Bar Ardo

What is Bar Ardo? Occupying a character-rich heritage storefront at 169 King Street East near Jarvis, Bar Ardo is the lively Sicilian restobar and cocktail lounge from Roberto Marotta and Jacqueline Nicosia, the duo behind Ardo and Dova. Inside, exposed red brick, warm lighting, and sleek Italian design accents establish an energetic yet unpretentious tone for late afternoons and dim evenings. Seating flows between a bustling marble cocktail bar ideal for solo diners and date-nighters, intimate dining tables, and banquettes built for sharing plates.

Bar Ardo Menu & What to Order Chef Marotta's menu leans heavily into coastal Sicilian tradition, regional street fare, and sun-soaked Mediterranean plates designed to share. Essential starters include crisp chickpea panelle and the Borbonica—a golden sourdough pizza fritta crowned with mortadella DOP, burrata, pistachios, and shaved black truffle. For pasta, order the Sua Maestà rigatoni smothered in slow-cooked brasato sugo and Sicilian pecorino, or the wild-shrimp linguine finished with butter, lemon thyme, and cured tuna bottarga. Pair your dinner with Nicosia’s house-crafted aperitivi, natural Sicilian wines, or citrus-forward zero-proof cocktails.

Know Before You Go Reservations are strongly recommended for prime dinner hours, though the long front bar reliably accommodates walk-ins stopping in for early evening aperitivo drinks and spuntini. The room reaches peak energy from Thursday through Saturday nights when DJ sets accompany late-night dining. The restaurant sits right along the 504 King streetcar line, with several Green P parking lots situated within a few blocks along King East.