Neighbourhoods
Little Italy
Once pizza and pasta central is now martini central as Little Italy stakes its claim to a twenty-something's version of the Club District. Tamer by day, the neighbourhood has all the pre-requisites one would expect. Gelato? Check. Raving soccer fans? Check. Shady Mafioso hangout? Check. But what it also has is oodles of character, two bursting summer street festivals, a killer music store, a second-run cinema and Toronto's best sandwich.
Looking for something
specific in Little Italy?
Andy Poolhall / Bars
Michael, the owner of Andy Poolhall, boasts that they had one of the first gay-friendly nights off the Church St. strip (at what used to be Ciao Edie's) in the...
Arabesque / Restaurants
Arabesque sits at a quiet corner on College Street, just east of Dufferin. Inside, Lebanese owner Zoher Hakim cooks up delicious falafel, chicken kebab, eggee and more. Don't forget to...
Auld Spot Pub (College) / Restaurants
The Auld Spot Pub has opened its second location on College, a nice west side compliment to the original on The Danforth....
Bairrada Churrasqueira / Restaurants
From the outside, Bairrada Churrasqueira on College Street looks fairly unassuming, but on the inside everything about it is a cut above. Decorous waitstaff serve attractively presented meals on one...
Balfour Books / Bookstore
Balfour Books, with its floor-to-ceiling pine bookshelves, is one of the prettiest of the used stores in the city. Featuring a primarily general-interest stock, the store also carries a...
Bikkuri (College St.) / Restaurants
The Bikkuri on College Street is the latest and third of the Bikkuri sushi restaurants in Toronto joining the AYCE one in the Beaches and the original near the Financial...
Bite Noodles and Rice / Restaurants
Bite Noodles and Rice is a cute little Asian fusion (though mostly Vietnamese) resto that's easy enough to miss along the busy Little Italy stretch of College Street. Walking...
Bitondo Pizzeria & Sandwiches / Restaurants
Bitondo's doesn't deliver, which you think would hinder business, but they're not sweatin' it. The place is always busy and if you've had a slice of their pepperoni, you know...
Blood and Bandages / Fashion Stores
In business for only a year, this 97-square foot parlour is an attitude-free alternative to crowded salons. The brainchild of Roger Janes - who bought vintage barber chairs on eBay...
Burro Burrito / Restaurants
This is part 2 in a series where I attempt to discover Toronto's best burritos. My quest for Toronto's best burrito has brought me to Little Italy. Burro Burrito is only...
Cafe Diplomatico / Restaurants
Prime real estate at the corner of College and Clinton. Review coming soon. ...
Calisto / Restaurants
Calisto is a new restaurant in Little Italy created by the owners of Vivoli just down the street. Expect pasta, veal and other central-southern Italian fare....
Caplansky's Deli / Restaurants
Y'know you're doing something right when you're being called the messiah of smoked meat, your fare's got a fan club with Geddy Lee in it, and it's so popular it's...
Chiado / Restaurants
High end Portuguese food. We're saving our money so we can write a review. ...
Churrasqueira Oliveira / Restaurants
Mmmmm....shrimp. Our review coming soon. ...
Cinq 01 / Restaurants
Cinq 01 takes over from the short-lived Arthurs on College St. The new restaurant and bar is owned by Toufik Sarwa, owner of Amber in Yorkville. ...
Cloak & Dagger / Bars
The Cloak & Dagger has over 20 beers on tap. The venerable College Street watering hole with that lived-in, down-to-earth pub feel has a brew for everyone. Their intimate back...
Coco Lezzone / Restaurants
Coco Lezzone in Little Italy is a darkly-lit restaurant and bar serving Italian classics like Bruschetta, Caprese Salad, Beef Carpaccio, Pasta, Risotto and Veal Scalapini. ...
College Falafel / Restaurants
College Falafel makes falafel, shawarma, Halifax-style donairs and a whole lot of other Mediterranean food from scratch. ...
College Fruit Market / Grocery Stores
Be sure to eat your fruits and veg before heading out for a Little Italy bender. Fresh produce under crisp awnings and lots of faithful locals....
College Street Bar / Bars
College Street bar serves up classic northern Italian dishes in a pretty, cozy bar/bistro setting. They also have their own microbrewery, a heated back patio, and feature live music on...
cucina / Restaurants
From the owners of Bruyea Brothers. Our review coming soon. ...
Dolce Gelato / Restaurants
This hot and humid weather calls for drastic measures. Looking for a way to cool down I recently headed over to Dolce Gelato on College. The relatively new gelateria was...
Dragon Lady Comics / Bookstore
Dragon Lady Comics in Little Italy sells comic books, vintage magazines and classic comic strip reprints. ...
Duff's Famous Wings / Restaurants
Duff's definitely knows how to serve up award winning wings. Don't get too cocky the first time you visit as they will warn you that medium IS hot, medium...
Eclipse Fitness / Fitness Clubs
On the south side of College in the heart of Little Italy, Eclipse Fitness' space features windows on three sides including a light-infused spin room and fitness studio. The gym...
El Convento Rico / Bars
El Convento Rico is a basement club in Little Italy that features drag queen shows Fridays at 1am and Saturday at 12:30am....
Emmet Ray / Bars
The Emmet Ray - a new bar at College and Dovercourt - with its large, brass lettering and sober-looking interior, looks at first glance that it might be competing with...
Friendly Magnolia Fine Foods / Grocery Stores
Friendly Magnolia Fine Foods is a wonderful little grocery found in little Italy, just West of Euclid street. Full of fresh fruit, vegetables, and cheeses. Lots of groceries, homemade desserts...
Girl Friday / Fashion Stores
Contributed by Michelle Williams The first thing I noticed when I last walked into Girl Friday was a table in the centre with selected clothes items and accessories. I was...
Golden Wheat / Baked Goods
To me, the name Golden Wheat is evocative of home made, salt of the earth, old world goodness. On a really sunny spring day, my roommate Alyssa and I...
Grace Restaurant / Restaurants
Grace Restaurant calls home the space on College formerly known as Xacutti. Inside the restaurant has been completely redone and features banquet tables, an outdoor patio and a modern farmhouse...
Green Grind / Cafes
The Green Grind, a new cafe with an environmentally conscious mandate, opened in Little Italy this week. Curious to see what this new addition could bring to the already...
I Feel Like Crepe / Restaurants
In line for a late night screening at the Royal Cinema, I couldn't help but notice the newest café to open shop in Little Italy. "I Feel Like Crêpe",...
Il Gatto Nero / Restaurants
Our review coming soon. Beat us to it! ...
Il Gusto / Restaurants
Il Gusto, in the former location of neighbourhood favourite Cafe Margaux, serves basic but well executed Italian food. The outdoor patio offers good views of College Street and fills up...
John's Classic Pizza / Restaurants
John's Classic Pizza, just steps from the bustling intersection of College and Clinton in Little Italy, serves hot out of the oven pizza. ...
Jun Jun Sushi / Restaurants
Jun Jun Sushi is one of a number of sushi restaurant on College Street. Prices here are very reasonable. There's also a variety of non-sushi options on the menu. ...
Kalendar / Restaurants
In my neverending quest to find the best places in Toronto for brunch, I decided to try out Kalendar, a restaurant in Little Italy. Lush and intimate, the interior design...
La Forchetta / Restaurants
La Forchetta Ristorante mixes traditional, regional Italian cuisine with contemporary flavours. The menu features homemade pasta, risotto, rack of lamb, venison, veal, mussels and salmon....
La Fromagerie / Grocery Stores
La Fromagerie on College is a tiny cheese store selling a range of specialty cheeses, fresh breads, croissants and a wide variety of olives. ...
Langolino Wine Bar & Grill / Restaurants
Our review coming soon. ...
Leao D'ouro / Restaurants
It's not easy to get seafood right. Either the freshness is compromised or the seasoning doesn't work or it's overcooked or undercooked. But the coastal Portuguese know their...
Li'ly / Bars
Li'ly is a self-described resto-lounge in Little Italy. Except plenty of martinis and live DJs every Friday and Saturday night....
Lilliput Hats / Fashion Stores
My head is gigantic. This makes finding and buying hats very difficult as they rarely fit and almost never look very good. Due to this unfortunate genetic predisposition I have...
linuxcaffe / Cafes
Quick. In what cafe you can score a Guava Nectar Smoothie and embrace the open source movement, all for the low low price of $2.69? Well, if the heading of...
Maggie's / Restaurants
Somewhere in between closing time at rowdy Sneaky Dee's and the midday bustle of Kensington Market, Maggie's opens up for brunch on College Street. Serving up a variety of delicious breakfast...
Manic Coffee / Cafes
Manic Coffee is the new cafe on the Bathurst & College block, catering to local hipsters, computer salesmen and firefighters alike. I stop in on a weeknight with some friends and...
Marinella / Restaurants
Marinella takes over from the space formerly home to La Cucina which for some reason unceremoniously departed for the tourist haven near King and Simcoe. The good news is that...
Mattino / Restaurants
My first thought when contemplating the arrival of Mattino, the new Italian/Mediterranean restaurant occupying the space left vacant by the April demise of Supermarket offshoot Mini-Market on the north west...
Mitzi's on College / Restaurants
Like Mitzi's Café and Mitzi's Sister, Mitzi's on College, the newest brunch spot in the Mitzi empire, overflows with the hip, the hungry, and the hung-over. Opening on...
Monarch Tavern / Bars
Located upstairs from Lounge 88 on Clinton, the Monarch Tavern is home to tech geeks, construction workers and lunchers looking to pair their veal sandwiches from San Francesco Foods with...
Montfort / Restaurants
Montfort is a relatively new addition to Little Italy, serving up a range of Mediterranean dishes that have made their Oakville and Milton restaurants popular. ...
Nature's Bay / Grocery Stores
Nature's Bay is a health food store on College Street, just east of Bathurst, that stocks organic grains and supplements, prepared foods, juices, gluten free options and organic clothing....
Negroni / Restaurants
Negroni in Little Italy is the latest addition by the celebrated duo behind Sidecar. At the helm of this hip new paninoteca is the talented Melissa Halloran, a recent grad...
Nirvana / Restaurants
A row of greasy spoons and the legendarily loud Sneaky Dee's have, until recently, made the corner of College & Bathurst a haven for the rowdy. Not that I...
Octopus Lounge / Bars
I was having a good old time last night until myself and a group of friends tried to go to ...
Orbit Room / Bars
The Orbit Room is a live music venue upstairs from Bar Italia that features jazz, funk and R&B music every night of the week....
Osogood Pastries and Sandwiches / Restaurants
Osogood is like walking into someone's kitchen, and them whipping you up a lovely homemade sandwich in exchange for a bit of money - though not much. The most expensive...
Paaeez / Bars
Paaeez is a rather minimalist hookah bar and martini lounge right in the middle of Little Italy. ...
Pantry / Grocery Stores
I first discovered Pantry back in June when owners Greg Bolton and Liz Bolton-Dnieper were just putting the finishing touches on their new space. Located near Dovercourt, just west of...
Phil's Original BBQ / Restaurants
Phil's Original BBQ is a well-loved BBQ joint near the corner of College and Ossington that serves some of the smokiest, tastiest meat this side of Texas....
Pink Twig / Design Stores
Pink Twig is fairly new to Little Italy. Open less than two years but consistently rated one of Toronto's best flower shops. The cheery playfulness of Tanya List and Amy...
rapp optical / Fashion Stores
Rapp Optical has the unique distinction of carrying its own Canadian-made line in its flagship College Street store. It's a combination of Rapp's personal and patriotic philosophy, at prices ranging...
Red Pegasus / Design Stores
Not just a pegasus, a red pegasus. Any old winged horse doesn't move product, we need one with fire in its belly. Owned and operated by Rachel Chester,...
Regina Pizzeria & Trattoria / Restaurants
Rocco and Anna make Regina's the neighborhood place to be in the heart of Little Italy. Dine in or have them deliver their homemade pizzas, pastas, or tasty sandwiches....
Riva Supper Lounge / Restaurants
Riva Supper Lounge is an Italian restaurant, bar and lounge in Little Italy with items on the menu such as Tuscan bruschetta, crispy polenta fries and lobster gnocci. ...
Riviera Bakery / Cafes
Riviera Bakery is a bustling bakery-cafe in Little Italy that serves as somewhat of a meeting place for local neighbourhood gossip. ...
Sage West / Restaurants
Sage West is the offshoot of the tiny Sage Cafe on McCaul St. They serve brunch, lunch and dinner and feature live jazz and blues music on Tuesdays and Saturdays....
Sam James Coffee Bar / Cafes
Sam James does some amazing things with coffee... like making it taste like blueberry. He also makes cappuccinos with heart designs on top, so whatever additional coffee knowledge or skill...
San Francesco Foods / Restaurants
f you didn't know to look left and see the wall-sized menu, you might not realize that San Francesco sells sandwiches. Oh, but they do. If you're there around lunchtime,...
Senhor Antonio Tapas and Wine Bar / Restaurants
Whether you loved or hated the proliferation of "tapas" menus at your local dive or the revamped fancy digs around the corner, the trendy concept has certainly slowed down in...
Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe / Restaurants
Sicilian Sidewalk Cafe in Little Italy has been serving up some of Toronto's best gelato for 50 years. They also have sandwiches, desserts and Italian coffee. ...
Sidecar / Restaurants
Sidecar is the newest addition to the Little Italy strip, having just opened in the spot formerly occupied by that weird Versace bar. Inside, the place looks like the...
Smiling Buddha / Bars
The Smiling Buddha programs live music daily, DJ parties, fashion shows and magazine launches....
Sneaky Dee's / Bars
At Sneaky Dee's on Saturday morning, our waiter is looking a little rough, but he manages a smile before tottering away to get our tea. Weekend breakfasts here appeal to...
Sorriso / Restaurants
Sorriso in Little Italy is a new restaurant from the same owner as Cafe Diplomatico down the street. The menu is very Italian and features intriguing dishes like polenta with...
Souz Dal / Bars
Souz Dal is a dark pocket of romance on the College Street strip. There's just something sexy about this bar, which is probably why it has a reputation for being...
Suba Nightclub / Bars
If you go to Suba Nightclub at College and Spadina, you should go after midnight and you should be young and it will also probably be helpful if you are...
Sunshine Natural Foods / Grocery Stores
New to College and Dovercourt as of 2007, Sunshine Natural Foods is the sort of place that makes you want to move into the neighbourhood, just so that it'll be...
Sushi Bon / Restaurants
It was a dark and very, very stormy night. The Mister and I had just graciously left a bargain book store we had thoughtlessly run into to dry off -- okay,...
Sushi Haru / Restaurants
Feeling peckish at work, I sent out a Facebook message with a simple theory: A new sushi house in Little Italy + hungry bloggers = one great reason to get...
Sushi Island / Restaurants
Sushi Island in Little Italy is popular for their all you can eat sushi deals. If you can get past all the complicated rules (such as everyone at the table...
Sutra / Bars
If you desire all things tiki, Sutra is your kitschy Polynesian paradise. After a few Fog Cutters and Wicky Wacky Woo's (all of which really pack a punch),...
Ted's Collision / Bars
If you find yourself on College Street in the wee hours and martini bars aren't your thing, head to Ted's Collision. An old pool table, front and back patios...
The Big Chill / Restaurants
The Big Chill, tucked away around the north-east corner of College & Manning, is hardly tough to spot. Much in the spirit of local ice cream parlour legend, Dutch...
The Common / Cafes
The Common, a beloved little cafe just east of Dufferin on College, is terrific evidence of an evolving neighbourhood; one that has changed a lot in recent years but still...
The Fish Store / Restaurants
If there's a perfect sandwich in Toronto, it just might be found at The Fish Store. Tucked away behind a pale blue facade just west of Grace on College Street,...
The Pomegranate / Restaurants
"The Pomegranate! You have to go" my friend assailed me a few months ago while we were discussing the spoils of Little Italy. I went there last night...
The Roxton / Restaurants
I think I love the Roxton. It's not the kind of adoring love where I send them roses, write little love letters and make up poems that don't make any...
Touche / Bars
Touche is a somewhat swank martini bar on College St with plush seating, decent cocktails and a small front patio....
Trattoria Giancarlo / Restaurants
Trattoria Giancarlo is a favourite destination for Italian food in Little Italy. The restaurant has recently expanded with a new, contemporary look and stunning College St. entrance. ...
Urban Thai / Restaurants
Drowning in a sea of ol' arrabiata, the College Street strip is made the better for housing the still saucy, spicy, but unmistakably un-Italian Urban Thai. Penny-pinchers and big spenders...
Utopia Cafe / Restaurants
My perfect summer-time afternoon goes something like this: 1. A table at Utopia's cozy back patio. 2. A pitcher of sangria. 3. Giant burritos that satisfy all my friends - carnivore and herbivore...
Vivoli / Restaurants
Vivioli is located near the corner of Grace and College in Little Italy. On the menu is pizza, pasta and other Italian fare. They also have a rooftop (pictured) which...
Wedding Cake Shoppe / Baked Goods
On our way to the Wedding Cake Shoppe, Melissa muses, "imagine one of us was going to pick out our wedding cake right now?" The thought is more jarring to...
Whippersnapper Gallery / Galleries
Whippersnapper Gallery doesn't have what you'd call a conspicuous entrance. In fact, I must have passed by their Little Italy location near a hundred times without ever taking notice....
Ziggy's at Home / Design Stores
Ziggy's at Home on College Street in Little Italy sells a range of contemporary furniture, flooring, lighting, bath and design accessories. ...
Neighbourhoods
Other Neighourhoods
- Annex
- Baldwin Village
- Bayview and Leaside
- Beaches
- Bloor West Village
- Bloorcourt
- Bloordale Village
- Cabbagetown
- Chinatown
- Church Wellesley Village
- Corso Italia
- Danforth
- Distillery District
- Dundas West
- East Chinatown
- Financial District
- Forest Hill Village
- Harbourfront
- Junction
- Kensington Market
- King East
- King West
- Koreatown
- Leslieville
- Liberty Village
- Little India
- Little Italy
- Mount Pleasant
- Ossington
- Parkdale
Community
Something missing?
Know a great local business we should include on the site?
