Things to do in Toronto

Fancy Restaurants in Toronto

Fancy restaurants in Toronto showcase the best of Canadian cuisine. These upscale establishments offer the best fine dining in the city.

There's plenty of things to do in Toronto. You can visit world-class museums and iconic landmarks, such as the CN Tower, or soak in the street art in Kensington Market. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, it’s time to check out the fancy restaurants in Toronto for a dining experience you'll never forget.

Join us on a tour of fine dining restaurants in Toronto to get your mouth watering and your fingers itching to book a table right away.

Yorkville

Let Yorkville be your gateway into the world of fine dining. This neighborhood boasts some of the fanciest restaurants in Toronto, from French bistros to the most romantic dining venues.

1. STK Steakhouse

STK Steakhouse is ideal for carnivores looking for a fancy Toronto restaurant. In addition to prime cuts of beef, it offers an impressive array of seafood dishes.

Savor the maple-rubbed salmon, twizzle your fork in the lobster linguine, or share a shellfish platter with your special someone. Whatever you order, don’t forget to add a side of the house’s signature truffle butter, which melts in your mouth for an explosion of flavor.

After the main course, dessert options include raspberry coulis cheesecake, chocolate cake, and warm chocolate chip cookies with ice cream. We can’t pick a favorite, so we recommend you try them all.

Photographer: CA Creative

2. Aburi Hana

Aburi Hana serves up fresh, seasonal, Japanese-inspired food. The menu changes regularly, but on it, you can expect to find meals crafted from local produce with delightful flavors whenever you visit.

Chef Ryusuke Nakagawa is a big fan of fire — and so are we, as you can tell from some of our shows — and he uses flame-searing in many of his signature dishes. This method imparts smoky, umami depth.

Book your table online or reserve a private dining room for up to six people. The establishment recommends allowing 2-2.5 hours for the entire dining experience.

3. Buca

Buca in Yorkville specializes in pasta, pizza, and seafood dishes. Try the house-made salumi di mare and fresh branzino. Then, move on to fresh fish from Nova Scotia or British Columbia, dry-cured and smoked. Accompany your seafood with handmade pasta, fresh herbs, and seasonal vegetables.

Every dish at Buca is a work of art. Admire the coils of octopus before you dive in. It’s Italian-inspired cuisine at its finest. Reserve a table online to experience a taste of Italian tradition combined with fresh Canadian seafood and produce.

4. Sofia Yorkville

Sofia Yorkville is one of the best Italian fancy restaurants in Toronto, Canada, and every Thursday, your meal will be accompanied by live music. Works by internationally renowned artists adorn the walls; all pieces are for sale. Look and see if there’s anything you want to take home as a souvenir.

The menu features only the highest-quality ingredients combined into traditional Italian dishes, some with a modern twist. Share a seafood selection with up to three friends, or tuck into a hearty pasta dish. Don’t forget to order a cocktail from Master Mixologist Nishan Chandra.

Etobicoke

Etobicoke, on the western outskirts of Toronto, has everything from quaint cafés to family-run diners serving hearty comfort food. If you’re looking for date ideas in Toronto, why not explore the parks along the Humber River before dinner at one of the city’s most romantic restaurants?

5. Via Allegro Ristorante

Via Allegro Ristorante offers an eclectic blend of Italian cuisine and contemporary continental charm.

Executive Chef Marco Zandona serves up handcrafted pizzas, prime tenderloin steaks, and creamy risotto dishes to delight your senses. Try the vintage menu for a true taste of traditional Italian fine cuisine. It features rabbit pappardelle and a variety of fresh seafood sourced from the market that day.

The wine collection spans more than 70,000 bottles, so the perfect companion is always close at hand. Relax in the scotch bar after your meal to experience the venue's impressive collection of scotch malts.

6. The Keg

The Keg on Dixon Road provides a premier fine-dining Toronto experience. The first Keg restaurant opened in 1971 with a simple mission: to combine good food with good times. Since then, the brand has expanded, with more than 100 locations across North America.

The Keg takes steak seriously, seasoning every cut with signature spices. Choose from prime rib, sirloin, filet, striploin, or rib steak. Add extras to your meal, such as jumbo shrimp, lobster tail, garlic mashed potatoes, or Keg fries. The menu even has a few options for vegetarians and vegans.

Round off your meal with a whiskey sour, gin and tonic, or mezcal. The cocktail menu includes some nonalcoholic options and plenty of beers on tap.

7. ViBo

ViBo restaurant is open every day except Monday. Its menu features seafood and a range of meats, including veal, rabbit, and calf’s liver. Vegetarians may want to turn to the pasta menu, which features mouthwatering plant-based meals, such as gnocchi in a rich tomato-basil sauce.

This spot also serves delectable desserts, including Italian gelato, decadent chocolate molten cake, and sticky toffee pudding. Don’t forget to sample ViBo’s homemade biscotti. Need a venue to celebrate special occasions in style? ViBo has a private room available for hire with contemporary decor and a working fireplace.

Photographer: Nathalie Klippert

8. Sushi Kaji

Sushi Kaji goes to great lengths to source only the freshest fish and the best condiments and garnishes from Japan. Chef Mitsuhiro Kaji has been crafting sushi since his early teens and studied under renowned master chefs in Japan.

He opened Sushi Kaji in 2000, devoting himself to bringing authentic Japanese food to Toronto. We appreciate artists who are masters of their craft, and Mitsuhiro Kaji is as much of a performer as any member of our cast.

Sample the results of his flair for food by reserving a table. The restaurant doesn't have a menu, but you'll surely enjoy the selection of sushi, appetizers, and desserts, which will take you on a journey through Japanese cuisine.

Scarborough

In Scarborough, there are many ways to work up an appetite. Explore the Scarborough Bluffs, browse the local markets, and head to one of the best restaurants in Toronto for a satisfying meal.

9. Fishman Lobster Clubhouse

Visit Fishman Lobster Clubhouse to enjoy Chinese-style cuisine with a strong focus on seafood. Dine on Vancouver crab and lobster, which you can choose fresh from the tanks.

You can also specify whether you want them deep-fried, steamed, or baked with supreme soup. The restaurant has offered the freshest and best Asian-style seafood dishes in Toronto for 15 years.

10. Scaramouche

Dine in style at Scaramouche restaurant, which offers some of the best skyline views from its location in Midtown Toronto. There’s no firm closing time, so you can enjoy your meal at your own pace. However, meals cannot be ordered after 9:30 p.m. on weekdays or 10 p.m. on Saturdays.

Try the foie gras terrine first and then the Ontario lamb saddle with Parmesan fries on the side. Or maybe nibbling on warm olives marinated in citrus zest, coriander, and cumin before devouring a delicious butter-poached lobster on a bed of saffron risotto is more your style.

Whatever you choose, the flavors of the seasonal, local ingredients are sure to shine through!

11. Nest Restaurant

Nest Restaurant offers upscale farm-to-table dining. Chef Brian MacAskill is committed to using locally sourced ingredients to craft beautiful meals. The menu is small by design, featuring carefully curated dishes showcasing the best Canadian cuisine. Many would say the desserts are the star of the show, and we’d be inclined to agree.

The crumble of Ontario-harvested apples reminds us why we love this region and feel lucky to perform here. Nest Restaurant is a place where everyone can feel at home, nourished by tasty, hand-crafted dishes.

12. The Lake Grill

The Lake Grill is located on Brock Street in Whitby and offers an exclusive upscale dining experience. The establishment is owned by Chef Mendoza, who has been passionate about food and cooking since childhood.

Watch him work thanks to an open kitchen, where flames from the grill to sear your steak to perfection. Seafood features heavily on the menu, and pasta dishes are also available. Tables book up quickly, so book your reservations early.

The Annex

The Annex has a unique charm and an extra-special culinary scene. Renowned for its Bohemian spirit, this historic neighborhood is home to some of the best fine dining in Toronto.

13. Opus Restaurant

Chef Jason Cox has been the culinary genius behind Opus Restaurant for almost two decades. The menu combines Asian, French, and Mediterranean food with strong Canadian undertones.

Fresh oysters, seared foie gras, and macarons are all served to tempt your taste buds. The carefully curated wine list offers pairings that complement every delicious dish.

Book the private dining room to host a party of up to 22 people. Or spend a summer evening sipping cocktails in the beautiful courtyard under the maple tree. The bar remains open until 2 a.m., so you can relax after your meal.

Photographer: Melanie Kreutz

14. Ristorante Sotto Sotto

Ristorante Sotto Sotto recently celebrated its 30th birthday. As devoted storytellers, we were delighted to hear how owner Marisa Rocca founded the restaurant while she was still new to Toronto. Her goal is to bring rustic Italian cuisine to the venue's guests.

The establishment strives to maintain an upscale atmosphere, so leave the workout clothes at home and dress to impress. It’s the ideal place to celebrate special occasions or to bring a certain someone for a romantic meal.

Get ready to enjoy multiple courses, each prepared with exquisite care. We love the light and delicate flavors of the sorbetto to round off the meal.

15. Joso’s

Joso’s restaurant aims to take guests on an exhilarating journey to the Dalmatian coast. It started as a coffeehouse in 1967 and now offers one of Toronto's most unique dining experiences. The dining room is filled with sculptures of the female body, trinkets, and ocean motifs.

On the menu, you’ll find an extensive range of fish species from around the world, all expertly prepared. Book your table today to discover all the best delicacies the ocean offers.

16. Blu Ristorante

If you visit Blu Ristorante on a Sunday evening, your supper will be serenaded by singer and pianist John Campbell. On any night of the week, you can enjoy authentic Italian cuisine created by top Chefs Eric Bucher and Pradhan Jan.

An outdoor patio makes the dining experience even more special. It’s heated and covered so that you can relax until late evening. Blu Ristorante is about bringing people together, whether for a romantic date or good times with friends.

Elevating Culinary Experiences: The Allure of Toronto's High-End Dining Scene

Toronto’s fancy restaurants offer an array of fine dining experiences, from scrumptious steak to small plates that are perfect for sharing. Once you’ve dined, why not make a night of it?

Attend one of our shows in Toronto and treat yourself to an evening of awe-inspiring entertainment. Like a chef combining flavors from around the world, we combine stories, circus skills, music, and visuals to create an exciting and emotionally moving performance.

Have we whet your appetite? Book your tickets today and join us for a feast for your senses.

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