If your budget won’t allow you to travel all the way to Italy, then a visit to Canada’s first Eataly location at Bay and Bloor, in the newly renovated Manulife Centre, is most definitely the next best thing.
Eataly Toronto opened last week and ever since, the 50,000 square foot space has been chock full with foodies alike who are filled to the brim with excitement.
“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 in a release.
“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.”
While you can of course get all your grocery shopping done at Eataly, don’t think that’s where the fun stops. There are 7 unique food counters, 4 restaurants, 2 cafés, an in-house brewery, and of course, a Mercato for all your fresh produce.
In addition to all the authentic Italian goodies you can pick up, this is also the store to go to if you’re looking for fresh pulled mozzarella, top-quality proscuitto, or local fish from Diana’s Seafood.
The store has over three floors and allows for guests to explore all 20 regions of Italy that connect to the store’s pillar themes: Shop, Eat, and Learn.
How exactly do you learn at a grocery store? Well, at La Scuola di Eataly, there are a variety of hands-on cooking classes and educational events taking place so you can finally learn how to make fresh pasta like a pro!
Because Eataly Toronto is located in the fast-paced hub of Yorkville, the store has the brand’s largest selection of takeaway offerings in the Pronto section. Think ready-made salads, pizzas, tasty paninis, and decadent desserts, for example.
Looking for a meal like no other? Head to any one of Eataly’s four sit-down restaurants.
Not sure what you’re in the mood for? Get your Italian fix at La Pizza & La Pasta, enjoy a seafood-centred meal at La Pescheria, experience Italian street food at La Piazza, and coming in Winter 2020 is Trattoria Milano, a regional inspired restaurant.
This in-house brewery is a special collaboration with special partnership with brewer Indie Ale House and features an exclusive refreshing Italian Pilsner, as well as a rotating beer selection inspired by all the fresh ingredients at the Mercato.
Did you know that you can grab a cold one at Eataly Toronto? That’s right — head down to the concourse level to visit the Birroteca — Eataly’s in-house brewery.
Eataly Toronto is open 7 days a week and the hours are:
Il Gran Caffè: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
La Pizza e La Pasta: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
La Piazza & La Pescheria: 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Mercato: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Fresh Counters: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Birroteca: 9 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Take a peek inside Eataly Toronto:
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