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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
7:30 PM
Booked 88 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 2,168 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
  • 4.7Service
  • 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."
2,168 Reviews

  1. Stephanie

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    3.0

    Dined today

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    I’ve always loved bar Isabel. Not so much this time.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Diane

    Atlanta2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Stellar menu, drinks, and atmosphere! One of our absolute favorites when we visit Toronto. Service is also always impeccable!

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  3. Megan VIP

    Toronto / Ontario11 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Glad to finally checked out Bar Isabel, small neighborhood gem. Menu is not huge, which is a good sign if you ask Gordon Ramsay! Tried all every single pintxo available and our favourites were the matrimonio, jamón croqueta and sobrasada y foie gras. We also tried the veal bone marrow and pork secreto alongside the grilled mushrooms with cured egg yolk and the grilled octopus. Despite the small portions, we were so full and had to take some of the meat home. Our favourite dish, hands down, the pork which was decadent! Staff were friendly and polite, giving excellent advice, and handled our food allergy with utmost care. Thank you, Bar Isabel.

    Is this helpful?

  4. Alan

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We went early on a weekday and everything was perfect! Food, service, ambience… amazing!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Mervyn

    Toronto / Ontario29 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    This restaurant was recommended to me and it certainly lived up to the high expectations. The food was excellent and the service from everyone who attended us was amazing. We’ll be going back.

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  6. Michelle

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    2.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 2
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 3
    Very unmemorable experience, you're paying a 20% service fee for mediocre service. My waitress kept pushing me to buy alcohol and was inattentive the entire night.

    Is this helpful?

  7. Josh

    Toronto / Ontario3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    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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  8. Lisa

    Toronto / Ontario1 review

    5.0

    Dined 7 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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  9. Jaime

    Toronto / Ontario4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 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.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Ali VIP

    Toronto / Ontario14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 27, 2025

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

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Isabel is rated 4.8 stars by 2168 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
7:30 PM
Booked 88 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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