Toronto is said to be the home to one of the biggest communities of Italians outside of Italy, so it should come as no surprise that the city's Little Italy district is so popular. 

While there are several neighbourhoods in Toronto with a strong Italian-Canadian influence, the area along College Street West from Bathurst Street to Ossington Avenue is the city's official Little Italy. 

Stores, bars and restaurants line the street, which becomes especially popular during the summer when the sidewalks are filled with busy patios. The area is served by a streetcar line the runs 24 hours along College Street, but it is also not far a walk south from the Bloor subway line.

Little Italy is one of Toronto's oldest cultural enclaves, having been settled by large numbers of Italian-Canadian families starting in the 1920's. Today the area has become more culturally diverse, but the influence remains. Little Italy is also home to the Italian Walk of Fame, a strip of College Street dedicated to honouring famous Italians and Italian descendants. 

One of the best times to check out the neighbourhood is in the third weekend of June, when College Street is closed down for the Taste of Little Italy festival. Vendors and entertainers pack the vehicle-less streets, while the area's restaurants and bars expand their patios out into the street. See the crowds sipping espressos or having a glass of wine at a café like Café Diplomatico, a Little Italy institution.

It may seem obvious to mention the number of restaurants serving delicious food in Little Italy, but less obvious might be that many have moved away from the staples of Italian food. 

Kalendar Restaurant and Bistro is a cozy spot for a date, while I feel like crepe is an amusingly named French-style creperie. Duff's Famous Wings, at College and Euclid Avenue, is a sport-bar style place with wings that are among the city's favourite.

That is not to say that the area lacks more traditional Italian restaurants. Rated one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto by BlogTO, Trattoria Giancarlo is a classy spot that has been known to attract visiting celebrities. Pizza Libretto, south on nearby Ossington Avenue, is regularly in the discussion for best pizza in the city. 

While not considered a traditional Italian food, for most people pizza will forever be associated with Italy. Consequently, the neighbourhood has no shortage of pizzerias. Bitondo's, on Clinton Street just south of College, is one of the city's best places for a slice. The place has the look of a pizza joint from the 1980s, complete with working table-top arcade Pac Man game. On College Street, John's Classic Pizza and Supermodel Pizza are two more independent options for a slice, while Regina Pizzeria and Trattoria is an appealing spot for a more upscale bite to eat.  

Once you're done stuffing yourself with some of area's delicious food, it's a great time to check out Little Italy's bustling nightlife. College Street features many bars and lounges that are packed with revelers every weekend. On eastern edge, Sneaky Dee's and Crown and Tiger are less expensive options that appeal to students. In the heart of Little Italy, lounges like Andy Poolhall, The Midtown, and Sutra attract people looking to dance or have a few cocktails. The Mod Club Theatre, on College close to Ossington, is one of the best live music venues in the city. They feature a wide range of music including rock, hip-hop and electronic, and also feature regular DJ nights.

While the spine of Little Italy is dominated by bars and restaurants, there are also lots of opportunities for shopping in the neighbourhood. Much of the stores are independently run, a throwback to the early days of Little Italy when businesses were almost all family-run. There are clothing stores, specialty food stores, bakeries, flower shops, and bookstores. The area is largely devoid of major chains, although stores like American Apparel and The Brick have popped up on the eastern edge. 

There are many specialty shops as well. Motoretta sells scooter and motorcycles, especially Vespas. Presse Internationale is a magazine and newspaper retailer that is among the best in the city for hard-to-find magazines, as well as newspapers from around the world. Soundscapes, at College and Manning Avenue, is a popular independent music store that also sells tickets to shows at many of the city's music venues.

Another attraction in the area is The Royal Cinema, an independent art house cinema. Built in 1939, this Art-Moderne style theatre plays films and documentaries that you wouldn't find at your local Cineplex.