1031 Best Restaurants in Canada

Voted Canada's best restaurant in 2023 and 2024 by the prestigious "Canada's 100 Best," Mon Lapin has gone from being a compact wine bar to a full-fledged 70-seater restaurant with a daily-changing menu of small plates emphasizing local, seasonal ingredients and playful flavor combinations that make the mouth sing. Depending on the day and the season, the minimalist menu might feature chicken brined in sourdough; croque-pétoncle; white asparagus atop razor clams with elderflower; barbecued whelks; or Nanaimo bars with chestnuts and amaro. But it's not just about the great food. The sommeliers here really know their low-intervention wines and which to pair with each dish. As for design, it's sophisticated bistro: mosaic tile floors, burnished brass bar, and local art adorning the walls. “It’s not fine dining, it’s fun dining!” say the staff, who work more as a team rather than a regimented kitchen hierarchy. 

Part of the Canadian Rocky Mountain Resorts collection, the dining room at Emerald Lake Lodge is famed for its Rocky Mountain cuisine, with roots that go back to the hearty meals prepared by the mountain guides and the fine dining served in the early CPR (Canadian Pacific Railway) rail cars. The seasonal menu features selections like free-range elk strip loin served with a bean, bacon, and vegetable cassoulet or Pacific halibut for dinner, as well as delicious vegetarian options. The resort sources sustainable seafood, and its game meat comes from its own ranch near Calgary. The hearty breakfast buffet runs from 6:30 to 10:30 am. There's an excellent selection of British Columbia and international wines, a good cocktail selection, popular beers and spirits from around the world, and the Scotch lover won't be disappointed with the single-malts. Seating options included window-side with impressive views of the lake, on the porch, or next to the massive stone fireplace.

Established in 1958, New Glasgow Lobster Suppers brings fresh lobster direct from a pound on the premises to your plate. Scallops, roast beef, salmon, chicken, haddock, ham, and even a vegetarian dish are other choices if you've already had your fill of crustaceans, or you can choose to have just an appetizer and dessert. All come with fresh rolls, steamed mussels, seafood chowder, salads, house-made desserts, and beverages. Bar service is available, as is a separate children's menu. The huge, bustling dining area can seat up to 500 guests, and it often fills up. Because turnover is fast, there isn't usually a long wait.

With a focus on the freshest local seafood, Nichole serves up decadent lobster dip, lobster rolls, and haddock wraps right out of the historic Cape Forchu lighthouse—you can't ask for a better view for your lunch or early dinner (they close at 6 pm). 

A former gentlemen's club that has evolved into an upscale, tapas-style bistro, this restaurant turns shared dining (think generous small plates) into a deliciously classy experience. Roasted cauliflower, orange-braised fennel, and buttermilk fried chicken with spiced maple syrup come alongside oven-fired pizzas with toppings such as zucchini, mint lemon, and cashew béchamel. Save room for a dessert finale, especially if it's espresso cake. Large, full-plate options are available. But why choose one dish when multiple flavors await? Besides, this is David Hawksworth's second restaurant, and that endorsement alone puts it in the winner's circle.

Specializing in Neapolitan-style pizza and antipasti, this stylish pizzeria has been on everyone's lips ever since it opened (thanks to crowdfunding). Its beast of an oven weighs 2.5 tons and was imported straight from Italy—and it's worth it: the thin-crust pizzas are cooked in just 90 seconds at 900 degrees. Expect sides of flavorful salads, creamy burrata, charcuterie, and cheeses. Also note the excellent cocktail list. If you prefer to eat in the St-Jean-Baptiste neighborhood, Nina recently opened a second location there.

Here you'll find house-made pasta, antipasto, and out-of-the-ordinary wood-fired pizzas with out-of-the-ordinary toppings such as burrata with prosciutto apple. Reservations aren't available. Instead you'll be asked to write your name in chalk on a blackboard. But the food is worth the wait. There are lots of gluten-free options, a good selection of craft beers, and a reasonable wine list. You'll also find Nook in Olympic Village, Kitsilano, and at North Vancouver's Shipyards.

This easygoing diner does a bustling lunch service in large part due to the personality and creativity of its owner, locally known as an innovative and improvisational chef. Enjoy casual fare with surprising ingredients in a space decorated with an eclectic mix of family photos, bottled preserves, and tabletops repurposed from old furniture and signage. Vegan, gluten-free, and meat-based options are available in generous portions.

The high quality of the food and drink here, combined with the remoteness and spectacular view, make a meal at the Norseman one you remember. Expect traditional seafood, with a smart and extensive menu of craft beer, wine, and spirits. Paintings, jewelry, carvings, and children's books are on display and for sale. In July and August, enjoy live traditional music on Friday evening starting at 6:30.

This little eatery right on the water serves up huge portions of absolutely perfect seafood dishes—the lobster rolls, scallop rolls, and chowder are such great value—and they do excellent breakfasts, too. 

You can make a meal of meze—appetizers like falafel, tabbouleh, or crispy cauliflower served with tahini—at this subterranean Lebanese restaurant. If you're looking for something heartier, the kitchen serves roast chicken, lamb kibbeh, and other meat dishes, but much of the menu is vegetarian-friendly. You'll also find Nuba locations in Kitsilano, Mount Pleasant, and Yaletown.

Influential types arrive at lunchtime en masse for a table at this bustling bakery and sandwich shop where vegetables are organically grown in a nearby garden. Crowd pleasers include the Cuban panini sandwich and the #24 salad with pickled daikon, peanuts, roasted marinated tofu, fresh herbs, and soba noodles.  There is now a second location in the new Royalmount mall.

This floating fish-and-chips stand, the original location of the popular local eatery, draws crowds all summer long.

Sustainable, organic, and fresh every day is the philosophy of this high-end sushi restaurant. The menu is eclectic, with excellent sashimi, noodles, and some vegetarian-friendly Japanese and Korean dishes mixed with a variety of influences from chef Antonio Park's multiple backgrounds—Korean, Argentinian, and Canadian. You can leave the inspiration to him and opt for an omakase (chef's choice) sushi menu starting at C$145 per person. And don't forget to leave room for dessert! Park partnered with the French pâtissier a few doors down to serve exceptional confections like the sorbet maison; the Tout Chocolat, a chocolate brownie with milk chocolate mousse and roasted pecan caramel; or the raspberry lemon cheesecake.

Some of Québec City's finest pastries are made at this gourmet newcomer on rue St-Jean. The weekly rotation of four flavorful chouquettes, puffy, bite-sized treats that are so good, no amount of guilt can stop you from indulging. There are also a few equally delightful vegan cakes on offer.

This small and tastefully decorated bakery is, simply put, a Montréal treasure. Locals come from all over the city to pick up delicious desserts like lemon tarts, Paris-Brest, and the pâtisserie's more modern take on the mille-feuille, all of which taste as good as they look.

The Asian-Jamaican mishmash you see at this hip Dundas West joint 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.

Frequently cited as the best restaurant in Niagara-on-the-Lake—an impressive feat in a town with so many excellent restaurants—Peller Estates manages refinement without arrogance. The stately colonial revival dining room is anchored by a huge fireplace at one end and has windows running the length of the room overlooking a large patio and the estate vineyards. A menu of ever-changing expertly prepared entrées often weaves the Peller Estates wine into modern Canadian cuisine.

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 to excellent blistered-crust pizzas and grilled seafood—but whatever you order is bound to be great.

Following standards set by the Associazione Verace Pizza Napoletana (VPN), Piatto’s pizza chefs (pizzaiolos) have been trained to prepare authentic Neapolitan pizza. The midtown location offers a contemporary setting that makes a popular lunch stop. Using choice ingredients, including a low-gluten flour, their classic and updated pizza treatments are delicious when enjoyed in-house, but you can also buy their make-at-home kits to enjoy the same fabulous pizza in the comfort of home.

It's worth heading to the outskirts of the St-Roch downtown district for this unique dining experience, inspired by French bouchons (as bistros are called in the city of Lyon). "In the pig, everything is good": so goes the French adage that advocates responsible, farm-to-table gastronomy. This is precisely what drives Pied Bleu: every week, the chefs receive a whole pig and come up with proven, creative ways to serve it (the charcuterie plate is a must). Also offered is le tour lyonnais, a tasting menu including salads, cheeses, hearty mains, and desserts. While there are a few vegetarian options, this is primarily a place of communion for hardened carnivores; the restaurant has actually won prizes all over France for its excellent boudin (blood sausage). The wine list is largely European but reserves a special place for Beaujolais vineyards.  The brunch menu is equally gargantuan and tasty, with a dreamy smoked-fish sandwich and a large rib steak with béarnaise sauce for big appetites.

This small restaurant in the woods has garnered all sorts of accolades since it first opened in 2014. Here chef Jesse McCleery, who spent a winter in the kitchen at Noma in Copenhagen, focuses on locally sourced food and unusual ingredients presented in the most imaginative ways. This takes farm- and ocean-to-table to a whole new level. The nightly format is now a seven-course prix-fixe tasting menu (advise staff of any allergies at time of booking) and reservations can book up months in advance. Enjoy the sunset through the trees from the deck of the rustic house—if it gets chilly, use one of the cozy blankets to wrap up. In the backyard, chef Melanie Witt has set up the low key Charmer Pizza which is open Thursday to Sunday evenings.

No one does pizza quite like these pizzaiolos; they are, after all, legally certified by the Associazione Vera Pizza Napolitana in Italy. Using all-natural and non-processed ingredients, and adhering to traditional pizza-making methods (like using a 900-degree oven), Pizzeria 900 on avenue Bernard is one of the most sought-after high-end pizza joints in town with one of the most popular patios. Classics include an unfussy mozzarella di bufala with cherry tomatoes and capers appetizer as well as delectable mains, like the spicy pancetta and figs or the humble but sturdy margherita bianca pizza. For celiacs, wheat flour can be substituted for rice flour for an extra C$5.   In the probable event that the tiny 20-seat restaurant is full, reserve online via the website or head to one of the other locations around town.

This seafood restaurant right on the beach serves up excellent lobster rolls, mussels, pasta dishes, and much more. Everything is superfresh and delicious, with a great selection of local brews to wash it all down with.

Grab the freshest seafood—tuna, lobster, snow crab, and shrimp—and vegetarian poké bowls to go at this waterfront shack.

One of the true epicurean experiences in the Canadian Rockies, the Post delivers daring, regionally inspired cuisine accompanied by excellent wines (it's one of only four restaurants in Canada to receive the Wine Spectator's Grand Award). A low, exposed-beam ceiling and a stone fireplace aglow in winter create an in-from-the-cold aura; white napery provides a touch of elegance; and a changing menu keeps things interesting, with dishes that might include Alaskan king crab drizzled with lemongrass-ginger butter, sautéed wild British Columbia halibut in lemongrass-thyme sauce, or Alberta beef tenderloin in Bordelaise. With more than 26,000 bottles, the restaurant may well have Canada's best wine collection. For a unique experience with a group of six or more, inquire about the private cellar dining room.

Easily one of the city's hippest upscale establishments, the Press Gang prepares fish and meat with equal panache, with wines from the well-stocked cellar. A four-course tasting menu (C$190 for two) is also offered. Thick, cold stone walls testify to the building's era (1759), but comfy seating and intimate lighting soften the effect. Local musicians play on Friday and Saturday night.