20 Best Places to Eat in Canada: The Ultimate Culinary & Dining Guide

Canadian gastronomy reflects a rich tapestry of Indigenous traditions, fresh regional coastal ingredients, and diverse multicultural influences. From Atlantic seafood shacks and Quebecois comfort bistros to Michelin-recognized dining rooms in Toronto and Vancouver, dining in Canada is a vibrant experience.

Must-Try Traditional Dishes

When traveling across Canada, make sure to savor these iconic national culinary staples:

Poutine: Fresh crisp french fries smothered in warm brown gravy and squeaky real cheese curds, originating in Quebec.
Atlantic Lobster Roll: Chilled fresh-caught lobster meat dressed lightly in mayo and herbs served in a toasted split-top buttered bun.
Tourtière: A traditional French-Canadian spiced minced meat pie baked in a flaky pastry crust, enjoyed during holidays.
Nanaimo Bars: A popular no-bake dessert square layered with wafer crumb base, custard butter icing, and rich chocolate ganache.
Pacific Salmon: Cedar-planked or pan-seared wild British Columbia salmon served with seasonal regional vegetables.

20 Best Places to Eat in Canada

1. Toqué!

Cuisine: Fine Dining Contemporary Quebecois
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Must-Try Dish: Seared Duck Breast with Local Mushrooms & Berry Reduction
About the Place: Co-founded by Chef Normand Laprise, Toqué! pioneered farm-to-table fine dining in Canada, emphasizing hyper-local Quebecois ingredients and wine pairings.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Toqué!

2. St. Lawrence

Cuisine: Classic French & Quebecois Comfort
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Must-Try Dish: Venison Tourtière with Truffle Jus
About the Place: Awarded a Michelin star, Chef J-C Poirier celebrates classical French culinary technique paired with rich Quebecois heritage in a charming Vancouver bistro setting.
Explore More: Read our full guide to St. Lawrence

3. Alo

Cuisine: Contemporary French Tasting Menu
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Must-Try Dish: Multi-Course Blind Chef's Tasting Menu
About the Place: Perched atop a building in downtown Toronto, Michelin-starred Alo is acclaimed across Canada for flawless French tasting menus and hospitality.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Alo

4. Granville Island Public Market

Cuisine: Artisanal Food Hall & Fresh Seafood
Location: Vancouver, British Columbia
Must-Try Dish: Candied Pacific Wild Salmon & Fresh Oysters
About the Place: A vibrant waterfront food market packed with artisan cheesemongers, fishmongers, bakeries, and international food stalls overlooking Vancouver's skyline.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Granville Island Public Market

5. St-Viateur Bagel

Cuisine: Authentic Montreal Bagel Bakery
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Must-Try Dish: Hot Sesame Seed Bagel with Cream Cheese
About the Place: Operating since 1957, St-Viateur bakes traditional wood-fired, honey-boiled Montreal bagels around the clock in the heart of Mile End.
Explore More: Read our full guide to St-Viateur Bagel

6. Schwartz's Deli

Cuisine: Traditional Hebrew Delicatessen
Location: Montreal, Quebec
Must-Try Dish: Smoked Meat Sandwich on Rye with Mustard
About the Place: Established in 1928 on Boulevard Saint-Laurent, Schwartz's serves legendary secret-recipe cured smoked beef sliced thick on rye bread.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Schwartz's Deli

7. Joe Beef

Cuisine: Decadent Quebecois Bistro & Seafood
Location: Little Burgundy, Montreal
Must-Try Dish: Lobster Spaghetti
About the Place: An iconic dining venue celebrating hearty, indulgent French-Canadian cuisine, natural wines, and seasonal game dishes in a rustic-chic atmosphere.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Joe Beef

8. Raymonds

Cuisine: Modern Atlantic Canadian Fine Dining
Location: St. John's, Newfoundland and Labrador
Must-Try Dish: Pan-Seared Local Cod & Wild Foraged Berries
About the Place: Overlooking St. John's harbor, Raymonds celebrates Newfoundland's wild game, ocean cod, and foraged botanicals in an elegant historic building.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Raymonds

9. Langdon Hall Dining Room

Cuisine: Farm-to-Table Fine Dining
Location: Cambridge, Ontario
Must-Try Dish: Chef's Garden Tasting Menu
About the Place: Nestled inside a luxury country estate, Executive Chef Jason Bangerter crafts award-winning tasting menus utilizing produce harvested from on-site gardens.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Langdon Hall Dining Room

10. Hawksworth Restaurant

Cuisine: Modern Canadian Contemporary
Location: Rosewood Hotel Georgia, Vancouver
Must-Try Dish: Pan-Roasted Pacific Sablefish
About the Place: Chef David Hawksworth delivers refined contemporary Canadian cuisine combining regional Pacific ingredients with international flair in downtown Vancouver.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Hawksworth Restaurant

11. Le Saint-Amour

Cuisine: Fine Dining Classical French
Location: Old Québec City, Quebec
Must-Try Dish: Foie Gras Flambé & Roasted Lamb Loin
About the Place: Located in Old Québec, Le Saint-Amour offers romantic dining inside a glass conservatory, specializing in refined French culinary classics.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Le Saint-Amour

12. River Café

Cuisine: Regional Alberta Farm-to-Table
Location: Prince's Island Park, Calgary
Must-Try Dish: Wood-Grilled Alberta Bison Tenderloin
About the Place: Set inside a park on an island in the Bow River, River Café is dedicated to local Alberta bison, trout, and sustainable prairie agriculture.
Explore More: Read our full guide to River Café

13. Canoe

Cuisine: Elevated Canadian Cuisine
Location: TD Bank Tower, Toronto
Must-Try Dish: Ontario Venison with Wild Rice & Spruce Oil
About the Place: Perched on the 54th floor overlooking Lake Ontario, Canoe celebrates Canadian landscape, provinces, and culinary heritage through seasonal tasting menus.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Canoe

14. St. Lawrence Market

Cuisine: Historic Food Market
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Must-Try Dish: World-Famous Peameal Bacon Sandwich
About the Place: Operating since 1803, this iconic food hall features over 120 artisan vendors selling specialty cheeses, seafood, meats, and famous peameal bacon on a bun.
Explore More: Read our full guide to St. Lawrence Market

15. ByWard Market Stalls

Cuisine: Capital Market & Street Food
Location: Ottawa, Ontario
Must-Try Dish: Cinnamon & Sugar BeaverTails Pastry
About the Place: One of Canada's oldest open-air public markets, packed with fresh produce vendors, bakeries, cafes, and street food stalls in central Ottawa.
Explore More: Read our full guide to ByWard Market Stalls

16. The Whalesbone

Cuisine: Sustainable Seafood & Oyster Bar
Location: Bank Street, Ottawa
Must-Try Dish: Fresh Canadian Oysters & Fish and Chips
About the Place: Ottawa's premier sustainable seafood venue, renowned for fresh oysters, sustainable wild catch, and lively neighborhood dining energy.
Explore More: Read our full guide to The Whalesbone

17. Blue Water Cafe

Cuisine: Premium Pacific Seafood & Raw Bar
Location: Yaletown, Vancouver
Must-Try Dish: Seafood Tower & Wild BC Salmon
About the Place: Vancouver's landmark seafood destination in historic Yaletown, serving fresh wild Pacific fish and raw bar sushi in an elegant brick warehouse venue.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Blue Water Cafe

18. Chez Ashton

Cuisine: Authentic Quick-Service Poutine
Location: Quebec City, Quebec
Must-Try Dish: Classic Poutine with Extra Cheese Curds
About the Place: Founded in 1969, Chez Ashton is famous across Quebec for introducing fast, authentic poutine served piping hot with fresh curds and rich gravy.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Chez Ashton

19. Mallard Cottage

Cuisine: Maritime Heritage Comfort Food
Location: Quidi Vidi, St. John's, Newfoundland
Must-Try Dish: Cod tongues with Pork Scrunchions
About the Place: Housed in an 18th-century heritage cottage in a fishing village, serving hyper-local wild game, seafood, and homemade desserts.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Mallard Cottage

20. Beba

Cuisine: Spanish & Argentine Modern Bistro
Location: Verdun, Montreal
Must-Try Dish: Handmade Empanadas & Fresh Local Seafood
About the Place: An intimate neighborhood restaurant in Verdun run by the Schor brothers, winning national accolades for creative seasonal dishes and warm hospitality.
Explore More: Read our full guide to Beba

Featured Image

Classic Quebecois Poutine