Now that the summer frenzy is over, dining out no longer feels like a desperate dash to soak up every last drop of sunlight. Summer feels like a high-stakes battle to snag the best seat on the best Toronto patios, eat the best meals at the best restaurants in the city and have the best time. In the fall, when things slow down, our curiosity and adventurous spirit return. We’re ready to try new Toronto restaurants of all kinds.
These days, just putting on real pants and venturing outside of the house to try a new restaurant feels like a treat in and of itself. And lucky for us, some of Toronto’s top talent have opened new restaurants this fall, so we know they’re going to be good.
September’s Michelin Guide announcement always adds new Toronto restaurants to our foodie bucket lists, but it doesn’t tell the whole story. There are always a few Michelin Guide misses, and new restaurants won’t have a shot at recognition until next year. So, we’ve rounded up the most exciting new Toronto restaurants opening this fall that are worth getting off the couch for.
19 new Toronto restaurants that just opened for fall
1. Eloise and Bar Cart
42 The Esplanade
The former Shoeless Joe’s space on The Esplanade has been completely reimagined. Brothers Graham and Dan Hnatiw — best known for The Old Spaghetti Factory next door — knew their next venture needed to raise the bar, going beyond the proliferation of beer-focused pubs on the strip near St. Lawrence Market. The result is a modern-art-filled space divided into two distinct concepts. On one side sits Eloise, a bright and contemporary 85-seat restaurant where chef Akhil Hajare (Alo, Le Sélect Bistro) serves handmade pasta, seafood and polished tableside dishes.
Next door, behind a moodier curtain, is Bar Cart, a speakeasy-style cocktail lounge helmed by Montreal mixology star Andrew Whibley (Cloakroom Bar). Here, guests can nibble on smaller bites and sip inventive signature cocktails, like the Espresso Ghost, a silky nitro espresso martini served with a foamy flourish.
2. ORO Small Plates & Cocktails
501 College St.
Obsession with The White Lotus seems to have permeated everything lately, including the concept for this new restaurant in Little Italy. At Oro, the decor changes slightly every "episode," while the entire concept changes every "season," just like the restaurant's inspiration. Chef-owner Hemant Bhagwani describes it as a "pop-up on steroids."
"Oro" means "gold" in Spanish, and during “Season One, Episode One,” there's plenty of the lush colour throughout the modern vintage glam space. With arching ceilings, crushed velvet and rattan furniture, wood-panelled walls and curving cut-outs, the space is soothing, sophisticated and a little eccentric.
Dine like a "White Lotus" guest at the new Oro Small Plates & Cocktails
Inspired by the hit TV show, Oro evolves with each new "season," serving inventive small plates with unheard of flavour combinations and complex, balanced cocktails to match.
Read moreThe plates are as experimental as the concept, blending Indian dishes and flavours with global influences. Served in the style of Spanish tapas, everything is meant to be shared, which is great because you'll want to try as many of these bewildering bites as possible. Hummus is piled high with calamari and shrimp, avocado tartare is smoked and served in the style of chaat, and claypot rice is stirred up tableside. The cocktails fit in seamlessly with the food, like a missing puzzle piece — they just click. The notes are complex yet subtle and balanced in the glass, allowing the flavourful dishes to shine.
3. The Frederick
10 Temperance St.
One of our favourite date spots for splurge-worthy seafood, The Chase, now has a sister right below it. On the ground floor of the historic Dineen Building, The Frederick reimagines the classic bar and grill with a modern aesthetic that combines comfort and polish. Cory Vitiello’s menu promises classic dishes, done really well, from oversized salads and handmade pastas to the return of his famous Harbord Room Burger.
4. Lonely Diner
432 College St.
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There’s an entire roster of heavyweight bartending champions behind this new cocktail spot at College and Bathurst. The team behind Midnight Snack Bar, Midnight Arcade and Big Trouble join forces with Kaleb Hansen (Barchef), Sasha Siegel (Overpressure Club, Bar Banane) and Jon Kim (After Seven) to serve complex cocktails, snack plates and top-notch vibes.
5. Hoyra Gastrobar
1566 Bloor St. W.
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A perfect, “started from the bottom, now we’re here” story, Tanya Matkivska began selling her homemade pierogi out of a church basement. Her Heavenly Perogy brand popped up at festivals and events all over the city, and now Matkivska has opened Hoyra Gastrobar, an elevated spot for contemporary Ukrainian cuisine with an Eastern European influence. The High Park North spot serves lunch, dinner and weekend brunch.
6. The Hive by Honey Soul Food
907 Dundas St. W.
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Torontonians can finally get their hands (and mouths) on the famous cornbread from legendary Mississauga restaurant Honey Soul Food. Taking over the former Saving Grace space on Dundas West, The Hive promises the same comforting, Halal-friendly dishes, like sauced-up hot honey wings, Cajun-battered shrimp and creamy mac and cheese, now served tapas style.
7. Taberna Lx
1161 Dundas St. W.
Finally, a new Portuguese restaurant opens its doors in Little Portugal with a fresh take on the country’s cuisine. Raised in Hong Kong near a former Portuguese colony, head chef Jonathan Poon and owner Kelly Amaral, whose parents opened the neighbourhood’s first Portuguese grocery store in the 1960s, have crafted a love letter to Lisbon. Taberna Lx offers familiar flavours served in inventive, modern ways, alongside classic cocktails reimagined with Portuguese ingredients, all set in a polished atmosphere.
8. Bar Reyna
158 Cumberland St.
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Bar Reyna is back and better than ever after a six-month hiatus to repair the Yorkville restaurant’s Victorian structure. Expect rich design tones, pergolas and greenery at the updated space on Cumberland Street, and — we’re pleased to report — a reprisal of the year-round back patio. Executive chef Jordan Cabal, who ran the kitchen at 416 Snack Bar, has taken over the reins, bringing a medley of old classics (the Lamb Baklava ain’t going nowhere) and new finger-licking bites like fried chicken wings topped with caviar. The cocktail menu has also been expanded, so guests can try tipples featuring cheese-washed rye alongside Bar Reyna staples.
9. Seahorse
1226 Yonge St.
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Another new spot with some serious Toronto talent behind it, the soon-to-open Seahorse restaurant is headed up by Federico Garcia, previously the senior sous-chef at the Michelin-starred Quetzal. The new Summerhill seafood restaurant team also includes Eamon Clark, the oyster-shucking champ from Rodney’s Oyster House. Our hopes are high and our tummies are rumbling.
10. Uncle Pete's
161 Baldwin St.
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Kensington Market has always proudly tooted its homegrown horn, and now it's where sandwich pop-up Uncle Pete’s is putting down permanent roots. What began in 2024 as a catering project between friends looking to sling stuffed sandwiches between homemade rosemary focaccia quickly snowballed into a full-blown obsession. After pop-ups at breweries (and a Toronto sandwich craze), Uncle Pete’s has landed in the Dipped Donuts space. Expect lineups and plan accordingly: Fan faves like The OG — filled to the brim with whipped lemon ricotta, mortadella, prosciutto, soppressata, chilli crisp and arugula — are worth pre-ordering.
11. OPS Burger
566 Queen St. W.
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Do we really need another smash burger spot? Yes, we absolutely do. OPS Burger is slinging sauce-slathered handhelds loaded with toppings and waffle-cut fries in a funky space on Queen West, and we are here for it. The smashed fries see their regular, crispy, golden fries loaded with cheese sauce, caramelized onions, jalapeños and gochujang, and topped with a smashed beef patty or crispy fried chicken. Yum.
12. Makilala
105 Church St.
The Regulars’ ambitious new venture sees acclaimed chef Nuit Regular behind the pass once more, preparing Filipino family recipes like chicken adobo and sinigang. Slide into one of the long communal tables, or grab a stool at the bar that’s designed to look like a sari-sari convenience store. In the barangay-inspired space, there’s even a painted basketball court on the floor, and a large stage for DJs, stand-up comedy and karaoke.
13. Sambal
463 Danforth Ave.
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Sambal began as a pandemic project, delivering Indonesian food to those craving the sour, sweet and spicy flavours of the Southeast Asian country. Following its success, including a pop-up spot in Mississauga, Sambal — named after the chilli-based condiment — has finally found a permanent home on the Danforth. Try their signature cocktails, featuring coconut milk, guava, and pandan flavours, alongside char-grilled chicken and meatballs, staples like nasi goreng and beef rendang, plus classic desserts with a delicious Indonesian twist.
14. The Cure by TMA
19 Mercer St.
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The Morning After has long been the go-to for curing hangovers and swapping stories after a big night out. Now, the team behind the CityPlace brunch staple is introducing a lighter alternative. The Cure, newly opened inside the Nobu Hotel on Mercer Street, puts wellness at the forefront with smoothies, salads, power bowls, and wholesome wraps. Signature drinks like the Iced Pistachio Matcha Latte prove that even caffeine cravings deserve a cure.
15. Bitters and Bloom
577 A College St.
Above J’s Steak Frites, this jazzy new speakeasy is a fine addition to Little Italy’s thriving cocktail scene. Shiny floral light fixtures punctuate pitch-black walls; the plush red booths are filled with guests raving over the tipple or small bites that just arrived at their table. Bar manager James McNeely is behind the cocktail menu, which features highlights like the herbaceous Kermit’s Revenge, and the infinitely crushable Don’t Dream It’s Over.
16. Misc Coffee
299 Ossington Ave.
Clean lines, soft light and specialty sips (hello, pandan iced latte) define this minimalist Ossington café that feels more like a design studio than a coffee shop. Inside seating is limited, but you can always take your sweet treats, cappuccino or watermelon soda (yes, really) out front, where a brick wall and bench make the perfect Instagrammable perch.
17. Giragi
486 Front St. W. Lower Ground Level
Michelin-recommended Taline in Rosedale is one of Toronto’s standout openings in the last few years. Now, the team has launched a fast-casual sister spot at Wellington Market, where fans can enjoy its comforting Armenian flavours for lunch or dinner. Giragi — named after the Armenian word for Sunday, a day for gathering and feasting — was inspired by the restaurant's sold-out BBQ pop-up events where customers gorged on grilled meats. Located inside The Well’s busy food hall, the counter specializes in Armenian and Lebanese-style kebab sandwiches and bowls, offering a quick way to enjoy the Yacoubian family’s plates.
18. ALMA + GIL
392 Dufferin St.
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Gerry Quintero and Mandy Sou are back doing what they love — making delicious breakfast sandwiches. Alma + Gil has gone through a lot of beta tasting over the years, from a kombucha company to a pandemic pop-up, plus a brief stint where Quintero was heading up the menu at College Street’s Ficoa. Now, Alma + Gil is in its perfect format: a café serving Sou’s Hong Kong-inspired brunch in the daytime and a dinner service focused on Quintero’s Mexican heritage, all served in a beautiful, airy space in Little Portugal.
19. Portland Square
600 King St. W.
King West seems to debut a buzzy new restaurant every month, but Portland Square raised the bar by opening four under one roof. The multi-level destination houses Rodeo Dive, a country-inspired sports bar; Honey Chinese, a modern take on Chinese dining; Prima Donna, a swanky Italian spot; and the Portland Room, a sleek events space.
