After a particularly long and arduous Toronto winter, we’ve been ready and waiting to shed our extra layers in exchange for some much-needed sunshine. As the city begins to emerge from hibernation, a familiar itch is back — we’re hungry to get out and sample what’s cooking at the best new restaurants in Toronto.
From an oasis in the Financial District that’s already attracting Michelin buzz, to the reinvention of an iconic steakhouse and a fun new spot from the team behind Pai, the docket of new Toronto restaurants opening this spring has our stomachs grumbling. The bar scene isn’t being left behind, either — Slice of Life, a glitzy, Little Italy speakeasy-style haunt, just became a top contender for one of the most romantic restaurants in Toronto. On the Ossington strip, Please and Thank You, from the Oddseoul team, stands toe-to-toe, tipple-to-tipple with the best bars in Toronto.
Hidden gems aren’t going out of style anytime soon, and there’s a new one to add to the list of the best new restaurants in Toronto — Bindi’s Burgers, which is already flipping some of the best burgers in the city. There’s even a new champagne bar and lounge tucked away at Yorkdale Shopping Centre.
We can practically smell shorts weather just around the corner, and we can’t wait to get out to the best patios in Toronto. Until we can start sipping and snacking in the sunshine, the best new restaurants in Toronto are ready and waiting to satiate our bottomless appetite.
19 new Toronto restaurants that just opened for spring
1. Louf
501 Davenport Rd.
Still an under-the-radar cuisine in Toronto, Palestinian food is on full display at Louf. Set in a two-storey converted house at the foot of Casa Loma, the restaurant is a celebration of Palestinian culture, showcasing Palestinian art and playing Palestinian music over the speakers in the intimate dining rooms.
Co-owner and chef Fadi Kattan honed his culinary skills in France before opening his first restaurant in Bethlehem. He travelled across Palestine cooking traditional dishes alongside grandmothers for a documentary series, before eventually opening Louf in Toronto. His dishes are a reflection of his background, offering modern and unique takes on Palestinian cuisine along with more traditional plates, made with Palestinian and local ingredients.
The wine list features a lot of local pours and international bottles, but the glasses from Galilee are the standout.
Everyone needs to dine at Louf Palestinian restaurant in Toronto
Louf Palestinian restaurant in Toronto is a beautiful celebration of Palestine and an acknowledgement of its people — and it's needed now more than ever.
Read more2. Raffaela
296 Brunswick Ave.
Hankering for a piece of some of the best ‘za in the city? Mosey into Raffaella, a pop-up-turned-permanent spot in The Annex Hotel. Drizzle truffle oil on a slice of French Fig (ricotta, mozzarella, figs, walnuts and lemon zest), or throw caution completely to the wind and (slam) dunk their classic sourdough pepperoni in Spicy P hot sauce. Raffaella serves other comforting Italian mains, like chicken parm, rigatoni and garlic cheese sticks, too.
3. Please and Thank You
108 Ossington Ave.
Chantecler alum chef Milo Beaubien-Wright helms the menu at this new Ossington snack bar from the owner of Oddseoul, just a few doors down. Sip cocktails and enjoy tasty plates with international influences. A lot of the bites (like their obsession-worthy burrata, truffle mushroom poutine and Pulled Lamb Rann-wich) come in at $20 or less, which is a steal in this economy.
4. Ayla Upstairs
794 Dundas St. W.
The brainchild of Craig Wong, Danvee Kwok, Kevin Shawcross and Ivy Lam, Ayla Upstairs is tucked away in an intimate space above Patois. Decorated as an ode to Hong Kong, it’s reminiscent of a top-secret supper club. Kwok and Shawcross's menu trots the globe — their cassareep-glazed char siu is unmissable.
5. Casa Morales
152 Augusta Ave.
The team behind Gus Tacos didn’t stray far from their iconic Kensington location for their ambitious and glamorous new project. Of course, you’ll find the classic Mexican dish on the menu — including a seductive rib eye taco — but there’s no parchment paper or silver trays here. Chef Felipe Kwon’s presentations are sophisticated; starters like cheesy empanadas and rockfish ceviche are art on the plate. Quench your thirst with signature cocktails like the creamy, rum-soaked Agüita de Horchata.
6. Tha Phae Tavern
221 Richmond St. W.
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Dynamic duo behind Toronto’s most iconic restaurant, Pai, chef Nuit Regular and Jeff Regular are back with a brand-new concept in the now-shuttered Selva location. Inspired by Chiang Mai’s Tha Phae Gate, the high-energy, bold and colourful new spot will serve classic Thai bar snacks. Bring your friends and snap pics in the photobooth, try your luck at the claw machine or book one of two private karaoke rooms.
7. The Lost Land
146 Yonge St., Unit 101
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The Lost Land, a nature-themed oasis serving fine farm-to-table fare, is already attracting potential Michelin buzz. Helmed by Mexico-born chef Cesar Karanapakorn, the menu is dominated by classic French and Italian favourites, but he doesn’t shy away from sprinkling in his heritage, like in the succulent lamb rack with mole sauce.
8. Harbour Sixty
60 Harbour St.
After a multimillion-dollar facelift, one of Toronto’s most iconic steakhouses has opened its doors to unveil a new look and several new restaurant concepts. Spread across the first two floors, Harbour Sixty’s flagship restaurant will continue to feature classic chophouse favourites, from the elegant shrimp cocktail to premium local and international beef selections. Up on the fourth floor, Arianna offers sweeping skyline views paired with modern Italian plates. Estelle on the third floor will host more intimate events and private dining in The Cellar, a space full of curated vintages.
9. Bindi’s Burgers
12 Clinton St. Upstairs (above the Monarch Tavern)
People talk a lot about hidden gems in Toronto, but there’s no patty in the city more shrouded in mystery than Bindi’s Burgers, tucked away above the Monarch Tavern. Head up the stairs into the pub and look for the takeaway window, where chef Remo Lobo is slinging 100 per cent halal, Indian-inspired burgers layered with tangy tomato chutney, spiced aiolis and secret sauce. In addition to the juicy and addictive burgers, you’ll find Indian spins on classic diner fare, like deep-fried paneer in place of mozzarella sticks, and nuggets dipped in a heavenly butter chicken sauce.
10. Cassius
624 King St. W.
Toronto’s Fashion District is about to get a swanky new spot for pasta. Cassius Cucina Contemporanea is owned by Italian duo Pat Lisi and Bruno Commodari, who aim to bring classic dishes with a modern twist, blending time-honoured techniques with the finest ingredients. The restaurant is set to open in spring, with a patio rumoured to follow this summer, just in time for al fresco season.
11. Blanco Cantina
384 Bloor St. W.
Western Canada’s go-to spot for tacos and margaritas launched its first Ontario location earlier this year — and we can’t wait to try their twice-daily happy hour deals. The laid back space is located in The Annex neighbourhood and promises a good time, whether you’re chilling after work with chips, dips and a frosty one, or sampling a tequila flight and working your way through Blanco Cantina’s classic taco menu.
12. The Hut Smoothie and Juice Bar
2528 Yonge St.
This Muskoka transplant has been serving smoothies and colourful fruit bowls to the North York neighbourhood since the end of 2024. Seeing a gap in the market for simple, quality food, twin sisters Sydney and Ashley Bly opened a juice bar during the pandemic, launching The Hut from a tiny boat ramp in the Muskoka community.
The beautiful Toronto space, designed by Denizens of Design and DS Studio, is the latest extension in the healthy franchise. Pick up condiments from local makers or stay a while and enjoy an avocado smashed toast and specialty drink with matcha.
13. Campaniae by Delysées
3401 Dufferin St.
Luxury dessert shop Delysées already has boutiques all over the city where you can indulge in their decadent and gorgeous desserts, but now they have a new feather in their cap. Just opened at the ever-elevating Yorkdale Mall, Camapaniae by Delysées is an elegant, Moroccan-inspired champagne bar and lounge — because who doesn’t get thirsty for champagne when they’re shopping at high-end stores? Cocktails and Moroccan-inspired share plates round out the offerings.
14. Queens Harbour
245 Queens Quay Way West (North Building)
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Move over Amsterdam Brewhouse — there’s a sprawling new Toronto restaurant coming right next door. This spring, Queens Harbour is taking over a 23,000 square-foot-space in a historic brick building on the waterfront. The 800-seat restaurant is slated to have the largest retractable restaurant roof in the country, an outdoor terrace, private dining rooms and three distinct dining areas. The menu of “MediterrAsian” cuisine promises mezzes for sharing, plenty of dishes kissed with charcoal and a full raw and sushi bar.
15. Waterworks Food Hall new additions: Rasta Pasta, Hanoi Bites, Tantxo and Emilia Portuguese
50 Brant St.
We don’t know if it’s the high demand or the friendly competition, but our favourite food halls have been levelling up their offerings with the addition of some hot new Toronto restaurants to their already stacked rosters.
At Waterworks Food Hall, the famed Kensington Market fusion spot for Jamaican-Italian fare, Rasta Pasta moves in this spring. In February, Hanoi Bites, a once home-based kitchen, got its first brick-and-mortar location to sling Vietnamese iced coffee and banh mi. Meanwhile, carnivores can get excited for the first Ontario outpost of Montréal’s Emilia Portuguese Grilled Chicken coming this summer, or satiate themselves with Argentine steakhouse Tantxo, which opened at Waterworks in December.
16. Slice of Life
409 College St.
Discover the unassuming entrance at Lippincott and College, and immerse yourself in Slice of Life, a swanky cocktail bar serving handcrafted cocktails and a small-but-mighty menu of bar bites. You’ve already seen the glowing, mirrored hallway all over your Instagram, but trust us — you can only fully appreciate its opulence in person.
The drink menu, titled “Humanature,” spins the same two central ingredients into completely different cocktails. They have bottle service, too, but if you don’t finish your bottle before the end of the night, Slice of Life will keep it on display in a glass case, for you to enjoy on your next visit.
17. Piano Piano Bloor and Piano Piano Leslieville
1006 Bloor St. W. and Dundas St. E.
This beloved spot for pizza and pasta has expanded to two new Toronto locations in very quick succession. Now Leslieville and Bloordale each have their own unique but equally flamboyantly decorated iterations of Piano Piano. Find the same menu of elevated, comforting dishes; craft cocktails; and plenty of wine by the glass or bottle.
18. East Tea Can Express
486 Front St. W.
Shifting towards grab-and-go convenience, East Tea Can in The Well has relaunched as East Tea Can Express. Now, the menu is centred around build-your-own Middle Eastern bowls; pick your protein, sides and dip. Dig in and then carry on with your shopping spree.
19. Salt Grass & Rare
1333 Bay St.
The opening of Salt Grass & Rare is still shrouded in mystery, but what we do know is that the new fine dining restaurant will be housed inside the ultra-luxe 50 Scollard Condominiums in Yorkville. So, it’s safe to assume the new Toronto restaurant will be an upscale affair. The vision for the space includes a modern dining room, bar and lounge, plus a lush greenspace with a grand terrace and water features. Coming from the same team behind The Butcher Chef, Michael's On Simcoe and Oliver's Steakhouse in Oakville, Salt Grass & Rare is expected to be a high-end steakhouse.
