The best Italian restaurants in Toronto

A fresh outpost from one of Canada’s most beloved restaurant groups, Buca Yorkville serves up artisanal Italian dishes with a distinct coastal focus. Unlike its King West sibling, this location highlights the treasures of the sea, featuring house-cured salumi di mare—such as dry-cured scallops and swordfish—that you won’t find anywhere else. The sleek dining room features an open kitchen, rustic brick walls, and dramatic lighting, creating a refined backdrop for business lunches or evening feasts. Pasta dishes are equally impressive, often pairing fresh seafood like Nova Scotia lobster with handmade noodles. For a shared experience, the Roman-style pizzas are a must, topped with premium ingredients like creamy burrata and seasonal truffles.

Recipient of a MICHELIN Star, Osteria Giulia celebrates the delicate simplicity of Northern Italian cuisine, with a specific focus on the Ligurian coast. Designed to be an escape from the busy streets of Yorkville, this restaurant invites you to while away the evening in a minimalistic dining room decked out in soothing shades of beige and blonde wood. Chef Rob Rossi’s menu is precise and elegant, featuring specialties like the focaccia di recco—a traditional, cheese-stuffed flatbread that is essential to the experience. Hand-braided pasta with seafood is a perennial favourite, alongside refined mains such as the grilled rack of lamb. It is one of the best restaurants in Toronto for a sophisticated, understated dinner.

Glittering chandeliers and plush velvet booths create an opulent atmosphere at DaNico, a MICHELIN-starred restaurant located in a heritage bank building on College Street. Redefining modern Italian dining, Executive Chef Daniele Corona has created a menu that feels both theatrical and technically flawless. Diners can choose between an à la carte selection or the signature blind tasting menu, which takes guests on a multi-course culinary journey. Dishes are visually striking, often incorporating luxury ingredients like langoustine, wagyu beef, and truffles. The service is white-glove yet welcoming, making DaNico a top choice for celebratory dinners where ambiance and culinary artistry are paramount.

Enoteca Sociale emanates the kind of intimate vibes that turn first-time diners into devoted regulars. Located in Dundas West, this Roman-inspired trattoria has been a neighbourhood favourite for over a decade and holds a MICHELIN Bib Gourmand for its high-quality cooking and value. The rustic-chic dining room is charming, but the best perch is often at the chef’s bar, where you can watch the kitchen team at work. The menu focuses on the four pillars of Roman pasta: cacio e pepe, carbonara, amatriciana, and gricia. Beyond pasta, the cheese and salumi program is extensive, housed in a dedicated cheese cave. It is the perfect spot for an honest, hearty meal accompanied by a bottle of Italian wine.

Toronto’s refined restaurant TOCA marries locally sourced Canadian ingredients with classic Italian flavours inside the Ritz-Carlton. Under the guidance of Chef Alessandro Panattoni, the menu showcases housemade pasta, sustainable seafood, and steaks, all executed with five-star precision. A standout feature is the restaurant’s cheese cave—a glass-walled room in the centre of the dining lounge where guests can taste and select from perfectly aged varieties. Signature dishes include the ravioli caprese stuffed with caciotta cheese and marjoram, and the extensive raw bar offerings. TOCA is also a destination for breakfast and weekend brunch, offering a luxurious buffet that ranks among the best in the city.

Toronto’s iconic Terroni family of restaurants has defined the city’s Italian dining scene for over three decades. While there are several locations, Terroni Adelaide is arguably the most stunning, housed in the historic York County Court House dating back to 1852. The space features soaring ceilings, a sunlit atrium, and a buzzing atmosphere that suits everything from business lunches to loud family dinners. The menu is strictly Southern Italian and famously uncompromising—no modifications allowed. Classics like the spaghetti al Limone and the thin-crust, uncut pizzas are the draw here. In the summer, the secret garden patio offering a quiet respite from the Financial District bustle is one of the most coveted spots in town.

GIA challenges the traditional notion of an Italian steakhouse by focusing entirely on plant-forward cuisine. Located in Dundas West, this MICHELIN-recommended spot proves that great Italian fare doesn’t require meat to be satisfying. The kitchen produces exceptional housemade pasta, such as the signature agnolotti with porcini mushrooms and truffle butter. While the menu is vegetarian and vegan-friendly, the flavours are robust and comforting, appealing to all diners. The interior is stylish and intimate, featuring a walnut bar and herringbone floors. Combined with a thoughtfully curated wine list focusing on organic and biodynamic producers, GIA offers a modern, conscious approach to Italian dining.

With its enthralling harbour views and artful plates, Don Alfonso 1890 is a go-to for a world-class gastronomic experience. Located on the 38th floor of the Westin Harbour Castle, the restaurant holds a MICHELIN Star and offers 360-degree panoramas of the Toronto skyline and Lake Ontario. The menu reflects the legacy of the Iaccarino family from the Amalfi Coast, using premium ingredients to create dishes like the signature vermicelli with mackerel and pine nuts. The tasting menus are a journey through the flavours of Southern Italy, elevated by modern techniques. It is arguably one of the most prestigious dining rooms in the city, perfect for marking significant milestones.

Restaurateur Jen Agg’s flair for curating hip, laid-back vibes is in top form at Bar Vendetta. Located in Dundas West, this wine and pasta bar features 1970s-inspired decor and a lively, energetic ambience. It attracts diners looking for a casual yet high-quality meal, often starting with a selection of inventive small plates like the bruschetta with whipped ricotta. The pasta is the main event, particularly the crown cacio e pepe, which has become a social media star in its own right. The wine list is playful and approachable, focusing on low-intervention bottles. It is a fantastic neighbourhood spot that feels effortlessly cool.

With its soaring ceilings, pastel hues, and Art Deco-inspired arches, Oretta King West is one of the most visually striking restaurants in Toronto. The menu puts a distinctly modern spin on Italian cuisine, offering trendy takes on staples such as cavatelli alla vodka and truffle pizza. The space is vast and theatrical, making it a popular choice for large groups and social gatherings. On weekends, the restaurant hosts a vibrant brunch featuring Italian-inspired egg dishes, sweet pastries like bomboloni, and mimosas. Whether you are visiting for a mid-week business lunch or a celebratory weekend brunch, Oretta delivers a chic, energetic dining experience in the heart of the Fashion District.

Sofia is as glamorous as they come, decked out with red velvet benches, glittering chandeliers, and mirrored columns in the heart of Yorkville. Dining here is an immersive experience, enhanced by perks such as weekly live music performances and a rotating collection of contemporary art on the walls. The menu focuses on refined Italian classics, from wood-fired steaks to fresh seafood. The crudo section is particularly strong, featuring dishes like raw ahi tuna with citrus dressing. The cocktail program is sophisticated, starring Italian ingredients such as limoncello and amaro. Sofia is the ultimate destination for a high-energy, see-and-be-seen night out in Toronto’s most upscale neighbourhood.

Pizzeria Libretto is widely credited with bringing certified Neapolitan pizza culture to Toronto. While there are several locations across the city, the University Avenue outpost is a bustling hub for the Financial District crowd. The restaurant is famous for its wood-fired ovens, which blister the 72-hour fermented sourdough crusts to perfection in under 90 seconds. The menu features VPN-certified classics like the Margherita, alongside locally inspired toppings. Beyond pizza, the antipasti—such as the buttermilk-fried calamari and meatballs in tomato sauce—are consistent crowd-pleasers. With gluten-free crust options and a casual, fast-paced vibe, it remains a reliable top choice for lunch or dinner.

Giulietta is all about understated elegance and confident cooking. Located in Little Italy, this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant is led by Chef Rob Rossi. The space is polished yet warm, featuring minimalist decor that lets the open kitchen take centre stage. The food is deceptively simple but executed with high-quality ingredients; the calamari fritti with lemon and roasted garlic aioli is considered one of the best in the city. The namesake pizza, La Giulietta, topped with pistachios and lardo, is a must-try. It is a refined neighbourhood gem that balances a relaxed atmosphere with serious culinary technique, making it perfect for an intimate date night.

Located at Yonge and Eglinton, La Vecchia captures the essence of a traditional Italian trattoria with a lively, welcoming ambience. Exposed brick walls, warm lighting, and shelves lined with wine bottles set the tone for a comforting meal. The kitchen serves a vast menu of Italian staples, from hearty risottos and fresh seafood to stone-baked pizzas. It is particularly well-known for its lively atmosphere, often featuring live music and a bustling dining room filled with locals. The extensive wine list and classic cocktail selection make it a great place to settle in for a long, leisurely dinner. It remains a cornerstone of uptown dining in Toronto.