Where to eat and drink in Toronto if you’re visiting for a couple of days.
Hey friend!
You’re probably reading this because you’re coming to Toronto and you’ve asked me for a few suggestions for where to eat or go for a drink. Or maybe you’re an internet stranger who stumbled across this blog post. Either way, welcome!
Any time a visiting friend asked for recommendations on where to drink/eat, I used to copy and paste a big list of recommendations into a message. It wasn’t a very easy thing to keep track of so I figured I’d convert it to a blog post. Here are some crowd-pleasing places alongside a few hidden gems that my partner and I have been to over the last few years. There are a million places in Toronto, but this will get you started.
Dinner
Byblos - https://byblosdowntown.com/
High-end Mediterranean food. One of our favourite fancier places. We’ve taken quite a few people here and it’s always been a hit.
SuperFresh - https://www.superfresh.to/
A restaurant in the style of an Asian street market. You order your meal from different “stalls” and it comes to the table as it’s made. It’s a fun concept and great for groups of people who have different tastes and wants.
Fourth Man In the Fire - https://www.thefourthmaninthefirepizzeria.com/
One of our favourite pizza places. Great for families too. Thin crust only.
OddSeoul
One of the best spots on Osslington. Korean food with a twist. Really tiny so go early.
Grey Gardens - http://greygardens.ca/
A great spot in Kensington. Great wine list and food.
Coffee Oysters Champagne - https://sipshucksip.com/
Don’t look up to many details about this place. There is a surprise that comes with it that is fun to find out on your own. Food and drinks are good and they have lots of random tableside performances like burlesque, drag, opera, and magic shows.
Drinking Spots + Small Plates
Piccolo Caffe E Vino - http://piccolocaffe.ca/
Great downtown spot without the downtown pretension.
Bathurst Local - http://www.bathurstlocal322.com/
My favourite low-key place for a drink with friends in the city. Super cool concept that I don’t want to spoil. You can also rent karaoke rooms.
Civil Liberties - http://www.civillibertiesbar.com/
Some of the best bartenders in the city are here. Really friendly vibe. They’ll ask you what you like and make you a cocktail to fit your mood. No drink menus.
416 Snack bar - http://www.416snackbar.com/
A Toronto institution. Great food and cocktails. Always good.
Cry Baby Gallery -http://www.crybabygallery.ca/
A “secret” cocktail bar at the back of an art gallery!
Collective Arts Brewery - https://collectiveartsbrewing.com/breweries/toronto-brewery/
If you like beer, this is on of the most popular breweries in the city
Bar Neon - http://www.barneon.ca/
Greek food and great cocktails. A fun mixture.
DROM Taberna - https://www.dromtaberna.com/
A Baltics-inspired beer house. It’s a fun experience all around!
Poetry Jazz Cafe - http://www.poetryjazzcafe.com/
Good drinks and great jazz, what more could you want?
Midfield Wine Bar - http://www.midfieldwine.com/
Great wine list. Intimate vibes
Street Food / Low Key Eats / Grab and Go
RuRu Baked - http://www.rurubaked.com/
Some of the best ice cream in town
Roti Mahal Indian Cuisine - http://www.rotimahal.org/
Simple, delicious Indian roti
Rasta Pasta - http://www.eatrastapasta.ca/
Jamacian/Itlaian fusion. Where else are you going to get that combo?
Mac’s Pizza - http://macspizza.ca/
Total hidden gem. Best slice of pizza in west Toronto.
Tut’s Egyptian Street Food - https://www.tutsrestaurant.ca/s/order
Really great fast food with an Egyptian twist
Juicy Dumplings - http://www.juicydumpling.ca/
It’s messed up how cheap and tasty these are. Very quick grab and go place.
Kibo Sushi
About a million locations. Really good basic sushi. One of our standard places to order from