While we’re always a little sad to see Toronto begin its annual retreat indoors after summer’s blooming greenery, countless patio nights and booming Budweiser Stage concerts, we’re feeling good about the arrival of fall this year. In the back half of 2024, foodies have plenty to look forward to, including the hottest new Toronto restaurants that will certainly make up for the drop in mercury.
Sweaty summer days might be behind us, but the swankiest new Toronto restaurant openings have still got us all hot and bothered. Three famous international chains have decided to open jaw-dropping new locations here. Prepare for some serious carb-loading at the newest Italian restaurants that are poised to make a splash. Plus, after a tough 2023, plant-based eateries are making a comeback, with a new Mexican taco joint and a lauded Montréal sushi restaurant both touching down with animal-free eats.
There’s a new bar on the block from the Civil Liberties team, and it’s already one of the best bars in Toronto. Find it tucked upstairs on the mezzanine at Waterworks Food Hall. Finally, for new restaurants and stalwarts alike, the return of the Michelin Guide has shone a star-shaped spotlight on more of the best restaurants in Toronto this fall.
As we slip into our warmest sweaters, dust off our flannel and haul our denim out of storage, we can’t help but look forward to fall in Toronto. This is the season for getting extra cozy, with steaming pumpkin spice lattés and warm pastries from the best cafés in the city, including an opulent new restaurant, bar and café in The Ritz-Carlton.
Don’t frown because summer is over — smile because it happened, and because the best new restaurants in Toronto are here to keep the heat cranked to the max.
22 hot new Toronto restaurants that just opened for fall
1. Biff's Bistro
2 Front St. E.
Beloved fancy French bistro, Biff’s has recently reopened after relocating down the street. The new design captures the restaurant’s spirit so well, you could walk in off Front Street and not even realize this isn’t the same old Biff’s. Look closer and you’ll see that everything is updated in the shiny new space. The menu is just as familiar — steak frites are plentiful, the duck is still tender and juicy, the wine list is long, and the French onion soup is still a warm hug in a bowl.
2. Linny’s
176 Ossington Ave.
David Schwartz (MIMI Chinese, Sunnys Chinese) is trading his chopsticks for a serrated knife with Linny’s, his new mid-century steakhouse-with-deli-vibes on the Ossington strip. Named after Schwartz’ mother, Linda, Linny’s feels like a snapshot of a bygone time. The dining room is cloaked in nostalgic terrazzo, burlwood and chrome. You’ll savour familiar steakhouse classics like broiled, dry-aged steaks, caesar salad and french fries to the tune of upbeat jazz; or, sink your canines into timeless deli staples like pastrami, karnatzel and chicken liver toast. Linny’s opens on September 21, 2024, and reservations are available now.
3. Civil Works
50 Brant St.
If you’re even mildly passionate about mixology, or if mind-blowing cocktails pique your appetite, this gorgeous new art-deco mezzanine bar above the bustling Waterworks food hall needs to be at the top of your list. It’s the official sister spot of Toronto’s most awarded bar, Civil Liberties.
There’s a menu this time around, though, dubbed “A Manual For Laying Pipe” — equal parts a cheeky euphemism and an ode to its historic building, where Toronto built all of the city’s piping throughout the early 1900s. It’s a whole booklet crammed with fascinating tidbits of Toronto history, illustrations of pipe-making machinery and abundant allusions to bedroom activities. Take the whole book home, plus a digital recipe guide, for $35.
The drink menu, developed by Élise Hanson (Bar Raval, XXX, PrettyUgly), is a masterpiece. Each tipple aims to imbue a curated drinking experience, and never ceases to stick the landing; Hanson’s flavours are fine-tuned with razor-sharp precision. Cocktails like the Strickling Bar, a miso-rum number with fermented coffee and pasilla-cinnamon campari, is a meal’s worth of flavour in a glass. Hanson’s award-winning cocktail, the Equilibrium, is available to order, too.
We never thought we’d get this excited about bar water, but Civil Works’ custom H20, inspired by regions around the world, makes us nerd out. Finally, there’s a small food menu from the Waterworks food vendors to pair with the libations.
4. Sushi Momo
1122 Queen St. W.
Acclaimed vegan Montréal sushi joint, Sushi Momo quietly opened in Toronto this fall in the former Hello123 space on Queen West. It’s every bit as chopstick-licking-delicious as its Québecois counterpart; you won’t find any run-of-the-mill cucumber or avo rolls here. Chef Christian Manuel Ventura Alatorre displays Michelin-level culinary creativity with his omakase menu.
5. estiatorio Milos
330 Bay St.
No, you haven’t just stumbled into a market in Athens, Greece, despite what your eyes might tell you. This is estiatorio Milos: The two-story location of the famed international Mediterranean chain just touched down in the Financial District. Here, hungry guests can pick their catch from Milos’ iconic open “fish marketplace,” an eye-catching display of shellfish and whole fish on a bed of crushed ice in the restaurant.
6. Nobu Toronto
25 Mercer St.
This international restaurant and hotel brand (owned in part by Robert De Niro), unsurprisingly, made a big splash upon its arrival in Toronto. The 10,000-square-foot, two-level eatery in the heart of the Fashion District is stunning. Designed by Studio Munge, Nobu entrances with its moody bar, featuring a 28-foot bronze chandelier; sake bar and outdoor terrace; sushi bar; and a breathtaking main dining room, crafted from blonde elm.
Architectural mastery aside, chef Nobu Matsuhisa’s renowned “new-style” Japanese flavours with South American influences dazzle guests. The glamorous restaurant precedes Nobu Hotel Toronto’s launch in the spring of 2025.
7. Simpl Things
269 Dunn Ave.
Evelyn Chick's cozy, award-winning Parkdale cocktail and snack bar has been one of our favourite west-end spots for years, and continues to impress with its refreshed concept. "Lu's Variety," the new p.m. menu and the brainchild of chef de cuisine Jason Lu, is shaking things up with Asian street food and a spotlight on charcoal-grilled delights. Think hand-made onigiri wrapped in roasted nori, handmade mushroom baos and a knockout steak tartare paired with bone marrow. Chef Cody Wilkes's heavenly, carb-coma-inducing Italian bites (including freshly house-made pasta) will continue to feed the brunch and lunch crowd. These are all light bites meant for snacking and sharing, but order a few plates, and you'll be full in no time.
The cocktail program, guided by Chick's steadfast, no-frills approach to mixology, will remain the same in the best way possible. Plus, a rotating selection of fan-favourite tipples will return under the new "Oldies but Goodies" section.
8. Vinoteca Pompette
597 College St.
French restaurant Pompette raised a few eyebrows when they announced their closure, especially after their recent recommendation by Toronto’s Michelin Guide. We needn’t have worried — it was quickly reborn as Vinoteca Pompette.
The refreshed concept keeps the spot’s French inspirations, while letting Italian cuisine take the reins. There are some stellar crossovers now, too, like the creamy and herby parisian gnocchi. Vinoteca Pompette aims to offer relaxed, fuss-free dining, but with an excellent wine list and house cocktails, a meal here will always feel like a special occasion.
9. Mott 32
190 University Ave.
Is it just us, or has Toronto grown up? Yet another acclaimed international chain has chosen to open a new location in the city. Mott 32’s identity brushes almost every surface in the gorgeous new three-story spot, from the literature decorating the walls to the weiqi-style ceilings, meant to emulate the world's oldest board game. Opulence is in no short supply; the antique brass bar, which features a double-height ceiling and dazzling custom bright green jade bricks (a sign of luck in Chinese culture), is pure eye candy as you sip and snack. Enjoy dim sum, premium kobe beef cuts, their famous 42-day apple-wood-roasted peking duck and more.
10. Lano
The Ritz-Carlton, Toronto, 181 Wellington St. W.
This September, gorgeous new café and wine bar Lano opened its doors. A contraction of Milano, the Toronto café brings northern Italy to the lobby of The Ritz Carlton, Toronto. Decked out in marble, light wood and gold, the cream-coated café is part of a refresh that will see the dated hotel lobby infused with a beautiful, modern aesthetic. The menu transforms from grab-and-go pastries and espresso in the morning to salads and antipasti for lunch, paired with a selection of 30 Italian wines and Italian cocktails.
11. Pizzeria No.900
1987 Queen St. E.
Pizza lovers, this is not a drill. Legendary Montreal-based Pizzeria No.900 ventured into Ontario this summer with a Beaches location, bringing next-level excellence to the science of dough and another contender in the age-old battle of the city’s best pizza.
The Quebec transplant is named after the temperature (900 F) that a classic pizza should be cooked at, according to The True Neapolitan Pizza Association.
Pizza comes flying out of the wood-fired oven, smothered in organic tomatoes that have been grown in the volcanic-rich soils of the Amalfi Coast. Pizzeria No.900 also makes a mean white base ‘za, like the spicy Diavolo Ventricina, with nduja sausage and fior de latte. Their 55-seat dining room is also worth a visit, and those dining in will find molte ways to pair dough, from refreshing spritzes to privately imported Italian wines.
12. Jade Yorkville
137 Avenue Rd.
Sleek. Sophisticated. Polished. Clean lines. It might sound like Jeremy Clarkson describing a Lamborghini, but these adjectives work equally well for Jade Yorkville, a new spot in the swanky hood. Unlike a sports car, Jade wasn’t built for speed. Linger at the Italian marble bar, and order umami cocktails from beverage director Jake Dolgy (COC, Marked), or get comfy in one of the velvet booths and devour Asian-inspired French fare, like caviar-topped corn dogs, from executive chef Hermawan Lay.
13. Sammarco
4 Front St. E.
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Carnivores, this is one to get excited about. Chef Rob Rossi’s latest joint, Sammarco is a classic Italian steakhouse set to open later this fall. At the helm of both Giuletta and Osteria Giulia, Rossi is no stranger to Michelin recognition, so, while it’s still shrouded in mystery, it’s safe to assume Sammarco will debut as one of the best new restaurants in Toronto.
14. Elijah’s Automatic Flame Broiled
821 The Queensway, Etobicoke
You know Toronto’s obsession with burger-and-fry joints has reached new heights when we’re trekking out to Etobicoke for a good patty. Luckily, for fans of beef-fat fries and old-school milkshakes, Burger’s Priest founder, Shant Mardirosian, has cemented himself as Toronto’s patty purveyor supreme with the much-hyped (but rightfully so) Elijah’s Automatic Flame Broiled. Start with the eponymous Automatic burger, a six-ounce, flame-broiled beauty topped with ketchup, mustard, pickle, onion and optional bacon.
15. Lee Yakiniku
5330 Yonge St., North York
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If we can’t fire up the grill for a while, we’ll happily head to North York for Japanese BBQ. Lee Yakiniku offers a menu of all-you-can-eat heavy-hitters like wagyu beef, kalbi short ribs and dessert, plus non-alcoholic drinks are part of the deal. There’s also a solid list of sake, soju and beer to peruse while soaking in the vibes, which continue until 2 a.m.
16. The Berczy Tavern
69 Front St. E.
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From the team behind popular Italian restaurants Amano Trattoria and Bar Notte, The Berczy Tavern is Old Toronto’s newest hidden gem. The dining room is a blend of classic charm, with exposed red brick, piano performances and gorgeous wood floors; and modern touches, like disc-shaped light fixtures, a matte-black bartop and sleek green leather booths.
Chef-owner Michael Angeloni’s menu is compact, and mainly surf-and-turf and pasta. We wouldn’t blame you for diving face-first into The Berczy Burger, a blend of dry-aged chuck and brisket plus bacon, served with a heavenly triple cream brie. Or, opt for the finger-licking rack of lamb with a pistachio crust.
17. Ceci Bar
33 Yonge St. #101
Billed as a fresh take on O&B hotspot, Leña, Ceci Bar is named after chef Anthony Walsh’s daughter, Cecilia. Ceci is big, bright and colourful — the mosaic behind the bar is a sure-fire conversation starter on a casual first date. The exciting pan-Latin menu has something for everyone, from small plates to large meals to share, and fun snacks like nitrogen popcorn with “dragon breath smoke.” Visit during their daily happy hour for steep deals on drinks, and $7 select snacks.
18. Mandy’s Salads – Yorkville
110 Bloor St. W.
Sisters Mandy and Rebecca Wolfe aren’t slowing down. They’ve just opened the fourth — and the second this year — Toronto location of their beloved build-your-own salad chain, this time in Yorkville. At 1,600 square feet, Mandy’s Salads Yorkville is inspired by Marrakech, Morocco. It’s decked out in greenery and impressive crystal chandeliers. Name a cuter place to chomp on your fresh lunch — we’ll wait.
19. Cactus Club Cafe Yonge Sheppard Centre
4841 Yonge St., North York
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Cactus Club’s sprawling fourth Toronto location clocks in at a whopping 14,000 square feet, and seats up to 350 diners. As always, Cactus Club’s famous happy hour runs from 2–5 p.m. every day, 9 p.m. to close from Sunday to Thursday and from 10 p.m. to close on Friday and Saturdays.
20. Bar Maaya
244 Adelaide St. W.
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Unlike its past life as college kid hangout Bar 244, you won’t be getting a gin and tonic spilled on you at Bar Maaya. The swanky cocktail lounge at Duncan and Adelaide has completely transformed the space; checkered floors, moody arches and plush red chairs complete the sultry atmosphere. The drinks range from familiar favourites, like a Martinez or El Presidente, to show-stoppers like the mezcal-forward Smokey Trails. Duel with your date over small plates, like chicken karaage and red garlic shrimp.
21. Taqueria Vegana
1543 Dupont St.
Partners in love and vegan tacos, Karla Hernández and Abel Páez both grew up in Cuernavaca, Mexico. They’ve brought their love of food and veganism to The Junction with a humble new taqueria, boasting a small but mighty menu of Mexican flavours.
Taqueria Vegana has long been a cult favourite, having seen success as a pop-up and ghost kitchen. Now, at their full-fledged brick-and-mortar eatery tucked in a strip of shops, you’ll be able to dunk crispy, meaty mushroom tacos into their lauded birria broth or sink your teeth into an impossible chorizo burrito. Douse the spice with a sidral mundet, a.k.a. the best Mexican apple soda, ever.
22. Made Rite Coffee
68 Wales Ave.
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Kensington is chock-full of great java joints, but this new kid on the block is already a standout with some seriously jaw-dropping, loaded sammies. The cute, retro vibes (complete with classic Coca Cola menus) paired with the ooey, gooey SEC (sausage, egg, cheese) sandwich will make for the perfect Instagram photo.
