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We've compiled the best of the best in Canada - browse our top choices for the top things to see or do during your stay.
Chef-owned and focusing on what's seasonal and local, this stunning addition to Fredericton's dining scene serves exquisite meals and delicious cocktails. This is a great place for sharing lots of amazing dishes—they change often but expect standards like seared salmon, perfectly cooked steaks, and succulent pork belly—because you're going to want to try everything on the menu.
Seafood lovers, rejoice: Québec City now has its very own ocean-based restaurant, and a great one at that. Helmed by a team of seasoned chefs, this gourmet restaurant provides diners with flavorful, flawless, and generously sized dishes of anything from scallops to clams and marlin tatakis, all nicely complemented by delicate side dishes such as lentils, sorbet (yes, ice cream for dinner), and edible flowers. It is a light-filled, beautifully appointed venue.
Neighborhood residents queue before opening to secure one of the 30 seats in this cozy Italian bistro serving up house-made pasta and Prosecco on tap. Antipasti like burrata, fried cauliflower and—of course—meatballs, are served family style, so bring some friends for the best experience. It can take up to two hours to get a table, so plan to head elsewhere for drinks; the friendly staff (none of whom are named "Luigi") will text when your name hits the top of the wait list, or come for lunch if time is of the essence. Regardless of the hour, don't miss the house-bottled Spritz.
The critically acclaimed Aura offers inspired west coast–Asian fusion cuisine and a drop-dead gorgeous backdrop of the Inner Harbour—arguably the best in town. Think BBQ sambal skate on banana leaf or crispy pork belly with peanut and bacon crumble, and carrot truffle mouse. Dining here is also a grazing adventure of small plates, so hearty appetites may need multiple plates, which can rack up the cost. The wine cellar is full of hard-to-find Vancouver Island wines and Okanagan labels; there's also a good selection of local craft beers and spirits as well as splash cocktails. Did we mention that Aura has the city's best waterfront patio, bar none?
Chef Annie Brace-Lavoie does incredible things with local, sustainably caught seafood while her partner Jenner Cormier (long considered the best bartender in Halifax) makes delicious cocktails. The small but perfectly formed menu changes frequently, but expect dishes such as raw scallops with radish and black sesame, slow-roasted and broiled octopus tossed in chili oil and served on a bed of lentils.
Chef Guillaume Saint-Pierre's love for authentic Italian cuisine led him to open this popular 25-seat restaurant, located off the main St-Roch thoroughfares, where he can fully concentrate on that passion with gusto and skill. Italian tradition (there's arancini and vitello tonatto) blends with local flair (there's cacio e pepe with Swiss chard, and lobster spaghetti). The restaurant's immense popularity means reservations are essential, often requiring booking weeks in advance, especially for weekends.
Chef Luc Doucet creates divine dishes that use the very best local ingredients—a staff member raises pigs for the restaurant's bacon—but will also fly in fresh black truffles from Italy to be generously sliced atop his gnocchi Romano with pickled morels that just came in from British Columbia that morning. There's an a la carte menu, but lingering at this glorious, funky, restaurant over an unforgettable 10-course tasting menu might be the best experience in Moncton. Only serving dinner on Friday and Saturday night, Black Rabbit is a hot ticket, and one worth traveling for.
Located along the Songhees Westsong Walkway, adjacent to the new Victoria International Marina, the views match the food at this waterfront restaurant. Its bakery-café offers sweet and savory treats for walkers and coffee aficionados, and the restaurant menu is a combination of charcuterie boards and terrines for sharing, wood-fired-oven pizzas, raw options like scallop with pickled beet citrus vinaigrette, marinated octopus and ceviches, as well as pastas and imaginative takes on classics such as duck Bolognese. The entire space is bold and modern with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Inner Harbour from an outer harbor vantage—provided there isn't a multimillion-dollar yacht in the sightline. Late night munchies? This is the spot. Picnicking? Then order a Boom Box (for delivery or pick up) filled with culinary delights.
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.
Buvette Scott, nestled on an unpretentious spot in the heart of Saint-Jean-Baptiste, delights with its attractive menu and impeccable service. This Michelin Bib Gourmand recipient has quickly become a local favorite, exuding a warm and inviting atmosphere thanks to its cozy wooden décor. Here, the menu changes almost weekly on a handwritten blackboard, offering a dozen small and medium-sized seasonal dishes, primarily highlighting fresh vegetables and exquisite seafood. Waiters even curate the music, happily taking suggestions to blast that perfect tune on the record player, adding to the friendly, almost family-like ambiance.
From hearty upscale sandwiches at lunch to hearty dinners using locally sourced ingredients such as smoked pork chops and pan-seared haddock, this much-loved-by-locals neighborhood restaurant never disappoints. Chef and owner Renée Lavallée is a champion of the local food scene and has appeared as a contestant on Top Chef Canada.
The best ingredients prepared simply and served in generous portions are what make this off-the-beaten-path restaurant such a find. Modern Amalfi Coast–inspired decor brings a seaside terrace indoors, and it feels miles, not 10 minutes, away from the city's tourist attractions.
As well as serving some of the absolute best cocktails in the city, Dear Friend serves a knockout menu of locally sourced seafood—including multitier seafood towers, topped with caviar should you want to take things that far, stellar mains, and delicious upscale "bar bites."
Dinette Triple Crown is relatively small (a counter with just eight stools), but the real draw here is not indoor dining but taking the comfort food to go. Locals know to ask for a picnic basket (fully equipped with cutlery, dishes, and a tablecloth) that will be enjoyed in Little Italy Park across the street. Have it filled with fried chicken with fluffy mashed potatoes and gravy, braised greens, and biscuits, or pulled pork sandwiches and brisket.
Located within the excellent Dunes Studio Gallery, this café has wood ceilings that soar above the indoor dining room and a deck overlooking the dunes and marshlands of Covehead Bay. Like the view, the food offered by chef Norman Day is amazing, showcasing local ingredients with an international twist and some inspired combinations. Your main at dinner, for example, might be halibut coated with banana bread crumbs, with a sweet curried apple cream sauce or chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese, sautéed apples, and bacon, with a cranberry cream sauce. Lunches are no less inventive, and meals can be taken in the lounge or on a patio overlooking the vibrant gardens. Reservations are only accepted for dinner.
Chef/owner Konan Mar's passion for cultural diversity and his talent for fusing Canadian and Asian cuisine with a distinctly European flair shape this restaurant's regularly changing menu (think pork and kimchi pot stickers and stout-braised bison shepherd's pie). Based in one of Golden's oldest houses and decorated with local art, the space is cozy.
Head here for craft beers and a fun menu of pub grub featuring local favorites such as mussels and fish cakes, pizzas, and appetizers in portions generous enough for sharing. Housed in the old Summerside train station, it's a great building with plenty of space for larger groups—check out the historic photos displayed on the walls.
Watch floatplanes take off and land at this buzzy pub on the Fraser River, near YVR's south terminal. A shuttle service runs from the main terminal.
Serving award-winning creations by a husband-and-wife chef pair, this restaurant offers upscale dishes with creativity and cozy, down-home touches. Even if you don't plan to tour the Irish Loop, this dining experience is worth the drive from St. John's.
At this authentic Austrian cuisine restaurant, house specialties like schnitzel, rack of lamb, and venison cutlets are served by a welcoming, friendly staff. The decor is reminiscent of an Austrian schnitzel house—cozy, with warm wood accents and walls, plus a feature fireplace for cold winter nights.
This small, on-trend restaurant and bar serves a seafood-heavy Spanish-inspired menu and delicious cocktails. There's a selection of oysters on ice, as well as other chilled and cured seafood and meats, classic Spanish tapas, and bar snacks that make for a perfect evening of grazing, but also a menu of hearty pasta and meat dishes should you require something more robust.
The warmth of Italy surrounds you at this family-run trattoria near Fisherman's Wharf. The owner hails from Genoa so much of the menu features cuisine from that region as well as daily specials from other parts of the country. Traditional favorites include carpaccio, polpette in agrodolce (tender beef meatballs with a savory sweet and sour sauce of caramelized onions, dried cranberries and green olives, and toasted almonds), spaghetti allo scoglio (a seafood medley in a wine and marinara sauce), and gnocchi in various incarnations. The heritage building adds to the inviting ambience, as does the delightful patio rock garden where you can dine alfresco and from where the kitchen gets its herbs and edible flowers. Classic desserts like tiramisu and panna cotta also make their mark. Families will appreciate the menu for children.
This unpretentious, industrial-chic Little Italy restaurant has garnered a great reputation, thanks in part to its celebrity-chef owners, Stefano Faita and Michele Forgione, who make some of the best pasta dishes in town.
The pleasures of this lively restaurant begin with a stroll past the meticulously kept organic garden. The dinner menu has many seafood options as well as wild game dishes and vegan and vegetarian selections. The wines are well chosen and reasonably priced. The restaurant also doubles as a gallery with works by Atlantic Canadian artists (all for sale).
Located in a conference center on the Membertou First Nation's urban reserve, this spacious dining room serves up inspired global cuisine using fresh, local ingredients with many dishes having an Indigenous twist—and you can order a prix-fixe three-course First Nation menu (C$60) that changes with the seasons. Regular menu items range from lamb chops perfectly cooked with a pistachio pesto to a delicately spiced curry paella. The food is excellent, portions generous, and the space both inside the restaurant and in corridors outside features Indigenous art and artifacts.
Classic French cuisine with an Acadian heart, this beautiful restaurant is filled with antiques and raw wood, with views over the crashing ocean. Every carefully prepared dish is spectacular, from Acadian fricot to salt cod gratin to their upscale burger. L'Abri has a well-stocked selection of Nova Scotia wines and beers and a great cocktail list. Bookings highly recommended.
For over 30 years, L'Échaudé has drawn a loyal clientele of businesspeople and tourists alike, thanks to its honest pricing and ideal location nestled between the vibrant business and antiques districts. At lunch, the flank steak with shallot butter remains a timeless classic, while daily specials feature excellent fish, tartares, and pasta dishes. For those with a hearty appetite, the three-course tasting menu at just C$65 offers remarkable value for dinner. Regardless of the hour, though, expect nothing less than courteous and professional service. Inside, the warm ambiance of the mahogany-paneled lobby gives way to a modern, inviting dining space with green-and-beige accents, hardwood floors, and a striking stainless-steel bar illuminated by backlit river stones. In warmer months, you might even be lucky enough to snag a coveted, sun-drenched table on their outdoor terrace.
This iconic Montréal bistro hasn’t changed much since its opening in 1980, and it’s just as well—regulars would throw a fit if it did. Quintessential French fare is fairly priced and appetizing, outstanding even, with dishes like steak tartare with fries, salmon with sorrel, and calf's liver with tarragon. Tiny tables sometimes struggle to accommodate the ever-present crowds (including local chefs, who congregate here for dinner after hours), but the lively atmosphere is part of the charm. Kids are warmly welcomed.
Grab a window seat or a spot on the patio to enjoy the spectacular view from Waterton's only lakefront restaurant. This is the place in the park for a steak dinner—locally produced Alberta beef plays a starring role on the globally inspired menu. The petite filet mignon with garlic butter, the bison rib eye with chimichurri sauce, and the peppercorn New York strip are all good bets, but so are the Mumbai butter chicken, teriyaki-glazed salmon, and Asian-style stir-fried vegetables. There are also several vegetarian options, and pasta dishes can be made gluten free for an extra charge. The wild Saskatoon berry pie is a great local choice for dessert.
Step into Le Bedeau (French for beadle) on Rue Saint-Jean, a playful concept rooted in ecclesiastical heritage helmed by Arnaud Marchand—of the esteemed Chez Boulay brigade, so you know to expect nothing but the best. This upscale wine bar boasts an interior playing with religious symbols, from confessional doors to organ pipe-inspired mezzanines. Here, gluttony is not a sin bur rather a requisite, with delights like truffle pork rillettes or scallops with sweet clover and lemon. The wine list, naturally, is up to par, featuring excellent picks from Québec wineries, making every visit a delightful pilgrimage.
