Beat the winter blues by dining at some of Toronto’s finest restaurants for a fraction of the cost.

Winterlicious is back from January 26 to February 8, and it’s better than ever this year. When I say “better than ever,” I mean it. I think it’s the best Winterlicious showing to date. In fact, the hardest part about penning this was narrowing down the choices. 

There are 218 participating restaurants for Winterlicious 2024, offering 3-course menus for lunch (ranging from $20 to $55) and dinner (ranging from $25 to $75), including a healthy mix of old faves and trendy new spots scattered all across the city.

So, run to make those reservations and get ready to cross some local restaurants off your list.

Here are my top 40 picks for Winterlicious 2024, listed by neighbourhood.
 

Jump to:

Entertainment District & King West

Lapinou ($65 dinner) 

You’ll want to go down the rabbit hole at this MICHELIN-recommended French neo-bistro and wine bar. Lapinou’s stunning, moody interior is matched by its impeccable cuisine.

I’m drooling over the fried rock shrimp, short rib wellington, and white truffle ice cream.
 

Minami ($48/$65) 

The Aburi Group (which includes Minami and Miku) dishes up some of the most premium sushi in Toronto. Their famous aburi oshi sushi is available on both Minami’s lunch and dinner menu for Winterlicious.
 

Dasha ($65 dinner) 

Go here for contemporary pan-Asian food in a showstopping, 2-storey space featuring floor-to-ceiling murals—complete with a karaoke lounge at the back.

Dasha’s $65 dinner menu includes their classic black dragon dumplings topped with truffle and gold leaf.
 

Vela ($75 dinner) 

Don’t just go to this Michelin-recommended restaurant for the swanky vibes. Vela serves some seriously good new American cuisine and some of the tastiest pasta in the city, like their famous burrata canestri.

Lee ($75 dinner)

An old fave for Winterlicious, Lee briefly closed its doors before reopening last summer inside the restored Waterworks complex at Richmond & Portland. You can expect nothing short of perfectly executed plates at Chef Susur Lee’s flagship restaurant.
 

Miss Likklemore’s ($65 dinner)

I love this restaurant in the heart of King West which gracefully uplifts Caribbean cuisine. Miss Likklemore’s Chef Lonie Murdock tantalizes the taste buds with menu items, like the likkle patties, reimagined trini doubles with the fixings, and Miss Paula’s carrot cake. 
 

SARA ($75 dinner) 

This Michelin-recommended restaurant by Food Dudes serves globally-inspired fare. Expect interesting, fusion-y type mashups on the SARA menu, like a Wagyu reuben, latkes topped with Japanese Ikura, fried chicken with sunomono (Japanese cucumber salad), and a jerk glazed bass.

Also see: 6 Fusion Restaurants That Serve The Ultimate Mash-Up

 

Margo ($65 dinner)

This ‘Middle-terranean’ restaurant is 4 floors up inside a private social club, Clio (formerly Spoke Club). Marked by vibrant colours, a dimly lit dining room, and a flower wall, the $65 dinner menu at Margo features kibbeh, mezze, and harissa-flavoured proteins. 
 

Bar Chica ($65 dinner)

It didn’t take long for this bar and restaurant—the vibey little sister to King West OG, Patria—to land in the Toronto MICHELIN Guide. Bar Chica opened to much acclaim in the summer of ’22 and serves elevated Spanish tapas.

Bloor-Yorkville & Harbord Village

Kasa Moto ($75 dinner) 

Kasa Moto is a contemporary Japanese restaurant with staying power in Yorkville. Its $75 Winterlicious dinner menu features elevated raw dishes, like Wagyu carpaccio and ahi tuna crudo, and cooked dishes, like tenderloin with nori truffle jus and miso-marinated salmon.
 

Eataly ($34-$41/$45-$55)

The preeminent place in Toronto for authentic Italian goods and ingredients, if you’re an Italophile, a trip to Eataly is always eventful (and dangerous for the wallet).

Four of its sit-down restaurants are offering a Winterlicious menu—in-house brewery Birroteca ($34/$45), restaurant and enoteca La Piazza ($34/$45), La Pizza e La Pasta ($34/$45), and upscale, Northern Italian Trattoria Milano ($41/$55). 
 

Joni ($55/$75)

This open-concept restaurant inside the renovated Park Hyatt Toronto serves comforting yet refined Canadian dishes—perfect for this time of year. The menu at Joni focuses on highlighting seasonal ingredients inspired by the region and sourced sustainably. 

Also see: Celebrate Local Ontario Flavours at these 10 Toronto Restaurants
 

Clay ($48 lunch) 

Dine in a light and airy space with the Gardiner Museum as your backdrop. Another Food Dudes restaurant, Clay’s $48 lunch menu is sure to be filling with main course options like mushroom Bolognese, braised pork stew, and beer batter fish & chips.

special-occasion-spots-Piano-Piano
Piano Piano is known for their pizza

Piano Piano ($34/$45)

If there’s one thing Chef Victor Barry does impeccably well, it’s pizza. The Harbord location of his wildly successful Piano Piano is offering both lunch and dinner menus for Winterlicious.

But if you’re in the mood for something a little more ‘caszh’, Piccolo Piano across the street has a $45 dinner menu.
 

AP ($75 dinner)

If you’ve not been to the top of the Manulife Centre, let Winterlicious dinner at AP be your excuse. The views of Toronto are unparalleled, and the dishes reflect Chef Antonio Park’s multicultural background—with Korean and Japanese influences.
 

W Hotel

You can choose from not just one but two of the bright and buzzy W Hotel’s restaurants. Public School, the more casual eatery on the ground level, offers a $34 lunch and $45 dinner, and the W’s flashy rooftop restaurant and lounge, Skylight, has a $75 dinner.

Also see: 5 Hotel Rooftop Bars with Stunning Views of Toronto
 

Constantine ($41/$55) 

Tucked away inside the Anndore House Hotel, Constantine is a sophisticated and intimate space dreamt up by Chef Craig Harding, where the diverse flavours of the Mediterranean are showcased.

Enjoy acqua pazza with sablefish, ricotta gnocchi, and end with a gold chocolate lava cake with an espresso crème anglais.

 

Financial District

Bosk ($48/$65)

The aromas of black tea, bergamot, vanilla and sandalwood please the nose upon entering the Shangri-La Toronto. Grab lunch for $45 or dinner for $65 at Bosk, and then catch some live entertainment in the lobby lounge.

Also see: Toronto’s Most Intriguing Hotel Bars
 

REIGN ($55/$75)

The Fairmont Royal York is a landmark in Toronto, and REIGN is its Brasserie-style main restaurant, bar, and lounge. The menu features expertly prepared dishes using seasonal ingredients sourced from local producers and farmers.

EPOCH
Enjoy gastropub fare at EPOCH

Ritz-Carlton Toronto

Indulge in the flavours of Italy at TOCA ($55/$75), the Ritz-Carlton Toronto’s upscale, Mezzanine level restaurant and home to Canada’s only hotel-based cheese cave. Or, if you prefer gastropub fare, head to the recently renovated EPOCH ($55/$75) on the ground level.

 

Black+Blue Restaurant ($55/$75)

This modern steakhouse in the heart of the FiDi boasts some of the world’s rarest cuts, presented tableside before being served. The prix fixe menus offer a lot of value at Black+Blue Restaurant. If you’re lucky, you might even get to check out the salt cave at the back.

Also see: 10 Best Steakhouses in Toronto for a Blowout Birthday Dinner
 

Miku ($55/$75)

Originating in Vancouver, Miku Toronto is Aburi Group’s first East Coast location. Choose from premium nigiri, including Wagyu, sushi and sashimi, and cooked dishes like soy-braised lamb and sautéed branzino on their dinner menu. If you want aburi, you’ll have to go for lunch.

 

Riverside & Leslieville

Café Zuzu ($27/$35) 

Newly opened in the east end to rave reviews, Café Zuzu is a Janet Zuccarini creation that is part café, restaurant, bottle shop, retail, and co-working space. Expect straightforward Italian food here for a steal—at only $27 for lunch and $35 for dinner.
 

La Carnita Queen ($27/$35)

I’ve been coming to La Carnita since its inception, so I was delighted to see it on the 2024 Winterlicious list. If you can’t decide between menu staples like carne asada, al pastor, achiote chicken or Mexican chorizo, don’t fret; you can choose any 2 of their tacos for your main.

est
Head to Riverside for est Restaurant's Italian and French-inspired dishes

est Restaurant ($55/$75) 

est is a cozy, non-pretentious spot in Riverside serving up Italian and French-inspired food. There are many vegetarian and gluten-free options to choose from. I’m eyeing the trofie al pesto, crackling Cornish hen and lasagna on their lunch menu.

 

Old Town & The Distillery

Amano Trattoria ($55 dinner)

The Old Town location of Amano is a neighbourhood gem, featuring a massive dining room with beautiful murals. Their $55 dinner menu offers great value for authentic Italian food made with premium ingredients.

 

Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie ($55/$75)

Cluny Bistro & Boulangerie is French done right in the Distillery District. Start with their French onion soup or salt cod beignets before moving on to the braised bison short rib, and end with a chocolate savarin cake. My mouth is watering! 

 

The Carbon Bar ($55 dinner)

Barbecue aficionados know this Texas-style BBQ joint is one of the most underrated spots in the city. A local stalwart for the past 10 years, The Carbon Bar does large portions very well. Try the brisket empanada, and the BBQ plate (duh!), and you can’t go wrong with any of their desserts.

Also see: Where to Find Toronto’s Best BBQ

St. James Town

Maison Selby ($48/$65) 

This French bistro & cocktail bar by O&B Restaurant Group is inside the historic C.H. Gooderham House, once home to a hotel by the same name.

Expect French classics on the menu at Maison Selby. And after dinner, make time to check out their underground speakeasy, Sous Sol.
 

Midtown

Byblos Uptown ($65 dinner) 

Byblos Uptown is an inviting place in Midtown highlighting Eastern Mediterranean cuisine, with an emphasis on coastal flavours. Hummus and branzino are topped with chermoula, kibbeh is made from halibut, and the menu teems with ingredients like harissa, sumac, zaatar, cumin, saffron, and chilis.
 

Pai Uptown ($34/$45) 

Chef Nuit is beloved by so many in Toronto because her authentic Thai cooking is beyond compare. For only $34 for lunch or $45 for dinner (prices hard to come by in Toronto), you can enjoy some of Pai’s classic dishes, like Chef Nuit’s famous pad thai, khao soi, grabong, curries, and pad gra prow.

Also see: An Insider’s Toronto: Chef Nuit and Jeff Regular

 

Capocaccia ($41/$55) 

Those who don’t venture north of Bloor may not know about this gem in Summerhill, but it’s worth the short subway or car ride. With a stunning interior matched by beautifully plated dishes, Capocaccia has impressed locals with its refined Italian food for over 2 decades. 

 

Trinity-Bellwoods

Stelvio ($55 dinner)

There are few places you can get a truly authentic Northern Italian meal in Toronto and this place tops the list. With its tasty and comforting plates fitting for this time of year, Stelvio’s menu stands out from the rest. You’re also guaranteed to find dishes you’ve never heard of or tasted before.

La Palma ($55 dinner)

Serving up Italian flavours with a SoCal vibe, La Palma is consistently good and one of my faves. The $55 dinner menu will surely satisfy with taleggio pizza, short rib cavatelli, and branzino. 
 

Curryish Tavern ($41/$55)

Chef Miheer Shete reimagines Indian food at Curryish Tavern with inventive and playful dishes using Canadian seasonal ingredients. Plates reflect his unique style and represent a modern take on Indian classics. 
 

Fonda Lola ($45 dinner)

A solid spot for authentic Mexican food in the west end. It feels like you’ve journeyed to Mexico when you step foot inside Fonda Lola, with its cantina style and brightly coloured decor and plates. The $45 Winterlicious dinner menu is a steal.

 

Parkdale/Roncesvalles/The Junction

Nuna Kitchen & Bar ($41/$55)

If Peru’s on your bucket list but not on your 2024 bingo card, Nuna Kitchen & Bar will be the next best thing. I had the pleasure of trying Chef Sergio Nazario’s food and found it equally authentic as it was delicious.

You’ll find yuca, anticucho, chaufa, and steak a la parilla (oh my!) on the menu.

Bar Bacan ($20/$25)

Bar Bacan takes our taste buds on a trip around South America, and it’s one of the most reasonably priced restaurants for Winterlicious. It’s also female-run, LGBTQ-friendly and family-owned, and has an enticing menu with empanadas, patacón, arepas, and their housemade specialty, bacan criollo.
 

Lucia ($55 dinner)

Grab a chair at one of the roughly 30 seats in this Junction spot, where you’ll rub elbows with the locals. Italian is on offer at Lucia. Think: hand-made pasta, gnocchi, and Sunday sugo with polenta.

 

Chinatown

R&D ($55 dinner)

This MICHELIN Bib Gourmand restaurant by MasterChef Canada winner, Eric Chong and celebrity chef Alvin Leung will wow you and delight your palate with its modern Chinese fare. You won’t go wrong with the R&D po-boy bao, duck fried rice or 16-blend fried chicken.

Also see: MICHELIN Star Restaurants in Toronto

Want to see the full list of restaurants? Check out all 218 Winterlicious menus on the City of Toronto website.