Intimate Italian fine dining in the Annex with exceptional house-made pasta and one of the best Italian wine lists in Canada. Romantic, beautiful, reliably excellent.
Neighbourhood: Annex · Address: 134 Avenue Rd, Toronto, ON M5R 2H6 · Hours: Mon–Thu 5PM–10:30PM | Fri–Sat 5PM–11PM | Sun Closed · Price Range: $$$ · Phone: (416) 964-8686 · Website: https://osteriagiulia.ca · Editorial status: Not yet verified
If you love pasta and seafood and want to see how Toronto does modern Italian at a Michelin level, this is a benchmark spot. Their devotion to seasonal ingredients and technical finesse actually lives up to the hype.
Unlike so many red-sauce Italian joints, Giulia is laser-focused on the cooking of Piemonte and Liguria—think delicate agnolotti, first-rate olive oil, and just-caught branzino. The open pasta station in the dining room means you can watch the magic happen live. It’s also one of a handful of Toronto spots with a Michelin star for Italian food.
Osteria Giulia is chef Rob Rossi's elegant take on northern Italian seafood and pasta, set inside a serene ivory-toned room that feels like a Milanese art gallery crossed with a private supper club. The food is quietly showstopping—complex house-made pastas, pristine crudo, delicately grilled fish—served with precision but never fuss. Service is knowledgeable but relaxed, and the wine list is a passionate deep dive into Italy's best bottles (rare Barolo and Franciacorta included). The room's subtle luxury, candlelight, and soft playlist make it more romantic than stuffy.
Reservations are definitely recommended—walk-ins are rare, especially on weekends.
The tajarin pasta, hand-cut and often topped with seasonal truffle, is worth a detour all on its own.
For groups of four or fewer, yes—it’s intimate. Bigger groups aren’t ideal due to tight quarters.
Expect $120–$180+ per person including wine and tip; mains hover around $40–$60.
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