Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Toronto

"While not associated with the Toronto-born rapper of the same name, the Drake Hotel’s nightlife offerings are no less hip or happening. This boutique hotel is a hub for local events including concerts, DJs and multimedia art. The Drake’s basement venue, the Underground, hosts a rotating roster of dance parties, touring acts and cultural happenings like slam poetry nights."

"This arts-oriented, 19-room boutique hotel, originally a derelict apartment block, still maintains the high hip quotient it has enjoyed since it opened. A hit with both local and international creative types, it is a true Toronto cultural hub, covering all the travel basics — art, music, food and shopping."

"This next spot is definitely one of the most aesthetically pleasing patios on the list. From their exposed brick walls to their bright and airy feel, the spot is super Insta-worthy. Oh, and the food is pretty good too."

"Perched at the top of a heritage building within the centre, Alo is often talked about as one of the best restaurants in Toronto for French food. Now, there are two different ways to eat at Alo, one being through a reservation to eat within Alo’s Dining Room (reserve a table, here). Though, be prepared, this books up super-fast)."

"Considered one of Toronto's best restaurants for multi-course tasting menus, this Queen West establishment defines a pretty distinct tier of upscale dining. Birthday dinners, anniversaries and special outings will always have a place here."

"The most striking thing about Gusto 101 isn't the fact that it's located in a former auto body shop—it's that the space actually feels cozy and convivial. The restaurant delivers crowd pleasing Southern Italian classics, including a near-perfect rendition of cacio e pepe. Grilled entrees are also exceptional, especially the branzino, which is served with escarole, cannellini beans, and a lemony, garlicky salmoriglio sauce."

"Why go: With a stunning rooftop patio in the West and a brand new location in the East, the brunch at Gusto has something for everyone. What to order: Lunch AND brunch. Folks can order Gusto’s all-star items from the lunch menu like the Mafalde Ai Funghi, while their friends are still enjoying Italian versions of their favourite brunch items."

"– Located on King and Portland this rooftop patio is part of the popular Italian restaurant below, so enjoy an amazing meal alongside your cocktails. What is it known for?. – Gusto 101 is known for its industrial setting as well as having wine on tap, a great excuse for a visit."

"Lavelle is our top pick for rooftop patio spots for two reasons, day and night. With a chill lounge vibe at night and a rooftop pool party vibe during the day you can sip on tasty drinks from the top of King West with an incredible view of the fashion district from above. This spot caters more so to a mix of young professionals and mature business professionals, so expect a diverse yet classy crowd."

"Lavelle’s got a pretty sweet rooftop patio if you’re feeling swanky. The restaurant sits 16 storeys high with a lounge bar, cabanas, and a massive outdoor pool. Their cocktails are great and the sushi is pretty dang good."

"Junction spot known for steak, eggs & coconut cream pie, established 1970s. Sunny Sun, owner: The Purple Onion name has been around a long time – the first one was on Avenue Road, a coffeehouse. (The original Purple Onion, in Yorkville, was known as a popular hangout for the folk music crowd and hosted early performances by Carly Simon and Buffy Sainte-Marie.) In the 70s, the Purple Onion Bar & Grill opened at Keele and St. Clair."

"Nest is one of the hottest and newest nightclubs in Toronto right now. Situated right in the iconic Kensington Market neighborhood on College Street, the venue lies outside the clubbing district. However, that does not mean that at Nest, the staff and hospitality crew won’t be able to help guests enjoy a fun night out."

"Found on College Street, away from the club district, every weekend Nest can be counted on for a happening dance floor. Enjoy big sounds from well-known international DJs and local up-and-coming talent all powered by a massive DYNACORD sound system."

"A post shared by Hello 123 (@hello123forever) on Dec 29, 2019 at 7:15am PST. The suave, mature sibling to ever-popular sister chain Kupfert & Kim, Hello 123 is a chic, minimalist spot on Queen West serving carefully-crafted, plant-based dishes and drinks. Kids will dive into pulled pineapple sliders, loaded sweet potatoes and heaving platters of veggie-crowned nachos."

"How many times have you gone out to brunch and been stuck eating the one token vegan item on the menu?. Hello123’s brunch/lunch menu offers a rich variety of clean, plant-based nosh any day of the week!. They’re experts in layering flavours for complex, colourful and delicious meals."

"It is fairly casual and requires no reservations & the options are endless!. There are tons of brunch and lunch options to fit all desires. In the summer months, there is also a patio to sit on which is very enjoyable."

"Inspired by the phrase “not all those who wander are lost,” Lost and Found is the place to go to bump and grind to some of the best hip-hop in the city. Every Monday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, you’ll find cool crowds (off-duty models, Drake and Justin Bieber are all frequent figures) being served by roving sparkler-laden bottle girls pouring Ace of Spades or Hennessy aplenty."

"Housed in the lower level of a hundred year-old building in the heart of King West, Lost and Found presents a unique space for discovery. The old brick walls contrasted with the swanky leather couches give this nightspot an air of classic meets modern. It’s a popular hangout on Monday nights when most other clubs are closed."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Lost And Found (@lost577)"

"The mood at the Mill Street Brew Pub is set long before you enter: it’s in Toronto’s Distillery District, a pedestrian-only historic site of Victorian industrial buildings from a former distillery. The warehouse-chic aesthetic continues inside the bar, which has lofted ceilings, brick walls, and warm wood. The space, which is adjacent to the brewery itself, is often bustling, especially in summer when the outdoor patio is in full swing."

"The Scarborough district of Toronto is known for its ethnic diversity  —  more than half of the district’s residents are immigrants or foreign-born, which has led to a proliferation of different cuisines and restaurants. Peterson heads there in this episode to taste the Middle Eastern pastries at Crown Pastries, a small shop owned and operated by two brothers from Syria, Rasoul and Ismail Salha. The shop offers a variety of sweet and savory Syrian delicacies, many of which are variations of thinly rolled layers of phyllo dough stuffed with pistachios, walnuts, almonds, or other nuts."

"With each mouthful of this bakery’s sublime sweets, the hand shoots to the face, expecting drips of honey or debris of pastry. But the tiny bundles — including basbousa (semolina and rosewater syrup), borma (crisp strands of dough around pistachios), and warbat (flaky dough around creamy hazelnut) — are too tightly packed, too expertly composed to allow for crumbs."

"Bloomer’s started mostly as a vegan bakery and coffee shop, but has since blossomed into a full serve vegan restaurant. While you can still stop in for a cuppa and a donut, you can also enjoy sumptuous choices from the menu like a tempeh reuben sandwich, a portobello kimchi burger, or a BBQ tempeh wing sandwich. Try a healthy bowl of brown rice, steamed greens, wakame, sauerkraut, and tempeh."

"At Bloomer’s, you can enjoy handcrafted donuts in flavours of all kinds. These delicious treats are perfect for celebrating any special occasion. Or enjoy them just because!"

"I don't use the word 'foodgasm' in my reviews but that's the experience I had when I ate their rose pistachio donut."

"That was an awesome burger I haven’t had a good one like that in a long time good job from the employees at this locationRead more"