Trattorias for delicious pizza in Toronto's King West

Grabbing lunch or dinner around the TIFF Bell Lightbox? If you've a craving for thin crust, wood-fired pizza in an upscale atmosphere, stop in at one of these trendy King West trattorias where humble pizza pie gets the gourmet treatment.

Trattorias for delicious pizza in Toronto's King West
Jessica Emma Napier By

Gusto 101

1
101 Portland St, Toronto, ON M5V 2N3

You’ll find a cozy vibe and easygoing crowd at this southern Italian restaurant just off King Street on Portland. Owner Janet Zuccarini is a certified pizzaiola (pizza maker) and her menu features plenty of pasta and pizza dishes, including the usual suspects — margherita, prosciutto e rucola, funghi — all wood-fired on site. The on-site micro-winery cuts the cost of the house wine significantly, while keeping the quality. That means you can pair your ‘za with a glass of red or white wine (on tap!) for just $1 an ounce.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Buca

2
602 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1M6

This acclaimed King West trattoria attracts a trendy well-heeled crowd by serving upcale Italian fare in a uniquely industrial dining room. The menu changes with the seasons but always includes a few bianchi (white) and al pomodoro (red) pizza options. While all options are tasty, it’s the truffle-heavy Tartufo pizzas — namely the Tartufo Bianco and Pomodoro e Tartufo — that get people raving. Best of all, the pizzas arrive tableside with a pair of scissors so you can cut your own slices.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Pizzeria Libretto

3
545 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1M1

With tons of fandom behind them, these thin-crust champions from Ossington Avenue have opened numerous new pizzerias across Toronto, including a location on King Street West. While the original location is compact and tavern-like (and never without a line-up), the King West location of Pizzeria Libretto is modern and sprawling, with large group tables and booth seating. And while there’s no change in the drool-worthiness of the Quattro Staggione or the Margherita, the new location offers one thing the original does not: reservations.

Cibo Wine Bar

4
522 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1L7

This rustic Italian eatery and wine bar is brought to you by the hospitality company behind Spice Route, Rosewater and many other Toronto mainstays. You’ll find a list of over 15 pizzas here with traditional Italian toppings and flavour combinations. Can’t decide what to order? Opt for the quattro stagioni, which features a variety of different toppings divided into four sections.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:

Il Fornello

5
214 King St W, Toronto, ON M5H 3S6

Practically curbside to Roy Thompson Hall, Il Fornello is a casual-meets-upscale Italian eatery in the thick of the Entertainment District hustle. Thin-crust Neapolitan is certainly one of this spot’s specialties, alongside fresh, made-in-house pasta dishes, and antipasti. While the interior is luxe (white tablecloths and architectural lighting), you’ll see diners in everything from formal theatre-wear (they host a lovely theatre prix-fixe menu) to date night jeans and a button-up.

This business is featured in the following Smart Lists:
More from Jessica Emma Napier Jessica Emma Napier
Jessica is a writer, editor and self-professed foodie. She loves exploring the city on two wheels, spends almost all of her disposable income at restaurants and never apologizes for Instagramming her food. After living in Toronto for almost a decade, she traded YYZ for YVR and is now the Vancouver City Editor for YP.
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