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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
SunMonTueWedThuFriSat
7:00 PM
Booked 45 times today

About this restaurant

  • Lively
  • Good for special occasions
  • Charming
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 2,103 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.
2,103 Reviews

  1. Chris

    Toronto3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    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.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Alvin Michael VIP

    San Francisco3 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    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?

  3. Anand VIP

    Greater Boston25 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    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?

  4. 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!

    Is this helpful?

  5. 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?

  6. 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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  7. 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

    Is this helpful?

  8. 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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  9. Tula

    Toronto1 review

    1.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 1
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 1
    I was not impressed with my bone marrow. Which was highly recommended. I hardly got a spoonful. I regret now not saying anything. When I showed People my bone marrow, the said there is nothing in there. I feel I got ripped off.

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  10. Melissa

    Toronto4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 5, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great shareable plates! The octopus and pork secreto were incredible. Our server was amazing, we wanted to try some Sherry wines and she recommended the perfect pairings for our courses!

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Isabel is rated 4.8 stars by 2103 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

Booked 45 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

Featured in

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