AD Group isn’t just one of Toronto's Italian restaurants, or a showroom, or one of the most aesthetic cafés in the city — though it is all of those things. It’s more like a beautifully designed multi-sensory experience, quietly found on Davenport Road, off the main Ossington thoroughfare.
At the centre of it all is 1147 Ristorante, a four-table ristorante that recently opened. It’s so intimate it almost feels private. The chef’s table — helmed by the gifted chef Flavio Catania — offers a seasonally driven Italian menu, woven with personal anecdotes from his days honing his skills in Southern Italy. It's all paired with incredible Italian wine curated from world-class cellars. It’s open to the public, with lunch service Wednesday to Sunday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m., and dinner service Thursday to Sunday from 7 p.m. to midnight.
The real magic kicks in if you join their Wine Club, a 16-member circle with access to rare bottles, private dinners and tastings that feel more like storytelling salons than stuffy wine events.
Open Monday to Wednesday, by day, the AD Café serves perfect espresso, flaky pastries and fresh breakfast and lunches. By night, it flips into a moody crudo bar serving seasonal raw bites, late-night martinis and champagne.
Beyond food and drink, there’s Archi Disegno, a design studio that doubles as a retail showroom for interior design consultation, Italian product sourcing and private events. Here, objects aren’t just for sale — they’re part of a narrative expressing the stunning ateliers of Milan. In addition, upstairs, the AD Residences offer short-stay bespoke suites (by invitation or Wine Club membership only), each uniquely designed around four Italian cities.
AD Group calls it “hospitality as a form of design.” I call it one of the most special, immersive places I’ve experienced in Toronto. Each touchpoint, from the espresso service to the architectural layout, reflects a belief that beauty and intention belong in everyday life.
