Best Restaurants, Must Try Places in Vaughan

"Run by one of the city’s most prolific hotel groups, The Drake Hotel restaurant is one of the few hotel spots that boasts major culinary clout. Pre-pandemic, the property regularly hosted 86’ed Mondays, a monthly industry night founded by hospitality legend Ivy Knight that brought together local chefs for friendly, themed cooking competitions that the public could attend. While events are off the table for the moment, the hotel’s rooftop dining area (named one of the best in the world by Condé Nast Traveler) is still worth a visit to try one of the city’s top burgers and sip on a spritz while taking in the skyline views."

"For a more eclectic, boutique vibe, The Drake Hotel caters to the lovers of art, music, food, and unpretentious fun. Each of the unique, character-rich rooms features eye-popping art, custom furniture and woodwork, Malin+Goetz toiletries, comfy queen-sized Sealy mattresses, and unexpected creative miscellaneous touches throughout. The “Art Passport” package includes mini bottles of sparkling, a $50 credit to enjoy The Drake’s upscale reimagined cuisine, an original Art-For-You artwork keepsake, and late checkout."

"Stylish, unique and full of art, Drake One Fifty has elegantly avoided being stuck up in a district filled with suits, all without alienating its lunchtime crowd. Stop by to take in the all the contemporary creativity that fills the space whether it’s art, decor, crafty mixology or, of course, the food – a zesty take on traditional brasserie fare. The ingredients are local, seasonal and the dishes are made from scratch, a mentality thats as admirable and ethical as it is trendy."

"This French restaurant is quite simply dreamy — with its soft hues, floral arrangements and gracious service will leave nothing for want. Book a table for two here to enjoy an extravagant dinner featuring an always-changing tasting menu. Address: 163 Spadina Avenue, TorontoPhone: 416-260-2222"

"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."

"Editor's Note: Photo taken from the establishment's official social account. View this post on Instagram. A post shared by Alo Restaurant & Cocktail Bar (@alorestaurant) on Oct 30, 2018 at 2:13pm PDT"

"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."

"A photo posted by Gusto 101 (@gusto101to) on May 2, 2016 at 8:50am PDT. Weekend brunch at Gusto 101 features lemon ricotta pancakes with lemon curd and blueberries. Address: 101 Portland Street, TorontoInstagram:@gusto101to"

"aside some seating for online reservations for groups of up to 8 people. Reservations are held for 15 minutes... Italian Restaurants, Restaurants"

"This place has pretty much all you could dream of when it comes to stellar sights of the city. Their 360 degree views make dining here more than memorable. AND they have a bar and an outdoor pool, so come back in the summertime for a skyline dip."

"With all of the accents and umlauts in the restaurant name, you might expect Tabüle to be a little fussy. It does offer a chic vibe, but the attention to detail stays where it belongs: in the food. From a crunchy falafel salad to succulent meats, this wonderful Middle Eastern restaurant seduces the tastebuds (and the belly dancer that occasionally performs seduces other areas)."

"Bold Middle Eastern flavors and spices are showcased at Tabülè. Get hands-on as you dip warm flatbread into baganüj , hummus or tabülè ."

"The lowdown: Green Tea is another popular franchise from China, and the locations in Markham and downtown are the only ones in Canada. They make absolutely scrumptious Southern Chinese food, particularly Hangzhou-style cuisine. Bonus points for using free range meat!"

"If you’ve ever had a cup of coffee at one of Sam James’s half-dozen shops, odds are you’ve had the Butter Knife Espresso. The blend, which James tweaks as the seasons change, remains remarkably consistent no matter the composition: it’s roasted to medium and maintains a rich, sweet profile, with only a little acidity. And don’t let the name fool you: it brews just as well whether you’re using an espresso machine, a standard drip maker or any gizmo in between."

"Sam James is a teeny little spot in the Palmerston neighborhood of Toronto, an area that’s certainly more locals-driven than touristy. The hip shop is done in all black and white with tiled floors and an accent wall with blown-up artistic photos. With only a few bar stools and a bench, there aren’t a ton of people hanging around—locals will more likely than not get their drinks to go."

"One of the most popular coffee spots in the city, Sam James Coffee Bar has all your brewing needs. You can stop by and grab a cup of steamy hot coffee at one of their three locations. The other two, 150 King Street West and 15 Toronto Street, are currently closed."

"Just outside of Calii Love (the healthy eats coffee, smoothies and lunch bar specializing in poke bowls) on King Street you’ll find some adorable pink murals that are perfect for the gram. These are probably my favourite pink walls in Toronto, aren’t they cute?. Located at: 367 King Street W"

"If you’re also a lover of all things colour, Calii Love has a wall filled with cute and aesthetic murals perfect for your Instagram feed. Afterwards, you can grab a colourful latte or poké bowl inside the restaurant!. LOCATION: 367 King St. West, Toronto, ON"

"As the expression goes, "Let them eat pie." Perhaps that was attributed to cake, but there is something so comforting about a slice of pie with flaky, buttery crust and the perfect amount of fruit filling. There are breakfasts that are less balanced than this dessert and Wanda's Pie in the Sky will meet all of your pie needs. Single fruit pies include Apricot and Niagara Peach."

"The assortment of contemporary and traditional Christmas cookies at Wanda’s Pie in the Sky seems to be endless. The shop may be known for its pies, but during the holiday season people come flocking for a taste of the holiday cookies. From linzers to gingerbread and shortbread, you can try them all!"

"They also have other desserts, pastries, egg dishes, and even do vegetarian lunch. It’s all made right there in store… this place is out of this world!"

"The Dream of China cake, with its strawberry mousse and passion fruit coulis, impressed McEwan. “Love the mini macaron and lovely tempered chocolate,” he said. “The passion fruit and berry work really well together.” 1419 Danforth Ave., $7.50"

"A post shared by Uncle Tetsu Canada (@uncletetsucanada) on Apr 24, 2020 at 10:01am PDT. If you’re craving a sweet and tangy treat but you’re wanting something a little lighter, a Japanese cheesecake from Uncle Tetsu fits the bill. You can order goods from the spot’s Bay Street location via Uber Eats from 11 am to 8:30 pm."

"Celebrate their birthday the right way with a Japanese style cheesecake!. Their Original Cheesecake is available in 7″, with chocolate or matcha as additional flavour options. You can order their cakes via Uber Eats."

"Depending on when you go, you’ll find yourself navigating through ceiling-high racks of freshly baked Italian bread at this small shop that also specializes in cakes and pastries. Bruno goes here for one thing and one thing only. Go-to item #1: Round loaves.Tasting notes: Bruno uses the thick crust loaves for sandwiches, or he cuts thin slices of it to serve with salumi."

"Best Croissants In Toronto For: Authentic, classic French pastries. Technically, pain perdu translates to “lost bread” in reference to how French toast saves stale bread from being “lost.” However, in this context, Pain Perdu is a bakery known for purveying glorious, classic French confections. This quaint St. Clair West spot is lauded by locals as a hidden gem to find the best croissants in Toronto with a rich buttery flavour and flaky texture."

"Pain Perdu is renowned for its Parisian baked goods like croissants, quiche, eclairs and mille-feuille. Located in the St. Clair West neighbourhood, the décor is quaint and the staff is on point. This combination makes Pain Perdu a must-try for anyone who wants to pretend they’re in Paris for an afternoon."

"The Dream of China cake, with its strawberry mousse and passion fruit coulis, impressed McEwan. “Love the mini macaron and lovely tempered chocolate,” he said. “The passion fruit and berry work really well together.” 1419 Danforth Ave., $7.50"