Bordering downtown Toronto’s west side, Little Italy is a popular, vibrant neighbourhood along College Street, between Bathurst Street and Ossington Avenue. Residents here enjoy living tucked between bustling Kensington Market, Koreatown, and Trinity Bellwoods. Little Italy is an established, affluent, family-oriented community alive with culture, exciting entertainment options, and diverse dining spots. Although Little Italy is home to many different cultures, the neighbourhood’s distinct Italian roots are still a defining element.
Why you’ll love it here
Numerous parks and greenspaces throughout the neighbourhood along with several independent shops and retailers provide residents with countless opportunities for enjoying any kind of lifestyle. The streets are lined with many original businesses established in the 1950s during the city’s largest influx of Italian immigrants who settled in the area. You’ll see dozens of bakeries, fruit markets, cafes, restaurants, barbershops, theatres, tailors, and more. With so much to see and do, Little Italy is best experienced on foot.
The neighbourhood is populated with plenty of amenities and is within walking distance of other exciting areas of the city like West Queen West and Toronto’s Fashion District. And it’s just a few blocks away from the University of Toronto St. George Campus. So there are plenty of student rental investment opportunities available. If you’re an admirer of fine art, the Art Gallery of Ontario is just five minutes from this enclave. Commuters living in Little Italy will enjoy having quick access to the Gardiner Expressway and Lakeshore Boulevard.
Living in Little Italy means living in one of the city’s great Business Improvement Areas, a designation this neighbourhood earned in 1985. Since then, the BIA’s governing association—a dedicated group of community members and local business owners—has worked to ensure the growth and prosperity of the neighbourhood. Little Italy’s Business Improvement Association works to advocate for the community’s many independent businesses and shops so that the neighbourhood can maintain its enchanting culture and continue to thrive.
Little Italy is a world of its own in the middle of one of the world’s greatest cities. The Taste of Italy is an annual festival held in the neighbourhood every June, and gives community residents and all Torontonians the chance to indulge in authentic Italian cuisine and great live performances over several days. Hundreds of vendors set up shop along College Street where thousands gather to experience a little Italy here in the north.
The real estate
Because of its ideal location, energetic atmosphere, and cultural pride, this neighbourhood attracts a diverse group of residents. Most people living in Little Italy are families, singles, and young professionals, while the majority of homes are semi-detached.
Don’t leave Little Italy without savouring a gelato in Bickford Park and enjoying a stroll down Palmerston Boulevard to admire the ornate iron street lamps by evening light.
