By Haley Cullingham
In between Spadina and Ossington on College St., you’ll find Little Italy-a mixture of students, hip kids, and traditional Italian and Portuguese families. Home to crazy street festivals, soccer riots, drunk youth gangs roaming the streets, gentlemen selling roses on corners, and a host of other characters, Little Italy boasts some legendary drinking and live music spots, great food, and a strong community vibe.
Boutiques we love:
Red Pegasus sells cute jewelery, stationery, and knick knacks. A good place to grab a last-minute card or gift for a person who’s difficult to shop for. http://redpegasus.ca/
Motoretta might be all scooters up front, but in the back they have a great collection of clothes, especially if mod is your style. Cheap Monday, Fred Perry, and Ben Sherman are among the designers on offer. http://www.motoretta.ca/
Grab a pint:
Bistro 422 for cheap pints, gruff service, endearing grime. Our favourite night is Thursday, for raffle night, where they hand out tickets and you can win free drinks, shots, and merch. 422 College St.
Sneaky Dee’s is a legendary spot, with cheap Mexican and ample seating below, and a great dance/performance space above. Always giving local bands and DJs their due, Sneaks is a guaranteed raucous night out, or chill night of beer drinking and nacho binging. http://www.sneaky-dees.com/
Ted’s Collision is a divey dive with rickety elementary school chairs and shakey tables, vodka bottles with melting candles dripping wax, and a random assortment of bartender-selected music so loud it will make your eardrums bleed, Ted’s is a friendly neighbourhood watering hole where you’re bound to end up sharing cigarettes or a pool table with the group sitting next to you. 573 College St.
Auldspot is a relaxed transplant from The Danforth and offers a classier place to have a beer. Friendly staff, and a cozy, spacious, comfortable space, as well as great food, fresh oysters, and local brews means one beer inevitably leads to several over great conversation. http://www.auldspot.ca/
Korova Milk Bar is new on the scene, with a lovely patio, magnetic poetry, a great menu, and $4 tall cans of PBR. 488 College St.
Cheap eats:
Nirvana has a bohemian vibe, big patio, cheap sangria, yummy drink specials, good beer, and delicious food (sandwich faves include avocado and brie, smoked salmon. They’ve also got asian-inspired fare and traditional bar food, all yummy.) You’ll find this place packed at all hours of the day and night with happy campers. 434 College St.
Utopia Cafe: Delicious, creative comfort food lives at Utopia, and it’s all extremely reasonably priced. Great for sit-in or take out, their burritos, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and poutine (both meaty and vegetarian) make this a staple for anyone who lives in the ‘hood. http://utopiacafe.ca/
Sushi Bon: A sushi restaurant that’s perfect for sushi lovers vegetarian and no, their menu has old favourites and delicious creative options. 695 College St.
Burro Burrito: While fools will swear by the newer Burrito Boyz down the street, those in the know will tell you Burro is where it’s at. They were here first, and their authentic flavours and friendly service can’t be beat. http://www.burroburrito.com/home.asp
The Fish Store: Another local legend, this place isn’t to be missed. Delicious fish sandwiches, yummy lemonade (and cinnamade!) and a down-home atmosphere. 657 College St.
Ali Baba’s: It’s a chain, but so is almost all shawarma in Toronto these days. And if you’re picking between here and Ghazale, down the street, this is the one for you. 2-for-1 Falafel Tuesdays are a beloved tradition. 610 College St.
Massimo’s: Hands down, the best slices in Toronto, and I’ll fight anyone who says otherwise. Gourmet toppings abound, but even the cheese slice is mouthwatering. 302 College St.
San Francesco’s: Nothing cures a hangover like a veal sandwich, and San Francesco’s is the place to get ’em, as well as calzones and slices. 10 Clinton St.
Aunties and Uncles: A hip breakfast spot that gets lined up around the block, and not without reason. Delicious and creative comfort fare is the perfect cure for a hangover. http://auntiesanduncles.ca/
Dancing ’till Dawn:
Mod Club: One of the best concert venues in the city also has some of the rowdiest dance nights. A giant dance floor, upstairs lounge, and reliable roster of awesome DJs make Mod Club a safe bet. http://www.themodclub.com/
Andy Poolhall: This lounge/club lives up to its name with multiple pool tables, seating, a dance floor, and giant four-sided bar. Dance nights here are always cheap and cheerful, with great queer nights. http://www.andypoolhall.com/
Weird and wonderful:
The Royal Cinema is one of Toronto’s best independent cinemas. Beyond TIFF, Hot Docs, and a variety of other festivals, they offer Hollywood hits at cheap prices, obscure indie films, and awesome cult nights. The Room is a must-see. Bring plastic spoons. You’ll understand when you get there. http://www.theroyal.to/
The Taste of Little Italy and The Johnny Lombardi Italian Canadian Songfest are two street festivals that bookend the summer, with (often questionable, often awesome) live performers on the corners, delicious food, vendors, and carnival games and rides. At night, families congregate en masse dressed to the nines, and you can watch teenagers trying to impress each other and annoyed looking twentysomethings (hi) trying to force their fixed gear bikes through the masses. http://www.tasteoflittleitaly.ca/, http://chinradio.com/events/
People watching:
Cafe Diplomatico is the place to be in Little Italy. You might run into Canadian director Bruce McDonald, and you’ll certainly see some of the neighbourhood’s more formidable characters. During soccer season, this is where you want to go to see some serious revelry. Huge patio, delicious Italian. http://www.diplomatico.ca/
Plaza Flamingo is another soccer spot. An ex-pat salsa bar with a buffet, it’s got its share of crazy riots, too. 423 College St.