Canada's food scene is undergoing a thrilling transformation. The 2025 edition of Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants showcases a nation embracing its diverse culinary roots while pushing boundaries. From bustling urban centres to serene countryside locales, chefs across the country are crafting experiences that reflect both tradition and innovation. Let's dive into this year's list and some of the coolest gems from coast to coast to coast.
Ontario: A Blend of Urban Sophistication and Rural Charm
Ontario's culinary landscape is as varied as its geography. While Toronto continues to be a hotspot for gastronomic innovation, the province's smaller towns and cities are making significant contributions to the list this year.
Top Spot Alert:
Feast On® certified Restaurant Pearl Morissette in Jordan Station clinched the #1 position this year. Nestled in wine country, it's a testament to Ontario's rich terroir and culinary prowess alongside a love for local farmers and food producers. Proudly showcasing their suppliers (one of which is their own substantial garden), it's a shining example of how a restaurant that supports locally-grown food systems can thrive.
Toronto's Finest:
Consistent with last year, Ontario's capital city's food scene continues to dazzle diners with multiple spots on the list. Here are just a few to check out!
- Quetzal (#8): A fiery Mexican eatery where everything is cooked over an open flame that stretches 10 meters in the heart of the restaurant under the direction of Chef Steve Molnar
- Alo (#3): Consistently ranking high on the list, this spot offers a refined dining experience featuring 10-course tasting menus, an open kitchen and lots of culinary prowess
- Aburi Hana (#29): A Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant delivering an unforgettable omakase journey.
- Prime Seafood Palace (#80): Owned by renowned Chef Matty Matheson (yes, the one from The Bear), this steakhouse is set to impress with a menu mix of prime cuts and seafood.
Beyond Toronto:
Several rural contenders made the list this year including some fantastic Feast On® certified stop (a local food certification run by the Culinary Tourism Alliance). Here are just a few of the many delicious rural Ontario stops to discover.
- Langdon Hall (#15): This luxurious restaurant set with a Relais & Chateaux property in Cambridge continues to be a gold standard for refined country estate dining. When summer rolls around, enjoy a stroll through the massive on-site garden before settling in for a delightful meal from Chef Jason Bangerter and his team.
- The Gate (#84): The Gate in Grey County is turning heads with its delicious simplicity! Focused on great ingredients that taste excellent, this spot is a can't-miss.
- Perch (#95): This restaurant in Ottawa marries elegant plating with neighbourhood warmth, all rooted in sustainable sourcing of meat, seafood and more. The creativity shows in their nine-course tasting menu by Chef Justin Champagne-Lagarde who is behind several great restaurants including the opening of Atelier which also made the list.
- Fat Rabbit (#97): Relatively new to Canada's epic restaurant scene, Fat Rabbit is all about fun and well, meat. A zero-waste butcher shop and restaurant, you'll find everything from charcuterie and cheese plates to expertly grilled charcoal steaks, excellent sourdough and more.
Quebec: Deep Roots and Creative Energy
No surprise here — Québec remains a gastronomic powerhouse. Montréal alone accounts for nearly a quarter of the list, and it’s not just about French classics anymore. The province’s chefs are playful, fearless, and unapologetically local.
Montreal Musts:
- Mon Lapin (#2): This spot has held number 1 for several years. Still leading the charge with natural wines and brilliant small plates in a casual, cool setting, it's a must-visit. Check out our blog all about it!
- Pichai (#25): Thai flavors, fire and fermentation — a total flavour bomb. Need we say more?
- Salle Climatisée (#44): French technique meets seasonal inventiveness in this effortlessly charming spot.
Outside Montreal:
- Parcelles in Austin (Eastern Townships) is a farm-restaurant hybrid with an on-site garden, changing menus, and serious heart.
- La Cabane d’à Côté in St. Benoît de Mirabel serves rustic, wood-fired Québecois meals that feel like the best dinner party you’ve ever been to.
British Columbia: Ocean-Fresh and Forward-Thinking
British Columbia’s West Coast sensibility is unmistakable: fresh seafood, big flavors, and a strong sense of place. Vancouver still dominates, but new energy is rising across the province.
Vancouver Picks:
- Published on Main (#9): Seasonal, cerebral, and plated with flair — this one's a staple on the list for a reason. We visited back in December and were seriously blown away by the service, inventive dishes and one of the most delightful cocktail programs in the country.
- Kissa Tanto (#18): Think Italian-Japanese fusion served in a plush, jazz-era atmosphere, tucked away in a Chinatown loft.
Beyond Vancouver:
- Marilena Cafe and Raw Bar (#39): This seafood spot in Victoria was named Canada’s top new restaurant for 2024, praised for its slick vibe and pristine seafood. This spot showcases the best of BC's vast seafood options.
Alberta: Big Skies, Bold Plates
Alberta’s culinary landscape is evolving fast, with chefs embracing the province’s agricultural roots while bringing global influence, innovation, and a deep respect for local ingredients to the plate. While Calgary leads with some of the country’s most dynamic restaurants, smaller communities and natural destinations across Alberta are also carving out space on the national stage.
In Calgary:
- River Café (#47): Set in the heart of Prince’s Island Park, this spot has long been a pioneer in sustainable, hyper-local cuisine. With a menu that reads like a love letter to Alberta’s natural bounty — think foraged herbs, and prairie grains— it offers one of the most serene and distinctly Canadian dining experiences in the country.
- Shokunin (#76), chef Darren MacLean’s bold take on Japanese izakaya, brings Alberta ingredients into the world of binchotan grilling, sashimi, and soul-warming ramen. Expect unexpected touches — like Alberta wagyu or miso made from local grains — and an atmosphere that’s both high-energy and deeply intentional.
- Eight (#84) is a secretive, ultra-intimate dining experience hidden behind the chef’s other concept (Nupo). With just eight seats and a focus on tasting menus that lean into storytelling and experimentation, it’s one of the most personal and cutting-edge experiences in Canada right now.
Beyond Calgary:
Manitoba: Big Flavour in the Heart of Canada
Don’t sleep on the Prairies. Manitoba might be less populated, but their kitchens are brimming with ingenuity and warmth. Manitoba may not always be the first place that comes to mind when you think of Canadian fine dining, but that’s changing fast — and Winnipeg is leading the charge. The city’s food scene is a hidden gem, full of creative chefs who aren’t afraid to take risks and deliver unforgettable experiences. The 2025 list makes it clear: Winnipeg is no longer flying under the radar.
Winnipeg:
- Deer + Almond (#34) is a longtime favourite that continues to evolve. Chef Mandel Hitzer (of the iconic RAW:almond) brings playful creativity and thoughtful technique to every plate, with a menu that constantly shifts to reflect the seasons, his inspirations, and a deep love for bold, global flavours. It’s the kind of place where every visit feels like a new adventure.
- Yujiro (#65) has earned a national reputation for its pristine sushi and exacting technique. This is where Winnipeg's sushi lovers go for an omakase experience that rivals anything in larger cities. The fish is flown in fresh, the rice is meticulously seasoned, and the experience is both intimate and precise.
- Nola (#86) rounds out Winnipeg’s trio of 2025 honourees with its modern, vegetable-forward approach and stylish atmosphere. Chef Emily Butcher is crafting dishes that are equal parts comforting and elevated, with a focus on sustainable sourcing and playful presentation. It's a bright, buzzy space that reflects a new generation of dining in the Prairies.
Winnipeg’s restaurant scene is full of surprises — it’s quietly confident, fiercely creative, and increasingly a destination in its own right. If you haven’t eaten your way through this city yet, consider this your invitation.
Atlantic Canada: Where Coastal Culture Meets Culinary Creativity
The Atlantic provinces continue to prove that east coast hospitality pairs beautifully with top-tier culinary craftsmanship. In 2025, two cities stand out as leading lights: Halifax, Nova Scotia and St. John’s, Newfoundland. Each offers its own flavour of coast-inspired innovation.
Halifax: Confident, Coastal, and On the Rise
Halifax’s food scene has been bubbling up for a few years now, and with two restaurants on this year’s Top 100 list, it's clear the city has arrived. The chefs here are drawing from Atlantic Canada's seafood-rich pantry and blending it with polished technique and contemporary style.
- Bar Kismet (#21) is already a legend. With its cozy layout meant to feel like a playful cross between your grandmother's dining room and a French inn, it feels like a neighbourhood secret but the food tells a more ambitious story. Delight in epic cocktails, handmade pastas, and an ever-changing menu that’s both deeply personal and sharply executed.
- Mystic (#71) is a newer addition to the city’s roster but already feels like an essential stop. Known for its thoughtful, terroir-driven menu, you don't want to miss out on this one!
Newfoundland and Labrador’s capital city has long had a reputation for culinary talent, but 2025 sees a fresh face leading the way.
- Portage (#78), helmed by Chef Celeste Mah and Chef Ross Larkin, is putting modern Newfoundland cuisine firmly on the map. With a strong commitment to seasonal and foraged ingredients, Portage offers a sophisticated yet deeply grounded dining experience. Think scallop toast with kimchi jam and garlic mayo for one delicious example.
St. John’s isn’t trying to be like anywhere else — and that’s what makes it so special. It’s a place where chefs are cooking with memory, landscape, and identity in every bite.
Dive In!
From tiny bistros in Victoria to high-concept tasting menus in Montreal, Canada’s culinary scene is bursting with flavour, creativity, and pride of place. The 2025 Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants list doesn’t just celebrate excellence — it tells the story of a country eating better, bolder, and more locally than ever before.
Check out the full list at Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants and start planning your next delicious adventure.
