From award-winning chefs and MICHELIN Guide-recognized restaurants to swanky hotel spots, these are the best for an upscale dinner with your nearest and dearest.

Celebrating a special occasion or just looking for a place where you can treat yourself in Toronto? These restaurants are fit for any kind of celebration all year round.

Alo

Previously the winner of Canada's 100 Best Restaurants four years in a row, this restaurant was awarded one MICHELIN Star in 2022. You must experience one of Alo's tasting menus at least once in your lifetime. 

If you want to dine here, reservations open in advance in two-month blocks. The menu is primarily French with international influences, and dinner here will easily be a three-hour affair. Each course is a work of art and a delight for the tastebuds. 

You can try sister restaurants, Aloette or AloBar for a more approachable option. 

Giulietta

Giulietta is another award-winning restaurant by Executive Chef Rob Rossi (formerly of Bestellen, L'Unita, Canoe and Top Chef Canada) and a MICHELIN Guide Recommended restaurant. 

This eatery does classic Italian, like Cacio e Pepe and Pappardelle al Ragu, really well. Their pizzas are also stellar. If you're looking for something hearty or to share, opt for the Costata di Manzo alla Fiorentina (ribeye steak Florentine). Try to snag a seat at the chef's bar, which offers a prime view of all the action in the kitchen.
 

Byblos

With two locations in Toronto (Byblos Downtown and Byblos Uptown) and one in Miami, Byblos is an upscale restaurant serving Eastern Mediterranean-inspired dishes. I've had the pleasure of dining at all three locations, and I've never been disappointed.

The menu is designed for sharing, and you'll find everything from Turkish manti dumplings to wood-fired pide, grilled whole branzino and a variety of rice, like sweet jewelled, black truffle and Persian kale. INK Entertainment does hospitality well, and Byblos is no exception.
 

Canoe

There's a reason this Toronto classic has been around for over two decades (they celebrated their 25th anniversary in 2020). The quality of food and service are unparalleled at Canoe, where every last detail is looked after.

Serving seasonal contemporary Canadian cuisine inspired by our country's rich and diverse landscape, you can find both à la carte options and tasting menus at Canoe. It's also a popular place for intimate wedding celebrations and a MICHELIN Guide Recommended restaurant.

MARKED Restaurant
Find South American flavours at MARKED

MARKED Restaurant

Located in the heart of the Entertainment District, MARKED is Toronto’s go-to spot for South American flavours in an elevated environment. It’s a multi-room establishment—including a large lounge, main dining room, cocktail bar, and private dining room—which is great for a date night or group celebration. Each room has a different concept and colour palette, and the restaurant is a feast for the eyes and the palate. You’ll find dishes like shrimp a la parilla, steak tartare, ceviche, picanha, and cassava fries. To draw in the night owls, MARKED has a Late Night Menu on Fridays and Saturdays, complete with small bites, shareable plates, bottle service, and live entertainment.

Piano Piano

After operating what was considered an institution in Toronto, Chef Victor Barry closed Splendido. He opened Piano Piano in its place on Harbord St. You'll recognize it from the beautiful graffiti rose garden façade outside, which also appears at its second Midtown location.

Piano Piano focuses on casual, comforting Italian food, where every ingredient in the dish has been elevated. Come here for rich pasta, a family-style menu for sharing, and some of the best wood-fired pizzas.
 

TOCA

TOCA is the Ritz-Carlton Toronto's contribution to fine dining Italian in the city, with a menu created in collaboration with an award-winning chef from Rome. Here, you'll find a variety of pasta and entrées like 32-hour slow-roasted porchetta. Indoor dining includes a large dining room, private dining options (including a Chef's Table), and a famous on-site cheese cave and wine cellar. 
 

George Restaurant

Often touted as one of the best restaurants in Toronto, George is a MICHELIN Guide Recommended restaurant that serves globally-inspired dishes with seasonal ingredients. Main dining choices include à la carte and tasting menus of five, seven and ten courses, with optional wine pairings. Private events can be hosted in one of several Georgian Rooms or the heated 19th-century private courtyard. 

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Louix Louis serves the epic King's Cake — 13 layers of chocolate goodness

Louix Louis

13-layer chocolate cake covered in Guayaquil chocolate sauce and adorned with edible gold leaf? Yes, please! Louix Louis—located on the 31st floor at the St. Regis Toronto—is marked by a two-storey Grand Bar and a larger-than-life ceiling mural reminiscent of the inside of a whisky glass. 

Go to celebrate a special occasion or have an after-work drink. Breakfast is also served here. Order a bespoke cocktail from a selection of over 500 spirits. On the menu: wagyu steaks and burgers, whole branzino, Patagonian sea bass and sides like truffle parmesan fries and charred broccolini.

Momofuku Kojin

Kōjin is one of the Toronto outposts of David Chang's Momofuku culinary brand. This modern Canadian restaurant inspired by Chef de Cuisine Eva Chin's Singaporean and Hawaiian heritage is also a MICHELIN Guide Recommended restaurant. Currently, mains include beef coulotte and bone-in pork belly. If you're feeding a large group, try shareables like East Coast oysters, branzino or blistered shishitos. 
 

Reign

With a name inspired by royalty, Reign is a Canadian brasserie located on the ground level of the Fairmont Royal York. The dimly lit main dining room is massive and divided into different sections, suitable for private and group dining. You'll also find a bar and bakery here.

Reign offers buffet-style breakfast and all-day and dinner menus with items like flat-iron steak, house pâté, beef tartare and pan-seared duck. Pro Tip: After dinner at Reign, head to CLOCKWORK Champagne & Cocktails—the swanky hotel lobby bar—for a nightcap.

Planta Queen

The second in the Planta group of restaurants, Planta Queen, has an entirely different and more elevated vibe than the first location. 

Co-founded by Chef David Lee, this entirely plant-based restaurant serves Asian dishes packed with so much umami that you'll forget you're eating all the plants. You can't go wrong with the 'sushi' or dumpling offerings. I recommend the Dan Dan Noodles, Crispy Rice and the BangBang Broccoli.
 

Maison Selby

Maison Selby is a charming bistro, café, and cocktail bar from the Oliver & Bonacini group, located in the over 135-year-old Gooderham House. Usually open for all-day dining and weekend brunch, you can order French classics like Steak Frites, Coq au Vin and Boeuf Bourguignon. Not to be missed: the Maison Selby French Onion Beef Cheek Burger. 
 

Miku

This Japanese restaurant chain originated on Vancouver's shores and arrived in Toronto in 2015. Miku is one of the best places in the city to get premium quality, fresh sushi. 

Light pours in through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the 200-seat dining room, which features a mural hand-painted by a Japanese artist. You must try their signature aburi-style sushi. The flame searing entirely changes its flavour profile and texture. 
 

One

Aptly named after its address at 1 Hazelton Avenue, you can visit One Restaurant on the ground level of The Hazelton Hotel in Yorkville. It's one of several restaurants owned by the McEwan Group. 

Offering contemporary cuisine with international influences, book a table in the dining room or on the patio, perfectly situated for people-watching in bustling Yorkville. 
 

Braised-Lamb-Shoulder_KOST_Winterlicious-2020
Kost is one of the top hotel rooftop bars in Toronto

KÖST

The Bisha Hotel is one of Toronto's chicest spots. You can lounge at the Lobby Lounge of this boutique hotel or catch some of the most excellent views of the CN Tower and Toronto skyline at KÖST, its restaurant on the 44th floor and one of the top hotel rooftop bars in the city.

constantine-restaurant-toronto
Constantine serves 'Middle-Terranean' (Middle Eastern and Mediterranean) cuisine

Constantine

On the ground level of The Anndore House on Charles Street, Constantine serves up fine dining ‘Middle-terranean’ (Middle Eastern and Mediterranean) with influences of coastal Italy in its well-appointed, 145-seat dining room.

Canestri Arrabbitata, Beverly Creek Lamb Burger and Duck Liver Mousse are just a few things on the dinner menu, which was created by Executive Chef Craig Harding (formerly of Campagnolo restaurant). Is your mouth watering yet?
 

Richmond Station

Top Chef Canada winner, Carl Heinrich, opened Richmond Station close to a decade ago and it’s still going strong—a true testament to its quality and popularity. 

Located in the heart of Toronto’s Financial District, it’s as popular for lunch as it is for dinner. They offer a good selection of share plates and appetizers and have daily specials written on their restaurant chalkboard. 

La Palma

100-layer Lasagna? Yes, it's a thing, and one of the dishes La Palma is best known for! This Dundas Street West restaurant (a Chef Craig Harding and Alexandra Hutchison venture) has been a hit since it opened in 2017. 

The space is Venice Beach meets Toronto, and the dishes and cocktails are yummy (make sure to try the Cavatelli Chicken Cacciatore and the "No Smoke Without Fire" cocktail). Takeout and delivery are also available! 
 

Reverie at the Park

Upon entering Reverie at the Park, you'll feel like you've been whisked away to a whimsical world. Unassuming and easy to miss from the outside, the inside of this Little Italy restaurant and bar features eclectic and worldly decor, mismatched chairs and Moroccan lanterns. 

But don't judge a book by its cover. The food is refined and thoughtful—made from sustainable local produce and ingredients. Try the Duck Wing Donburi. You'll be thoroughly impressed by the craft cocktails.

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STK Toronto is part of the chain with over 20 locations around the world

STK Toronto

STK Toronto is part of the chain of STK Steakhouses, which has over 20 locations worldwide. Opening in Yorkville in 2016, it quickly became one of the best hot spots in the city for the after-work and weekend crowds. The interior is large and impressive, with a feature ceiling that swirls through the main dining room. 

While the steak is the main attraction, I'm a massive fan of their small plates, including the sliders, tuna tartare, burrata, and crispy calamari. 

Grey Gardens

Grey Gardens is an elegant, cozy, vibrant wine bar in Kensington Market from famed Toronto restaurateur Jen Agg. Their extensive list features wines from all over the world and a healthy dose of local wines. I love the small plates at this MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant—they're flavourful and have colours that literally pop off the plate. 

Ardo

Ardo consistently offers some of the best Italian food in Toronto. Located on King Street East, the restaurant is snug and the menu compact. Go here for a date night or intimate dinner rather than with a large group. 

While concise, everything on this Southern Italian-inspired menu is delicious. I recommend the Tartufo, their house-made spaghetti tossed in anchovy butter topped with a generous amount of fresh black truffle. 
 

Blueblood Steakhouse

If you're going out for steak, why not do it in a historic mansion dating back to the early 1900s? Located inside Casa Loma, one of Toronto's most famous landmarks, BlueBlood Steakhouse was opened by the Liberty Group in 2017. 

This dinner-only restaurant is a great place to head to in the winter when the heat from the main dining room fireplace (or maybe the Baked Alaska) will warm you up. Choose from a selection of Canadian Prime, AAA and Wagyu steaks, with all the sides expected of a typical steakhouse. 

sofia-toronto
Listen to live music while you dine at Sofia

Sofia Restaurant & Bar

Sofia Restaurant & Bar offers dining, entertainment and art in one location. You can "eat your art out" on a selection of fine Italian dishes while marvelling at the opulent interior filled with red velvet chairs, Murano glass chandeliers and Andy Warhol pieces on the walls. 

Brunch is offered on weekends. But dinner is a memorable experience, with live music on most evenings. Lastly, drop by the first Canadian location of Taglialatella Galleries next door if you're in the mood for more art gazing. 

Chotto Matte

This lively Financial District restaurant serves up Nikkei—Peruvian-Japanese fusion food. If you’re wondering about this interesting combination, it’s due to the large Japanese community living in Peru. 

Chotto Matte, which has locations in London and Miami, features an open kitchen, raw bar, robata grill counter, sushi bar and ample seating in its 220-seat dining room. On weekends, go for the Jungle Brunch, where you get a side of live Brazilian dancing with your meal. 

oretta-restaurant-toronto
Oretta's famous pink, white and gold feature wall is Instagram-famous

Oretta

If you live in Toronto and spend any time on Instagram, you've seen a photo of the famous pink, white and gold feature wall. Oretta is known to have one of the prettiest interiors in all of Toronto. But it doesn't end there. 

You'll find a good selection of authentic Italian cuisine on the menu. You can reserve in the main dining room, and the upstairs is great for private dining and large groups. There is also a second Midtown location for those exploring north of Bloor.

Ricarda’s

Ricarda’s is an all-day restaurant open for breakfast, brunch and lunch seven days a week. Occupying the ground floor of the QRC West Building, it has a spacious and beautiful 170-seat dining room, as well as an open-concept kitchen, “grab and go” counter, lounge and bar. The mainly Mediterranean menu is always evolving, so you’ll want to check back often. 
 

Bar Banane

The Ossington Strip’s Bar Banane channels speakeasy vibes with craft cocktails plus non-alcoholic drinks that don’t feel like an after-thought. Start your night here with drinks and hors d’oeuvres, or order the tasting menu for one of everything, including dessert. The showstopper is the lime and black pepper soufflé with buttermilk ice cream. Highly recommend for a girls’ night or date night in Toronto!

Bar Raval

Always a fan fave, Bar Raval is one of several bars and restaurants in the Grant van Gameren empire in Toronto (which includes Bar Isabel, El Rey, Harry’s, Pretty Ugly and Rosalinda). This intimate bar is one of the most popular places to grab a drink and authentic Spanish tapas in the city. The Gaudi-style interior makes you feel like you’re smack dab in the middle of Barcelona in this MICHELIN Guide Bib Gourmand restaurant.
 

The Broadview Hotel

The Broadview Hotel opened its doors in the summer of 2017 (taking over from the strip club, Jilly’s, that used to occupy the space) and has been a huge hit ever since. On the ground level, there is a light and airy café, but the main attractions are the 2 rooftops, the upper rooftop being one of the most popular in the city’s east end. Also be sure to check out the hotel's newest addition, The Civic restaurant which opened its doors in the spring of 2022. The Civic offers a new menu and live entertainment nightly.