Beloved pizza spot in trendy Toronto area rebrands as cocktail bar

A local spot for quality eats has rebranded to keep pace with an iconic Toronto nieghbourhood.

Libretto, often known as Pizzaria Libretto, has several go-to spots scattered throughout Toronto’s urban sprawl.

Now, its flagship Ossington location, which opened nearly 20 years ago in 2008, is pivoting to match the neighbourhood’s prominent nightlife.

Bar Libretto — the first of its kind — is officially opening its doors today (Feb. 20), according to an Instagram post from the team behind it.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by Pizzeria Libretto (@pizzerialibretto)

“After 18 years, we’ve re-imagined the space into a more intimate, bar-forward experience. Still rooted in Neapolitan pizza, now with a tighter food menu, a strong beverage program, and the kind of vibe that reflects what Ossington is today,” read the post.

Promising to keep the vibe that made the original Pizzaria Libretto location so special, Bar Libretto plans to entrench itself in the west end dining scene as “your go-to for after-work drinks, dinners that stretch into that third bottle of wine.”

For bar service, a stacked cocktail menu has been promised, running alongside an airtight selection of rotating brick oven pizzas that astonish with each bite, as well as tailor-made appetizers and desserts.

All running in tandem with a double daily happy hour that kicks off at 4 p.m. and 9 p.m., respectively, it looks like Bar Libretto may end up being the updated classic Ossington Ave has been waiting for.

Bar Libretto opens today at 221 Ossington.