Little Italy was once pizza and pasta central. Then it was overtaken by martini bars and became a twenty-something's version of the Club District. Now, as the neighbourhood still welcomes a mix of newer and long-established restaurants. By day, the neighbourhood has all the pre-requisites one would expect. Gelato? Check. Raving soccer fans? Check. But it also has is oodles of character, two bursting summer street festivals, a killer music store and a second-run cinema.
THE HISTORY OF LITTLE ITALY
College Street was fully laid out in the area by 1900 and the area was filled with buildings from the early 1900s. College Street is fronted by two- and three-storey buildings, with commercial uses on the ground floor and residential or storage uses on the upper floors.
Italians arrived in Toronto in large numbers during the early 20th century. Italians first settled in an area then known as “The Ward”, centred on University Avenue and College Street. Approximately 40,000 Italians came to Canada from 1914 to 1918, predominantly from southern Italy where an economic depression and overpopulation had left many families in poverty. By the 1920s, most Italians had moved west of Bathurst Street and the College-Clinton area had emerged as the city's major Little Italy. Italians mainly immigrated to Toronto: increasing from 4,900 Italians in 1911, to 9,000 in 1921, constituting almost two percent of Toronto's population.
A tourist attraction of the area is the Italian Walk of Fame. Granite and brass stars line the sidewalk with the names of noteworthy Italian Canadians. At Clinton Street, on the north side, is the Royal Cinema, which was recently renovated and has an upgraded projection system as it is used for movie editing purposes during the day and repertory cinema in the evenings. While the commercial units are dominated by cafes and restaurants, there are numerous other small businesses serving the neighbourhood.
The side streets are mostly detached or semi-detached single family homes dating to the early-1900s Edwardian period, with front porches and smaller lots, as was the custom at the time.
As early as 1961, the presence of new immigrants had already started changing Little Italy. That year, 15,000 Italians, 12,000 being immigrants, lived in Little Italy (35 percent of the population), declining to 8,000 in 1971, and further to 3,600 in 1991 (13 percent of the population). Since the 1970s, Italian immigrants from Little Italy moved northward to Corso Italia on St. Clair Avenue West. Much of the Italian population subsequently moved to the suburbs northwest of Toronto, in particular, Vaughan, King, and Caledon Although the neighbourhood still has several Italian restaurants and bakeries, the demographic of this neighbourhood has changed drastically with a smaller Italian population than originally.
LITTLE ITALY TODAY
Little Italy is not an exclusively Italian neighbourhood, as its name might suggest. While there is still a strong Italian community in this neighbourhood, there is also a large Portuguese population centred around the First Portuguese Canadian Cultural Centre on College Street, and the Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street West.
Today, Little Italy’s Italian and Portuguese residents are welcoming new neighbours from around the world to what is now considered one of Toronto’s most multi-cultural neighbourhoods.
The Little Italy shopping district on College Street, between Shaw Street and Euclid Avenue, features authentic Italian restaurants and European fashions.
The Portugal Village shopping district on Dundas Street includes fresh fruit and vegetable markets, mouth-watering bakeries, as well as seafood restaurants, and cafes that feature an authentic Portuguese cuisine.
LITTLE ITALY REAL ESTATE
The majority of Little Italy’s row-houses and attached Victorian homes were built between 1880 and 1910. These houses are set on narrow tree-lined streets with parking facilities located at the back of the property, off a rear laneway.
In-line with the European style of the area, surrounding residential side streets (off of College Street) hug visitors with well-manicured lawns, immaculate front porches, beautiful brick homes, waving hands, and friendly faces. The residential makeup of Little Italy varies between the old and young and old-school and new-school.
In tune with the rest of the city, Little Italy’s housing market is in high demand. People who have lived in Little Italy a long time seldom want to leave the convenience, community, and welcoming ‘vibe’ so rare in big city living behind.
The majority of Little Italy’s row-houses and attached Victorian homes were built between 1880 and 1910. These houses are set on narrow tree-lined streets with parking facilities located at the back of the property, off a rear laneway.
Some of the most in-demand streets can be found in the Little Italy neighbourhood. Palmerston, Crawford, Euclid, Manning – all of these streets are what detached homeowners’ dreams are made of. Some steals can still be found for an untouched house in desperate need of a gut-job, but most you’ll find are fully renovated stunners that were snagged up a few years ago by motivated flippers looking to make their real estate dreams come true.
Drive north from College along Palmerston to see some of the area’s fancier homes. Lack of inventory is having an upward effect on the pricing here in general, as popularity remains steady and availability remains low.
A small handful of low-rise condos are making their way into the area, for first-time buyers and those not looking for a full-on detached house, this could be a good option.
Looking for the best of Little Italy?
Parks
Schools
Please click here for a comprehensive list of schools in Little Italy.
RestaurantsLi
Café Diplomatico: Family-run fixture with a bustling patio, serving breakfast, basic Italian fare and drinks until late.
Bar Raval: Grant van Gameron's Spanish pinxtos bar features Gaudi-esque wood panels and a Barcelona feel.
Bar Isabel: Spanish-influenced, creative plates and craft beers in a cozy space with an old-world vibe.
Cafés
.Sicilian Sidewalk Café: Long-time Italian gelateria serves ice cream, waffles and coffee in comfy quarters with outdoor seats.
Tampered Press: Quaint café with windows overlooking the park for gourmet coffee, homemade sweets and healthy snacks.
Manic Coffee: Espresso drinks, brewed coffee and teas in a stylish exposed-brick space, plus treats and gelato.