23 May 2022
Destination Toronto has announced the arrival of the Michelin Guide for Toronto – the first Canadian destination for the selection and a major milestone for the city.
MICHELIN executives were on hand from Paris for the announcement, alongside Mayor Tory, Minister Boissonnault, core partners Destination Ontario and Destination Canada, and stakeholders from Toronto's culinary community.
Capitalising on the deep culinary scene that reflects the full diversity of Toronto, the MICHELIN Guide will help spread the word about Toronto as a culinary destination to travellers around the world. The inaugural edition of the MICHELIN Guide Toronto will be announced during Canada's autumn 2022, with a selection of restaurants receiving honours.
Heading to Toronto? Read on for 10 classic Toronto restaurants that have stood the test of time.
360
The revolving restaurant at the top of Toronto's biggest tourist attraction, the CN Tower, 360 The Restaurant attracts locals and visitors alike with a menu showcasing flavours from across Canada and an ever-changing panoramic view of the city.
Scaramouche
One of Toronto's finest restaurants also offers the finest views of the city skyline. Serving up the best of French haute cuisine, the Scaramouche menu offers showstoppers like butter poached lobster, citrus and thyme marinated chicken breast, and sustainably harvested Canadian caviar.
Avelo Restaurant
A plant-based restaurant that even committed carnivores will love, Avelo's funky, eclectic vibe reflects the menu, which changes almost daily. The aesthetic offerings include things like zebra tortellini stuffed with chestnut and apple, gluten-free mushroom Bolognese lasagne and tempeh made from local coco bianco beans.
Sotto Sotto
Check out the walls of Italian restaurant, Sotto Sotto, adorned with pictures of film festival celebs who have frequented this high-end establishment since the 80s. The menu features classic Italian highlights, like linguine and risotto, as well as meat lovers' favourites, such as Italian sausage, veal and lamb.
Edulis
This no-tipping restaurant was deemed the best new restaurant in Canada when it opened in 2012 and continues to increase in popularity. A true culinary gem, Edulis serves up impeccable seafood, vegetables and wild mushrooms with menus changing seasonally, in an unpretentious setting.
DailLo
In the heart of Toronto's Little Italy since 2014, DaiLo offers Chinese fare following the French tradition. Chef Nick Liu showcases the dishes his ancestors have been eating for hundreds of years – ancient favourites remixed and enhanced for a modern interpretation.
Canoe
On the 54th floor of the TD Bank Tower, Canoe remains a high-end favourite since it opened more than 25 years ago. Its contemporary Canadian cuisine reflects Canada's diverse landscapes and provinces, with Canoe chefs sourcing produce from farmers and suppliers across the nation.
Paupers
This classic Toronto pub, built into a former Victorian bank, has been around since the late 1980s, offering a fresh spin on classic pub grub. Paupers sweeping ceilings, old-world flourishes, and grid-iron decor contribute to the authentic, down-to-earth ambiance, while its secluded rooftop patio is a Toronto favourite.
Grey Gardens
With its vintage chandelier and bohemian-luxe vibe, Grey Gardens is part wine bar, part fine dining restaurant, with menu highlights including oysters, Arctic char, smoked swordfish, hanger steak, gnocchi sardi and spaghetti with mackerel.
Imanishi
For homestyle Tokyo cooking, each delicious plate at Imanishi is perfectly paired with beer, sake and wine, for the ultimate contemporary Japanese cuisine adventure. With its exposed brick walls, hanging plants and low-key wooden seating areas combine to create a relaxed, homey vibe.
About the MICHELIN Toronto Guide
Inspectors can award MICHELIN Stars – One, Two or Three – to unparalleled cuisine. They also bestow Bib Gourmand ratings on restaurants that offer great quality food at good prices, and they award the MICHELIN Green Star to restaurants involved in sustainable gastronomy. MICHELIN Guide inspectors have already started their visits on the ground and will continue to visit restaurants in Toronto during the next few months. As always, they make dining reservations anonymously and pay for all their meals to ensure they are treated the same as any other customer.
Note for all travellers:
We encourage all travellers to be fully informed of the pre-entry and on-arrival public health and testing requirements both federally and provincially. This includes the mandatory use of the ArriveCAN app. For the latest information on travel to Canada please visit the Government of Canada website.
GETTING THERE
Air Canada offers daily direct flights to Vancouver from Sydney. From 6 June to 5 September (Monday, Thursday and Saturday) Air Canada will increase its service to twice daily from Sydney to Vancouver. From 3 July 2022, Air Canada's Brisbane – Vancouver direct flights will resume four times per week. Direct flights from Sydney to Vancouver are also available on Qantas. Internal flights are available throughout Canada from all major cities, in addition to VIA Rail train service.
