Eataly, the global Italian marketplace, is set to open its third Toronto location at CF Shops at Don Mills today, May 30. This expansion marks Toronto as the only North American city outside of New York to host three Eataly stores, underscoring the city’s deep appreciation for Italian cuisine and culture. The new 10,000-square-foot store follows the recent opening at Sherway Gardens in November 2023 and the flagship store in Yorkville in 2019.

“Toronto has embraced us from the very beginning,” said Tommaso Brusò, CEO of Eataly North America. “With the opening of two stores in less than a year, we are committed to serving new audiences and providing a taste of the authentic Italian lifestyle.”

Eataly Shops at Don Mills promises a curated Italian experience with a neighbourhood feel. True to Eataly’s ethos, it features one restaurant, a retail section with imported and local delicacies and several quick-service counters. Eataly Ristorante, with 180 seats including patio options, offers traditional pasta dishes like Tagliatelle alla Bolognese, authentic Pizza Napoletana and premium seafood and meat dishes such as Bistecca alla Fiorentina. Wine lovers can look forward to a selection of over 85 Italian wines, seasonal cocktails and non-alcoholic options.

The marketplace is stocked with the best of Made in Italy – from extra virgin olive oils to a variety of pre-cut salumi and formaggi. Alongside hundreds of imported Italian goods, shoppers can also find Eataly’s housemade products and offerings from local Canadian producers. For those on the go, several quick-service counters are ready to serve: La Pasticceria offers daily fresh cakes and croissants, Il Gran Caffè serves coffee all day, Pizza alla Pala provides Roman-style pizza and La Salumeria, a new counter at the North York store, focuses on stuffed focaccia and panini like Farcita Cotto and Farcita Salame.

“We specifically chose the site due to its location on the east end. Eataly Shops at Don Mills is meant to serve the local community in the area, so it has a very curated, neighbourhood feel,” said Brusò.

 

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When asked about Eataly’s approach to food trends, Brusò said, “At Eataly, we are not following the trends – we are making the trends. Since we are rooted in Italian cuisine, we are a window into the current trends and culture happening in Italy, which we aim to bring to our Eataly outlets across the globe.”

The new location will also maintain Eataly’s educational mission. “The philosophy behind Eataly is to ‘eat, shop, and learn,’ so education is an important pillar for Eataly Shops at Don Mills. Each touchpoint of the store can be considered an educational tool – from the producers or chefs we bring in for tastings and restaurant activations, to our menus and signage. At this new Eataly location, we look forward to learning more about the needs of our customers and curating educational experiences based on their specific interests.”

To celebrate the opening on May 30 at 1 p.m., the first 60 guests will receive special gifts filled with Italian classics. Throughout the day, there will be complimentary tastings from local and Italian producers, with a DJ playing all afternoon to keep the energy high.

Brusò emphasized how customer feedback has shaped Eataly’s approach in Toronto: “Toronto is a city that has a strong connection to Italian culture and cuisine, so we immediately felt at home when we opened here. Because Torontonians are very educated about food, this pushes us to continue to operate at the highest level when it comes to quality, service and authenticity.”

With its newest location at Shops at Don Mills, Eataly promises another slice of Italy in the heart of the city.