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Bar Isabel, Toronto, ON
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Bar Isabel

CAN$51 and over
Spanish

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 24 times today
  • Good for special occasions
  • Lively
  • 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 Plate

    2022

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
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    We do not offer catering.
  • Private party facilities
    We do not have an event space.
  • 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

What 1,987 people are saying

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

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Bar Isabel in Toronto offers a lively atmosphere with an authentic Spanish flair. Known for its "fantastic food" and "impeccable service," this restaurant is a must-visit for anyone craving tapas-style dining. Highlights include "incredible octopus" and a well-curated wine selection. Ideal for celebrations, though noise levels can be high.

1,987 Reviews
  1. Susie

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 1 day ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Loved it! The tasting menu was incredible and really good value! Highly recommend. Staff were all great, kind, and knowledgeable.

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  2. Lindsay

    New York City

    4 reviews

    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Always an immaculate experience at Bar Isabel! Can't recommend enough!

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  3. Paul

    Toronto

    6 reviews

    5.0

    6 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Outstanding experience. Excellent staff. Service and food were impeccable.

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  4. julia

    Toronto

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Unique, charming and delicious. We were there early, so it wasnt too loud, and we had a nice corner table. In peak hours it is a bustling place and tables are pretty close together.

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  5. Sayed

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    3.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    While some dishes were truly exceptional—such as the croquettes, anchovies, and patatas bravas—others fell short of expectations. The dry-aged ribeye and beef tongue, in particular, were underwhelming. Overall, while it was an interesting experience and we ordered a variety of items, the value didn’t quite justify the high price point. It’s worth trying once, but I wouldn’t return at these prices.

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  6. Arjun

    Toronto

    3 reviews

    5.0

    3 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was amazing!! The server we had was really nice and sweet.

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  7. Stuart

    Toronto

    9 reviews

    5.0

    9 reviews

    Dined on December 24, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Has remained a favourite over many years. They still find a way to introduce new exciting ideas while sticking to their original roots Excellent service with a perfect pace to the evening as always

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  8. Andrew

    VIP

    Toronto

    10 reviews

    5.0

    10 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service and recommend trying the tasting menu. The wine menu had some well priced non LCBO available wines which was a bonus.

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  9. Kevin

    Toronto

    11 reviews

    5.0

    11 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    As always, Bar Isabel did not disappoint! We chose the tasting menu with wine pairings. We appreciated that our waiter asked which dishes on their menu were ‘must haves’ and made sure they were part of our meal. Definitely one of our top 10 favourite restaurants in Toronto.

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  10. Peter

    London

    37 reviews

    5.0

    37 reviews

    Dined on December 23, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome food, as always. Secreto was the best dish, although picanha was great too. Sommelier was great. Thank you to all ❤️

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Bar Isabel is rated 4.8 stars by 1987 OpenTable diners.

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

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 24 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, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Beer, BYO Wine, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Non-Smoking, Wine
  • Phone number
    (416) 532-2222
  • Catering
    We do not offer catering.
  • Private party facilities
    We do not have an event space.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Cookie Preferences
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