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Bar Isabel

Name: Bar Isabel
Address: 797 College St, Toronto, ON, Canada, M6G 1C7
Telephone: (416) 532-2222
Price range: CAN$51 and over
Rating: 4.8

Visa Dining Collection

CAN$51 and over

Spanish

797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 58 times today

About this restaurant

Lively
Good for special occasions
Neighborhood gem

Enjoy an intimate dining experience at Bar Isabel - a cozy restaurant nestled between Toronto's little Italy and little Portugal, where creative Spanish-inspired small plate dishes are served alongside cocktails and an extensive Iberian focused wine list. The restaurant's elegant interior boasts an intriguing blend of soft lighting, curved walls and a beautiful mosaic tile floor.
Managed under the guidance of Maitre d' and Partner Alessandro Pietropaolo, Bar Isabel's menu includes a diverse mix of pintxos, conservas, seafood and meat dishes. Diners rave about the grilled octopus, the bone marrow and the ceviche. For dessert, the Basque cake and sherry cream is a must-try. Bar Isabel is open 5-11pm Sunday through Friday, and 12-11pm Saturday. Accolades include listings in the Michelin Guide, Canada's top 100, and 2013 awarded the best new restaurant in Canada by Enroute Magazine. Bar Isabel accepts reservations for parties of up to 8 guests.

Why they're an Icon

Executive chef: Grant van Gameren

MICHELIN Plate2022

From the OpenTable editors: A decade into its run, Bar Isabel continues to be a sought-after table thanks to its intimate tavern ambiance and spot-on tapas. Easy-to-share snacks, an excellent drinks program emphasizing Spanish wine and sherry, and buzzy vibes encourage diners to linger and order round after round of Spanish hits.

Additional information

Dining style
Fine Dining
Price
CAN$51 and over
Cuisines
Spanish, Basque, Catalan
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
Phone number
(416) 532-2222
Website
http://barisabel.com/
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Dress code
Smart Casual
Catering
We do not offer catering.
Private party facilities
We do not have an event space.

Location
797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7
Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Neighborhood
Little Italy / College St.
Cross street
Ossington or Shaw
Parking details
Parking is extremely limited at the moment due to the CafeTO patios.
Public transit
Ossington Bus, College Streetcar.
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wine

Featured in

Popular dishes

What 2,105 people are saying

Bar Isabel reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.8

4.8 based on recent ratings

4.8Food
4.8Service
4.7Ambience
4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews

Bar Isabel is a vibrant Toronto gem known for its "excellent food, staff, and ambiance." Guests rave about the "best octopus in the city" and delightful tapas like ceviche and croquettes. The "tasting menu is sensational," and service is "attentive and knowledgeable." Perfect for "fun times" and special occasions.

2,105 Reviews

M
Marina VIP
Toronto9 reviews
5.0
Dined 1 day ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
The best place for amazing sharing dishes and yummy drinks. I often gave a craving for their tomato toast and bone marrow! Highly recommend !!!
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R
Raymond
Toronto2 reviews
5.0
Dined 7 days ago
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
The food was exceptional as expected and service was good as well. The noise was extreme but after all is is a bar. I wish it would be a restaurant in a fine dinning setting.
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C
Chris
Toronto3 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 19, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Blue chip restaurant. Very proper people. Makes me not hate Toronto. I wish I was there the night with Martha Stewert. Oh well.
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A
Alvin Michael VIP
San Francisco3 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 14, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Great food. Fun times. Nice ambiance. Never disappointed coming here.
Is this helpful?
A
Anand VIP
Greater Boston25 reviews
4.0
Dined on April 14, 2025
1. Overall 4
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 4
Decent food, wine collection is good. We felt rushed as they kept collecting our plates while we were eating. Too pricy ($$$) for what was offered interns of taste.
Is this helpful?
M
Mariah
New York City1 review
5.0
Dined on April 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
excellent food, staff, and ambiance. Absolutely will return!
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K
Kenzie
Ottawa1 review
5.0
Dined on April 13, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 4
4. Ambience 5
Best vibe. Staff are always great. Food always amazing.
Is this helpful?
C
Chris
Toronto4 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 12, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
One year ago I had dinner at Bar Isabel. We had the tasting menu and it was fantastic along with outstanding service. How was it this time? Better than last visit! Sobrasada and foie gras is a must try and the octopus was perfect. Will be back!
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M
Mihkel VIP
London3 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 10, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 4
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 4
I asked the charming waitress to pick dishes that she loved and were crowd favourites. it was totally the right decision. The Som brought over a few wines to choose from and the one we landed on was excellent. Great place for all occasions I think . The octopus and basque cake were stand outs
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E
Elise
Toronto2 reviews
5.0
Dined on April 7, 2025
1. Overall 5
2. Food 5
3. Service 5
4. Ambience 5
Beat. There’s literally no other restaurant for me in the city. The food, people, drinks, vibe is unparalleled.
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FAQs

Bar Isabel is rated 4.8 stars by 2105 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

Make a reservation

2 people

Apr 27, 2025

7:00 PM

Booked 58 times today

797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7

Additional information

Award-winning
1. MICHELIN Plate 2022
Cross street
Ossington or Shaw
Neighborhood
Little Italy / College St.
Hours of operation
Mon–Fri, Sun 5:00 pm–11:00 pm Sat 12:00 pm–11:00 pm
Price
CAN$51 and over
Cuisines
Spanish, Basque, Catalan
Dining style
Fine Dining
Dress code
Smart Casual
Parking details
Parking is extremely limited at the moment due to the CafeTO patios.
Public transit
Ossington Bus, College Streetcar.
Payment options
AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
Additional
Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wine

Website
http://barisabel.com/
Phone number
(416) 532-2222
Catering
We do not offer catering.
Private party facilities
We do not have an event space.

Bar Isabel

Make a reservation

About this restaurant

Why they're an Icon

Additional information

Featured in

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The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in Canada

Top 100 des restaurants romantiques au Canada en 2025

Popular dishes

Half Octopus

Quarter Octopus

Pork Secreto wChorizo Spice

Menu

What 2,105 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Review summary

FAQs

How is Bar Isabel restaurant rated?

Is Bar Isabel currently accepting reservations?

Make a reservation

Additional information

Featured in

50 Toronto Restaurants to Connect In For Mother's Day

The Diner Reviews Are In: 100 Best Restaurants in Canada

Top 100 des restaurants romantiques au Canada en 2025