Little Italy Toronto: where to eat on College Street and in Corso Italia

Toronto has one of the largest Italian communities in Canada, and it has left its mark on two neighbourhoods. Little Italy, on College Street west of Bathurst, is where Italian immigrants first settled in large numbers and is now a lively strip of restaurants, cafés and bars. Corso Italia, on St. Clair Avenue West, is where many families moved later, and it still feels more traditionally Italian. Here is how to eat in both.

Where is Little Italy in Toronto?

Little Italy is centred on College Street, roughly between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue, with the streets around it between Harbord and Dundas. The 506 College streetcar runs right through it. It sits next to Trinity Bellwoods Park and Ossington Avenue to the south and west, and the University of Toronto is a short ride east.

What is the history of Little Italy?

Italians arrived in Toronto in large numbers in the early twentieth century, and by the 1920s College Street had become the commercial and residential centre of the community. By the 1950s a large share of Toronto's Italians lived in or around it. From the 1960s many families moved north to the Corso Italia area on St. Clair Avenue West and to the suburbs, and Portuguese, Chinese, Vietnamese and Latin American families moved in. The local business association adopted the Little Italy name in 1985 to honour the neighbourhood's role as the starting point for Italians in Toronto.

What should you eat in Little Italy?

Today Little Italy's food is a mix of Italian classics and much more:

What	Why
Pizza and pasta	Long-running Italian restaurants and newer Neapolitan-style pizzerias
Espresso and pastries	Italian cafés with espresso bars and cannoli
Gelato	A summer evening tradition on College
Portuguese and Latin American food	Reflecting the neighbourhood's later communities
Modern restaurants	Small, chef-driven spots with seasonal menus
Bars and patios	A lively night scene, especially on weekends

Is Little Italy good for a night out?

It is one of Toronto's classic nightlife strips. College Street's bars, patios and late restaurants fill up on weekend evenings, and the street stays busy late. For dinner on a Friday or Saturday, book ahead. In summer, patios along College are among the most popular in the west end.

What is Corso Italia?

Corso Italia is the stretch of St. Clair Avenue West, roughly between Lansdowne and Dufferin and beyond, where many Italian families moved from the 1960s. It has Italian bakeries, cafés, gelato shops, delis and restaurants. When Italy plays in a big football tournament, Corso Italia is where fans gather to celebrate. The 512 St. Clair streetcar runs along it.

Where can you buy Italian groceries in Toronto?

Both neighbourhoods have delis and bakeries, and Corso Italia in particular has shops selling cured meats, cheeses, fresh bread, pastries and imported goods. Look for fresh mozzarella, sfogliatelle, cannoli, panettone at Christmas and sandwiches made to order at the counter.

What other Toronto neighbourhoods have good Italian food?

Woodbridge, north of the city in Vaughan, has a large Italian community and many Italian restaurants and bakeries. Downtown, King Street West and the Financial District have many upscale Italian restaurants. The Distillery District and Yorkville have more polished options for occasions.

Is Little Italy good for patios in summer?

Very. College Street is one of the west end's busiest patio strips, and on warm evenings the sidewalk tables and backyard patios fill quickly. Some restaurants have added curb lane patios in summer through the city's CafeTO program. Arrive early on a Friday or Saturday, or book if the restaurant allows patio reservations. Trinity Bellwoods Park, a short walk south, is a popular spot for a picnic with food picked up along the way.

Are there Italian festivals in Toronto?

Toronto's Italian community celebrates in summer, and the neighbourhoods fill with food stalls, music and patios. College Street has hosted a large street festival in June, often called Taste of Little Italy, when the street closes to traffic for food, music and crowds.

Big international soccer tournaments are another kind of celebration. When Italy plays, the cafés and bars of Little Italy and Corso Italia fill with fans, and a win can bring people into the streets.

Festival dates, names and organizers change, so check the current year's listings before you plan around them.

How much does dinner in Little Italy cost?

It ranges from cheap slices and gelato to special-occasion dinners. Ontario adds the 13 percent HST to restaurant bills. Tip 15 to 20 percent of the pre-tax amount at table service.

How to plan an evening on College Street

1. Take the 506 streetcar to College and Clinton or Grace.
2. Walk the strip and look at menus before choosing.
3. Book dinner if it is a weekend.
4. Finish with gelato or espresso.
5. Continue to a bar, or walk south to Ossington.

Little Italy changes quickly, with new places opening every year. On Mosey you can rate the places you ate at and the dishes you ordered, see where friends you follow went, and keep a list of College Street and Corso Italia spots to try.

More guides to read next:

• Mississauga and Brampton food guide: Punjabi, Pakistani and Caribbean food in Peel Region
• Markham and Richmond Hill food guide: Highway 7, Pacific Mall and regional Chinese
• Ossington and Dundas West: a guide to Toronto's coolest food streets

More in the Canadian food guides and the ranked lists of places.