After years of uncertainty and construction delays halted Toronto’s new restaurant openings, they’re back with a vengeance. It seems like everyone and their dog has been secretly working on their dream restaurant and now they’re all coming to fruition at once.
We’re already spoiled for choice with all of the amazing dining experiences within reach. From delicious cheap eats to secret supper clubs and Michelin Star restaurants, this city has it all — and we have even more new Toronto restaurants opening all the time. The best restaurants in Toronto are constantly changing with newcomers pushing out the old or stalwarts reinventing themselves and their offerings.
Spanning almost eight acres at Wellington and Spadina, The Well might be the most hyped opening of them all. The expanse of mixed retail, office space and residences also comes with almost a dozen new Toronto restaurants.
As the pandemic shrinks in our rearview and restaurants are charging full steam ahead, it’s poised to be an exciting year for the city’s food scene. Add these new Toronto restaurants to your list and just try to keep up with all the openings…
21 new restaurants in Toronto that just opened or are opening soon
1. The Rosebud
498 King St. E.
Toronto has seen her fair share of French bistros pop up in the last few years. The Rosebud in Corktown, by contrast, offers a delightfully innovative spin on the classic cuisine in an adorable and romantic setting. The wine bar comes from the people behind Mira Mira Diner, with unique wines by the glass and a knock-out menu from chef Jeffrey Yap (Scaramouche) that’s full of surprises and Asian inspiration.
2. Overpressure Club
815 Bloor St. W.
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When deciding what to call his new Japanese-inspired cocktail bar in Bloorcourt, Alfred Siu leaned in to what he asserts makes it one-of-a-kind in Toronto. Overpressure Club is a reference to the pressurized draught cocktails that take up the bulk of the menu here – 12 to be exact, stored in kegs and poured from polished silver handles behind the bar. These aren’t run-of-the-mill batched margs; drinks are expertly crafted, creative and often feature a wide range of traditional Japanese ingredients. You’ll also find shaken, stirred and thrown drinks, and there’s a big selection of premium Japanese whisky highballs, too. If you’re peckish, split a few of Overpressure’s izakaya-style plates like karaage, tofupokki and pork jowl.
3. Sushi Yugen
150 York St.
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Falling in line with Toronto’s newfound omakase obsession, Sushi Yugen offers a 45-minute lunch and one-hour dinner experience of seasonal, chef-selected dishes. Chef Kyohei Igarashi studied in Japan and cut his teeth working with master chefs in high-end restaurants for over two decades. His curated menus at Sushi Yugen showcase his creative interpretation of traditional Japanese omakase.
4. Rhapsody
214 Ossington Ave.
From the people behind the vibey cocktail bar and music lounge Mrs. Robinson comes a new venture on Ossington that’s inspired by the forest. Rhapsody promises a playground for taste and sound with a menu of small plates that blend Peruvian and Japanese flavours. Think ceviche, karaage, charred octopus and empanadas all on one menu. The cocktails are as unique as they come and are intended to complement the resto-lounge’s music experience.
5. Cộng Càphê
424 Bloor St. W.
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Founded in 2007 by a former artist in Hanoi, Cộng Cà Phê is attributed with pioneering the vintage café trend that’s known for embodying Vietnam’s cultural heritage. More than 80 locations later, and the adorable retro café has landed on our shores at Bathurst and Bloor bringing a range of Vietnamese coffees, teas, fruit drinks and banh mi.
6. Mishree
825 Britannia Rd. W.
Step through the hand-made brass doors and instantly be transported from Mississauga into a nature-inspired oasis at Mishree. Floral patterns, jungle prints and pink velvet add whimsy to a space full of light wood, colourful tiles and rattan. In this stunning build, the black marble tables are hand-carved and the light fixtures are custom made. Enjoy Indian flavours and cocktails as the restaurant transforms into a late-night lounge with DJs and live music.
7. Aera
8 Spadina Ave., 38th Floor
O&B’s luxurious new restaurant is perched an astonishing 38 floors above street level, in The Well. Aera’s jaw-dropping design, art pieces and panoramic views of the city will make it difficult to concentrate on what’s on your plate, but you’d better pay attention. Eats here are pure indulgence: We’re talking premium steakhouse cuts, American classics, raw bar favourites (hello, seafood tower) and sashimi delicately prepared at the sushi counter.
8. Bar Goa
36 Toronto St.
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Hemant Bhagwani’s Indian flavours have wowed us in the past at spots like Goa Indian Farm Kitchen, but Bar Goa is a new and exciting move towards tasting menu-style dining. Fun spins on classics, like chaat, a popular Indian street food turned artsy tart, or chicken masala served in a taco, make for a whimsical menu. Toast with cocktails blended using flavours like cardamom, turmeric and curry leaf — and don’t miss the trolley serving martinis and Goa-inspired negronis.
9. Eataly Sherway Gardens
25 The West Mall
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After the wild success of Eataly’s Yorkville location, Toronto-wide domination was only a matter of time. The first extension of the brand is located at Sherway Gardens, where you’ll still find the same great selection of pizza, cheese, gelato and coffee counters. While it doesn’t have quite the same scope as the Manulife Centre version, Eataly is a fabulous new addition to the west end of town with two restaurants on-site. Watch dough turn ‘za in front of your eyes at La Pizza & La Pasta, or enjoy agnolotti and Italian vino at walk-in spot Il Pastaio.
10. The Joneses
33 Yonge St. #100
Another new restaurant in O&B’s growing empire, The Joneses is a crowd-pleasing spot for lunch or after-work hangs in the Financial District. Warm, soft lighting illuminates the natural wood arches that curve around the modern, comfortable restaurant. There’s something for everyone on the menu that runs the gamut from salads, Detroit-style pizzas and handmade pasta to pressed sushi, poke bowls and premium steaks. There’s just as much variety on the beverage side — flip through pages of signature house cocktails, well-loved classics, an entire martini section and non-alcoholic options.
11. Bar Avelo
51 St Nicholas St.
Bar Avelo, sibling to fine dining restaurant Avelo, is a much more casual experience than its sister spot. Climb up a staircase adorned with floral art to the second floor of a Victorian townhouse and find the cozy speakeasy tucked into a back room. Awai Hospitality has completely transformed the space into an elegant cocktail bar. You’ll marvel at the intricately carved, curved white ceiling; the gleaming glass-backed bar; and the moody deep-blue curtain wall.
Dining or drinking here is practically therapeutic; uncomplicated tipples, inventive plant-based fare and acoustic music all set a serene vibe. In addition to a large cocktail menu that includes an “inspired by” section of twists on the classics, Bar Avelo’s limited à la carte food menu is completely vegan. Don’t skip the charcuterie board — the Roqueforti, which is fermented and then aged for three weeks, is sublime.
12. Chambers Steakhouse & Supperclub
17 Toronto St.
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Following in the footsteps of restaurants like Maxime's and Ristorante Sociale, Chambers Steakhouse & Supper Club is poised to be the next new steakhouse-meets-nightclub hotspot downtown. Like Soluna, Paros, Casa Madera, Kissa and a whole slew of recent restaurant openings in the last year (are we sensing a trend?), this spot also features interesting entertainment that includes live dancers and musical acts. The menu leans heavy on the steakhouse classics with Asian dishes like pho, tuna tataki and Hokkaido scallops with yuzu thrown in.
13. Doc’s Green Door Lounge
3106 Dundas St. W.
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The large rounded front window and bright green door will be the first to catch your eye at this new cocktail bar in The Junction. Next, Doc's Green Door Lounge will reel you in with its sea-foam green walls and beautiful light wood backbar in the warm, design-driven space. Then, ice-cold martinis, creative cocktails and small bites will nab you, hook, line and sinker. Take a part of Doc's home with you from their natural wine bottle shop, The Deep End.
14. GRETA Toronto
590 King St. W.
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Old meets new at Greta Bar, a 12,500-square-foot arcade bar that moves into a heritage building at King and Portland this spring. The massive space will house over 50 arcade games from vintage classics to state-of-the-art experiences, along with a sit-down dining area and a dancefloor for weekend DJs. Cocktails and local craft beer are on the menu.
15. Lulu Bar
427 Wellington St. W.
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Another new addition to The Well's fast-growing food and retail mecca, Lulu Bar is going the opposite way of Toronto millennials, hailing from Calgary and taking up residence here. The bar is inspired by the regions of the Pacific Ocean with influences from Hawai'i, Asia, California and B.C. Tuck into light bites and refreshing cocktails in the bright, coastal space that will whisk you away to memories of your last vacay.
16. Contrada
537 College St.
Taking over the now-closed Dog & Tiger (no, not The Dog & Bear Pub — and the confusion probably didn't help), Contrada is a relaxed, neighbourhood spot serving classic Italian dishes. Much of the old bar remains, but they've slapped on a fresh coat of paint and made the atmosphere feel bit more modern while still maintaining the cozy vibe. Tables are close together, the ceiling is low in the backroom and there's a crackling fireplace. Cocktails are refreshing, striking the perfect balance of bitter and sweet, and wines by the glass are Italian.
17. Hazukido (Union Station)
Level Fresh Market, 65 Front St. W. Unit 420
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The artisan croissant bakery that blends traditional French techniques with Japanese inspiration is expanding rapidly across the city with a new location inside Union Station. Now commuters, concert-goers and anyone else traversing the massive travel hub can stop in to grab Hazukido's sweet or savoury croissants, croffles and croissant cubes paired with specialty coffees, teas, milk teas and refreshers.
18. Scoobies
900 Albion Rd., Unit B20
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Burgers and boba is the winning combination we never knew we needed until Scoobies. The new fast-casual restaurant in Etobicoke serves fully-loaded beef burgers, veggie burgers and chicken sandwiches, along with sides like waffle fries, onion rings and the decadent-looking waffle fry poutine with crispy chicken bites. Wash it all down with a milkshake or traditional bubble tea flavours made by a robot.
19. LOCAL Public Eatery Adelaide
141 Adelaide St. W.
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The LOCAL Public Eatery is expanding its empire of neighbourhood brunch and lunch spots with a third location in the Financial District. Diners can enjoy the same great after-work cocktails and caesar-fuelled gamedays, plus a couple of new menu items at this York and Adelaide spot.
20. OEB Breakfast Co.
20 Toronto St.
Not content with a solo Liberty Village egg emporium, award-winning OEB Breakfast Co. has expanded with a second location near King and Yonge. With more than 3,000 square feet of real estate, there promises to be more full tummies and less waiting in a lineup for brunch favourites like eggs benny, breakfast poutine and Lobster Scramble. On your next visit to this champion of local produce, order a mimosa flight for the table and toast to the weekend.
21. Glass Kitchen
505 Hwy 7 Unit 98 & 99
From winning Chopped Canada to the Bocuse d'Or National Selection, chef Keith Pears has a number of accolades and titles behind him, and now he has his own restaurant in North York. An ode to his grandmother who inspired him on his culinary journey, Glass Kitchen serves modern Asian-fusion fare. The inventive brunch menu offers a wide range from an acai bowl and ube pancakes to cheeseburger empanadas, while dinner sees the addition of dishes like Hokkaido scallop risotto and fried chicken with a bubble waffle.
