In a city known for its diversity, you can taste the world while staying up past your bedtime at these six Toronto restaurants.
Say goodbye to mundane mozzarella sticks and hello to jamon croquetas the next time you pull up a barstool in the city. With one of the most diverse culinary scenes on the planet, it shouldn’t be a surprise that Toronto has a long list of bars and restaurants that proudly serve up bites with an international twist.
So, the next time you head out for a night on the town, take a virtual jaunt around the globe via your taste buds. To inspire your journey, we’ve rounded up six local spots that will whisk you away with their ambiance and surprise your palate with delectable bites.
Bar Mordecai
The vintage flair and deliberate colour palette at this Dundas West bar will make you feel like you’ve just stepped inside a hotel lobby in a Wes Anderson film.
Locals head to Bar Mordecai for the vibes and Christina Veira’s perfected cocktail offerings and stay for the unique bar bites dreamt up by Bahraini-Canadian Chef Suman Ali Sayed.
Order her Beef Qheema, Ontario Salata, Cauliflower Fatteh or Cornish Hen for a mouthwatering late-night snack. Don’t leave without a karaoke sesh in one of their private rooms downstairs!
Ultra Restaurant & Supper Club
Start your night sipping cocktails on the stunning octagonal patio before making your way down to the dining room at this lavish supper club.
The kitchen serves American-Asian cuisine until 2 a.m., so you can indulge in elevated late-night eats. Where else in the city can you enjoy Hamachi and Salmon Tataki while dancing the night away after midnight?
The glamorous dining room (inspired by the late Alexander McQueen) draws a more sophisticated crowd and is perfect for special celebrations! Bonus: Ultra is located at Yonge and St. Clair, so you won’t have to deal with the traffic expected in the Entertainment District.
Chubby’s Jamaican Kitchen
Enter this tropical escape and head straight upstairs to one of the most vibrant bars in Toronto. Order the Saltfish Fritters, Jerk Chicken or Oxtail Stew and pair your late-night eats with a bottle of Red Stripe for the whole Jamaican experience.
If beer isn’t your drink of choice, the signature cocktails are impressive—Everything Nice and Passa Passa are crowd favourites. Craving wings? The slow-baked Jerk Wings are some of the city's best!
Did I mention that Chubby's also serves 12 of the world's best rums? One thing is certain: their "likkle bites" and drinks will make you feel irie in no time.
Abrielle Toronto
While many restaurants in the city offer Happy Hour before dinner, this coastal Mediterranean restaurant on King Street West also has a late-night Happy Hour.
Book your table from 9 p.m. until close any day of the week, and you can enjoy their expertly crafted cocktails for $10 as you taste your way through Chef Olivier Le Calvez’s menu.
The dishes at Abrielle are flavourful and beautifully presented so your eyes and stomach are in for a treat. Order the Croquette, Burrata, Octopus or Patatas Bravas and—if you want to cap off your evening in style—they offer caviar bumps paired with champagne!
Bar Raval
Everything about this MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant, from its tantalizing tapas to its jaw-dropping architecture, will transport you to Spain. It’s vibrant, intimate and a great place to mingle with old and new friends over Spanish bites.
Sharing is key at Bar Raval because you’ll want to try as many pintxos and tapas on their menu as possible. My picks? The Stracciatella & Boquerones, Jamon Croquetas and the Grilled Octo. Don’t shy away from the conservas (tinned seafood)—the razor clams and smoked mackerel are exceptional here.
416 Snack Bar
No late-night eats list is complete without 416 Snack Bar. This institution serves delicious, internationally-inspired small plates until 2 a.m., seven days a week.
The Korean Fried Chicken is always a must, but you really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. Be warned: This spot is popular, and they don’t accept reservations, so expect a lineup or try your luck at their streetcar-inspired sister property, Short Turn, just down the street.