Toronto’s Italian restaurant scene is a robust one—not surprising since the city is home to Canada’s largest Italian population. For a memorable pizza party with family and friends, for a romantic date night with sexy pasta or for a fun aperitivo with flowing Aperol spritz and cicchetti, the best Italian restaurants in Toronto await all around the city.
A modern MICHELIN-starred Mediterranean stunner welcomes diners on the Harbourfront. A plant-forward spot in Dundas West proves that great Italian fare doesn’t require meat. At a glamorous restaurant in Yorkville, top-notch crudo and limoncello cocktails draw consistent crowds.
Sample la dolce vita at one of these standout restaurants. Read on for a guide to the best Italian restaurants in Toronto to book now on OpenTable.
The best Italian restaurants in Toronto – read on for a guide
For a hot date night with sexy pasta and wine – visit Enoteca Sociale in Dundas West
Enoteca Sociale emanates the kind of intimate vibes that turn first-time diners into devoted regulars. Every corner of the restaurant’s rustic-chic dining room is charming, but the best perch is at the four-seat chef’s bar where chef Kyle Rindinella serves a multi-course tasting menu. The restaurant has focused on Roman fare since opening in 2010 and it was a neighbourhood favourite long before it received a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand. People return for mainstays such as creamy spaghetti cacio e pepe and bucatini all’amatriciana, plus knockout entrees including a 50-day dry-aged ribeye.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto for special occasions – celebrate at TOCA- The Ritz-Carlton in the Financial District
Toronto’s refined restaurant TOCA The Ritz-Carlton marries locally sourced ingredients with classic Italian flavours. Acclaimed chef Oliver Glowig curated a menu that showcases housemade pasta, seafood, and cheeses from an impressive onsite cheese cave. That one-of-a-kind feature is set behind a glass wall in the centre of TOCA’s grand dining room and can be admired by diners as they tuck into signature dishes such as housemade ravioli stuffed with caciotta cheese and porchetta that’s slow-roasted for 36 hours. Keep an eye out for celebratory brunch buffets, which are often available on special occasions such as Easter.
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto loved by locals – try Terroni in the Financial District, Rosedale / Summerhill, Queen West and The Junction
Toronto’s iconic Gruppo Terroni celebrated its 30th anniversary and the success of a mini-empire that includes multiple Italian restaurants, bakeries, and commissary kitchens. Terroni Queen, however, is where it all began in 1992. The lengthy pizza list is filled with classics such as the margherita plus more innovative offerings including the smendozzata topped with housemade spicy sausage, red onions, and gorgonzola. The Queen Street outpost is always buzzing, much like its siblings Terroni Price, which caters to the midtown crowd, and Terroni Adelaide, set in a former courthouse dating back to the 19th century. For a memorable Italian aperitivo with cool vibes and music, don’t miss the sister restaurant Sud Forno by Terroni, for traditional Sicilian staples head over to La Bettola di Terroni, and for a stellar brunch with freshly-baked bread and jazz nights, Terroni Sud Forno Produzione e Spaccio awaits.
📍 Financial District — Check availability
📍 Rosedale / Summerhill — Check availability
📍 Queen West — Check availability
📍 The Junction — Check availability
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For one of the best authentic pasta restaurants in Toronto – book at Amano Trattoria in King East
Amano Trattoria stands out as one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto for its modern approach to traditional trattoria fare. Case in point: the pinsa selection. The Roman-style pizza (made with fermented sourdough that has a crisp and airy crust) comes piled with toppings such as spicy salami, hot honey, prosciutto, and parmigiano. Amano keeps things fresh with a regular line-up of events and specials, including a three, four or five-course family-style sharing menu, a chef’s table experience for groups of 8 to 12 guests, and Italian American family-style Sunday feasts featuring slow-cooked braised meats, fresh pasta, caesar salads and focaccia garlic breads.
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For one of the best vegetarian restaurants in Toronto – don’t miss Gia in Dundas West
Gia doubles down on restaurateur Jennifer Coburn’s theory that great Italian cuisine doesn’t require meat. Coburn’s previous spot, Ufficio, was all about pescetarian plates but Gia prioritises plant-forward fare. Expect inventive starters such as smoked mushroom, fonduta and truffle honey arancini and plant-based cashew brie before moving on to housemade pasta including white truffle agnolotti with wild mushrooms and pecorino romano. The pretty plating matches the restaurant’s gorgeous walnut bar and stylish herringbone floors. Round out your meal with a glass from the biodynamic, sustainable, and organic wine list.
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For one of the best fine dining restaurants in Toronto with stunning views – visit Don Alfonso 1890 in Harbourfront
With its enthralling harbour views and artful plates, Don Alfonso 1890 is a go-to for a swanky night out. The restaurant scoops up consistent awards for its dramatic interiors and exceptional menu (which takes cues from its mothership in Campania, Italy) such as a coveted MICHELIN star in the guide’s inaugural Toronto edition. Exquisite entrees include Ontario wagyu beef tenderloin and pheasant and mushroom-stuffed ravioli with black truffle. Also of note: the restaurant’s two epic wine cellars which collectively house over 2,000 bottles.
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For one of the best pasta restaurants in Toronto with Italo disco vibes – don’t miss Bar Vendetta in Dundas West
Restaurateur Jen Agg’s flare for curating hip, laid-back vibes is in top form at Bar Vendetta. With its 1970s-inspired decor and lively ambience, the restaurant attracts as many diners in search of drinks and snacks as those looking for a full meal—a solid selection of highball cocktails and Old World wines doesn’t hurt, either. While it’s worth stopping by for Italian-style small plates such as bruschetta with smoked ricotta and tuna crudo with beluga lentils, the scratch-made pastas including the signature crown cacio e pepe with ricotta, butter, lemon, and black pepper reward those who stick around for mains.
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For one of the best brunch spots in Toronto – try Oretta in King West and Yonge–Eglinton
With locations in King West and in Yonge–Eglinton, Oretta puts a distinctly modern spin on Italian cuisine. That means trendy takes on staples such as cavatelli alla vodka and salsiccia pizza topped with fior di latte and pork sausage. Tuck into it all in an Art Deco-style space adorned with theatrical arches. Cocktails don’t stray too far from Italian classics, though there are a few playful riffs on the negroni. Oretta’s family-style 7-course tasting menu is an ideal starting point for first-timers looking to sample the restaurant’s greatest hits. On Saturdays and Sundays, don’t miss the exceptional Italian-inspired brunch featuring homemade stuffed bombolini donuts, sandwiches, pizza, pasta, and mimosas.
📍 King West — Check availability
📍 Yonge–Eglinton — Check availability
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For a glamorous night out with live music – book at Sofia in Yorkville
Sofia is as glamorous as they come, decked with red velvet benches, glittering chandeliers, and mirrored columns. Dining here is not just about the food thanks to perks such as weekly live music performances and walls featuring a rotating collection of art (the latter is available for sale). Kick off your evening with cocktails starring Italian ingredients such as limoncello and amaro. And don’t skip a starter from the killer crudo menu, such as oysters served with white balsamic mignonette and raw ahi tuna with bergamot.
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For one best pizza restaurants in Toronto – try Pizzeria Libretto in Ossington, Financial District, Yonge and Sheppard and Danforth
Pizzeria Libretto’s original Ossington location was among the first restaurants to introduce certified Neapolitan pizza to Toronto when it opened in 2008. Fifteen years and many additional locations later— including a newish outpost at Yonge and Sheppard—the restaurant is still filled with diners who can’t get enough of its 72-hour fermented sourdough base, treated to a special char in an ultra high-temp oven (bonus points for vegan and gluten-free alternatives). Antipasti such as buttermilk-fried calamari and burrata with pomegranate vinaigrette make for satisfying starters.
📍 Ossington — Check availability
📍 Financial District — Check availability
📍 Yonge and Sheppard — Check availability
📍 Danforth — Check availability
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For one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto’s Little Italy – look no further than Giulietta in Little Italy
Giulietta is all about understated elegance. From its deceptively simple dishes to its minimalist aesthetic, every element of the restaurant exudes subtle charm. The space is polished yet warm and invites diners to linger over an extra glass from the restaurant’s Italian-focused list. Executive chef Rob Rossi serves up unexpected versions of Italian standbys such as calamari fritti featuring fried Moroccan squid with shishito peppers, lemon, and roasted garlic aioli. The restaurant’s namesake pizza, La Giulietta (topped with Sicilian bronte pistachio, lardo di Modena, panna, and smoked scamorza, a southern Italian cow’s milk cheese) is a must-try. Round out your modern Italian meal with exceptional desserts such as torta della nonna with wildflower honey, pine nuts, and mascarpone crema.
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For lively vibes and live music – try La Vecchia in Etobicoke and Yonge–Eglinton
Located in Etobicoke and Yonge–Eglinton, La Vecchia captures the essence of traditional Italian trattorias known for their lively ambience and laid-back feel. Brick walls and wine bottles lined up on shelves set the tone for a culinary journey across Italy, while live music nights and weekend brunch offer the perfect spot for those looking for a fun meal with friends. The menu features shareable antipasti boards overflowing with focaccia, arancini, cured meats and crispy seafood as well as traditional pasta and risotto, all available in gluten-free versions. Feast on crispy pizza such as the one-of-its-kind Sofia with mozzarella, nduja, caramelized onion, peaches, walnuts, prosciutto and burrata. With an extensive wine list, as well as a cocktail list that has all the old favourites, such as refreshing negronis, it’s the perfect place to while away the hours in style.
📍 Etobicoke — Check availability
📍 Yonge–Eglinton — Check availability
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One of the best things about Italian food is that there’s something for everyone. This comprehensive list of the best Italian restaurants in Terroni covers all the bases, whether you want to grab a budget-friendly bite or book in for a high-end dining experience. From pizzas to pasta, cocktails and desserts, Toronto’s thriving Italian food scene is just waiting to be discovered.
Reserve your spot at the best Italian restaurants in Toronto and book a table on OpenTable today.
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