There are so many fun things to do in Toronto. From visiting art galleries to ascending the CN Tower. While you’re planning your itinerary, make time to see some of the best restaurants in Toronto. Check out our favourites.
Downtown Toronto
Welcome to the culinary heart of Ontario: Downtown Toronto! Within these bustling streets lies a treasure trove of dining experiences and some of Toronto's best things to do. Check out the sights and visit one of these excellent eateries to relax and refuel.
1. Alo Restaurant
Alo Restaurant opened in 2015 to bring contemporary French cuisine to Downtown Toronto. It’s located on the top floor of a heritage building, providing great views of the city skyline.
Visit the dining room to experience a blind, multi-course tasting menu highlighting the best seasonal ingredients. You can also try a simplified tasting menu in the adjoining Alobar based on the dining room experience.
Every day, the chefs and sommeliers at Alo collaborate to create wine pairings that showcase the flavors of both the food and the wine. Sit back in your comfortable chair, relax, and let the combination of good food and wine take your troubles away.
2. Richmond Station
Every week, the chefs at Richmond Station create a new tasting menu that showcases local, seasonal ingredients from Southern Ontario. Many of the vegetables and herbs come from its own organic, regenerative garden in Creemore.
Richmond Station opened in 2012, right in time for Thanksgiving. It’s been a landmark of the downtown Toronto dining scene ever since. It’s a popular spot for hosting corporate dinners, lunch with friends, or special celebrations.
It's still run by the same passionate team that founded the establishment over a decade ago. The establishment promises an unforgettable dining experience, and that's precisely what you'll get.
3. Terroni Adelaide
Terroni Adelaide is located in a fantastic old stone building that was once the York County Courthouse. Venture inside, perhaps stopping in the Enoteca for cocktails if you’re early for your dinner reservation.
Head into the main dining room with cozy fireplaces, a large sunlit atrium, and an open kitchen. In summer, you can also dine outdoors on the garden patio.
The menu at Terroni Adelaide features some of the best examples of Italian cuisine. Select multiple courses to sample as many culinary delights as possible, but don’t forget to leave room for dessert. We love the hazelnut gelato!
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Queen Street West
Walking along Queen Street West will lead you to international flavors, artisanal cocktails, and indulgent desserts. When it comes to Toronto restaurants, some top choices are right here.
4. Bar Poet
Bar Poet serves up classic pizza and pasta dishes. Put some heat into your evening with the NYC spicy rigatoni, or satisfy your plant-based cravings with a vegan Hot Rod pizza. The real star of the show is the cocktail menu, which features unique creations, such as a peanut butter espresso martini. Yes, we know it sounds odd, but it works!
On weekday afternoons, you can get great deals on drinks, thanks to the daily happy hour, which lasts a full five hours. Takeout is also available.
5. Gusto 101
Gusto 101 opened in 2012 with the mission of serving modern takes on classic Southern Italian dishes.
The building was once an old garage, but now, it’s a lively and popular local restaurant with a trendy rooftop patio. Gusto means tasty in Italian, and we’d say that’s a good description of the dishes on the menu. Drop in for brunch on the weekends to savor the delicious ricotta pancakes or enjoy a pizza for dinner.
Pasta dishes featuring delectable ingredients such as truffle cream sauce and Calabrian chili butter are also on the menu. We highly recommend the hearty cavolo nero salad. Whatever you choose, be sure to save space for the tiramisu.
Kensington Market
Kensington Market is a culinary melting pot. Whether you’re looking for traditional street food, fusion cuisine, or artisanal authenticity, you’ll find it here.
6. Grey Gardens
Sometimes, you stumble across a place that feels like it was made for you, and that's exactly how you'll feel when you walk into Grey Gardens. Inside the welcoming dining room, you’ll find people enjoying wine, slurping oysters, and savoring every last scrap of truffle sauce.
If you're looking for an upscale wine bar to impress a new date, this is it. Ask for the secret sake menu to impress that special someone. Grey Gardens also offers a great range of cider, and it has an extensive wine cellar.
As soon as you open the menu, your taste buds will start to tingle. The chef puts care into every dish to ensure all guests have the best possible experience.
7. Rasta Pasta
Rasta Pasta is one of the friendliest restaurants in the city. It serves up delicious Jamaican and Italian flavors. Try the famous grilled paninis stuffed with marinated jerk chicken and crunchy salad.
Prepared according to a traditional recipe, all Rasta Pasta chicken is marinated for two days to let the flavors really soak in. Try the Irie Fettucini to experience an intense fusion of flavors. This down-to-earth eatery is a local treasure, and it’s not hard to see why.
8. Seven Lives
Who loves tacos? Our cast certainly does, and who can blame them after all the training they do? Seven Lives is the best place to get Baja-style tacos in Kensington Market. The fish is fresh, perfectly seasoned, and combined with crisp lettuce or cabbage for a satisfying crunch.
The restaurant was founded in 2012 and has become a firm favorite of the historic market site over the years. Take a break from browsing to treat yourself to a taco-licious lunch.
Distillery District
The Distillery District has a fascinating history. Take a tour, browse the boutiques, or check out the independent galleries hidden in the back streets. Once you’ve worked up an appetite, visit these top restaurants to treat your taste buds to a new experience.
9. El Catrin Destileria
El Catrin Destileria serves up a blend of modern and traditional Mexican cuisine. Order a selection of botanas (small bites) to sample all the flavors of Mexico, and follow up with churros or tres leches cake to get your sweet fix.
The restaurant boasts the largest tequila and mezcal collection in Ontario. Cancel tomorrow’s plans and stay up late on the patio, enjoying the summer night air.
10. Pure Spirits
The Distillery District has supplied the world with spirits for over 100 years, even during Prohibition. Today, Pure Spirits continues the tradition of helping people have good times by serving delicious drinks and fabulous food. Seafood is a specialty, with oysters and fresh fish arriving daily to meet the demands of discerning diners.
Serving staff are eager to help you pick a winning combination of drinks and dishes from the menu. Ask for recommendations, and settle in for an excellent meal at one of Toronto’s best restaurants.
Yorkville
Head to Yorkville to find some of the best fancy restaurants in Toronto.
11. Sassafraz
Sassafraz restaurant is located in a quiet spot between a row of Victorian houses, providing a haven for those looking for a fine meal. Chef Geoff Webb serves contemporary Canadian cuisine created using seasonal ingredients from local markets and farms. Snag a seat on the patio for a romantic alfresco meal.
If you’re not in the mood for the formal atmosphere of the main dining room, try S-Cafe. With SoHo-inspired decor, it’s the perfect place for a casual lunch or even a cappuccino or glass of wine. Bring your friends, and chill out in style.
Chinatown
Chinatown is a colorful and beautiful part of Toronto, with murals brightening up buildings and dragon sculptures adorning Dundas Street. While checking out this exciting neighborhood, sample some authentic Chinese cuisine.
12. Mother's Dumplings
Zhen and Richard founded Mother’s Dumplings in 2005 out of a desire to serve the recipes Zhen's mother used to make in northeastern China. The restaurant has been named the best Chinese restaurant in Toronto multiple times and is listed in the Michelin Guide.
Quality and authenticity are the name of the game at Mother’s Dumplings. The food is made without artificial additives, such as MSG or colorings. All the flavor comes from premium-quality meat, fresh vegetables, and traditional spices. It's our go-to restaurant when we're craving authentic Chinese cuisine.
Little Italy
When you crave pasta or pizza, head to Little Italy! Just walking down the street and smelling the aromas wafting from the restaurants will make you hungry. It’s not just traditional Italian fare offered here, either. You can find contemporary cuisine from all over Europe.
13. Bar Isabel
Bar Isabel offers contemporary Spanish dishes made using a blend of fresh local ingredients and specialty imports from Europe. This restaurant offers all the best flavors of Spain, from white asparagus to the finest chorizo.
The chef recommends ordering between two and four small plates per person, but you can always opt for the tasting menu if you can't decide. This carefully curated menu includes classic Bar Isabel dishes and the best seasonal highlights.
The Annex
Are you searching for family activities in Toronto? The Annex is a great place to start. Here, you can find various attractions, including the Gardiner Museum and the imposing Casa Loma. It’s also home to some of the best restaurants in Toronto.
14. Fat Pasha
The food at Fat Pasha is fresh, colorful, and delicious. Enjoy a combination of specialties from the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Israel. It’s a vegetarian’s paradise, with chickpeas, hummus, and falafel abounding on the menu.
We love the roast garlic chili dressing on crushed potatoes. It’ll make your eyes light up, just like watching one of our shows. Sit indoors or outdoors. Either way, you’ll enjoy a warm welcome from the tight-knit team. The chef takes personal care of every dish, ensuring you enjoy the best dining experience Little Italy offers.
St. Lawrence Market
St. Lawrence Market is a foodie’s paradise! Stroll the stalls at the farmers market to find fresh ingredients, or visit restaurants serving the best cuisine from around the world.
15. C'est What?
C’est What? was founded in 1988 as Toronto’s first craft beer and wine bar. Since then, it’s served more than 3 million pints. Today, you can also get a great meal here, made from 100% market-fresh ingredients.
The menu is full of simple fare, including bar snacks, poutine, hand-held treats, and fries. Fill up on hearty bison burgers or beer-battered fish and chips. Oh, and did we mention the hazelnut brownie on the dessert menu? It might put you into a sugar coma, but it’s worth it.
Savoring Toronto's Culinary Excellence: A Recap
You’ve teased your taste buds with the best of Toronto’s culinary scene. Now it’s time to excite the rest of your senses!
Each of our shows in Toronto is a visual and auditory masterpiece. We blend acrobatics, music, dance, and storytelling to create an unforgettable experience that will leave you breathless and on the edge of your seat.
We’ll satisfy your hunger for spectacle and leave you full of awe.