Italian brand, Eataly, announced today that its first Canadian location in Toronto will officially open its doors on Wednesday, November 13 at 5 PM. The expansive Italian culinary destination will be located at Bay and Bloor Street, an iconic Canadian shopping destination, and will span 50,000 sq. ft. in Toronto’s newly renovated Manulife Centre.

“Toronto has an incredibly strong food culture and is home to the fourth-largest Italian population outside of Italy, making the city a natural fit for a store location,” says Nicola Farinetti, CEO of Eataly North America. “We’re not a food hall or only a market or a restaurant. Eataly is an experience that encourages guests to Eat, Shop and Learn authentic Italian food. We invite Canadians to taste our delicious dishes in our restaurants, learn about Italian cuisine, and shop local Canadian and Italian products – at the best value and highest quality – and to recreate the authentic Italian recipes at home. At Eataly Toronto, we will also feature a curated selection of ready-made dishes to take away.” 


Fresh pasta available at Eataly Toronto | Photo Credit: Eataly

Over three floors, guests can explore the many flavours of Italy’s 20 diverse regions at Eataly Toronto. The brand’s immersive approach celebrates Italian culture through its one-of-a-kind in-store elements, which all connect to Eataly’s guiding pillars of Eat, Shop, Learn. Eataly was originally founded on the foundation of the Slow Food Movement of good, clean & fair food. This philosophy is still carried out today in all that Eataly does. At Eataly we’re in love with high-quality food and drink. We cherish the stories of the people who produce it and the places it comes from. The idea of Eataly has always been simple: to gather high-quality food at sustainable and reasonable prices for all, as well as celebrate Italian biodiversity, under one roof. The selection fits any wallet and offers something for everyone. From $2.20 Focaccia Genovese to vintage Barolo and white truffles, Eataly is sure to satisfy every palate and mood.

To bring Eataly to this new market, the company has partnered with Toronto-based Selfridges Group, through its parent company Wittington Investments.

“We’re thrilled to be working with Wittington as we expand to Canada. The local retail experience, resources and people Wittington bring to the partnership has already proven to be invaluable in the initial store development phase and will be vital as we continue through to the grand opening and forward,” added Farinetti.

Eataly will open its doors in Toronto’s historic Yorkville neighbourhood, a lively area in the heart of the city and home to a diverse mix of shops, residences, offices, hotels and cultural institutions.

“Positioning Eataly Toronto at Bay and Bloor presents a flagship opportunity to develop and refine store concepts that are truly targeted to the Toronto consumer. Achieving this positioning was a focus for Eataly’s exceptionally talented team from the beginning,” says Tony Grossi, President of Wittington Properties.

EAT 

Eataly Toronto will have four sit-down restaurants, each with its own innovative dining experience; La Pizza & La Pasta (Italian Staples), La Pescheria (seafood-centric, fish sourced from beloved local Diana’s seafood), La Piazza (Italian Street Food) and a fourth regional inspired restaurant to open in Winter 2020 called Trattoria Milano. In addition, options from several quick-service counters serving prepared items – such as authentic pizzas, pastas, and gelato – will allow guests enjoy their meal in one of the many seating areas in the store.

DRINK 

IL GRAN CAFFÈ
Steps away from Bloor Street is Eataly Toronto’s Il Gran Caffè, an upscale, full-service Italian bar from Italian coffee roaster illy. Influenced by Italy’s cafés, this high-end, yet approachable bar will change its offerings throughout the day to cater to Torontonians every need. From early breakfast, to a quick lunch, typical Italian happy hour aperitivo and late-night bites, Il Gran Caffè will be a reliable stop within Eataly for any meal or occasion.

BIRROTECA
Birroteca, an in-house brewery, beer shop and tasting room, is the latest addition to Toronto’s growing craft beer scene. Found on the concourse level of Eataly Toronto, Birroteca is a special partnership with pioneering small brewer Indie Ale House and will feature an exclusive refreshing Italian Pilsner as well as custom rotating beers inspired by the fresh ingredients for the Mercato. Owner Jason Fisher shares the same dedication as Eataly to sourcing high-quality ingredients, resulting in unique brews with remarkable taste.

SHOP

MERCATO 
Eataly’s Mercato will offer a variety of fresh local produce and an assortment of imported items from Italy, making it the perfect destination for every day and special occasion shopping. The arrival of Eataly Toronto will introduce Torontonians to 100 new Italian brands (from $1.90 dry pasta to $291 Balsamic Reggio-Emilia) and will also proudly offer high-quality items from over 50 Canadian producers. This vibrant marketplace will also boast authentic fresh counters, including La Macelleria (butcher counter), Salumi e Formaggi (cured meats and cheeses), La Pescheria (fishmonger), La Panetteria (bakery), and La Pasta Fresca (fresh pasta counter). The high-quality, yet affordable, ingredients from the Mercato are used in each of Eataly Toronto’s restaurants. At Eataly, we cook what we sell and sell what we cook. We believe that if you Eat Better, you Live Better.

PRONTO
An answer to the city’s fast-paced lifestyle, Eataly Toronto will have the brand’s largest selection of takeaway offerings in its Pronto section. With ready-to-eat options such as grazing trays, salads, savoury paninis, decadent desserts and more, Pronto offers many choices for Torontonians to eat in-store or take home to enjoy.

LEARN

LA SCUOLA DI EATALY
La Scuola di Eataly is Eataly Toronto’s in-house cooking school and will offer a variety of hands-on cooking classes and educational events. At-home chefs of all levels can discover a variety of unique culinary experiences that celebrate Eataly’s Eat, Shop, Learn, philosophy.

Eataly Toronto will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. The four restaurants will be open from 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. The Birroteca is open from 11 a.m. – 10 p.m. For more information visit www.eataly.com.

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Visit us at:
Web: www.eataly.com
Twitter/Instagram/Facebook: @EatalyToronto
Hashtag: #EatalyToronto 

ABOUT EATALY TORONTO
Focused on providing high quality, sustainable products for all, Eataly is the largest Italian retail and dining experience in the world, transforming the way consumers experience food, beverage and retail. At Eataly, guests have the unique opportunity to experience both Italian culture and top global offerings through markets, counters, caffès, restaurants and educational experiences. These various sections provide guests with an opportunity to explore Italy’s 20 regions all in one space. Since Oscar Farinetti first opened Eataly Torino in 2007, his philosophy has spread to 41 stores across the world. In North America these include the US flagship – NYC Flatiron (2010), Chicago (2013), NYC Downtown (2016), Boston (2016), L.A. (2017), Las Vegas (2018) and Dallas (opening in 2020). Eataly Toronto, the authentic Italian marketplace, opening in November 2019 is a 50,000 sq. ft. culinary destination, located in the heart of the Yorkville neighbourhood. It will feature 7 unique food counters, 4 restaurants, 2 cafés, an in-house brewery and a market that all offer traditional Italian food in a vibrant atmosphere. To learn more about Eataly please visit www.Eataly.com. 

 

About the Author

Bryen Dunn is a freelance journalist with a focus on travel, lifestyle, entertainment and hospitality. He has an extensive portfolio of celebrity interviews with musicians, actors and other public personalities. He enjoys discovering delicious eats, tasting spirited treats, and being mesmerized by musical beats.