-
$$$ | Little Italy |
Inside a breathtaking room swathed in undulating waves of wood, you'll find Bar Raval, a tapas restaurant known for some marvelous food and drink. Stop by during the day and order a couple pintxos (a single-serving snack served on a skewer), feast on tins of smoked seafood and heartier tapas for a full meal, or stop in late for a nightcap.
505 College St., Toronto, Ontario, M6G 1A4, Canada
Known For
- Popular covered patio
- Standing-only tables (plus a couple stools)
- Varied drinks list with sherry, vermouth, cocktails, and "weird wine"
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No reservations.
-
$$$ | Entertainment District |
With its refreshing roster of Italian classics, stylish Buca was a pioneer on this stretch of King Street, and its influence continues today. Tucked into an alley just off the main drag, the repurposed boiler room has exposed brick walls, metal columns, and wooden tables that reflect the philosophy behind the menu. Start with a selection of cheeses and cured meats and perhaps an order of nodini, warm bread knots seasoned with rosemary and sea salt.
604 King St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1K7, Canada
Known For
- Consistently voted one of the best Italian restaurants in Toronto
- Wines meticulously chosen from Italian vintners
- Trendy decor
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No lunch
-
$$$ | Distillery District |
With a 5,000-square-foot, year-round patio and stunning floor-to-ceiling murals, El Catrin is the hottest place in the Distillery District. Delicious eats include traditional tacos al pastor with shaved pork and pineapple salsa, ceviche, 24-hour-braised short rib in mole sauce, and guacamole prepared table-side. Finish the evening on a sugar high with churros rolled in sugar served with a trio of chocolate, strawberry, and dulce de leche dipping sauces.
18 Tank House La., Toronto, Ontario, M5A 3C4, Canada
Known For
- Adventurous diners can sample flash-fried crickets
- More than 100 types of mescal and tequila available
- Huge patio open year-round
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
-
$$$ | Queen West |
Known as one of the city's tried-and-true French bistros, this brightly decorated spot lives up to expectations with a menu full of excellent standards, including steak frites, rare venison chop, and mussels in white wine. The long bar at the front of the restaurant is a great spot for drinks or solo dining.
492 Queen St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L9, Canada
Known For
- Short but well-curated wine list
- Three-course prix-fixe dinner
- Great brunch
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: No dinner weekends. Closed Tues.
-
$$$ | Entertainment District |
Duck out of a double-feature at the TIFF Bell Lightbox to grab a meal at Luma, a mini-oasis on the second floor of the bustling glass-paneled film venue. Even if you're not going to a film, it's a great restaurant, complete with a patio overlooking the lively Entertainment District and the CN Tower. Start with a whole charcoal-grilled branzino and finish things off with a gooey apple confit soaked in crème anglaise.
330 King St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3X5, Canada
Known For
- Great spot for people-watching
- Globally inspired menu
- Fresh seafood dishes
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
-
Recommended Fodor’s Video
-
-
$$$ | Ossington |
The Asian-Jamaican mishmash you see at hip Dundas West joint Patois is unlike any other in town. The spot is fueled by dishes from chef Craig Wong's Jamaican-Chinese upbringing, with plenty of tropical cocktails to wash it all down.
794 Dundas St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1V1, Canada
Known For
- Family-style "feasts" that let you try the whole menu
- Colorful cocktails like rum punch
- Tuesday and Wednesday "patty hours" with free Jamaican patties
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$$$ | The Annex |
On a quiet stretch of Harbord lies this low-lit modern trattoria, popular with couples and families alike. The menu spans from antipasti and fresh pastas (the mushroom cavatelli and giant ravioli are crowd-pleasers) to excellent blistered-crust pizzas and picturesque desserts—but whatever you order is bound to be great.
88 Harbord St., Toronto, Ontario, M5S 1G5, Canada
Known For
- Delicious updated Italian classics
- Striking rose-patterned wallpaper and front mural
- Sister snack bar (Piccolo Piano) located across the street
-
$$$ | Kensington Market |
The thin-crust pies at this airy family-run pizzeria are authentically Neapolitan and consistently earn top marks on local (and even global) critics' lists thanks to their fresh ingredients and use of traditional methods. Pasta mains (with gluten-free options) like a fiery Naples-style rigatoni and seafood linguini may take second place but are certainly worth a look.
188 Augusta Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M5T 2L6, Canada
Known For
- Extensive antipasti (traditional Italian appetizer) list
- Sidewalk patio
- The ciambella ripiena, a ricotta and hot soppressata--stuffed crust pie
-
$$$ | Harbourfront |
Making the most of its proximity to Sugar Beach, Against the Grain is a sunbathing destination minutes from downtown, with a stellar patio in full sunny view of the lake. Shareable apps like nachos and wings, plus a great craft beer selection, capitalize on the laid-back vibe. Sink your teeth into comfort food mains like the jerk chicken, house-made veggie burger, or the steak frites and Caesar.
25 Dockside Dr., Toronto, Ontario, M5A 1B6, Canada
Known For
- Great water views
- Popularity with the after-work crowd
- Diverse comfort food menu
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Reservations essential
-
$$$ | Chinatown |
Like the art gallery in which it's located, this bistro was designed by starchitect Frank Gehry, whose touches are seen in the minimalist decor and geometric ceilings. The dishes themselves, like the Basque-style eggs with chorizo, or grilled cornish hen with dandelion greens on coconut curry, are plated as works of art.
317 Dundas St. W, Toronto, Ontario, M5T 1G4, Canada
Known For
- Prix-fixe meals inspired by gallery exhibits
- French meets western Canadian dishes
- Handcrafted cocktails
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
-
$$$ | Danforth |
Slide into a well-worn wood booth or sit at a checkered table at this low-key steak house, complete with oak bar and pressed-tin ceiling. The steaks and Guinness-braised lamb shanks get rave reviews, but the hamburgers, ground in-house, might be Allen's secret weapon.
143 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario, M4K 1N2, Canada
Known For
- Willow-shaded patio in summer
- 300-plus types of whiskey
- Decadent desserts
-
$$$ | Danforth |
This local mini-chain is faithful to the central Texas style of barbecue, producing all manner of meats—brisket, sausages, turkey, and even halal chickens—from a 7,000-pound smoker. The protein is obviously the main attraction, but sides like mac and cheese and sweets like banana pudding have their share of fans.
429 Danforth Ave., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Known For
- No-frills dining room
- Tender brisket
- Burnt ends (that always sell out early)
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues.
-
$$$ | Old Town |
Bindia serves delicious North Indian fare that will make your taste buds sing the moment you taste juicy meat and freshly baked naan cooked in its tandoor oven. This neighborhood staple is conveniently located in the heart of the St. Lawrence Market, offering casual, warm, and friendly service. Choose to sit in its modern dining room or, during the warmer months, get a table on its patio to people-watch and take in the sights and sounds of the local community.
15 Market St., Toronto, Ontario, M5E 1M6, Canada
Known For
- Friday night community jazz performances
- Nouveau North Indian cuisine
- Juicy tandoori jumbo prawns
-
$$$ | Financial District |
The Toronto flagship of a Vancouver-based casual fine dining chain, this massive, modern Financial District spot is one of the district's trendiest dining destinations. Stellar dishes include butternut ravioli topped with sage, prawns, and truffle butter, and the "millionaire's cut"—a filet mignon with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus.
77 Adelaide St. W, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Known For
- Year-round patio
- Hip interior
- Fun appetizers to share
-
$$$ | Entertainment District |
Transport yourself to an Old World, intimate Spanish wine cave while dining on highly creative tapas dishes. While the menu is frequently changing—like any tapas bar worth its salt—one can expect the flair of French choux a la crème filled with a salmon-like uni mousse; a scallop ceviche layered with green honeydew, topped with a floral crown; and mainstays like acorn-fed Iberico ham imported from Spain.
75 Portland St., Toronto, Ontario, M5V 2M9, Canada
Known For
- Late-night dining
- Elegant and inventive cocktails
- Locally foraged ingredients
-
-
$$$ | Church–Wellesley |
On the ground floor of the renovated Anndore House hotel, this sprawling spot's open kitchen turns out varied fare like Middle Eastern mezes, pastas, and gorgeously plated desserts. Grilled meats are great here---especially the lamb burger---but vegetarian options abound.
15 Charles St. E, Toronto, Ontario, M4Y 1S1, Canada
Known For
- Buzzy, loungelike atmosphere
- Grilled Mediterranean specialties
- Daily afternoon happy hour specials
-
$$$ | Leslieville |
Toronto has its fair share of delicate, thin-crust Neapolitan pizzas, but this is where the locals go to indulge their carb cravings with thick Detroit-style pies cooked in rectangular pans. Go simple with the classic pepperoni, or try an international twist with the Jaffna (a twist on Sri Lankan kothu roti) or a jerk chicken version with pineapple. The pizzas might seem small for the price, but don't let your eyes fool you: they're ridiculously dense.
1168 Queen St. E, Toronto, Ontario, M4M 1L4, Canada
Known For
- Hip industrial setting
- Unusual local beers
- Long waits at peak times
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon.
-
$$$ | North York |
Much like the Aga Khan Museum, Diwan is an architectural wonder that incorporates walls, ceilings, and hanging lamps salvaged from a 19th-century Damascus merchant's home. The menu reflects the museum's mission by incorporating Middle Eastern, Indian, and Persian cuisine, with seasonal meat, seafood, and vegetarian dishes. The use of top-notch (and local when possible) ingredients is paramount to executive chef Mark McEwan's mandate.
77 Wynford Dr., Toronto, Ontario, M3C 1K1, Canada
Known For
- Impressive dishes like sweet onion bhaji fritters and kale coconut sambol
- Eye-popping mix of a modern building and antique details
- Crisp service
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Mon. and Tues. No dinner Sun., Wed., and Thurs.
-
$$$ | Harbourfront |
By day, e11even presents steak-house fare for the downtown business crowd; by night, concertgoers and sports fans slide into wooden booths for a refined meal or nightcap. The menu of North American classics includes savory-sweet maple-glazed bacon, salads flanked with seared tuna, filet mignon, and casual fare like burgers and kosher beef dogs. The wine list is also impressive.
15 York St., Toronto, Ontario, M5J 2Z2, Canada
Known For
- 3,200-bottle-long wine list
- Refined atmosphere
- The steak, of course
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Closed Sun. No lunch Sat.
-
$$$ | Yorkville |
Eataly's wonderland of fresh Italian groceries can also be enjoyed on-site in seven different restaurants, bars, counters, and cafés. There's the Trattoria Milano for northern Italian dishes and aperitivo, La Piazza for shareable plates like salumi and cheese, La Pizza & La Pasta (pretty self-explanatory), Birroteca for fresh beer in partnership with Indie Alehouse, multiple big patios to sip drinks like Aperol spritzes and wines, plus multiple cafés for pastries, sandwiches, pizzas, chocolates, and gelatos.
55 Bloor St., Toronto, Ontario, M4W 1A6, Canada
Known For
- Fresh pasta and pizza made on-site
- Extensive Italian wine and cocktail list
- Multiple options, from small cafés to sit-down eateries
Restaurant Details
Rate Includes: Hours vary, check website
