26 Best Restaurants in Toronto, Ontario

Celeb chefs Alvin Leung and Eric Chong of Master Chef Canada fame channel their childhood memories to bring an unparalleled 10-course tasting menu that fuses Asian flavors with traditional European techniques, in the most abstract and beautiful manner. Past molecular creations have included a crystalline \"bread\" stick coated in macerated black truffles and a tom yum soup rain drop that bursts with lobster and galangal when popped in your mouth. There are no \"mains\" on the menu, but come hungry and be sure to leave room for a 3-part dessert with finishers like a surreal Chinese porcelain-cream topped donut paired with White Rabbit candy ice cream.

The 10- to 16-course dinners here breathed new life into the concept of the tasting menu for many Torontonians, thanks to a chef who channels refined French cooking techniques into beautifully composed plates. Courses from the ever-changing offerings have included striped bass with chanterelles and baby artichokes, Nova Scotia lobster tail paired with romesco and shishito peppers, and rack of pork offset with bing cherries, Swiss chard, and a dusting of pistachios.

Spearheaded by world-renowned restaurateur Daniel Boulud, Café Boulud occupies the coveted dining room of the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto and presents itself as a serene, airy French brasserie decked out with sage-green banquettes and gilded accents. The café does simple, well-executed classic and contemporary French fare, like mouthwatering rotisserie duck, a signature Frenchie burger, and cocktails like the French 55.

Huge dining-room windows frame breathtaking views of the Toronto Islands and the lake at this restaurant, on the 54th floor of the Toronto Dominion Bank Tower. Dishes like an appetizer of bison tartare with bannock bread and foie gras and entrées like crispy pork jowl roasted with chaga and an aged tournedos paired with truffled celeriac nod to both tradition and trend.  Book a table at the chef's rail for a close-range perspective on the kitchen's artistry.

European bistro meets local forager in five- and seven-course tasting menus that are devoted to classic rustic dishes. Rough-hewn wood walls and burlap bread baskets evoke a farmhouse feel, and the soft lighting adds to the intimate atmosphere.

This low-lit dining room—presided over by murals of Kate Bush and Virginia Woolf—is an east-end cult fave, thanks to its warm service and seasonal small plates. The compact seafood- and vegetable-heavy menu changes constantly, but you might find a seafood crudo or a sourdough slab heaped with seasonal produce alongside deconstructed tributes to childhood desserts.

Bringing people together around the table, this charming two-level eatery is fully accessible and blends rich Palestinian flavors with the freshest seasonal fare from Ontario. The menu draws on centuries-old techniques and a mix of Indigenous, Palestinian, and locally sourced ingredients—think za’atar, scallops, squash, and house-made bread—each plate telling its own story rooted in land, memory, and tradition. The weekend-only brunch is just as noteworthy, with satisfying dishes like labaneh and hummus that are perfect for sharing. Created by Chef Fadi Kattan and Nicole Mankinen the restaurant offers meals that feel like a joyful celebration.

It's hard not to feel a little giddy sitting in the opulent whiskey-barrel-inspired dining room on the 31st floor of the St. Regis. Upward gazes are met with a swirling painted ceiling with floral glass chandeliers to mimic melting ice cubes. The seasonal French-leaning menu has featured stunners like a fruit-speckled scallop ceviche served on ice in a half shell, rough-cut beef tartare accented by a fermented black garlic reduction to be devoured with taro chips, and a showstopping truffle butter, sous-vide whole organic chicken served both roasted and fried. Cocktails are dainty and balanced wizardry with elaborate details like dehydrated Aperol–salted rims and vegan egg white foam.

This Michelin-starred restaurant serves refined European classics with a focus on seafood and vegetables, prepared with painstaking care and designed to delight the palate. Thoughtful staff greet guests inside the intimate space, which exudes old-world charm. The pace is relaxed, and the restaurant’s minimalist kitchen is on full display. Advanced reservations are required for the dining room, where guests enjoy a seasonal tasting menu that can be paired with carefully selected wines. Alternatively, you can dine in the small bar area at the front, which offers an à la carte menu—reservations are also required here. Reservations are released mid-month for the following month.

Over-the-top appetizers, modern sushi rolls, and classic steaks pair perfectly with views from the 38th floor that overlook Toronto's downtown and harbor. Top picks from the menu include an unforgettable, umami-rich whipped truffle parfait, and crispy mushroom brochettes dressed up as a wild, edible forest display. Book a table before sundown on a clear day for a stunning sunset and glowing city by night. 

The most ambitious restaurant to call this part of town home is a warmly modern tasting-menu spot that draws from Mediterranean and Middle Eastern flavors, Canadian ingredients, and fine-dining techniques. Plan for a couple of leisurely hours to experience the menu, which marries dukkah spice, za'atar, and pomegranate with foie mousse, Arctic char, and Iberico ham over a dozen well-considered, painstakingly plated small courses.

A Toronto landmark since 1959, Barberian’s is known for wheeling, dealing—and plenty of eating. It also has a romantic footnote in history: Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton got engaged here (for the first time). One of the city’s oldest steakhouses, it serves classic dishes like Caesar salad and jumbo shrimp cocktail. Mains focus on steak, but the fish of the day and grilled free-range capon are also solid picks.

Old-school service meets modernized Portuguese cuisine at this long-standing spot, where waiters bustle past polished wood furnishings and impasto paintings. The menu is built upon exquisitely prepared seafood, including selections sourced from Portugal and the Azores. But there's much for meat eaters, too—like a signature roasted rack of lamb with Douro wine sauce.

Tucked away on a quiet street in Yorkville, this intimate, Michelin-starred spot delivers a world-class tasting menu experience in the heart of Toronto. Chef Quinton Bennett draws on global influences—from Japan to Scandinavia—to craft seasonal blind menus featuring luxury ingredients like Atlantic halibut, Australian wagyu, and chanterelles. For a slightly more accessible option, a lunch tasting is offered on Fridays and Saturdays. Expect elegant plating, discreet service, and an optional whisky pairing from the adjacent Macallan Lounge. Servings are small, but the inventive flavor pairings make a lasting impression.

As much Greek history museum as palace of gastronomy, here you'll find off-duty bankers, wealthy dowagers, and celebratory diners eating amongst enormous amphoras and ancient statues in alabaster surroundings. When you are ready to order, a server will walk you through the seafood market with fish and rare seafood (like deep-sea Carabineros prawns) flown in from Greece and Europe, all priced by the pound. Your seafood can be grilled, baked, or fried. Traditional green vegetables or oven-baked gigantes are recommended as sides. If it's land that suits your fancy, fresh racks of lamb, goat, rabbit, and AAA steaks hang ready for the fire. To finish, house-made yogurts and traditional Greek cakes are a must-try.

Bucking the trend toward relaxed fine dining, Harbour Sixty's four-floor complex goes for sheer opulence, the drama of which is apparent from the get-go as you walk up stone steps to the grand entrance of the restored Harbour Commission building. The kitchen rises to the occasion with starters like blinis with beluga caviar and mains like Australian wagyu tomahawk steaks and a shareable seafood tower. The fluffy coconut cream pie is a must-eat dessert.

Sensuous paintings of nudes and the sea and signed celebrity photos line the walls at this two-story seafood institution. The kitchen prepares dishes from the Dalmatian side of the Adriatic Sea, and members of the international artistic community who frequent the place adore the unusual and healthy array of seafood and fish. The black risotto with squid, served in a shareable portion size, is a must, as are the grilled prawns with lemon garlic butter.

Chef Nuit Regular, Toronto's powerhouse Thai restauranteur, invites diners to a rare taste of Baan Lao cuisine, a seven-course tasting menu of specialties that have been served over centuries to the Thai royal family (and there's a vegan version as well). Don't expect fiery curries but rather a sophisticated and textural experience of imaginative dishes fit for a regal palate. An à la carte menu is available but most diners opt for the main event. Dishes ramp up from bite-sized flower-shaped dumplings to substantial fusions like five-spice–infused braised beef short ribs, or coconut milk-coated charcoal-grilled sablefish steak topped with carved coconut flowers and basil leaves on a red curry custard puree. The playful cocktail menu features Thai-infused ingredients, and you'll want to try more than one.

An elegant dining room and formal service with silver serving dishes set the scene for upscale Asian food. The 100-dish inventory features excellent dishes like wok-fried shredded beef tenderloin with sundried chili peppers alongside delicacies dotted with truffle and foie gras.

You'd never know this St. Tropez--inspired seafood restaurant and raw bar with indoor garden decor was once an infamous lady bar. Full-fledged beluga caviar and blini experiences, a 45-ounce tomahawk steak served on enormous sharing platters, and extravagant sushi rolls layered with luxuries such as torched Wagyu beef, foie gras, truffles, lobster tempura, and gold flakes make up part of the menu. Champagne girls can be seen parading the fantastical garden interior with sparklers in hand to announce milestones like college graduations and marriage proposals. 

Enjoy classic and modern Catalan tapas at this lively restaurant, where guests are taken on a tasting journey by executive chef Ramon Simarro. Shareable plates make it easy to sample a wide range of dishes from the menu, paired with an extensive selection of Spanish wines and gins—more than 70 in total. Order à la carte to try items like the Iberico ham croquettes or whole fried sea bass, or opt for the 10-course chef’s tasting menu.

Mott 32 is the perfect pairing to its host, the luxurious Shangri-La hotel, and Peking-style duck is king at this highly decorated Cantonese eatery. The sought-after birds are sliced and diced tableside, served with smoked applewood skin that you can dip into brown sugar for a unique experience. Fire-engine red hot-and-sour soup dumplings and decadent wild mushroom lettuce cups make for satisfying starters, while adventurous eaters might go for braised whole fish maw or bird's nest soup. 

Founded in 1984, Nami is one of Toronto’s first authentic Japanese restaurants, continuing to serve fresh sushi sourced both locally and from Japan to a dedicated clientele. The kimono-clad servers and cozy wood booths evoke the charm of an older Kyoto. Along with its regular menu, Nami features daily specials and seasonal promotions, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting to try.

The modern dining room inside the Hazelton Hotel is all rich woods, smoked glass, cowhide, and onyx—and thankfully the food lives up to all the razzle-dazzle. "Lobster spoons" with vermouth butter and miso-glazed black cod share space on a broad, varied menu with fresh pastas and exceptional house-aged steaks sourced from Prince Edward Island and Alberta.

Every dish served is a work of art at this modern French-fusion establishment that offers a portfolio of lunch and dinner tasting menus for culinary thrill-seekers. The seven-course dinner menu offers luxuries like caviar-topped upgrades, dry-aged bison steak, and a wine pairing with presentations from the head sommelier. While the dishes change quarterly, there is a consistent Haitian influence that shows up where least expected.

Swanky dining in a luxurious setting has come to Toronto at this elevated Italian restaurant that makes exclusive use of local ingredients. To really up the ante you can reserve seats at the chef's table, a private dining nook in the kitchen.