Must-see restaurants in Canada

  • Port City Royal

    Saint John

    With exposed brick and peeling plaster, the interior of this vintage historic building defies its well-cared-for and elegant menu. Small shareable plates…

  • FireWorks

    Prince Edward Island

    Since taking over the Inn at Bay Fortune in 2015, Food Network star Michael Smith has created one of PEI's most unique dining experiences: the 'FireWorks…

  • Purebread

    Whistler

    Imagine the best bakery you’ve ever visited, elevate the quality by the power of 10 and you might just get Purebread. Founded as a pinprick-sized business…

  • Red Shoe Pub

    Cape Breton Island

    The Red Shoe is the place to catch a bit of Celtic music as you mosey down the Ceilidh Trail. The homey, ramshackle pub hosts at least one gig seven…

  • Mt Engadine Lodge Dining Room

    Banff & Jasper National Parks

    It's worth detouring off the Smith Dorrien/Spray Trail for a bite at this charming backwoods lodge. Drop-ins are welcome for the daily afternoon tea,…

  • Stonewater Pub

    Thousand Islands

    Below a B&B, this homey little waterfront Irish pub and restaurant serves up hearty and delicious fare: the 'Irish tenderloin' (grilled, bacon-wrapped…

  • Fresco

    New Brunswick

    Following on from a successful food truck and an appearance on Canada's Top Chef, Joel Aubie is working his culinary magic in his own open-kitchen…

  • The Chandler Room

    New Brunswick

    Polished yet comfortable, this tapas-style restaurant is yards above the competition. Simple-sounding dishes such as beef carpaccio, spicy cauliflower and…

  • 11th Mile

    New Brunswick

    All class, the muted colors of this new-to-the-scene, chef-owned restaurant belie the bright flavors of its food. An ever-changing menu of small plates…

  • Pan Chancho

    Kingston

    This phenomenal bakery and cafe fuses unlikely ingredients into palate-pleasing dishes such as Vietnamese spring rolls and sesame tuna meatballs. The…

  • Shanghai River Restaurant

    Lower Mainland

    Dining at Shanghai River is like attending a jam-packed Asian-style banquet brimming with an array of food. Fried eel arrive in hot stone bowls, whole…

  • Ovaltine Cafe

    Gastown & Chinatown

    Like being inside Edward Hopper's Nighthawks diner painting, this time-capsule greasy spoon instantly transports you to the 1940s. Snag a booth alongside…

  • El Santo

    Lower Mainland

    Way more sophisticated than your typical nachos ‘n’ burritos Mexican restaurant, El Santo is the mark of a trend in New West’s culinary renaissance…

  • Go Fish

    Vancouver

    A short stroll westward along the seawall from the Granville Island entrance, this almost-too-popular seafood stand is one of the city's fave fish-and…

  • Gabriel's Gourmet Cafe

    Nanaimo

    Place your order upfront, grab a table (made from reused bowling-alley wood) and wait for the magic to appear. Gabriel's out-of the-ordinary renditions of…

  • Salmon n' Bannock

    Fairview & South Granville

    Vancouver's only First Nations restaurant is an utterly delightful art-lined little bistro on an unassuming strip of Broadway shops. It's worth the easy…

  • Anh & Chi

    Vancouver

    You'll find warm and solicitous service at this delightful contemporary Vietnamese restaurant whose authentic, perfectly prepared dishes are a must for…

  • Duchess Bake Shop

    Edmonton

    Duchess is a destination. You'd cross town to eat here – barefoot in snow if necessary. Feeling like it dropped straight from France, complete with Louis…

  • Maligne Canyon Wilderness Kitchen

    Jasper Town & Around

    The outdoor deck at the edge of gorgeous Maligne Canyon is temptation enough to dine at Jasper's newest restaurant. But the real clincher is the…

  • Basted Baker

    British Columbia

    Sechelt's best dining option is a slightly out of the ordinary bakery that retains the ambience of a casual bistro and specializes in biscuit sandwiches…

  • Paul's Omelettery

    Fairview & South Granville

    You'll be jostling for space with chatty locals at this breakfast and lunch joint near the south side of Granville Bridge. But it's worth it: the cozy,…

  • Jam Cafe

    Victoria

    No need to conduct an opinion poll: the perennial lines in the street outside Jam suggest that this is the best breakfast spot in Victoria. The reasons?…

  • Meat at O'Neill's

    North Shore

    A top-quality sandwich emporium fueling the local takeout crowd with satisfying all-day breakfast sandwiches and a mouthwatering array of slow-roasted…

  • Alforno Cafe & Bakery

    Calgary

    This ultra-modern, super-comfortable cafe is the kind of place you'll want to hang out all day. Bellinis, beer on tap, carafes of wine and excellent…

  • ByWard Market Square

    Ottawa

    Anchoring the market district, this sturdy brick building is the perfect place to stop when hunger strikes. Aside from the fresh produce and cheese, an…

  • Tomlin

    Northern Ontario

    Locally lauded chef Steve Simpson's elevated comfort food uses seasonal local ingredients, with the regularly changing menu split between small plates (eg…

  • Elkhorn Dining Room

    Jasper National Park

    Rustic yet elegant, the Num-Ti-Jah’s historic Elkhorn Dining Room lets you step back in time to Jimmy Simpson's original hunting lodge, complete with…

  • Il Terrazzo

    Victoria

    Authentic Italian flavors melded with a laid-back Victoria spirit make a devastatingly good combo. If you don’t believe us, come to Il Terrazzo, a…

  • Eddie Burger Bar

    Banff Town

    Not your average fast-food joint, Eddie's is devoted to building large, custom-made and crave-worthy burgers, from the usual classics to specialties like…

  • Brasserie L'École

    Victoria

    Bonsoir! You may have just arrived at the best restaurant in Victoria, a small but wonderfully elegant bistro discreetly furnished in la mode français,…

  • Town

    Ottawa

    Slick, smart and ineffably cool, this joint is always packed: arty-farty hipsters bump elbows with wealthy coiffured housewives. Ottawa foodies appreciate…

  • Arturo's Ristorante

    Northern Ontario

    A shimmering jewel in a dismal downtown strip, decades-old Arturo's is the kind of place you remember after your vacation has ended. Atmospheric but…

  • Forage

    Vancouver

    A popular farm-to-table eatery, this sustainability-focused restaurant is the perfect way to sample regional flavors. Brunch has become a firm local…

  • Hunter Gather

    Whistler

    A noisy but cheerful emporium of local food, this new place has quickly become known for its smoked meats (the ‘hunter’ part) and local veg (the ‘gather’…

  • Trailside Cafe & Inn

    Prince Edward Island

    This stomping venue is one of the best places in eastern PEI to catch some live music – owners Pat and Meghann are passionate music lovers, and they…

  • Olive + Gourmando

    Old Montréal

    Named after the owners’ two cats, this bakery-cafe is legendary in town for its hot panini, generous salads and flaky baked goods. Excellent choices…

  • Café Parvis

    Montréal

    Hidden on a quiet downtown lane, Café Parvis is set with oversized windows, hanging plants, old wooden floorboards and vintage fixtures. Once part of the…

  • Tuck Shop

    Montréal

    Set in the heart of working-class St-Henri, Tuck Shop could have been plucked from London or New York if it weren’t for its distinctly local menu, a…

  • Buvette Scott

    Québec City

    At this tiny wine bistro with just eight tables and seating at the bar, enlightened French classics like breaded calf's brains, bone marrow and brandade…

  • Le Lapin Sauté

    Québec City

    Naturally, lapin (rabbit) plays a starring role at this cozy, rustic restaurant just south of the funicular's lower terminus, in such dishes as rabbit…

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