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