One of the coldest winters on record is finally over, spring is in the air and new Toronto restaurants and bars are popping up like wildflowers. It's a good time to head out and explore, and start crossing the best restaurants in Toronto off your list before the crowds of tourists overrun the city when summer hits. With fresh new spring menus and gorgeous Toronto patios primed for sipping a cold one in the sunshine, the best bars in the city are also begging for a visit.
Toronto's food news headlines are stuffed to the brim with new restaurant openings, festivals in full swing and exciting new collabs. The city woke up from its winter slumber and hit the ground running. Best of all, the new Toronto restaurants and bars that are opening up aren't just your average run of the mill spots — we're seeing industry heavyweights join forces to push the culinary and mixology envelopes, and restaurant vets establish new concepts (like Bar Allegro from the Pompette team).
Then, there are the iconic spots revamping their offerings. Sure, it's not quite a new Toronto restaurant opening, but it's the next best thing, and we're pretty darn excited about it.
Add these new Toronto restaurants to your list of spring and summer adventures — it won't be long before the Michelin Guide is back in town and the best new spots in the city are constantly booked up.
22 of the best new Toronto restaurants and bars
1. Riley's Fish and Steak
155 Wellington St. W.
Riley’s Fish and Steak made a splash on Toronto’s dining scene when it opened this spring. The Michelin-recommended Vancouver import has taken over the former Shore Club at Simcoe and Wellington, transforming the over 8,000-square-foot space into a refined fish and chophouse with a mezzanine and patio.
Designed as a serene urban retreat, Riley’s is the kind of place built for repeat visits — whether that’s a big night out or a spontaneous after-work cocktail situation.
The menu leans classic and indulgent, with expertly grilled prime cuts, signature sides, and seafood standbys like oysters rockefeller, crab cakes and the iconic King Chilled Seafood Tower. Rounding it all out is a nightly live music program, which promises to turn dinner into a full-blown evening out.
2. Bar Etc.
1036 Gerrard St. E.
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Taking over the former Dive Shop space, Sasha Siegel and Lee Stein’s Bar Etc. is a tropical neighbourhood haunt. Bites are inspired by warm climates; expect lots of seafood and an addictive Hawaiian pizza. The patio will open in the summer months, with a projector for community events.
3. Corduroy Lounge
1012 Queen St. E.
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A decades-long dream became reality late last year when Iain, a Glaswegian hospitality lifer, opened the doors to his Leslieville hybrid eatery. After years in the industry — working his way from dishwasher to wine director at a two-Michelin-star restaurant — he’s finally created a cozy neighbourhood spot of his own. Settle into a booth or bar stool and dig into Brit hits like pie and mash, with vinyl spinning in the background and craft cocktails rounding out the experience.
4. Archie’s
106 Broadview Ave.
The beloved Broadview Hotel's Rooftop usually steals all the attention with its sweeping views of the city skyline and the Don River, but now a new Toronto restaurant opening on the ground floor will be vying for your affection. Dubbed a family-friendly neighbourhood spot, Archie's will offer elevated takes on classic dishes and drinks, paired with pool tables, a photobooth and screens showing the game.
5. Chez Nad
780 Queen St. W.
Arguably the most famous baker in Toronto, Nadège Nourian has built a small empire of patisseries macaron by macaron since 2009. Now, she’s evolving her popular Queen Street location into something even sweeter — the café has introduced a full-service bistro and cocktail bar. Behind the pass is chef Laura Maxwell (Le Sélect, The Drake, Avling), whose menu will subtly reimagine familiar favourites — think escargots, and steak frites with tarragon aioli and shallot jus.
6. Mozy's
114 Atlantic Ave.
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A rotisserie chicken, charcoal-grilled by a former Alo chef de cuisine, might sound like the figment of a hunger-induced daydream, but that’s exactly what’s on the menu at Mozy’s. Nestled right in Liberty Village, chef Barbode Soudi’s new restaurant centres on charcoal-roasted chicken, drawing on his Iranian heritage.
7. Crosstown Craft BBQ
51 Comstock Rd.
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Beloved barbecue fixture Crosstown Craft BBQ is finally putting down permanent roots — and bringing the smoke with it. After years of drawing loyal crowds to regular residencies at Brunswick Bierworks in East York, pitmaster Ruben Silva now has the keys to his own Scarborough spot. Expect trays piled high with mouthwatering ribs, brisket and burnt ends, all done in the Texas-style tradition he honed over countless trips south of the border.
8. Kensington Jerk & Pasta
61 Kensington Ave.
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Last year, Rasta Pasta in Kensington announced they’d be closing. Just a month later though, Rasta Pasta reopened as Kensington Jerk & Pasta, serving the same Italian-Jamaican fusion that Toronto has come to love. Its next-door bar will be refreshed as Kensington Rum Bar.
9. Pasta Privato
11 Church St.
Tucked inside Bar Notte, in a tiny 20-seat room hidden behind a red curtain, sits Pasta Privato — the latest offering from Michael Angeloni. The talented chef behind The Berczy Tavern expands his Old Toronto footprint here, bridging the gap between sharp culinary precision and the rustic traditions of Italy.
If the scent of buttery pasta isn’t enough to calm your nervous system, the room’s ocean-blue walls will surely set your soul at ease. Go à la carte, or strap in for an eight-course tasting menu ($125 pp) that tips its cap to the culinary influences Angeloni has worked alongside, or that have shaped his lens along the way.
From Iberico pork to rabbit to beef heart, alongside generous servings of hand-rolled pasta finished with a dusting of Italian cheese, the chef’s latest foray feels like his boldest — and perhaps his best.
10. Downlow Chicken Shack
538 Manning Ave.
Harbord Village now lays claim to the first Toronto outpost of this popular fried chicken spot. Downlow Chicken Shack — DL Chicken for short — has built a cult following in Vancouver, and hopes to bring that same level of hysteria east. Judging by the buzz surrounding its launch, the outlook is promising.
The brand is best known for its crispy birds, served in sandos and by the piece, alongside satisfying sides like mac and cheese, pickle slaw and crinkle-cut fries. While the dining room seats just 20, plans are already in motion to add a patio.
11. Brasserie Côte
400 Bloor St. W.
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Côte de Bœuf on Ossington has long been a staple of Toronto’s dining scene, but until now, the beloved butcher-shop-restaurant-wine-bar has been limited to just 20 coveted seats. Enter Brasserie Côte on Bloor, giving steak frites devotees and escargot enthusiasts a fresh chance to sink into the effortlessly chic French brasserie vibes that owner Teo Paul does so well.
In the kitchen, chef Damien Cochez leans into the classics while weaving in globally inspired plates, all served in a space that ticks every brasserie box — think wooden bar stools, rows of well-loved wine bottles and an unmistakable hum of conviviality. Le swoon, indeed.
12. Enoteca Rossio
1444 Dupont St.
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Another Toronto restaurant is looking to Italy for its rebrand, this time with Junction Triangle stalwart Piri Piri Grill transforming into Enoteca Rossio. Chef Andrew Capone is serving up classic pastas, silky housemade pizzas and beef tenderloin drizzled with red wine jus inside the stylish Dupont Street space. From brunch through late-night nightcaps, it’s a full embrace of la dolce vita.
13. Mercer Lounge
30 Mercer St.
Martinis are having a moment in Toronto, and the new Mercer Lounge on the ground floor of Le Germain Hotel Toronto Mercer (right across from Punch) is just the place to sip them. Their Freezer Door Martinis menu runs from the classic to the extra dirty to the gibson. And, of course, you can get an espresso martini, too. If your friends aren't martini people, they also have some classic cocktails, alongside a menu of elevated bar bites (because you can't subsist on olives alone). Visit midweek and you'll catch live music filling the moody, earthy lounge.
14. Naari Thai BBQ
501 College St.
Little Italy is breaking with tradition. Hemant Bhagwani has transitioned Oro — a rotating, White Lotus-inspired fusion concept — into Naari Thai BBQ, a newcomer spotlighting the smoky, spicy flavours of Southern Thailand.
At the helm is chef Nagu Kandan, whose cooking style draws on time spent alongside street food hawkers, local markets and open-fire cooking. Expect dishes rooted in Thai barbecue traditions but layered with Thai, Indian and Chinese influences — a nod to the cultural crossroads that define Southern Thai cuisine. Behind the bar, Sakshi Humne brings serious cocktail pedigree, with a resume that includes time at Michelin-recognized Bar Goa.
15. Marugame Udon
494 Yonge St.
Japan’s famous handmade udon noodles have officially touched down on Yonge Street. Marugame Udon’s first Toronto outpost serves freshly cut noodles in its signature Sanuki-style bowls, prepared daily in front of guests at the 80-seat fast-casual restaurant. Known for its chewy, springy noodles and cafeteria-style ordering, the Japanese chain lets guests customize their bowls with everything from rich, comforting broths to golden tempura.
16. Bar Libretto
221 Ossington Ave.
Ossington's long-standing pizza joint has been reimagined with a tighter menu, a stronger focus on its drinks program and an injection of late-night energy. Bar Libretto still serves the same Neapolitan pizza, but now you'll find it alongside a twice daily happy hour and weekend DJ beats. It's a more bar-forward, intimate spot that matches the evolution of Ossington's vibe.
pizzerialibretto.com/bar-libretto
17. NOYAA
437 Wellington St. W.
This nightclub-restaurant hybrid launched at The Well this spring, blending Mediterranean and Asian influences into one big night out. The 7,000-square-foot destination marks the first Canadian outpost from Dubai’s Tribes Hospitality Investment Group, pairing international DJs with theatrical dishes like Truffle Lobster and towering seafood platters.
18. Makann
866 Bathurst St.
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Toronto’s boom of Palestinian restaurants continues with the arrival of Makann in the Annex. Mohammed Alkurd has launched a breakfast counter dedicated to late-morning (and early-lunch) snacking, serving Palestinian flatbreads topped with egg, zaatar, and labneh with smoked salmon.
19. Kyma Mediterranean Grill
2865 Dundas St. W.
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Hemant Bhagwani is a busy man, but somehow between opening 60 restaurants, he’s found time to open another new Toronto restaurant. This time, it's health-conscious, functional dining concept Kyma. The restaurant serves protein-packed Mediterranean bowls from its location in The Junction.
20. New York Sliders
433 Queen St. W.
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Foot traffic aside, the corner of Queen and Spadina isn’t the most obvious place to plant roots — but that’s exactly what Brampton-based New York Sliders is doing. Taking over the former I Am Döner space at 433 Queen Street West, the burger brand’s first Toronto outpost will serve its cult-favourite sliders, including truffle mushroom.
21. Butter Bar
1006 Lagoon St., Port Credit
Mississauga is about to welcome Canada’s first-ever retail store dedicated entirely to butter. Butter Bar, a purveyor of artisanal compound butters, is the brainchild of hospitality and PR expert Kate Engineer, who spent the first few years perfecting recipes in her kitchen and selling them at a local Port Credit farmers’ market.
Now, she’s spreading the joy on a larger scale, partnering with a local creamery to produce flavoured butters in varieties like thyme, sage and rosemary, and cinnamon-nutmeg. Butter lovers will also be able to pick up gourmet butter boards designed for effortless entertaining.
22. Playa Bowls
430 Front St. W.
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The Well is already a go-to for shopping, games and excellent snacking — Wellington Market remains one of our favourite lunch stops — but it’s about to add a beachy newcomer to the mix. Jersey Shore-born Playa Bowls is opening its first Canadian location on the upper ground level, bringing its lineup of superfruit bowls, smoothies and tropical flavours to nutrient-conscious downtown diners.
