Piano Piano Bloor Marries Homegrown Comfort and Cinematic Glamour
Next to the Paradise Theatre, the restaurant invites diners to slow down and experience comfort as a form of craft
There’s a sense of warmth that hits you the moment you step inside Piano Piano’s new Bloor Street location. Part of it is the attentive, easygoing service. Part of it is the intimate booth seating that invites you to settle in. But much of it comes from the space itself—a richly layered, eclectic yet elegant interior that feels both effortlessly stylish yet understated.
Opened in February 2025, the latest outpost from Victor Barry, Nikki Leigh McKean, and Brendan Piunno continues the Piano Piano tradition of pairing elevated Italian cooking with the comfort of a family gathering. Located right beside the restored Paradise Theatre, the restaurant feels tailor-made for the neighbourhood, complementing the historic Art Deco establishment on the corner lot with a cinematic glamour all its own.
Tucked into one of Piano Piano’s signature booths, guests are met with plush textures and an immediate sense of welcome.
Working with longtime collaborator Ali McQuaid of Futurestudio, the team transformed the two-storey space into something that feels transportive. The design draws inspiration from the theatre’s Deco bones, layering gem-toned upholstery, whimsical animal prints, vintage-style lighting, playful mirrors and original exposed brick. The result is cozy but grand—like stepping into a lavish railcar from a bygone era, destined for someplace fabulous.
Rich jewel tones and low lighting create an intimate, transportive energy—equal parts old-school glam and contemporary charm.
The space is a layered mix of whimsy and elegance, where bold patterns, warm lighting and vintage details set the tone for a soulful meal.
Every element, from the soft glow of a vintage lamp to the layered place settings, reinforces the feeling of dining in someone’s beautifully curated home.
Original artwork by co-owner Nikki Leigh McKean adds a personal, tactile layer to the restaurant’s expressive design language.
That same sense of thoughtful indulgence defines the menu. After beginning his culinary career as an assistant pastry chef at Toronto’s renowned Splendido restaurant and later becoming its owner at just 26, Barry envisioned Piano Piano as a place that felt like dining in his own home—where soulful, satisfying Italian food feeds both body and spirit. (He jokes that the regional inspiration isn’t Tuscany or Puglia, but New Jersey.)
Dishes like the Fritto Misto—a fragrant, crispy mix of calamari, sea bass, shrimp, artichoke, zucchini, parsley and a bright chili garlic aioli—feel instantly recognizable to anyone who grew up in an Italian kitchen, yet they’re executed with a lively precision that elevates them beyond nostalgia. The Sweet Hornet pizza, topped with spicy soppressata, Moroccan black olives, mozzarella, fior di latte and a drizzle of hot honey, strikes a similarly addictive balance of heat and richness.
Paired with a glass of house wine, crafted in collaboration with Tawse Winery, the experience is both unfussy and celebratory—exactly the spirit that Piano Piano captures so well.
Dessert proves another high note. Less traditional but no less satisfying, the dense, decadent carrot cake topped with rum-soaked raisins is an unabashedly luxurious finish—rich, textured and entirely in tune with the restaurant’s layered design sensibility.
Designed for togetherness, the space encourages lingering meals, shared plates, and the kind of laughter that echoes across the table.
Set in the heart of Bloorcourt, this eatery’s bold exterior hints at the richness waiting inside.
At night, the restaurant glows from within—its softly lit tables inviting a slower, more romantic pace.
Beside the iconic Paradise Theatre, Piano Piano feels like a natural extension of the block’s cinematic past—bringing a new kind of drama to the corner.
Although Piano Piano has expanded over the years—with multiple locations and a sister restaurant, Piccolo Piano, now in the mix—the Bloor Street restaurant feels like a particularly pure expression of the brand. Here, food, design and hospitality don’t just coexist: they feed off each other, creating an experience that’s rooted in comfort but elevated by imagination.
Taking its name from the Italian phrase piano piano va lontano—meaning “slowly, slowly we go further”—the restaurant invites diners to slow down, enjoy great food, and move forward together, one beautiful meal at a time.
