Toronto restaurants to add to your must-try list
4 Minute Read
With Toronto being one of the most culturally diverse cities in the world, it’s no wonder Toronto restaurants have so much to offer. From casual, family-run eateries to elevated fine dining, Ontario’s capital city is a playground for curious foodies.
Many Toronto restaurants have earned prestigious awards for their creativity and culinary innovation, while incorporating ingredients foraged in Canada or imported from around the globe. We’ve curated a short list of Toronto restaurants worthy of consideration for your next sublime dining experience.
Best leisurely dining: Edulis Restaurant
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Where: 169 Niagara St., Toronto
In awarding Edulis the distinguished fourth spot, Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants notes the restaurant’s “inspiration is a bygone era, before haste intruded on the civility of the dining experience.” If you’re looking to relax and put your phone aside (as the menu requests), this restaurant will reward you with a slow, delectable dining experience. Edulis holds a coveted Michelin star and received the Michelin Guide Toronto Service Award in 2022.
With a strong focus on seafood, vegetables, and wild mushrooms, the menu at Edulis unfolds with seasonal ingredients and changes daily. After choosing from a five-course or a seven-course tasting menu, diners can expect culinary delights such as giant Portuguese squid, red banded rockfish, and Chantecler chicken. Be sure to save room for Baba au rhum – a classic French pastry served with Chantilly cream.
Best tasting menus: Alo Restaurant
Where: 163 Spadina Ave., Toronto
Since it first opened a decade ago, Alo has impressed even the toughest of critics. Offering a French tasting menu in its modern, airy dining room, the Spadina restaurant debuted in the top 10 on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list, then claimed the number one spot for four consecutive years (2017-2021). In 2022, Alo was one of only 12 restaurants awarded a star when Michelin came to Toronto.
Now an institution in downtown Toronto, Alo maintains its dominant position on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list with a third ranking in 2025. Atop a heritage Victorian building, Alo offers blind, 10-course tasting menus highlighting seasonal ingredients. Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants notes that chef-owner Patrick Kriss “prefers international luxury to local forage,” with offerings including Petrossian caviar, foie gras and seafood from the Sea of Japan. A six-course menu is also available in the barroom, where it may be easier to secure a booking.
Best views of Toronto: Canoe Restaurant
Where: 66 Wellington St. W., 54th Floor TD Bank Tower, Toronto
From its sleek dining room on the fifty-fourth floor of the TD Bank Tower, Canoe offers a breathtaking view of the Toronto cityscape. With an aim to connect people to place through contemporary Canadian cuisine, the restaurant provides inventive dishes inspired by our country’s diverse terroir. Menu offerings – reflecting the changing rhythm of the seasons – range from Haida Gwaii albacore tuna and wild halibut from British Columbia to duck sourced from Quebec and lobster from the East Coast.
Taking the 50th spot on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list in 2025, it’s noted that Canoe’s “self-described mission of ‘haute Canadiana’ remains as relevant and exciting as ever.” Recognized with a four-star award from the Forbes Travel Guide, Canoe also holds a four-diamond AAA/CAA rating.
Most exclusive dining: Sushi Masaki Saito
Where: 88 Avenue Rd., Toronto
To call Sushi Masaki Saito “exclusive” is somewhat of an understatement. This Toronto restaurant offers two nightly seatings of eight people, making it extremely challenging to land a reservation (Tip: Add your name to the waiting list; you’ll be notified of availability several days in advance).
Often cited as one of the most expensive restaurants in the country, the high price tag comes with good reason: Tokyo-trained chef Masaki Saito is the first two-Michelin-starred chef in Canada. Sushi Masaki Saito also took the 16th spot on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list in 2025, reinforcing it as a top destination for sushi enthusiasts. The restaurant specializes in Edomae-style sushi – using fish sourced directly from Japan – that is reputed to be well worth the three-hour food service and the hefty price.
Honourable mentions:
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Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen: The recipient of the Michelin Guide’s Bib Gourmand designation, which recognizes restaurants that offer quality food at a reasonable price, this Portland Street institution serves up Caribbean classics in a colourful, relaxed setting. Expect a wait, even if you have a reservation; rest assured, the spicy jerk chicken, curries, and bread pudding will be well worth it.
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GEORGE Restaurant: Named one of the “Top 100 Romantic Restaurants in Canada” by OpenTable, this downtown Toronto eatery has also received accolades for its secluded courtyard. Chef Lorenzo Loseto focuses on seasonal, sustainable ingredients – often sourced from the city’s beloved markets.
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Giulietta: Ranked number 96 on Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list in 2025, Giulietta serves up traditional Italian fare made from stand-out ingredients. Incorporating original brick and copper accents, the unique interior, designed by acclaimed architect Guido Costantino, offers a warm, welcoming space.
Win a $500 dining experience
Want to win $500 to dine at a CAA/AAA Diamond-rated restaurant in Ottawa? Enter the contest by December 31, 2025!
