Little Italy is one of the city's better known neighbourhoods, but further west along College Street there is even more to see. College Promenade is a similar mix of small local restaurants and shops that is seen along much of the length of the street.

The College Promenade Business Improvement Area (BIA) is located along College Street just west of Little Italy, extending from Shaw Street in the east to Havelock Street in the west. 

Location 

It also sits on the edge of the neighbourhood known as Little Portugal, which is located south of College centered on Dundas Street West. The College Promenade district features over 100 businesses, including a wide assortment of restaurants, bars, shops and services. 

To reach College Promenade, the easiest way is by public transportation via the 506 College Streetcar, which connects the area with downtown. 

The area is also accessible by TTC buses that run north-south along Ossington Avenue and Dufferin Street. By car, the closest highway is the Gardiner Expressway, which can be accessed via Jameson Avenue.

As with Little Italy, the area's most prominent attraction are the many delicious restaurants found there. Towards the east, the eateries lean towards Italian food, including a few of the more popular spots in the city. 

Grappa Ristorante, is a family run eatery where one can enjoy home-made breads and the regular "bring your own wine" promotion - Tuesday to Thursday and weekends after 9:00 p.m., with no corkage fee. Il Gusto Ristorante is another well-liked Italian restaurant with a prix fixe special, extensive wine list and inviting patio.

Other nearby restaurants include Chiado, a higher-end establishment famous for its high quality seafood. Mitzi's on College describes itself as being on hand to serve "the area brunch scene," and offers up the full spread of brunch favourites. 

Boom Breakfast & Co. is another nearby spot on that scene. Voted the best BBQ in the city in a number of polls, Phil's Original BBQ serves ribs, chicken, pork shoulder and beef brisket both dry or with any of their famous homemade sauces.

Beyond the sit-down restaurants, there is great take-out food here as well. Being so close to Little Italy, it should come as no surprise that there are numerous pizza joints along this stretch of College Street. 

Super Model Pizza, with its weird baby sign, is hard to miss. Other options include Telepizza and the Gino's Pizza chain. Portuguese takeout is big here as well, with several fine churrasqueira spots serving BBQ grilled chicken and other meats.

The Portuguese influence is evident throughout the area, perhaps no more so than in the several great Portuguese bakeries here. Nova Era has one of its six Toronto locations at Shaw Street, and is famous for its cornbread. National Portuguese Bakery is another small local bakery that's made a name for itself with tasty buns and turnovers.

Nightlife 

Many of the area's bars and pubs tend to fall under the umbrella of Portuguese sports bars, no doubt a result of its proximity to such a significant Portuguese population. 

Places like Cervejaria Bar & Grill are always busy with locals, chatting while watching sports on television or just having a beer. It can be a great place to watch a soccer game. 

Other bars in the area include the Brass Taps Pub, The Abbey Pub and the Smiling Buddha, a popular bar with the post-university student crowd that regularly has live music.

While College Promenade is dominated by bars and restaurants, there are also lots of opportunities for shopping in the neighbourhood. Much of the stores are independently run, and the area is largely devoid of major chains. 

There are all sorts of small retailers here, including clothing shops, shoe stores, bakeries, dry cleaners, health stores, and hair and beauty services. 

It's truly an eclectic mix of shops here, with everything from fancy food stores like La Fromagerie and The Wedding Cake Shoppe, clothing stores like Fly Girl, and audio equipment stores like Number 1 Sound all sharing the street with many others.

• Grappa Ristorante 
• Il Gusto Ristorante
• Chiado Restaurant
• Phil's Original BBQ
• Mitzi's on College
• Alice's Restaurant
• Boom Breakfast & Co.
• Gino's Pizza
• Hadley's
• Bairrada Churrasqueira Grill
• Churrasqueira Oliviera
• Estrela do Mar
• Black Skirt 
• National Portuguese Bakery
• Nova Era Bakery

• LIT Espresso Bar
• Kubata Café
• Starbucks
• Rosa Branca Café
• Carlos Bar
• Cervejaria Bar & Grill
• Brass Taps
• Smiling Buddha
• The Abbey Pub and Steak House

• Paws in the City
• Rainbow Beauty Salon
• La Fromagerie
• Bubble Face
• Fly Girl
• Edite's Beauty Salon
• Vice Versa
• Budget Shoe
• V C Ultimate Inc.
• Pantry
• The Wedding Cake Shoppe
• Junction Skateboard and Longboard Shop

• Toronto Public Library -- College/Shaw
• YMCA