Little Italy: Dining, Entertainment, Culture and Arts in One Neighborhood
Little Italy is so European in summertime. Most cafes have their own outdoor patio where people comfortably sit, eat and drink oblivious to the street cars and pedestrians. The long strip is adorned with bars, cafes, pool halls, boutiques, lounges, clinics, beauty parlours, convenience stores and of course, Italian restaurants where you can taste pure Italian food cooked by Italian chefs. The street also has restaurants serving other international cuisines. They also have a theater!
Little Italy has its own charisma, character and unexplainable vibe that is infectious---even if you just sit there people-watching. It's trendy and everyone's friendly out there! It's a perfect place to bring your dates or friends where you can go dining, bar-hopping or spending lazy afternoons in cafes in your friends while imbibing your favorite drink or alcohol. There's a little of everything in Little Italy---and the Italian atmosphere is felt in every corner. It's so unpretentious.
SUMMER FESTIVAL
Little Italy's FIERA is one of the awesome festival in Toronto in late summer. Name everything Italian and they got it here: food, entertainment, music, wine, art, design and culture. For one weekend, the street is turned into a super vibrant little country where Italian flags hang anywhere. Musicians and entertainers perform non-stop from noon to 11pm. The piazza stage imports entertainment stars direct from Italy! This is one festival not to be missed for it's Italian vigor and spectacle! You can hear the passionate Italians singing, dancing and throwing their unmistakable signature hand gestures on the air! Be there!
Toronto Life magazine bestowed this bar as the “Best Bar Renovation.”
Capitol Café and Restaurant
597 College Street
Yummy, authentic-style pizza and pastas
Coco Lezzone Restaurant
602 College Street
Mediterranean. (Winner: Best Restaurant/Bar by Where Toronto Magazine)
MORE BARS / CAFES / RESTAURANTS
Al Bacio - 720 College Street (416) 531-0623
Bakeworks - 606 College Street (416) 537-2590 Barcode - 549 College Street (416) 928-9941
Banaboia Restaurant - 638 College Street (416) 537-0682
Bar Italia - 584 College Street (416) 535-3621
Bella Vista - 660 College St. (416) 532-2518
Benefica Restaurant and Billiards - 653 College Street (416) 531-9208
Bertucci's Restaurant - 630 College Street (416) 537-091 Bitondo Pizzeria - 11 Clinton Street (416) 533-4101
Boca's Café - 718 College Street (416) 534-1328
Café Fresco - 669 College Street (416) 536-4650
Café Bar Azzuri - 614 College Street (416) 532-9837
Caoba - 571 College Street (416) 533-6195
Capitol Café and Restaurant - 597 College Street (416) 534-2942 Club Do Porto Sports Bar - 648 College Street (416) 588-5952 Coco Lezzone Restaurant - 602 College Street (416) 535-1489
College Street Bar - 574 College Street (416) 533-2417
Corso Italia - 584 College Street (416) 532-6116
Dolce Vita - 612 College Street (416) 531-0028
El Bodegon Restaurant - 537 College Street (416) 944-8297 El Convento Rico Club - 750 College Street (416) 588-7800
Eat My Martini - 648 College Street (416) 516-2549
Forchetta Café and Restaurant - 613 College Street (416) 534-3100
Giovanna's Trattoria - 637 College Street (416) 538-2098
Il Gatto Nero - 656 College Street (416) 531-0543
Joe's Bar and Café - 651 College Street (416) 537-4619
John's Classic Italian Pizza - 591 College Street (416) 537-0598
Kalandar Koffee House - 546 College Street (416) 923-4138
L'Angolino 50 - Clinton Street (416) 530-4710
Latte & Caffe - 598 College Street (416) 532-2555
Midtown Café Bar - 552 College Street (416) 920-1703
Midtown West - 558 College Street (416) 966-6952
Perla Restaurant - 539 College Street (416) 922-1703
Orbit Room - 580 College Street (416) 535-0613
Pizza Catalina - 661 College Street (416) 530-4300
Pizza Nova - 703 College Street (416) 439-0000
Revival Restaurant - 783 College St. (416) 535-7888
San Franceso Foods & Sandwiches - 10 Clinton Street (416) 534-7867
Sensual - 565 College Street (416) 516-8885
Shallow Groove Lounge - 559 College Street (416) 944-8998
Sottovoce Wine and Pasta Bar - 595 College Street (416) 536-4564
Southside Louie's - 583 College Street (416) 532-1250 Souzdal Bar Café - 636 College Street (416) 537-1883
Standard Club Trattoria - 667 College Street (416) 588-8170
Starbucks Café - 542 College Street (416) 964-6060
Tavola Calda - 671 College Street (416) 536-8328
Ted's Collision/Body Repair Bar/Pizzeria - 573 College Street (416) 533-2430
Trattoria Giancarlo - 41 Clinton Street (416) 533-9619
Tempo - 596 College Street (416) 531-2822
The Bar on College - 651 College Street (416) 530-2945
Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe - 712 College Street (416) 531-7716
Temptation - 589 College Street (416) 538-5973
Utopia Café and Grill - 585 College Street (416) 534-7751
Viseau Bar & Grill - 705 College Street (416) 588-0277
Veni Vidi Vici - 650 College Street (416) 536-8550
Wild Indigo Café - 607 College Street (416) 536-8797
Where is Little Italy?
Little Italy is a treasured neighborhood located at College Street (more on the west side) between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue.
Nearest subway:
Get off at Queen's Park and take a streetcar going West. Drop off at Bathurst Street. Then, start walking with the crowd... The heart of this little gem is at the intersection of College and Grace Streets.
