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Bar Isabel, Toronto, ON
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Bar Isabel

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Visa Dining Collection

CAN$51 and over
Spanish
797 College St, Toronto, ON M6G 1C7

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2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 71 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • 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

  • Award icon
    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

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Menu

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,161 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 offers an extraordinary dining experience with "amazing food," "knowledgeable sommelier," and a "cozy, intimate vibe." Renowned for its "perfectly cooked octopus," "delicious tasting menu," and "friendly service," it's a must-visit spot in Toronto. Reservations are essential due to its popularity and "lively atmosphere."
2,161 Reviews

  1. Josh

    Toronto / Ontario3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Phenomenal service. Main courses were good but didn’t match up to the price for me. The Rambla Highball, Scallops and Basque Cake were soooooo good though.

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  2. Lisa

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    A beautiful gem for a celebratory meal. Servers are kind and attentive, the food is delicious and unique, and the decor is gorgeous. It's small so it gets crowded and noisy quickly, but it's worth it for the bone marrow and mushrooms.

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  3. Jaime

    Toronto / Ontario4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 3
    Pan con tomate, shrimp and octopus were really good. Shrimp was the best plate. Pork dish... I found the sauce way too sweet and didn't get any chorizo flavour at all. Overall a great experience.

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  4. Ali VIP

    Toronto / Ontario14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and wine with friendly service and nice atmosphere.

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  5. Joanne

    London14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fabulous meal and excellent service from our server Moriah. 5 of us enjoyed the cheese platter octopus which was the best I have ever had! Scallops shrimp sourdough wonderful Spanish wines and the fabulous basque cake. Truly a must when in Toronto

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  6. Katie

    Toronto / Ontario14 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Bar Isabel is and will always be one of our top favourite restaurants in Toronto ! The food is absolutely amazing , and it is the only restaurant I’ve found with a huge selection of skin-contact wine , they also have a very knowledgeable Sommelier. The place is always packed and you absolutely need a reservation any day of the week . It’s a small restaurant so of course, because it’s so busy it is very loud. The portions are generous and you have to have the boquerones en vinagre ❤️

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  7. richard

    Toronto / Ontario12 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Fantastic Great tasting menu Abundance of varied interesting and delicious foods Noisy but great ambience

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  8. Meghan

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    always amazing food !!! service is always 10/10. highly recommended. everything on the menu tastes delicious

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  9. David

    Unspecified1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We dropped in for the prix fixe lunch and were delighted. The spread was impressive and every dish was well-executed, the standout for me was the grilled octopus, cooked exactly right. And I do know my octopus. The wine, a Grenache, was on point, and the service tied it all together nicely. Ric and Alessandro were helpful and a pleasure to chat with. Our other server was just as great. Solid experience all around, will be back.

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  10. Veronica

    Toronto / Ontario6 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The ambience is great, the service outstanding. As a connoisseur of Spanish food, I can say that it was mostly ok, with some misses. The croquetas jamón and shrimp al ajillo were great. The misses include: pan con tomate (blah and too much bread), the ceviche (maybe should get a Peruvian to make this dish), and the anchovies (almost missed, hidden between olives) were misses. The desserts were nice.

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FAQs

Bar Isabel is rated 4.8 stars by 2161 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. Canada
  3. Toronto / Ontario
  4. Toronto
  5. Little Italy / College St.

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 71 times today
Google Map for Bar Isabel

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

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